The settlement is one of the largest in the United States for Catholic dioceses in bankruptcy because of the clergy sex abuse scandal.

A $323 million settlement was made official Wednesday between hundreds of sexual abuse survivors and the Diocese of Rockville Centre – which encompasses 132

A years-long legal battle between Long Island’s Catholic diocese and hundreds of alleged sex abuse victims came to an end Wednesday, with a bankruptcy judge in Manhattan approving a plan that finalizes a $323 million settlement.

The settlement stemmed from the 2019 New York State Child Victims Act, which temporarily allowed sex abuse survivors to file lawsuits regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred. The Diocese of Rockville Centre declared bankruptcy because potential payments from the law could have led to financial ruin, church officials said.

A Roman Catholic diocese in Long Island, New York received court approval on Wednesday for a bankruptcy settlement that will pay more than $320 million to 600 sex abuse survivors who have said they were abused by priests when they were children.