The entity that ended up with vast land and property transfers from the Christian Brothers is not thrilled about being asked to compensate abuse survivors, setting the stage for a legal battle that one lawyer described as having "high court written all over it." The Christian Brothers, who have a truly appalling record of clergy abuse - one of the worst in the Catholic church - are facing hundreds of current and future abuse cases estimated at $774 million. But last month, the order told a court it was broke and proposed selling off its remaining 36 properties (worth about $217 million) to split among creditors, including survivors. This naturally raised questions about why, over the past decade, the order had transferred vast tracts of land, school buildings, and homes to the Trustees of Edmund Rice Education Australia for the princely sum of $1 each. Edmund Rice Education Australia, created in 2007 and now running former Christian Brothers schools, insists it's independent and continues to hold net assets of $2.3 billion and $345 million in cash as of December 2024. Survivors, worried they'll be left with nothing when the Christian Brothers go under, are trying to transfer their claims to this well-heeled entity. The first test case, brought by two abuse survivors in Victoria, appeared in the state's supreme court on Friday, with the Trustees opposing the move. A hearing in August will examine the historical relationship between the two entities. The case has widespread ramifications and is being closely watched by survivors across Victoria and beyond. It could also affect the Christian Brothers' property sell-off scheme, because if survivors can sue Edmund Rice Education Australia, it reduces the liability on the order. The matter returns to court next week, with a likely hearing in early August.