MILWAUKEE (WTAQ) - A federal mediator will decide how much compensation will be given to victims of sexual abuse by priests in the Milwaukee Catholic Archdiocese.

The church said Tuesday it agreed to enter into mediation in bankruptcy court.

Hundreds of abuse victims make up most of the creditors. The Journal Sentinel says the church’s decision comes as its legal fees are mounting from weeks of settlement negotiations.

The Archdiocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy a year-and-a-half ago to deal with its sex abuse claims.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Randall Newsome of San Francisco will be the mediator, and those talks are set to begin on July 20th.