Archdiocese Survivors Committee Calls for Insurers to Follow Hartford's $100M Settlement Offer

Survivors urge Archdiocese of Baltimore to accept bankruptcy reorganization plan after major insurance payout

Apr. 7, 2026 at 11:26pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a legal document or court file related to the clergy sexual abuse case, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conveying a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic.The Archdiocese of Baltimore's bankruptcy proceedings continue to cast a harsh light on the trauma endured by survivors of clergy sexual abuse.Baltimore Today

Survivors of clergy sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore are calling on the church to accept a proposed bankruptcy reorganization plan after an insurance company, The Hartford, filed a motion to pay $100 million to settle some claims. The Survivors Committee says the Archdiocese has let negotiations drag on, causing further trauma, and wants other insurers to follow Hartford's lead with similar settlements.

Why it matters

The Archdiocese of Baltimore filed for bankruptcy over two and a half years ago, leaving survivors waiting for resolution and compensation. This $100 million settlement offer from The Hartford represents a significant step forward, but survivors are still seeking around $900 million total from the Archdiocese and its various insurers.

The details

On Friday, the law firm representing the Survivors Committee filed a motion proposing a reorganization plan for the Archdiocese. The Hartford Insurance Company offered $100 million to settle some of the claims, contingent on the reorganization plan being accepted by the diocese. The company wants to pay victims and buy back all of its policies from the Archdiocese, possibly paying a large amount now in exchange for more certainty and less future exposure. Survivors want the church's other insurers to follow suit and propose similar settlements.

  • The Archdiocese of Baltimore filed for bankruptcy over two and a half years ago.
  • On Friday, The Hartford Insurance Company filed a motion to pay $100 million to settle some claims.

The players

Archdiocese of Baltimore

The Catholic diocese serving the Baltimore metropolitan area, which filed for bankruptcy over two and a half years ago amid clergy sexual abuse claims.

The Hartford Insurance Company

An insurance company that filed a motion on Friday to pay $100 million to settle some claims against the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Abuse Survivors Coalition

A group representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, urging the church to accept the proposed bankruptcy reorganization plan.

Teresa Lancaster

A member of the Abuse Survivors Coalition.

Frank Schindler

A member of the Abuse Survivors Coalition.

David Lorenz

A member of the Abuse Survivors Coalition.

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What they’re saying

“The church needs to care. And actions speak louder than words.”

— Teresa Lancaster, Member, Abuse Survivors Coalition

“Each delay has exacted an enormous emotional and physical toll on survivors.”

— Frank Schindler, Member, Abuse Survivors Coalition

“This $100 million is contingent on the reorganization plan being accepted by the diocese.”

— David Lorenz, Member, Abuse Survivors Coalition

“Nothing is going to fully alleviate the trauma we have all suffered, but in this context, the current filing, as Dave and Teresa have outlined, takes on an incredible significance for survivors.”

— Frank Schindler, Member, Abuse Survivors Coalition

“Being committed to helping survivors is just words if they don't do something.”

— David Lorenz, Member, Abuse Survivors Coalition

What’s next

The Archdiocese of Baltimore is working with the Survivors Committee to reach a resolution on the bankruptcy reorganization plan. The court will need to approve The Hartford's $100 million settlement offer as part of the plan.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing struggle for survivors of clergy sexual abuse to seek justice and compensation from the Catholic Church. The $100 million settlement offer from The Hartford represents progress, but survivors are still seeking a total of $900 million from the Archdiocese and its insurers to fully address the trauma they have endured.