Pope names successor for embattled New Orleans archbishop after sex abuse settlement

"The New Orleans archdiocese agreed Sept. 8 to a $230 million proposed settlement to end one of the U.S. church's longest and most contentious battles over abuse claims. It had proposed in May to pay at least $179.2 million in response to more than 500 abuse claims, but victims' attorneys opposed the deal as too low. Survivors have until late October to vote on whether or not to approve the revised settlement."

"Aymond reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 last November, suggesting that the Vatican kept him in place to finalize the abuse settlement and allow for an organized handover to his successor. The archdiocese had filed for bankruptcy in May 2020, rather than handle each abuse claim separately, which survivors say allowed church leadership to avoid facing tough questions in court."

"History's first U.S. pope named Bishop James Checchio of Metuchen, New Jersey, as the coadjutor bishop of New Orleans. The position puts Checchio in line to automatically succeed Aymond when he retires."

Pope Leo XIV named Bishop James Checchio of Metuchen as coadjutor bishop of New Orleans, positioning him to automatically succeed Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond upon retirement. Checchio, 59, previously managed Metuchen's response to the 2018 misconduct revelations involving then-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and served a decade as rector of the U.S. seminary in Rome before 2016. The New Orleans archdiocese proposed a $230 million settlement addressing more than 500 abuse claims after an earlier $179.2 million offer drew criticism. Survivors have until late October to vote; two-thirds approval is required for payments to proceed. Aymond reached retirement age last November and plans to remain until the bankruptcy concludes.

Read at ABC7 Los Angeles