New Jersey Diocese Settles Clergy Abuse Lawsuit for $180 Million

The Catholic Diocese of New Jersey has reached a $180 million settlement regarding a clergy sex abuse lawsuit involving a significant number of survivors. This settlement marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing efforts to address church abuse claims in the state.

Bishop Joseph Williams, heading the Diocese of Camden, disclosed the agreement in a letter, expressing that this milestone was long awaited by the survivors. “For South Jersey survivors, this day has been long overdue,” Williams noted. He emphasized it as a vital step toward healing and justice that they have sought for years.

The diocese, which oversees six counties in southern New Jersey near Philadelphia, reported that approximately 300 survivors had come forward with complaints.

Greg Gianforcaro, the attorney representing the victims, commended the resilience of the survivors, acknowledging the lengthy and challenging battle leading to this agreement.

The $180 million settlement amount surpasses earlier settlements in both Boston and Philadelphia, which were around $80 million but remains below the staggering $880 million agreement made with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 2024.

In light of New Jersey’s recent changes to its statute of limitations, the Diocese of Camden had filed for bankruptcy, resulting in a surge of lawsuits. The diocese had previously settled for $87.5 million in 2022 in connection with around 300 accusers. Legal representatives for the victims indicated that the new total of $180 million incorporates the earlier settlement funds.

This agreement, however, still requires bankruptcy court approval. Moreover, it arrives at a time when the New Jersey Supreme Court has cleared the path for a long-postponed grand jury investigation into decades’ worth of clergy abuse allegations.