The Catholic Diocese in New Jersey has agreed to pay $87.5m (£67.04m) to hundreds of people sexually abused by the church.
In a first, the deal also paves the way for lawsuits against insurances firms that protect dioceses against charges of negligence.
It is one of the largest settlements involving the Catholic Church in the US, which has been accused of covering up decades of misdeeds.
The diocese has apologised.
The settlement funds will be distributed from a trust over the span of four years to approximately 300 victims of abuse, the diocese said.
It will also include child protection measures, which are still being finalised.
The diocese and attorneys for the victims have agreed to the settlement, but it must be still be approved by a judge because the diocese filed for bankruptcy in 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic and abuse disputes.
Source:Fiilafmonline/BBC
