Christian World | Archbishop Ronald Hicks told priests the archdiocese has reached an understanding with all Child Victims Act plaintiffs; signing is set for the week of Nov. 6.

ACW | October 27, 2026 — Archbishop Ronald Hicks, head of the Catholic Archdiocese of New York, told priests in an email on Saturday, October 24, that it has reached an understanding "with all of the plaintiffs and their attorneys" in Child Victims Act cases.

The Good Newsroom, the archdiocese's news outlet, which saw the email, reported that the understanding covers all Child Victims Act claims against the archdiocese, its parishes and affiliated agencies.

Hicks wrote that the deal is not final until the settlement is signed, now scheduled for the week of November 6. He said he hopes it can "bring some measure of healing and reconciliation to all victim-survivors."

The email gave no figure. Vatican News, citing the email, put the settlement at $800 million for about 1,300 claimants and called it the second-largest involving a US Catholic diocese, after the Archdiocese of Los Angeles's $880 million agreement in 2024.

Background: Vatican News reports that a 2019 New York law extended the deadline for survivors of child sexual abuse to file civil suits until age 55 and opened a temporary window for older survivors. In other US Catholic Church news, ACW reported that two US bishops regretted meeting President Trump at the White House.

Why it matters: If signed, the deal would close child sexual abuse claims against one of the largest US archdioceses; Hicks says it could bring survivors "some measure of healing and reconciliation."

ACW will continue to follow this story.

Sources: The Good Newsroom — Archbishop Hicks Shares Update on Child Victims Act Claims; Vatican News — New York Archdiocese agrees to $800 million settlement over abuse litigation

Photo: The Good Newsroom (illustrative)