The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $880 million (Rs 7,304 crore) to victims of clergy sexual abuse, marking the largest single child sex abuse settlement with a Catholic archdiocese, according to an attorney involved in the case. The settlement, announced on Wednesday, resolves claims from 1,353 individuals who allege decades of abuse by local Catholic priests.

Archbishop José H. Gomez issued a public apology following the announcement, stating, "I am sorry for every one of these incidents, from the bottom of my heart." He expressed hope that the settlement would provide a degree of healing for the victims, adding, "I believe that we have come to a resolution of these claims that will provide just compensation to the survivor-victims of these past abuses."

The agreement follows months of negotiations and brings to a close more than 25 years of litigation against the largest Catholic archdiocese in the United States. Attorneys for the victims emphasized the significance of the settlement, stating, "While there is no amount of money that can replace what was taken from these 1,353 brave individuals who have suffered in silence for decades, there is justice in accountability."

Under the terms of the settlement, the allocation of the $880 million among the victims will be handled through a separate process that does not involve the archdiocese. This agreement brings the total amount paid by the Los Angeles Archdiocese to more than $1.5 billion, including $740 million previously paid to victims in various settlements.

Attorney Morgan Stewart, who led the settlement negotiations, highlighted the urgency of resolving the case, noting that many survivors and those with knowledge of the abuse are aging. "These survivors have suffered for decades in the aftermath of the abuse. Dozens of the survivors have died. They are aging, and many of those with knowledge of the abuse within the church are too. It was time to get this resolved," Stewart told the Los Angeles Times.

The settlement will be funded through a combination of archdiocese investments, reserves, bank financing, and other assets. Some of the cost will also be covered by religious orders and other parties named in the litigation, according to the archdiocese.

AP