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

The Diocese of Rockville Centre will begin making payments to nearly 600 victims of child sex abuse. The settlement marks the largest diocese bankruptcy deal in the U.S.

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

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.

The judge said he hoped this resolution would bring the victims peace and begin to put the church's history behind it.

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.

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 case, which dates back to 2019, impacts roughly 600 alleged sex abuse victims across 134 parishes on Long Island dating back decades.