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Spectrum News [New York NY]
July 30, 2025
Sexual abuse survivors have voted unanimously to accept a multi-million dollar settlement with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester.
The $246 million settlement is part of the diocese’s bankruptcy proceedings that have been ongoing for years. However, there is a potential end in sight now that the victims have approved the settlement.
The diocese’s bankruptcy plan is set to go before a judge for approval on Sept. 5, which could then lead to payouts for more than 460 victims.
Some of them say the settlement will help them turn the page.
“I hope for the rest of the other survivors that they will have an experience similar to my own and that they will accept what has gone on in this case and they will see this as an acknowledgement of something awful that happened to them,” said abuse survivor Carol Dupre.
The diocese issued this statement:
“The Diocese of Rochester is hopeful that the bankruptcy plan will be approved at the Confirmation hearing scheduled for September 5, 2025, and help to ease the hurt and suffering of the survivors, who have endured this painful process for six years. We pray that they will know the peace of Jesus and their faith, so scarred by those who so betrayed their trust, will be restored in Our Lord who is our ultimate hope.”
The total $246 million settlement between the survivors and the diocese includes a $120 million payout from Continental Insurance Company that was announced last week.
The Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings began in 2019 after the Child Victims Act was signed into law by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The act allowed survivors of childhood sexual assault to take their abusers to court for crimes that took place before they turned 18 — waiving the statute of limitations for a limited time.