Citizendia
Your Ad Here

For a different Roman Catholic order commonly known as "Christian Brothers", see Lasallian Brothers. The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (also known as the Christian Brothers, the Lasallian Brothers, the French Christian Brothers
Logo of the Christian Brothers, adopted in January 2006.
Logo of the Christian Brothers, adopted in January 2006.

The Congregation of Christian Brothers (officially, in Latin: Congregatio Fratrum Christianorum)[1] is a world-wide community of religious brothers within the Roman Catholic church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Beatification (from Latin beatus, blessed via Greek μακάριος makarios) is a recognition accorded by the Catholic church Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice (Iognáid Rís 1 June, 1762 – 29 August, 1844) was a Roman Catholic missionary and [2] The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with the poor. Their first school was opened in Waterford, Ireland, in 1802[3]. Waterford ( or Windy fjord;) is a city in Ireland. It is the primary city of the South East region and the fifth largest in the country Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Br Philip Pinto is the current superior general of the Congregation[4], and head of its Congregational Leadership Team that is based in Rome. A Superior General, or General Superior, is the Superior at the head of a whole religious order or congregation Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2

They are sometimes confused with the Brothers of the Christian Schools, or "De LaSalle Christian Brothers," founded by Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle, a completely separate though similar order. The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (also known as the Christian Brothers, the Lasallian Brothers, the French Christian Brothers Saint Jean-Baptiste de La Salle (John Baptist de La Salle (born 30 April 1651 in Reims; died 7 April 1719 in Saint-Yon For the sake of clarity, Rice's congregation is sometimes called the Irish Christian Brothers.

The congregation has received sustained criticism in recent years after repeated revelations of child sexual abuse in its institutions in Canada, Australia, the UK, and Ireland. Apologies were issued on behalf of the order in several parts of the world towards the end of the 20th Century. [5]

In Ireland, during the latter part of the 20th century, Christian brothers schools were noted for allegations of brutal and frequent use of corporal punishment. [6]

Contents

Formation

Edmund Rice
Edmund Rice

At the turn of the nineteenth century, Waterford merchant Edmund Rice considered travelling to Rome to join a religious order, possibly the Augustinians. Waterford ( or Windy fjord;) is a city in Ireland. It is the primary city of the South East region and the fifth largest in the country Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 The Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo (died AD 430) are several Catholic Monastic orders and congregations Instead, with the support of Dr. Thomas Hussey, Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore, he decided to found a religious community dedicated to teaching disadvantaged youth. Bishop Thomas Hussey (1746 &ndash 11 July 1803) was a Diplomat, Chaplain, and Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Waterford A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight The Diocese of Waterford and Lismore ( Irish: Deoise Phort Láirge agus an Lios Mór) is a Roman Catholic Diocese in Ireland.

The first school, on Waterford's New Street, was a converted stable and opened in 1802, with a second school opening in Stephen Street soon after to cater for increasing enrolments. Two men from his hometown of Callan, Thomas Grosvenor and Patrick Finn, soon arrived to aid Rice in his makeshift schools, with the intention of living the life of lay brothers. In the most common usage lay brothers are those members of Catholic Religious orders particularly of monastic orders occupied primarily with manual labor and with In the same year, Rice used proceeds from the sale of his victualling business to begin building a community house and school on land provided by the diocese. Bishop Hussey opened the new complex, christened “Mount Sion” on June 7 1803, and pupils were transferred to the new school building the following year. [7] The reputation of the school spread and across the next few years several men sought to become “brothers”.

On August 15 1808, seven men, including Edmund Rice, took religious promises under Bishop John Power of Waterford. John Timothy Power (born 14 September 1967 in Allerton, Liverpool) is an English Singer-songwriter and former frontman of 90s rock band Cast Following the example of Nano Nagle's Presentation Sisters, they were called "Presentation Brothers". The Congregation of Presentation Brothers is an international Catholic congregation of laymen founded in 1802 [8] This was the first congregation of men to be founded in Ireland and one of the few ever founded in a Church by a layman.

Houses were soon opened in Carrick-on-Suir, Dungarvan, and in 1811, in Cork. Carrick-on-Suir (Carraig na Siuire is a town in County Tipperary, Ireland. Dungarvan ( Dún Garbháin in Irish) is a town and Harbour on the south coast of Ireland in the province of Munster. Cork (Corcaigh is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland 's third most populous city after Dublin and Belfast In 1812 the Archbishop of Dublin established a community in Dublin and by 1907 there were ten communities in Dublin with in excess of 6,000 pupils. Archbishop of Dublin ( Irish: Ard-Easpuig Bhaile Átha Cliath) is the title of the senior cleric who presides over the Archdiocese of Dublin. Dublin (ˈdʌblɨn/ /ˈdʊblɨn or /ˈdʊbəlɪn/, bˠalʲə aːha klʲiəh or cliə(ɸ is both the largest city and capital of Ireland. The schools included primary, secondary and technical schools, along with orphanages and a school for the deaf. See also Primary education A primary school (from French école primaire) is an institution where children receive the first stage of Compulsory High school is the name used in some parts of the world (in particular Scotland, North America and Australia) to describe an institution Vocational education or Vocational Education and Training (VET also called Career and Technical Education (CTE prepares learners for jobs that are based An orphanage is an institution devoted to the care of children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable to care for them A community was founded in Limerick in 1816, followed by establishments in several of Ireland's principal towns. Limerick (pronounced /ˈlɪmrɪk/ Luimneach in Irish) is a city and the county seat of County Limerick in the Province of Munster

The Holy See formally established the congregation in 1820. The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome, commonly known as the Pope, and is the preeminent Episcopal see of the Roman Catholic The Christian Brothers was the first Irish order of men approved by a charter by the Rome. History See also History of the Papacy Catholics recognize the Pope as a successor to Saint Peter, who Jesus named as the "shepherd" and

Some brothers in Cork chose to remain under the original Presentation rule and continued to be known as Presentation Brothers, a separate congregation but also recognising Edmund Rice as its Founder.

Expansion

Traditional crest of the Christian Brothers, incorporating the Latin motto Facere et docere ('To Do and To Teach').
Traditional crest of the Christian Brothers, incorporating the Latin motto Facere et docere ('To Do and To Teach'). Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome.

The order spread to Liverpool and other parts of England. Liverpool ( is a City and Metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Brother Ambrose Treacy established a very successful presence in Melbourne, Australia in 1868. Brother Patrick Ambrose Treacy CFC ( August 31, 1834 &ndash October 2, 1912) was a Roman Catholic educationist Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3 In 1875 a school was opened in St. John’s, Newfoundland. St John's (ˌseɪntˈdʒanz French Saint-Jean) is the provincial capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and located on the eastern tip In 1878 the Brothers were introduced to the British colony of Gibraltar. Gibraltar (dʒɨˈbrɒltər is a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar Communities were established in New Zealand and, in 1886 the Pope made it clear that he wanted the Brothers in India. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country A province of the order was established there. In 1900 the order was invited to establish houses in Rome. Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 In 1906 the order established schools in New York City. The City of New York

These new ventures were not always successful. Two brothers had been sent to Gibraltar to establish a school in 1835. However, despite initial successes they left in August 1837 on account of disagreements with the group of local Catholic leaders. [9] Similarly, a mission to Sydney, Australia in 1842 failed within a couple of years. Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. [10]

The Brother's schools continue to be of many types, including primary, secondary and technical schools, orphanages and for the deaf.

British Parliamentary Committee on Child Migration

In 1986 Margaret Humphreys a social worker based in Nottingham, UK received a letter from a woman who said that, at the age of four, she had been sent on a boat from the UK to a children's home in Australia, and was looking for help in tracing her parents in Britain. Margaret Humphreys OAM Hon MA CQSW (born 1944 is an author and social worker in Nottingham, England, who in 1987 investigated and brought to

Humphrey's research led to the exposure of the child migration scheme and to the establishment of the Child Migrants Trust, initially financed by Nottingham City Council, and later by the British and Australian governments. The aim of the trust is to reunite child migrants with their biological parents.

In 1998, a British Parliamentary Committee on Child Migration began an inquiry into the child migration policy, and published a report in August that year. The report criticised the policy in general as well as certain Roman Catholic institutions in Western Australia and Queensland where child migrants were housed. The Western Australian Legislative Assembly passed a motion on 13 August 1998 apologising to former child migrants.

Sexual and physical abuse controversy

Canada

Allegations of sexual abuse at Mount Cashel Boys Home orphanage in Newfoundland led to a royal commission (The Hughes Inquiry) and further investigations followed into allegations at other institutions across Canada. The Hughes Inquiry concluded that officials had transferred offenders and covered up the sexual abuse at Mount Cashel; it recommended that victims be compensated. There was insufficient evidence to charge church and government officials with obstructing justice. Nine Irish Christian Brothers were eventually convicted and sentenced to between 1 and 13 years in prison. [11]

The orphanage was closed in 1990, [12] and on April 5, 1992, the Brothers formally apologised to the victims of abuse at Mount Cashel. Events 456 - St Patrick returns to Ireland as a missionary bishop Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) [13]

The fight to compensate the victims of Mount Cashel lasted for many years and in 1996 the Newfoundland government paid $11. 5 million in compensation. The courts ordered the assets of the Brothers sold to compensate the victims, who were to receive between $20,000 and $600,000 each in compensation. In 2002 St. Thomas More Collegiate in Burnaby and Vancouver College in Shaughnessy paid victims $19 million in an out-of-court settlement. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Saint Thomas More Collegiate (STMC is an independent Catholic school located in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. Vancouver College (referred to informally as VC) is an independent Catholic elementary and secondary school (K-12 located in the Shaughnessy neighbourhood of Shaughnessy is an almost entirely residential neighbourhood in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada spanning about 447 hectares in a relatively central locale [14]

In Ontario, over two hundred and thirty former students of a training facility run by Christian Brothers were awarded compensation for abuse taking place in the 1950s to the 1970s. [15]

Australia

There were allegations that during the 1970s sexual abused took place at the junior campus of St Patricks College and St Aliphius Primary School (now closed) in Ballarat, Victoria. Ballarat (formerly spelt "Ballaarat" is a city in Victoria, Australia, and one of the country's largest inland cities After investigation, Brothers Robert Best, Edward Dowlan and Stephen Francis Farrell were all convicted of sex crimes. Dowlan and Best were later transferred to the senior campus, and continued to offend. [16]

In 1971, Bishop Mulkearns (retired) referred a priest, Fr Gerald Risdale for counselling. Fr Ridsdale was later convicted of 46 counts of sexual abuse against 21 victims over two decades. His victims claim that he would select children from the class and abuse them. Ridsdale admitted that his victims can be counted in the 100s. In 1994, Bishop Mulkearns claimed that while he was aware of the abuse, he was not aware of the extent. [17]

Organisational structure of the Christian Brothers

Geographically, the Christian Brothers are divided into several provinces that encompass every continent. A province is a territorial unit almost always an Administrative division. The brothers within each province work under the direction of a Province Leadership Team. In turn, the entire Congregation operates under the leadership of a Congregation Leadership Team that is based in Rome (and led by a Congregation Leader). Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 These provincial and congregational teams are elected on a 6-year basis at Congregation chapters.

At this point in time, restructuring is taking place in Oceania and Europe to account for the changing needs, in particular the declining number of brothers in the developed world. The three provinces of North America (Canada, Eastern American, and Western American Province) restructured into the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers North America province on July 1, 2005. [18] The five provinces covering Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea combined into one Oceania province on October 1 2007,[19] while the provinces that cover Ireland, England and the Congregational Leadership Team in Rome combined into a single European province on May 5, 2007. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland [20]

A special community within this new European province will be based in Geneva, Switzerland, working to establish an NGO known as Edmund Rice International. Geneva (Genève is the second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and is the most populous city of Romandy (the French -speaking Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation The purpose of such an organisation is to gain what is known as a "general consultative status" with the United Nations. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security "This position allows groups the opportunity to challenge systemic injustice and to engage in advocacy work with policy makers on behalf of people who are made poor. " As well as including Christian Brothers from provinces all over the world, members of the Presentation Brothers will also have a presence within this community. The Congregation of Presentation Brothers is an international Catholic congregation of laymen founded in 1802 [21]

Notable Christian Brothers

See also

References

  1. ^ Christian Brother Terms. Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice (Iognáid Rís 1 June, 1762 – 29 August, 1844) was a Roman Catholic missionary and The Congregation of Presentation Brothers is an international Catholic congregation of laymen founded in 1802 Brother Patrick Ambrose Treacy CFC ( August 31, 1834 &ndash October 2, 1912) was a Roman Catholic educationist Paul Francis Keaney was born on the October 5 1888 in Ireland. Brother Paul Nunan was a Christian Brother, and influential headmaster of Christian Brothers College Perth, where he served from 1897-1908 1912-1918 and 1920-21 Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice (Iognáid Rís 1 June, 1762 – 29 August, 1844) was a Roman Catholic missionary and The following is an incomplete list of the schools colleges and other educational institutions founded run or staffed (in any capacity by the History of the Christian Brothers The Christian Brothers were founded in Waterford Ireland in 1802 by Edmund Ignatius Rice who was beatified in Rome in 1996 Allegations of sexual abuse of children have been made against a variety of religious groups including but not exclusively Roman Catholic priests monks and nuns
  2. ^ Edmund Rice - The Man.
  3. ^ Edmund Rice - The Man.
  4. ^ Congregation Letter.
  5. ^ "Christian Brothers apologise over abuse", Independent Newspapers Ireland. date=2006-10-18. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1009 - The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian church in Jerusalem, is completely destroyed by the Fatimid  
  6. ^ "Casual brutality marked life in Artane", Sunday Business post. date=2003-09-07. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1251 BC - A Solar eclipse on this date might mark the birth of legendary Heracles at Thebes Greece.  
  7. ^ Normoyle, M. C. (1976). A Tree is Planted: The Life and Times of Edmund Rice. Congregation of Christian Brothers, 45-50.  
  8. ^ Normoyle, M. C. (1976). A Tree is Planted: The Life and Times of Edmund Rice. Congregation of Christian Brothers, 71.  
  9. ^ Normoyle, M. C. (1976). A Tree is Planted: The Life and Times of Edmund Rice. Congregation of Christian Brothers, 289-296.  
  10. ^ Normoyle, M. C. (1976). A Tree is Planted: The Life and Times of Edmund Rice. Congregation of Christian Brothers, 405-406.  
  11. ^ Notorious Mount Cashel orphanage to close. CBC Archives, Nov. 27, 1989. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. ^ 15 years later, Mount Cashel cases appear to end. CBC News, Friday, May 28, 2004. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. ^ Notorious Mount Cashel orphanage to close - "On This Day". CBC Archives, Nov. 27, 1989. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. ^ Sexual abuse by Catholic clergy: The Canadian situation.
  15. ^ Victims of abuse at Ontario school get $1-million settlement. CBC News, Friday, January 30, 2004. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  16. ^ Ellingsen, Peter. Ballarat's good men of the cloth. The Age Newspaper, June 14 2002.
  17. ^ Christian Brothers defend child-abuser Brother Edward Dowlan
  18. ^ Embracing a Common Future
  19. ^ Shaping Our Future
  20. ^ edmundrice.org.au - New European Province
  21. ^ http://www.edmundrice.org.au/media/Jointletter07.pdf

Further reading

External links

© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic