NEW YORK — The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to a staggering $880 million settlement for 1,353 claimants who state they were sexually abused during childhood by clergy over many years, marking the largest settlement involving a diocese in the United States.

The Archdiocese commenced mediation for the abuse claims following a new California law that permitted fresh lawsuits for past sexual abuse cases involving minors. This legislation, along with similar laws in other states, has compelled numerous prominent Catholic organizations nationwide to consider bankruptcy as a means to handle similar claims.

Archbishop Jose H. Gomez expressed his deep regret regarding the abuse while announcing the settlement this Wednesday.

“From the bottom of my heart, I apologize for each of these incidents,” Gomez stated. “I hope this settlement offers some level of healing to those who have endured this suffering.”

Interestingly, the Los Angeles Archdiocese was able to reach this settlement without declaring bankruptcy. Gomez noted that the Archdiocese could fund the payments to victims from various sources, including cash reserves, investments, loans, and contributions from other churches involved in lawsuits. He emphasized that these payments would not compromise the Archdiocese’s mission of assisting the needy and vulnerable in their communities.

In a joint statement released on Wednesday, attorneys for the Archdiocese and the Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel, who represents the abuse claimants, expressed gratitude to the survivors for sharing their experiences and taking steps to prevent future abuse.

“While no amount of compensation can ever replace what these 1,353 courageous individuals have lost after years of silence, it is vital to hold accountable those responsible,” emphasized the Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel in their collective statement.