The Irish Christian Brothers (ICB), a religious order of brothers (monks) headquartered in New York state, filed bankruptcy last year when they were faced with more than 50 victims of abuse, molestation and beatings. The Canadian congregation (affiliated with the ICB in New York) faced national disgrace when more than 300 children came forward to tell their stories of abuse at the Mount Cashel orphanage in Newfoundland.
In Ireland, it’s estimated that thousands of children were raped at ICB schools.
As a part of the federal bankruptcy proceedings, the court has set a special deadline date of August 1 for victims of sexual abuse. Read the court order here. ANYONE who was abused by a Christian Brother or was abused at an ICB school only has until that date to file a claim. After August 1, 2012, victims can no longer hold the ICB accountable for covering up and facilitating child sex abuse.
Patrick Wall and I went to Hawaii last week and found three previously undisclosed perpetrators at Damien Memorial High School in Honolulu. As we get more names of perpetrators, I anticipate we will find more.
For a complete list of schools run by the ICB, click here.
I am normally not a fan of pushing victims to come forward. But in the case of these bankruptcies, if victims to not come forward now, they lose the opportunity forever.