SAN FRANCISCO (CA)
KGO-TV, ABC-7 [San Francisco CA]
June 30, 2026
By Luz Pena
A historic $395 million settlement has been reached between the Archdiocese of San Francisco and hundreds of survivors who accused the church of childhood sexual abuse.
The settlement will compensate more than 500 survivors, many of whom came forward after decades of silence. Survivors say they hope the outcome will help protect other children from abuse.
This is one of the largest settlements between the Catholic Church and survivors of sexual abuse. Survivors described the agreement as a turning point after years of advocacy.
“Today’s shame is going to change sides. This acknowledges the systemic denials and cover-ups by the Archdiocese of San Francisco,” said Margie O’Driscoll, a survivor and co-chair of the survivors committee.
For three years, a committee of nine survivors represented more than 500 people in negotiations with the archdiocese.
“What was broken in me is not able to be broken by human means it was so deep,” said survivor Brigid Crotty. “When he (priest) abused me, he would always say you are a bad girl and if you tell anyone everyone will know that you are a bad girl.”
The Archdiocese of San Francisco is one of 13 dioceses in the United States that has not released a list of credibly accused abusers. Under the settlement, the archdiocese will be required to implement 14 changes aimed at protecting children. Those include enhanced screening measures for church personnel and a ban on private conversations between children and priests.
In 2023, the archdiocese filed for bankruptcy after hundreds of lawsuits were brought by alleged sexual abuse victims.
Attorneys representing survivors said the new safeguards will be enforced through the bankruptcy court system.
“It is our hope and it is our plan, and it is the expectation that the power and the jurisdiction of the bankruptcy court, judges and the successors and the survivors have the opportunity to require the archbishop, the entire enterprise, all the parishes, all the schools and all the affiliates that already comply,” said attorney Jeff Anderson.
In a letter, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone acknowledged the harm caused.
“I sincerely apologize to all those who have suffered because of those failures. We remain committed to fostering healing and reconciliation…,” he wrote.
Some critics say the agreement does not go far enough.
“I don’t think it will change as much as it needs to until the clerical system that runs and culture that runs the Catholic Church is demolish,” said Tim Stier, a former priest in Oakland.
As part of the settlement, the archbishop will also be required to write an apology letter to each survivor taking responsibility, a step survivors say will be significant.
The 14-Point Plan for Systemic Change, Protecting Children, & Empowering Survivors:
1. An Independent Child Protection Consultant must be retained with full access to all files and records
2.The consultant’s report must be published on the Archdiocese website.
3.A partial list of “Credibly accused” offenders to be publicly released, with a process for more complete and robust disclosure.
4.The Survivor’s Committee to select a survivor to sit on the Archdiocese Independent Review Board.
5.Whistleblower policy must be amended to cover reports of childhood sexual abuse.
6.Creation of a survivor-sensitive public archive to include survivor voices, Archdiocese documents, and personnel files of accused clergy.
7.All survivors must be released from existing mandatory confidentiality agreements NDAs.
8. No future settlements can include mandatory NDAs.
9. A Survivor Bill of Rights must be posted on their website and delivered to anyone reporting misconduct.
10. Prohibition of any one-on-one texts and private digital communications between adults and children.
11. An anonymous online reporting form must be added to the Archdiocese’s website.
12. A non-retaliation statement must be posted protecting employees from termination, wage reduction, or adverse action for making a report.
13. Archbishop Cordileone to write letters of apology to survivors.
14. Enhanced reference check procedures must be adopted for all Archdiocese personnel.