The Christian Brothers do not accept the now established perception that there was widespread, systematic, sexual abuse in their residential institutions.
They have openly acknowledged that some abuse did take place.
Allegations of sexual abuse have been made against a large number of brothers and former brothers who worked in the residential institutions. The vast majority of these men strenuously refute the allegations made against them and strongly protest their innocence.
It is worth noting that over 95 per cent of these men worked in ordinary day schools for up to 40 years without any allegation or hint of complaint against them. It should also be noted that many complainants name people who do not correspond with any person who worked with the residential institutions or who had been a member of the Christian Brothers.