Court settlement approved for New Orleans Archdiocese to pay hundreds of clergy abuse victims

St. Louis Cathedral is seen from Jackson Square in New Orleans. Apolline Guillerot-Malick/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images/File New Orleans AP —

The New Orleans Archdiocese will pay at least $230 million to hundreds of victims of clergy sexual abuse under a settlement approved Monday by a federal judge that follows years of negotiations.

Richard Trahant, an attorney representing victims in the case, and a spokesperson for the archdiocese both confirmed approval of the settlement to The Associated Press by US Bankruptcy Judge Meredith Grabill.

Archbishop Gregory Aymond, the head of the archdiocese, told reporters outside a federal courthouse on Monday that he’s pleased “this is the end of this process” and hopes that survivors will “find some closure.”

“We hope and pray t