SYRACUSE (NY)
Daily Orange - Syracuse University Student Newspaper [Syracuse NY]
February 25, 2026
By Owen Smith
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse will establish a “Victims Trust Fund” for survivors of sexual abuse within the diocese, it announced in a press release Wednesday.
The announcement comes after Wendy Kinsella, Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of New York, approved a final decree closing the Diocese’s Chapter 11 case, which sought bankruptcy protection to compensate survivors of sexual abuse, according to a Wednesday release.
The legal journey began on June 19, 2020, after over 100 sexual abuse lawsuits were filed against the Diocese.
The trust fund totals $176.1 million, which will be awarded to survivors by an independent arbiter.
The judge’s issued reorganization plan utilizes a channeling injunction, making it that all claims against the Diocese are resolved through the shared trust fund instead of individual legal actions.
The Diocese said they are training and conducting criminal background checks on 52,000 people to “ensure the safety of those who interact with ministries.”
In a letter addressed to the “Diocesan Family,” Bishop Douglas Lucia expressed a “profound” and “heartfelt” apology to those who suffered harm at the hands of those who were abused by members of the Diocese.
“Words cannot adequately express my feelings and sorrow regarding such heinous behavior,” Lucia said.
He also acknowledged the “significant burden” the Diocese’s bankruptcy placed on those who filed claims and were awaiting relief. The Diocese, which serves seven counties in central New York, stated it remains “ever vigilant” in its resolve to ensure future generations do not experience the same hurt.
Although the legal journey has officially ended for the Diocese, Lucia said the “promise to protect” and “pledge to heal” remain ongoing responsibilities.
Lucia invited the community, survivors and their families to a special mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on April 26, at 2 p.m. Known as “Blue Sunday,” the event coincides with National Child Abuse Prevention Month and serves as a “day of prayer for those affected by abuse.”