Christian Brothers granted pause on child abuse victim payouts due to financial strain

The NSW Supreme Court has granted the Christian Brothers a moratorium pausing all civil abuse claims, including settled but unpaid matters, after accepting that the order, which has $23 million in cash and says it has been spending about $1.7 million a week on victim payouts, could otherwise run out of money before creditors consider a proposed scheme funded by its remaining 36 properties, valued at about $216 million. More from ABC News.

Meanwhile, survivor lawyers and lawyers for the Commonwealth are scrutinising earlier transfers of substantial church properties, including several prominent Catholic schools, to Edmund Rice Education Australia for nominal consideration, saying it would be disturbing if arrangements were made to shield assets or limit institutional liability. More from AFR (subscription required) and The Guardian.