The Diocese of Rockville Center has agreed to a $320 million settlement with hundreds of individuals who have accused clergy of sexual abuse. The settlement, reached in federal bankruptcy court on Thursday, includes compensation for around 600 survivors after years of legal battles and negotiations.
Richard Tollner, one of the survivors and chairman of the Diocese of Rockville Center Unsecured Creditors Committee, described the settlement as a hard-fought resolution. “Today is the first victory, but it’s a victory that took a long time,” he said. Tollner’s case dates back nearly 50 years, when he says he was abused as a teenager at St. Pius X Preparatory Seminary in Uniondale. He stated that he reported the abuse multiple times but no action was taken at the time.
Attorney Adam Slater, who represents roughly 100 survivors, highlighted the scale of the agreement, calling it the “largest diocese settlement in the history of New York state.”
The financial terms of the settlement involve contributions from several sources. The diocese, along with its parishes and related entities, will provide $234.8 million, while insurance companies are set to contribute just over $85 million. An additional $3 million will come from counsel for the Creditor’s Committee.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the diocese said the church’s intention was to ensure fair compensation for abuse survivors while maintaining the church’s mission. “The diocese’s goal has always been the equitable compensation of survivors of abuse while allowing the church to continue her essential mission. We believe that this plan will achieve those goals,” the statement reads.
Tollner noted that many survivors have expressed mixed feelings about the settlement, with some feeling relief and others viewing it as a difficult concession. “A majority of them it’s a little bit of relief. A few of them it’s a surrender, but a majority of them are like, ‘It’s time,'” he said.
The settlement still requires a formal vote of approval by the survivors, and there is no clear timeline for when this process will conclude. A previous settlement offer of $200 million was rejected.
