The Christian Brothers religious order has disclosed that it deliberately retained nine convicted child sex offenders within its membership, including one currently incarcerated, according to court documents filed as part of recent legal proceedings. Leadership stated the decision reflected the organization’s interpretation of religious obligations under both canon law and Gospel teachings.
Brother Gerard John Brady, head of the Christian Brothers Oceania province, provided an affidavit explaining the rationale for maintaining these individuals within the order. He argued that expelling offenders into the wider community raised practical concerns, including the likelihood that they would become financial burdens on society and potentially lack access to treatment and monitoring. The leadership team believed that keeping offenders within the congregation allowed the organization to monitor behavior and facilitate treatment in ways that would enhance public safety.
The disclosure emerged as the Christian Brothers obtained a legal moratorium halting all civil claims from abuse survivors. The organization stated it faces imminent insolvency and cannot meet survivor compensation demands. It proposed instead to liquidate remaining property holdings, estimated at approximately 217 million dollars, to establish a compensation scheme.
Documents also revealed that Brady met with representatives of the Holy See beginning six months before the insolvency announcement, seeking financial assistance to address the organization’s deteriorating fiscal situation. No financial support materialized from those discussions. The Christian Brothers has similarly approached Edmund Rice Education Australia, an entity created in 2007 to operate former Christian Brothers schools, though that organization stated it would not divest properties to assist with compensation obligations.
Property records show the Christian Brothers transferred significant real estate holdings to Edmund Rice Education Australia over the past decade, including multimillion-dollar residential properties in Sydney. The transfers have been valued between 540 million and 891 million dollars depending on the assessment method used.
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