BATU CAVES (MALAYSIA)
Sitnas Media ID [Majlis Perbandaran Selayang, Malaysia]
July 4, 2026
By Rika Dwi Firnanda
The Christian Brothers Oceania province has retained nine convicted child sex offenders as members of its religious order, citing a Gospel imperative as justification, according to court documents reported by The Guardian on Thursday.
Brother Gerard John Brady, head of the Oceania province, stated in an affidavit that 176 brothers remain in the order, most based in Australia.
One convicted offender is currently imprisoned, while others face allegations.
“While dismissal of an offender from the Christian Brothers is an option open to us, I believe that it is not always the appropriate response,” Brady said.
The provincial leader argued that discharging offenders could create a financial burden for taxpayers, as many lack independent means of support.
“Accommodating known sex-offenders in the wider community following their discharge remains a difficult issue for society.
The [Oceania leadership team] believes that the Christian Brothers have obligations both to the wider community and to the offender,” Brady explained.
The affidavit noted that canon law obligates the order to care for all members, which leadership views as a fundamental religious duty.
“We accept that this philosophy requires us to continue contact with and support of those found to have committed serious criminal offences.
We see this as a Gospel imperative,” Brady said.
Financial Distress and Property Transfers
The order recently obtained a legal moratorium on all current and future civil claims, halting dozens of pending trials.
It is facing insolvency and proposes selling its remaining property, valued at approximately $217 million, to distribute among survivors.
Court documents revealed the Catholic order sought financial assistance from the Holy See months before declaring it lacked funds to pay abuse survivors.
Brady requested support from various Catholic institutions, but “no financial support has been forthcoming,” he said.
Over the past decade, the Christian Brothers transferred vast land holdings to Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA), an entity managing former order schools.
Property records show a five-bedroom Strathfield home in Sydney, valued at $4.7 million, was transferred to EREA for $1 by former head Peter Clinch.
The order estimates total property transfers are worth $540 million, while EREA financial documents value the received land at $891 million.
EREA stated it will not sell these properties to assist the Christian Brothers, though the order will not prevent survivors from suing EREA directly.
Brady asserted that keeping offenders within the congregation allows the order to monitor their behavior and facilitate necessary rehabilitation.
“We believe that, if the Christian Brothers keep an offender within the Congregation, we are able to monitor his behaviour and support treatment,” he said.
The leadership acknowledged that the community might view such support as prioritizing offenders over victims, but stated they aim to avoid compromising justice.
“We acknowledge that victims and members of the wider community may interpret such support as preferring the interests of offenders over victims.
However, we are conscious of ensuring that our support of the Brothers does not undermine seeking justice for, or compromising the protection of, victims and survivors,” Brady said.