NEW ORLEANS — In a nearly unanimous vote, hundreds of victims of child sexual abuse by clergy and other church creditors approved a $230 million bankruptcy settlement with the Archdiocese of New Orleans by a midnight deadline Thursday.

The archdiocese reported in a court filing Thursday morning that the deal was accepted by a staggering 99.63% of creditors, excluding a small group of bond investors who voted against it while suing the church and alleging it committed securities fraud.

The church did not report the total number of votes cast but said “hundreds of survivors voted overwhelmingly to accept the plan,” which will dole out payments to victims of abuse based on points assigned for the severity and effect of the abuse and includes agreements to release files on abusive priests an

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