A group of former students claims that 165 children suffered sexual and physical abuse in Lasallian Catholic schools from the 1950s to the early 1990s.
A collective of former Lasallian Catholic school students reports that 165 victims have been identified as having experienced sexual and physical abuse between the years of 1950 and the early 1990s across 46 institutions connected to the congregation. The report, released after a call for testimonies, reveals harrowing accounts of violence, including rape and torture, allegedly justified by a systemic climate of terror within the schools.
The organization, formed by former students now aged between 50 and 78, emphasizes the long-lasting impact of the abuses that occurred within these educational settings, as they note that many of the victims were children between the ages of 5 and 15 at the time of the incidents. These revelations contribute to a growing focus on accountability for historical abuses within educational institutions, particularly those affiliated with religious organizations.
As societal awareness increases about the need for recognition and justice for victims of institutional abuse, this report sheds light on the dark history of the Lasallian schools and calls into question the broader implications for the Catholic Church’s handling of such cases. The collective's effort to bring attention to these abuses may compel further investigations and push for more robust support systems for survivors.
