TRENTON, N.J. — The Catholic Diocese of Camden has reached a massive $180 million agreement to settle clergy sexual abuse allegations, marking one of the larger such settlements nationwide while remaining smaller than some record-breaking cases.
In a letter released Tuesday, Bishop Joseph Williams of the Camden Diocese, which serves southern New Jersey and surrounding Philadelphia suburbs, revealed the settlement details.
“For the survivors of South Jersey, this day is long overdue and represents a milestone in their journey toward restored justice and the healing and recognition they have long sought and deserve,” Williams stated.
Attorney Greg Gianforcaro, who represents victims in lawsuits against the diocese, praised the determination of abuse survivors in securing this agreement.
“It’s been an extremely long and arduous battle,” Gianforcaro told reporters during a phone interview.
This settlement adds to a series of agreements stemming from a scandal that first gained widespread attention over twenty years ago when the extent of abuse and institutional cover-ups emerged in Boston. While the Camden agreement surpasses settlements of approximately $80 million in Boston and Philadelphia, it falls short of some California cases, including the Los Angeles Archdiocese’s $880 million agreement reached in 2024.
The Camden settlement follows the diocese’s decision last year to drop its opposition to New Jersey’s grand jury probe into decades of alleged child sexual abuse by religious officials. The state Supreme Court subsequently authorized the investigation to proceed.
Like numerous dioceses across the country, Camden filed for bankruptcy protection as it faced a flood of lawsuits following changes to statute of limitations laws.
In 2022, the diocese had already agreed to an $87.5 million settlement addressing clergy abuse allegations from approximately 300 accusers, representing one of the nation’s largest Catholic church cash settlements at that time. According to victims’ lawyers, the current $180 million announcement incorporates those previous funds.
The Camden diocese oversees six southern New Jersey counties located outside Philadelphia. The settlement requires bankruptcy court approval before taking effect.
