Child abuser who preyed on orphans housed at Christian Brothers property

Generic picture of person holding rosary beads. Christian Brothers-owned property is being used to house at least two brothers with histories of child sexual abuse. Photograph: Kzenon/Alamy View image in fullscreen Generic picture of person holding rosary beads. Christian Brothers-owned property is being used to house at least two brothers with histories of child sexual abuse. Photograph: Kzenon/Alamy Child abuser who preyed on orphans housed at Christian Brothers property Exclusive: Records obtained by the Guardian show property owned by Catholic order used to house at least two brothers with horrific histories of child sexual abuse Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Christian Brothers properties have been used to house convicted child sexual abuse offenders, including one brother who preyed on orphans and another who was kept in teaching positions for almost three decades after senior officials became aware of his offending. The Christian Brothers prompted fury from survivors last month when it declared it was about to go broke, and could no longer afford to meet their claims in court. Last week, the Guardian revealed that the order had kept nine convicted child abusers as brothers within its order, arguing there was a “Gospel imperative” to “care for all Brothers” and “the needy”, according to court documents. The documents also show the Christian Brothers’ constitution requires it to provide financial support to current brothers, including by covering housing costs, rates, electricity, gas and water bills, health insurance, reimbursement for medical, dental and physiotherapy, a “Community Living Allowance” of $1,200 per month, the provision of vehicles and associated costs, money for spiritual development, including retreats, as well as some food and entertainment expenses. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email Land title records obtained this week by Guardian Australia show that Christian Brothers-owned property have been used to house at least two brothers with horrific histories of child sexual abuse – Brother Rex Elmer and Brother Peter Toomey. Christian Brothers kept nine child abusers as members due to Gospel imperative to help ‘the needy’, court documents reveal Read more Toomey was convicted in November 2005 of 10 charges of indecent assault against students at Trinity College in Brunswick in the 1970s and was jailed. He was jailed again in 2019 for sexually assaulting two boys aged 14 and 15 in the 1970s and 1980s. The royal commission found the Christian Brothers had become aware of child abuse complaints against Toomey very early on in his career, but allowed him to remain in its schools until the end of 2000, almost 30 years later. In 1973, senior Christian Brothers officials were warned that Toomey had been involved in an “indiscretion” with a boy. Within two years of the first report, they were told he was “too familiar in his touching of the boys”. Toomey was then moved to Parkville, Forest Hil