Bishop Brennan of Brooklyn Apologizes to Abuse Victims and Announces ‘global resolution’ of Over 1,000 Cases - FULL TEXT
On Feb. 12, Bishop Robert Brennan released the following letter to the faithful of the Diocese of Brooklyn regarding the intent to enter into a global resolution of all remaining Child Victims Act cases.
Important Update on Settlement Efforts for Child Victims Act Cases
February 12, 2026 - Dear Brothers and Sisters,
For many years, the Diocese of Brooklyn has been working to address its part in the Church’s shameful history of sexual abuse of our young people. The impact of sexual abuse is devastating. As your Bishop, I again offer my deepest apologies to all the victim-survivors. We hope fair and comprehensive action to resolve the lawsuits stemming from the New York Child Victims Act (CVA) can further the healing process. On this, I write today with an update.
In 2002, the Catholic Bishops of the United States approved the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, which includes guidelines for reconciliation, healing, accountability, and prevention of future acts of abuse. The Diocese of Brooklyn is fully committed to the protection of children. Today, after significant reforms brought about by the Charter and by rigorous and constructive study and strengthening of our processes, including through cooperation with the New York State Attorney General, our Diocese is a place where children can safely learn and grow in their faith in Christ.
Our Diocesan efforts to compensate victim-survivors and to bring closure have been ongoing. The Diocese’s Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program, which began in 2017, has paid over 500 victim-survivors more than $100 million through the IRCP process. As we previously made clear, the funds used to make these settlements, and future ones, have not and will not come from your donations to the Diocese or from your parish offerings.
Today I announce that the Diocese intends to pursue a global resolution of all approximately 1,100 remaining cases. We will endeavor to resolve expeditiously all meritorious claims, and to avoid the time, expense, and emotional strain for victim-survivors that would be caused by individual trials. The Diocese and our legal counsel have spoken with attorneys representing hundreds of victim-survivors to begin this process. We have all agreed to engage Judge Daniel J. Buckley and Paul A. Finn as neutral mediators to promote the resolution process.
Judge Buckley successfully mediated a global settlement of sex abuse claims filed against the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He has also recently been engaged to globally resolve the CVA claims against the Archdiocese of New York. Likewise, Mr. Finn has successfully mediated hundreds of sex abuse claims brought against the Archdioceses of Boston and Milwaukee, as well as the Dioceses of Rochester, Rockville Centre, and Syracuse. We will seek their guidance in swiftly and justly resolving the meritorious claims brought by victim-survivors against the Diocese of Brooklyn.
To facilitate this global resolution, the Diocese is cost-cutting and setting aside significant funds to compensate victim-survivors. The process of marshalling these funds entails difficult financial choices, but the Diocese is committed to fairly compensating all meritorious claims. The Diocese is immediately undertaking the steps to amass substantial and sufficient funds to support our compensation efforts.
The Diocese has also been productively engaging with representatives of its liability insurance carriers in an effort to obtain additional funds to compensate victim-survivors. The Diocese has also retained Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, Anderson Kill P.C., and Alvarez & Marsal as legal and financial advisors.
As our global resolution process moves forward, we continue to pray for the victim-survivors, their families, and all others impacted by sexual abuse. May the Lord our God bring healing and peace.
I will keep you updated on our efforts as they proceed.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan
Bishop of Brooklyn
February 12, 2026 - Dear Brothers and Sisters,
For many years, the Diocese of Brooklyn has been working to address its part in the Church’s shameful history of sexual abuse of our young people. The impact of sexual abuse is devastating. As your Bishop, I again offer my deepest apologies to all the victim-survivors. We hope fair and comprehensive action to resolve the lawsuits stemming from the New York Child Victims Act (CVA) can further the healing process. On this, I write today with an update.
In 2002, the Catholic Bishops of the United States approved the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, which includes guidelines for reconciliation, healing, accountability, and prevention of future acts of abuse. The Diocese of Brooklyn is fully committed to the protection of children. Today, after significant reforms brought about by the Charter and by rigorous and constructive study and strengthening of our processes, including through cooperation with the New York State Attorney General, our Diocese is a place where children can safely learn and grow in their faith in Christ.
Our Diocesan efforts to compensate victim-survivors and to bring closure have been ongoing. The Diocese’s Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program, which began in 2017, has paid over 500 victim-survivors more than $100 million through the IRCP process. As we previously made clear, the funds used to make these settlements, and future ones, have not and will not come from your donations to the Diocese or from your parish offerings.
Today I announce that the Diocese intends to pursue a global resolution of all approximately 1,100 remaining cases. We will endeavor to resolve expeditiously all meritorious claims, and to avoid the time, expense, and emotional strain for victim-survivors that would be caused by individual trials. The Diocese and our legal counsel have spoken with attorneys representing hundreds of victim-survivors to begin this process. We have all agreed to engage Judge Daniel J. Buckley and Paul A. Finn as neutral mediators to promote the resolution process.
Judge Buckley successfully mediated a global settlement of sex abuse claims filed against the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He has also recently been engaged to globally resolve the CVA claims against the Archdiocese of New York. Likewise, Mr. Finn has successfully mediated hundreds of sex abuse claims brought against the Archdioceses of Boston and Milwaukee, as well as the Dioceses of Rochester, Rockville Centre, and Syracuse. We will seek their guidance in swiftly and justly resolving the meritorious claims brought by victim-survivors against the Diocese of Brooklyn.
To facilitate this global resolution, the Diocese is cost-cutting and setting aside significant funds to compensate victim-survivors. The process of marshalling these funds entails difficult financial choices, but the Diocese is committed to fairly compensating all meritorious claims. The Diocese is immediately undertaking the steps to amass substantial and sufficient funds to support our compensation efforts.
The Diocese has also been productively engaging with representatives of its liability insurance carriers in an effort to obtain additional funds to compensate victim-survivors. The Diocese has also retained Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, Anderson Kill P.C., and Alvarez & Marsal as legal and financial advisors.
As our global resolution process moves forward, we continue to pray for the victim-survivors, their families, and all others impacted by sexual abuse. May the Lord our God bring healing and peace.
I will keep you updated on our efforts as they proceed.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan
Bishop of Brooklyn
https://dioceseofbrooklyn.org/important-update-on-settlement-efforts-for-child-victims-act-cases/
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