The San Francisco Catholic archdiocese announced on Monday that it reached a $395 million settlement with over 500 survivors of childhood sexual abuse by church clergy.

The terms of the agreement, which must still be approved by a judge, also require the church to comply with transparency and child protection demands, including maintaining an up-to-date list of all accused clergy members.

In a letter addressed to the church, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone issued an apology to all victims, stating:

We recognize that no financial settlement can erase the painful legacy of these past actions. However, we believe this proposal offers a path toward fair compensation for survivors who have carried the burden of this abuse for a lifetime. Sexual abuse of children and young people is a tragedy that has affected many parts of society, including the church.

The proposed settlement would resolve over 500 lawsuits filed against the archdiocese under California Assembly Bill 218 (AB-218), a law that allowed individuals to bring sexual assault claims that otherwise would have been barred due to expiration of the statute of limitations. This resulted in hundreds of claims being filed against Catholic dioceses between January 2020 and December 2022, the three-year window to bring a suit.

As a result of the claims, the San Francisco archdiocese, which serves nearly 450,000 Catholics in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin counties, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in 2023 in order to keep the business intact while reaching a settlement agreement.

Cordileone wrote in a letter that the bankruptcy process was the best way to provide a “compassionate and equitable solution for survivors of abuse” while ensuring that “vital” ministry services are provided. The church joined a list of dioceses in California that have done the same while processing sexual abuse claims, including San Diego, Fresno, and Oakland.

This agreement resolves both the lawsuits and the bankruptcy filing and is the largest settlement payment by any Catholic diocese, $72 million more than the payout by a diocese in Long Island in 2024.

The Catholic church has a long history of sexual abuse that is continuously being uncovered as more claims come to light. Cordileone indicated that he remains committed to the healing and care of survivors who have suffered irreversible harm because of the “sins of the church’s ministers.”