New Jersey Catholic Diocese Reaches $180 Million Settlement Over Clergy Sexual Abuse

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The Diocese of Camden in New Jersey has agreed to a $180 million settlement to resolve clergy sexual abuse allegations, one of the largest such settlements in the U.S. The settlement will cover claims from approximately 300 survivors of abuse, according to attorneys representing the victims. The agreement comes after years of legal battles and the diocese's previous $87.5 million settlement in 2022.

Why it matters

The Catholic Church has faced a reckoning over widespread clergy sexual abuse scandals that first came to light more than two decades ago. This latest settlement in New Jersey is part of the ongoing efforts by dioceses across the country to resolve these cases, which have resulted in billions of dollars in payouts to survivors and the bankruptcy of several dioceses.

The details

The $180 million settlement was announced by Bishop Joseph Williams of the Diocese of Camden, which covers six southern New Jersey counties. The agreement must still be approved by a bankruptcy court. Attorneys representing the victims credited the survivors' persistence in reaching the settlement, which is larger than the roughly $80 million settlements in Boston and Philadelphia, though settlements in California have ranged much higher, such as the $880 million agreement by the Los Angeles Archdiocese in 2024.

• In 2022, the Diocese of Camden agreed to pay $87.5 million to settle allegations involving clergy sex abuse against some 300 accusers.
• The latest $180 million settlement was announced on February 19, 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The settlement agreement must still be approved by a bankruptcy court.