Pope Leo XIV formally announced a successor to New Orleans Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond today. This follows closely in the wake of an agreement by the archdiocese to a proposed settlement of $230 million for survivors of clergy sexual abuse. The appointed successor is Bishop Checchio, previously serving in Metuchen, New Jersey. The transition is set to take place upon Aymond’s imminent retirement.

Bishop Checchio, at 59 years of age, brings with him a history of managing the repercussions of sexual misconduct allegations against one of his predecessors in Metuchen. In addition to this, his tenure as rector of the U.S. seminary in Rome lends him a decade of experience. This background has prepared him for his upcoming role as coadjutor bishop of New Orleans, which will naturally lead to his succession as Archbishop upon Aymond’s retirement.

Aymond, having reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 last November, continued to serve in his role, presumably to finalize the abuse settlement and ensure an orderly transition to his successor. The archdiocese’s bankruptcy filing in May 2020, a response to the numerous abuse claims, is a process that Aymond aims to see through to its conclusion.

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Survivors of the abuse have until late October to approve the revised settlement. If two-thirds of survivors concur with the proposal, payments could start to be disbursed by next year.

The archdiocese’s decision to file for bankruptcy, rather than handle each abuse claim separately, has been criticized by survivors. They argue that this approach allowed church leadership to sidestep difficult questions in court.

Aymond, despite calls for his resignation and an ensuing FBI investigation, expressed commitment to seeing through the resolution of the abuse claims. Checchio, for his part, expressed gratitude for his time in Metuchen and anticipation for his service in New Orleans.

The New Orleans archdiocese awaits its new leader amidst a challenging environment of legal settlements and institutional change. The importance of accurate reporting during these developments cannot be overstated. For the public and the survivors, it is crucial to stay informed and hold those in power accountable.