Archdiocese and Insurer Battle Over Abuse Payouts

Rival websites and public relations campaigns fuel feud between New York Archdiocese and Chubb over who should pay sex abuse claims

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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The Archdiocese of New York and its insurer Chubb Ltd. have been embroiled in a vicious legal battle for nearly three years over who should pay hundreds of millions of dollars in sex abuse claims filed against the church. The dispute has involved rival websites, public relations campaigns, and allegations of bad faith on both sides as they fight over the insurance coverage.

Why it matters

The case highlights the ongoing challenges Catholic dioceses across the country face in resolving the clergy sex abuse crisis, as they battle with their insurers over who is responsible for compensating victims. The feud also raises concerns about the lengths organizations may go to in order to avoid payouts, and the impact the drawn-out legal battles can have on abuse survivors waiting for resolution.

The details

The Archdiocese of New York is one of the largest Catholic institutions in the country, with over 2.5 million members. It has faced a flood of new abuse claims following the 2019 passage of New York's Child Victims Act, which temporarily lifted the statute of limitations. In 2023, Chubb sued the archdiocese, arguing its policies only covered 'accidental occurrences' and not the widespread abuse the church allegedly knew about and covered up for decades. The archdiocese has accused Chubb of pursuing a nationwide strategy of avoiding its obligations to cover abuse claims, while Chubb has alleged the church is deploying its 'vast resources' to deny victims compensation. The two sides have engaged in a war of rival websites and public relations campaigns, each accusing the other of bad faith tactics to delay a resolution.

  • In 2017, the archdiocese cited looming abuse settlements as the reason it took out a $100 million mortgage on midtown Manhattan property.
  • In 2019, New York's Child Victims Act temporarily opened a statute of limitations window that let accusers sue over decades-old abuse.
  • In 2023, Chubb sued the archdiocese, arguing its policies only covered 'accidental occurrences'.
  • In late 2023 and early 2024, the archdiocese was briefed on communications and fundraising by the Coalition for Just and Compassionate Compensation, an abuse victims' advocacy group.
  • In April 2024, Chubb's initial lawsuit against the archdiocese was reinstated on appeal.

The players

Archdiocese of New York

One of the country's largest Catholic institutions, with over 2.5 million members and hundreds of parishes, schools, and other sites across New York.

Chubb Ltd.

A major property and casualty insurance company that has been battling the Archdiocese of New York over who should pay hundreds of millions in sex abuse claims.

Coalition for Just and Compassionate Compensation

An abuse victims' advocacy group that has been publicly criticizing Chubb and attempting to shame the company into paying out sex abuse claims against the archdiocese.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan

The Archbishop of New York, who has been a central figure in the archdiocese's handling of the sex abuse crisis.

William Whiston

The former Chief Financial Officer of the Archdiocese of New York, who acknowledged in a sworn statement that the church had been briefed on the Coalition for Just and Compassionate Compensation's communications and fundraising.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to allow the archdiocese to amend its lawsuit against Chubb to claim fraud and seek punitive damages.

The takeaway

The bitter feud between the Archdiocese of New York and its insurer Chubb over who should pay sex abuse claims highlights the ongoing challenges Catholic dioceses face in resolving the clergy abuse crisis, as they battle with insurers unwilling to cover the mounting costs. The dispute has devolved into a war of rival public relations campaigns, underscoring the lengths organizations may go to in order to avoid payouts, and the toll the drawn-out legal battles can take on abuse survivors waiting for resolution.