OGDENSBURG (NY)
WWNY - 7 News [Watertown NY]
May 19, 2026
By 7 News Staff
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg has agreed to pay $45 million to people who say they were sexually abused as children by clergy and other church leaders.
The settlement to resolve 125 claims of sexual abuse was announced Tuesday afternoon.
“My hope and prayer is that this process will bring peace and healing to all survivors and to all the faithful whose hearts were broken by the gravely sinful conduct of Church leaders. I pray that this settlement will bring healing to all,” said Bishop Terry LaValley.
Settlement follows bankruptcy filing
The settlement comes years after New York passed the Child Victims Act. The 2019 legislation gave a one-year window for sexual abuse survivors to file civil lawsuits barred by the statute of limitations.
The Diocese of Ogdensburg, like others around the nation, filed for bankruptcy on July 17, 2023, to resolve the lawsuits. A committee of abuse survivors was appointed to represent those who filed claims.
The $45 million settlement between the diocese and the committee must be confirmed by the bankruptcy court before the money will be paid out.
“The great harm that has been caused by this sinful behavior must never be allowed to happen again. It is my sincere hope that this process has brought the survivors some comfort and peace,” said LaValley.
Once the settlement is approved, the money will go to the survivors, and the diocese will emerge from bankruptcy.