The Catholic Archdiocese of New York has reached a proposed $800 million settlement to end litigation of more than a thousand sex abuse claims against clergy members.
The offer comes just months into the tenure of Archbishop Ronald Hicks.
The settlement, if accepted, would end the six years of litigation from Joseph Caramanno of Staten Island.
“It’s been almost six years, and it does bring me a sense of relief knowing that, OK, this is where we are headed,” he told NY1.
Caramanno sued the Archdiocese of New York and his former high school, St. Joseph by the Sea. He accused a priest there of sexual abuse in 2001.
He was 16 years old.
Caramanno is one of more than 1,300 people who sued the Archdiocese of New York when state lawmakers in 2019 allowed childhood victims of sexual abuse to file new claims.
“Just as what happened to me when I was 16 was just me. I know there was someone else there, but it was just me. And it’s just been me in these six years waiting to hear something about my case and these other cases,” he said.
Also under the settlement, the Archdiocese would publicly disclose the names of clergy with credible claims of abuse against them.
That’s an important disclosure to Caramanno.
“That is something that brings me a little bit more closure, and I hope that that is something that does happen and is a way to prevent anything like this from happening again,” he said.
In court papers for Caramanno’s case, the school’s principal said he never witnessed abuse or received allegations of it regarding the accused priest.
To raise $300 million, the Archdiocese sold off real estate and cut staff.
Negotiations started under Cardinal Timothy Dolan and continued under his successor, Archbishop Ronald Hicks, who took the role in February.
In a letter, Archbishop Hicks wrote that a settlement will get compensation to victims faster and without risking bankruptcy.
“It cannot be denied that this has been a painful process – most significantly so for the victim-survivors and their families and loved ones who have suffered, in most cases, for decades,” Hicks wrote.
“We’re hopeful that we can progress in these negotiations to a conclusion, but it’s going to require all the survivors,” Jeff Anderson, an attorney representing Caramanno and other victims, told NY1.
Caramanno is ready to accept it, to avoid further litigation in case the Archdiocese files bankruptcy.
“I would rather it be over and done with,” he said.
Caramanno left the church for a time, but tells NY1 he’s since reconnected with his Catholic faith and attends Mass at a church in Brooklyn.
“It just takes one step, one conversation, one Sunday Mass where you go and you’re open, and it makes it better,” he said.
