But advocates also advise victims to carefully weigh whether applying for an award makes sense. Many survivors are struggling with medical bills and seek closure after years of being met with defensiveness from the church.

Michael J. Dowd, a lawyer who represents 64 victims from the Brooklyn diocese, said he is advising all of his clients to apply. In 2002, he filed two lawsuits, on behalf of 62 of them, against the diocese, but ultimately lost on appeal because of the statute of limitations.

“We worked thousands of hours to bring that case to the Court of Appeals, and I told them we will never give up on it,” Mr. Dowd said. “And we are not. I would rather be in court, but if we can’t get there, then this is the next best thing, when nothing is a possible alternative.”

He has told his clients, many of whom are now elderly, that they have nothing to lose by seeing what amount is offered. If they decline the offer, they are no worse off than they are now. “They want to still be breathing if there is some kind of compensation for their suffering,” he said.

Carolyn Erstad, a spokeswoman from the Brooklyn diocese, said that the program was a reaction to the victims, who “began asking Bishop DiMarzio to do for them what Cardinal Dolan did in the Archdiocese."

The diocese will borrow the money to pay the awards, and will not use money from regular collections for that purpose, a news release said. Independent mediators, not the diocesan administration, will determine awards.

In the New York Archdiocese, which includes Manhattan, Staten Island, the Bronx and seven upstate counties, mediators are still considering claims from victims who have not previously come forward to officials about their abuse. They have so far awarded compensation to 120 victims. Lawyers for the victims have said the awards have ranged from the low to mid-six figures.