LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville agreed to pay $25.7 million to settle 240 sexual-abuse lawsuits against 34 priests and other church workers, The Courier-Journal reported.

The settlement represents the second largest payout in an abuse case for the Roman Catholic Church in the United States since the crisis over clergy abuse began in January 2002.

None of the money will come from insurance, which means the Louisville archdiocese will pay more out its pockets than the Diocese of Dallas did in 1998 in its record $30.9 million settlement with 12 plaintiffs. That settlement was partly covered by $19.6 million in insurance.

Around the nation, several other large settlements between dioceses and victims have been reached in the past year.

In September, the Diocese of Providence, R.I.,  agreed to pay $13.5 million to settle 36 sex-abuse claims and the Boston Archdiocese agreed to pay $10 million to 86 alleged victims. In May, the Diocese of Manchester, N.H., reached a $6.5 million settlement with 61 alleged victims, settling most of the sexual abuse lawsuits in the state.

At a news conference, Louisville Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly addressed victims, the newspaper reported.

"No child should ever have had to experience what happened to you. I promise that we are doing everything we can to prevent child abuse in the Church. I apologize for what we did or what we failed to do that led to your abuse," he said. "I hope that today's settlement is seen as a sign of our willingness to support you in your healing."

The money is to be paid in 30 days into an escrow account under the terms of the agreement, which still requires approval by Jefferson Circuit Judge James M. Shake, who is overseeing the cases, according to the newspaper.