As a priest, I wonder what Jesus would say about the Christian Brothers’ crying poor

July 5, 2026 — 3:00am

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What would the Pope make of recent reporting that reveals the Christian Brothers in Australia is set to declare itself bankrupt after shifting at least $500 million in assets into a separate legal entity, making it inaccessible to church child abuse victims seeking compensation?

Pope Leo XIV last month denounced the “scourge” of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, before he met privately with abuse victims in Spain. The Pope said some of his most painful encounters had been with those who have been wounded by those who were supposed to care for them, including members of the clergy. “The Church community must respond with listening, truth, justice, reparation and an even more determined commitment to prevention and a culture of care,” the US-born Pope told Spanish bishops.

As a Catholic priest of nearly 60 years, I’m ashamed that those poor kids were damaged and burdened for life by people they were told they must both obey and trust.

Yet rather than responding in good faith, the Christian Brothers in Australia have reportedly spent years transferring the assets – mainly land and school buildings potentially worth billions – to the Trustees of Edmund Rice Education Australia.

On Thursday, all sex abuse claims against the Christian Brothers in Australia were suspended after the Supreme Court of NSW granted the Christian Brothers a moratorium,........

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