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Unprecedented $395* Million Dollar Settlement in Archdiocese of San Francisco Largest Ever Reached in Bankruptcy Clergy Abuse Cases

By Jennifer Stein June 29, 2026

Unprecedented $395* Million Dollar Settlement in Archdiocese of San Francisco Largest Ever Reached in Bankruptcy Clergy Abuse Cases

Settlement Paired with Unprecedented Systemic Change in Child Protection & Survivor Support

(San Francisco, CA) – On Monday, June 29th at 12:00 p.m. PST, Jeff Anderson, along with survivors and advocates, will disclose details on a monumental and unprecedented settlement in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Multiple survivors of clergy abuse in the Archdiocese of San Francisco will speak at the event – one survivor will be sharing her shocking story publicly for the first time, having suffered in silence for decades and is currently working for a Catholic school.

“This is the survivors’ brave declaration and reclamation of power. The survivors have risen up to require a real reckoning.” – Jeff Anderson

Survivors of clergy sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of San Francisco reached a settlement with the Archdiocese for $395* million that impacts approximately 530 survivors. Each survivor will have a vote to approve the terms that have been so rigorously negotiated by the survivor’s committee and counsel. This settlement follows years of back-and-forth mediation between the Archdiocese and the Survivors’ Creditors Committee, and comes nearly three years after the Archdiocese filed for bankruptcy. $395* million is a less than full measure of accountability but stands as the largest per survivor settlement in any clerical bankruptcy. As a part of the settlement, the Archdiocese is turning over (assigning) its rights under the insurance policies for the survivors to recover additional damages against all the insurance companies who refused to abide by their contractual responsibilities to the Archdiocese and the survivors.

Requirements of this settlement:

The 14-Point Plan for Systemic Change, Protecting Children, & Empowering Survivors

Transparency Required – Systemic Change Demanded, Required & Now Negotiated as the Core of This Proposed Settlement 

  1. An Independent Child Protection Consultant must be retained with full access to all files and records.
  2. The consultant’s report must be published on the Archdiocese website.
  3. A partial list of “Credibly accused” offenders to be publicly released, with a process for more complete and robust disclosure.
  4. The Survivor’s Committee to select a survivor to sit on the Archdiocese Independent Review Board.
  5. Whistleblower policy must be amended to cover reports of childhood sexual abuse.
  6. Creation of a survivor-sensitive public archive to include survivor voices, Archdiocese documents, and personnel files of accused clergy.

 

A Safer Future – Safety of Children & Empowering Survivors

  1. All survivors must be released from existing mandatory confidentiality agreements (NDAs).
  2. No future settlements can include mandatory NDAs.
  3. A Survivor Bill of Rights must be posted on their website and delivered to anyone reporting misconduct.
  4. Prohibition of any one-on-one texts and private digital communications between adults and children.
  5. An anonymous online reporting form must be added to the Archdiocese’s website.
  6. A non-retaliation statement must be posted protecting employees from termination, wage reduction, or adverse action for making a report.
  7. Archbishop Cordileone to write letters of apology to survivors.
  8. Enhanced reference check procedures must be adopted for all Archdiocese personnel.

“There’s been a monumental shift in power – the Archdiocese of San Francisco used to hold the power over survivors who were abused as children by priests. Now, the survivors have the power, have the voice, and have demanded real accountability.” – Jennifer Stein

Press Event Details:

When: Monday, June 29th, 12:00 PM PST

Where: Live-streamed on Jeff Anderson & Associates’ YouTube channel