A federal judge this week said she wants to see the Archdiocese of New Orleans bankruptcy proceedings wrapped up later this year, signaling that clergy sexual abuse victims, church creditors and the New Orleans faithful may soon learn the final financial cost of the abuse crisis to the local Roman Catholic church.

At a hearing Tuesday that included arguments over raising the cap on the bankruptcy’s mounting legal fees, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Meredith Grabill told attorneys for both sides she hopes a mediation hearing scheduled for next week will move the needle forward in the case nearly three years after it was filed.

“I hope we get to 2024 and don’t have to have this conversation again,” Grabill said. “I think that is a reasonable goal…I’m optimistic about what you’re walking into next week and that it will be productive.”

Court documents, many of which have been redacted or…