Abuse Claims

Australia’s Anglican Diocese of North Queensland has won Supreme Court approval to sell 11 churches and rectories to meet abuse redress obligations of up to $11 million, after a judge warned it could otherwise be insolvent within months.

The Archdiocese of New York sold its Manhattan headquarters, the Cardinal Cooke Building at 1011 First Avenue, for a reported $100 million-plus to help pay for abuse claims, and planned to move to smaller offices beside St Patrick’s Cathedral.

Newfoundland’s Archdiocese of St John’s sold 42 properties, including 12 churches, to pay Mount Cashel abuse survivors, with the basilica bought for $2.3 million by a coalition and St Patrick’s sold to a real estate group.

An investigation reported that Sydney’s Anglicans booked a $49.88 million surplus on their fully let St Andrew’s House tower while moving $39.25 million in abuse liabilities to their aged care arm.

The Benedictine Community of New Norcia in Western Australia decided to sell most of its 8,000-hectare farm, estimated at about $40 million, to meet redress for historical abuse and sustain the monastery.