A Catholic order that runs schools has become the church's second
order in the U.S. to file for bankruptcy because of sexual abuse claims.
The
North American branch of the Christian Brothers, which has schools
around the world, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection amid
mounting claims.
Members of the Christian Brothers, who are
not ordained as priests, have been accused of sexually abusing scores of
children in the U.S. and Canada.
The total number of cases brought is not known, but one lawyer for
the victims, Seattle-based Michael Pfau, said he has settled more than
50 abuse cases with a total of $25.6 million paid out in the last five
years.
He has accused the order of filing for bankruptcy to protect its assets in Rome.
The bulk of the claims that have engulfed the order come from the Seattle area.
About
35 of the cases originated with the now-defunct Briscoe Memorial
School, an orphanage and boarding school jointly run with the Seattle
Archdiocese in Kent, Washington.
‘There were rapes,
molestations and beatings. The brothers carried long leather straps. It
was a very abusive place,’ said Mr Pfau.
Most lawsuits still
pending involve allegations of sexual abuse at schools and orphanages
the Brothers owned and operated in Washington state and Canada, he said.
Mr
Pfau added: ‘They made money taking over the care of children but put
many of their members who were known abusers in charge of them.
‘Then they tried to cover it up. This bankruptcy is just another effort for them to avoid responsibility.’
The
bankruptcy comes weeks after the Pacific Northwest branch of another
Catholic order, the Jesuits, agreed to pay $166 million to settle more
than 500 child sexual abuse claims.
Those claims led the Jesuits to file for Chapter 11 two years ago.
Last
year, the Congregation of Christian Brothers came under fire over a
report by the Irish government finding widespread sexual abuse of
children in schools and other institutions run by the order in that
country.