Hartford Offers $100M to Survivors of Baltimore Archdiocese Sex Abuse

Survivors say the Catholic Church must take responsibility and provide compensation for decades of clergy abuse.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 2:51am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a Catholic rosary bead against a pitch-black background, the bead cracked and worn, conveying the damage caused by clergy sexual abuse.A cracked and worn Catholic rosary bead, a haunting symbol of the trauma inflicted by clergy sexual abuse that has plagued the Archdiocese of Baltimore for decades.Baltimore Today

The Hartford Insurance Company has proposed a $100 million settlement as part of the ongoing bankruptcy case involving the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The money would help compensate over 940 survivors of clergy sexual abuse, though no payouts can occur until both sides reach a final agreement. Survivors have been pushing the archdiocese to take full responsibility and provide adequate funding to support those impacted by the decades of abuse.

Why it matters

The Archdiocese of Baltimore's bankruptcy case has dragged on for years, frustrating survivors who want swift justice and compensation. This latest development with The Hartford's substantial offer represents progress, but survivors say the church must do more to atone for its role in enabling the abuse and provide the full $890 million they have requested.

The details

In the bankruptcy proceedings, attorney Jonathan Schochor, who represents survivors, announced that The Hartford Insurance Company has proposed a $100 million settlement. This money would help resolve the case, though no payouts can happen until an overall agreement is reached between the archdiocese and the survivors. Survivor David Lorenz, who was abused as a teenager, said the process is taking too long and that some survivors have passed away waiting for resolution.

  • The Archdiocese of Baltimore filed for bankruptcy in September 2023, just before the Maryland Child Victims Act became law.
  • Substantial progress was made in the bankruptcy mediation on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.

The players

Jonathan Schochor

An attorney who represents survivors of clergy sexual abuse and advises the creditors' counsel in the Archdiocese of Baltimore's bankruptcy case.

William Lori

The Archbishop of Baltimore, whom Schochor is calling on to take responsibility and provide more assets to compensate survivors.

David Lorenz

A Maryland resident and survivor of clergy sexual abuse who was targeted as a teenager at an all-boys high school in Kentucky.

The Hartford Insurance Company

One of the leading insurance companies in the U.S. that has proposed a $100 million settlement as part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore's bankruptcy case.

Archdiocese of Baltimore

The Catholic diocese that filed for bankruptcy in 2023 amid growing legal claims from survivors of clergy sexual abuse.

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What they’re saying

“The Harford Insurance Company, one of the leading insurance companies in the U.S., has put forward $100 million.”

— Jonathan Schochor, Attorney representing survivors

“We need the Archdiocese of Baltimore... and I'm calling upon (William) Lori, who is our archbishop, to step forward, take responsibility, be accountable, and get his assets up to help compensate the 940 plus or minus children who were sexually abused.”

— Jonathan Schochor, Attorney representing survivors

“At one point in my late 20's, I wanted to tell my wife, but I didn't have the words or the ability to tell her.”

— David Lorenz, Survivor of clergy sexual abuse

“He was moving out of the area. We had going away parties for him. I stayed overnight at his residence as I had done at least a couple of times before that...In the morning he came in and raped me.”

— David Lorenz, Survivor of clergy sexual abuse

“This is taking way too long. The diocese keeps saying... they will do whatever they can for survivors, but they're dragging their feet. We've had survivors who had filed a claim against the diocese and they have since passed away.”

— David Lorenz, Survivor of clergy sexual abuse

What’s next

The survivors committee is hopeful other insurance companies will follow The Hartford's lead with additional settlement money. The survivors committee has asked for nearly $890 million in total compensation.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing struggle for justice and accountability within the Catholic Church, as survivors continue to demand the full truth be revealed and adequate funding be provided to support those impacted by decades of clergy sexual abuse. The Archdiocese of Baltimore's bankruptcy proceedings have dragged on, frustrating many who want swifter resolution.