Christian Brothers Oceania Province said its “shameful and painful” history of abuse has led it to sell off its assets in order to settle with victims.
A Catholic religious community in Melbourne, Australia says it will be forced to close after nearly two centuries as it moves to settle a large number of abuse claims brought against it.
Christian Brothers Oceania Province said on June 22 it was proposing a plan to facilitate the “orderly distribution of our remaining property, funds and other assets” to victims of abuse by congregation members.
The organization said in a press release that “some members” of the congregation had caused “enormous harm through their criminal sexual abuse of children.”
The group said it is facing a “pivotal moment” in which a “very difficult financial position” led it to propose the distribution scheme. Either through that scheme or through “liquidation,” the group said its Oceania province would “inevitably come to an end.”
The congregation has multiple chapters on every continent except Antartica and has faced numerous sexual abuse allegations elsewhere. The Oceania province includes congregations in Australia, New Zealand, and Papa New Guinea.
The organization said that over roughly the past 45 years it
