‘Obviously disturbing’ if Christian Brothers’ $1 property sales deprive abuse survivors of pay, government tells court

Concerns Catholic order’s historical transfers of millions in assets were potentially inappropriate, NSW supreme court hears Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Lawyers for the federal government say they are concerned at the “disturbing” potential that the Christian Brothers Catholic order may have inappropriately transferred property to another entity years before claiming it was broke and couldn’t afford to pay abuse survivors’ civil claims. The New South Wales supreme court on Thursday ordered a moratorium on all abuse claims against the Christian Brothers, a Catholic order that played a significant role in the church’s child sexual abuse scandal. The Christian Brothers sought the moratorium because the order said it was going broke and wanted to establish a separate scheme to sell off its remaining property and divide the proceeds between a range of creditors, including survivors. The Christian Brothers estimates it owes $774m to survivors with current or future abuse claims against it. It says it has 36 remaining properties worth $216m under its control. The moratorium will give time fo