A federal judge has approved a federal settlement that will clear the way for the New Orleans Archdiocese to pay at least $230 million to hundreds of victims of clergy sexual abuse. The judge on Monday signed off on the settlement following negotiations that had been going on since 2020. Earlier this month, some of the hundreds of survivors testified to how the abuse impacted their lives, leading in some cases to decades of substance abuse, divorces and struggles with faith. Archbishop Gregory Aymond told reporters he was apologizing on behalf of the church. The settlement also includes policies intended to improve abuse prevention and increase transparency over church handling of abuse claims.