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Published: January 22, 2008
“Non-essential real estate”
LA Archdiocesan Catholic Center sold for $31 million to help cover costs of clergy sexual abuse settlement
 The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has sold its 12-story chancery on Wilshire Boulevard to help pay part of the costs of a record-breaking $660 million lawsuit settlement with alleged victims of clergy sexual abuse reached in July 2007.
The archdiocesan newspaper, the Tidings, reported the sale in its Jan. 18 edition. The archdiocese sold the Catholic Center for $31 million to Jamison Properties, but will lease back four floors of the 12-floor building from Jamison under a five-year lease agreement.
Last May, before the record settlement was reached, Cardinal Roger Mahony announced that, to cover the costs of settlements already agreed to by the archdiocese, he would sell the Archdiocesan Catholic Center, or chancery, located in the mid-Wilshire area of Los Angeles. “It is only right that the Archdiocese begin this process by demonstrating our commitment to reach final settlement in these cases by selling our central administrative building,” said Mahony. The cardinal announced as well that the archdiocese would sell other “non-essential real estate properties” to meet its share of settlement costs.
The previous December, the archdiocese had settled 46 clergy abuse civil cases for a total of $60 million, of which the archdiocese agreed to pay $40 million.
“I have often said over the past years that God’s grace is more powerful than the evil of sinful actions,” said Mahony in his May 2007 announcement. “Our Church has become more humble, more faithful, and more centered upon our primary mission: to evangelize all peoples in the name of Jesus Christ.”
Following the July 2007 announcement of the $660 million settlement (of which the archdiocese will contribute at least $250 million) with 508 alleged victims of clergy molestation, Mahony reiterated the need to sell “non-essential properties” to fund the settlements, promising that “no parish properties or parish schools will be affected as a result of these settlements.” The archdiocese would, as well, have “to reevaluate all of our ministries and services since we will not be able to offer them at the same levels as in the past,” said the cardinal.
In September, the archdiocese announced it would sell the property of a Santa Barbara convent of sisters to help pay the settlements. The convent house, assessed at $97,746, sits in a neighborhood where, last September, at least, houses started at $700,000.
Then, in October, the archdiocese said it would sell Daniel Murphy High School in Los Angeles, citing the school’s declining enrollment and the archdiocese’s “severe financial challenges.” Parents at the school who opposed the sale said at the time that the 2.7-acre site would go for $25 million to $40 million.
Posted Tuesday, January 22, 2008 8:59 AM By Camille
Wait a minute! Cardinal Mahoney declares that "our church has become more humble,etc" He's the one that needs to be humbled, not the faithful. Not the people who abide by God's and man's laws. Not the good families who give birth to and raise children and marry in a heterogenious relationship. What an egotist is Mahoney!
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Posted Tuesday, January 22, 2008 10:47 AM By Betty
Since when has the Church become more humble and more faithful? My chief complaint against my church is that they refuse to answer my questions. Here's one small, very small example. my church, here in massachusetts, recently announced that we now have a new committee named the parish Pulse Committee. I ask, who decided that we need another committee? What is a pulse committee (what a stupid name)? It's a committee that was formed to "take the pulse of our church by having little group meetings and listening to people talk". This is ridiculous. We don't have time to sit around talking on some undisclosed topic or just beefing about what we don't like which, of course, may be different with each person. This is stupid.
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Posted Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:29 PM By Dave
Maybe Mike Huckabee can establish an emergency child molesting relief fund as part of his platform for his presidential bid, and us taxpayers can continue to subsidize, and increase taxes for the church to settle their pious practices.
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Posted Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:35 PM By John L. Sillasen
Betty, the reason for taking the pulses of the parishes is nothing more than camels holding their noses to the winds. Compare that with a holy leader holding his heart open to the Holy Spirit.
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Posted Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:53 PM By Art of Redding
"Non-essential cardinal"
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Posted Tuesday, January 22, 2008 3:21 PM By Laurette Elsberry
If the Cardinal is going to "reevaluate our ministries and services since we will not be able to offer them at the same levels as in the past", I have a couple of suggestions to start with. Obey the Vatican instructions and get rid of the "Ministry with Lesbian and Gay Catholics" and its equally offensive sub-category of "Peer Support" for "Parents of Gay and Lesbian Catholics". These programs, housed I believe in the Wilshire property that is being sold, are nothing but pro-sodomite fronts pretending to be Catholic. Cardinal Mahony has been in the sodomy camp for a very long time, and he and his minions know how to fake allegiance to the Catholic Church. God help them all.
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Posted Tuesday, January 22, 2008 3:56 PM By MichaelLG
I love the Catholic Church, though at times it can be quite difficult, and Mahoney is one of those people that makes it "quite difficult."
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Posted Tuesday, January 22, 2008 6:07 PM By Edward Peffer
The seed of these scandals was planted when U.S. bishops confronted Pope John Paul II in San Francisco, seeking a "horizontal" heading of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church --rejecting Humanae Vitae. The Pope courageously stood for the "vertical" role of Vicar of Christ, successor to Simon, named "Peter" as the rock upon which Jesus tested him for love and truth.
Another cause of scandal was the lame slogan of Marriage Encounter as if "feelings are neither right nor wrong" editing Aquinas' wording qualified by "reason and will." That's also applicable to Humanae Vitae, which is
brief and free by Web search. Try it, spread it!
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Posted Tuesday, January 22, 2008 8:39 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
Laurette,
Very good suggestions, but I could add one more, and it is to sell the Rojmahal to yet another Conglomerate for a convention center!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher, Founder & Chairman
Concerned Roman Catholics of America, Inc.
www.crcoa.com
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Posted Wednesday, January 23, 2008 8:32 PM By Maya
Time to send Mahoney packing to the Siberian coal. mines.....the wolf in sheeps clothing is long overdue for reparation..............................much more merciful then the wrath of hell...........and pray tell, why has the Vatican remained silent in light of his wretched tinkering with the liturgy and pro/sodomite status? Might I suspect that it also is hostage to a liberal hiarchy?God help us!
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Posted Saturday, January 26, 2008 10:53 AM By Betty
I really enjoyed that answer about camels holding their noses to the wind. Now here's another question if you don't mind. I am very strongly pro-life and one day I told our pastor that I had noticed that there were some blank spaces on the bulletin board at the back of the church and could I post some pro-life items there. He answered and I quote,"I don't want anything to do with you," So my question is, What is the proper response to make to a pastor who tells me that he doesn't want anything to do with me? My instinctive response would be a kick in the shin and "I don't want anything to do with you either."
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Posted Saturday, January 26, 2008 8:26 PM By John L. Sillasen
Betty, what reason has he given to explain why he does not want to deal with you?
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Posted Sunday, January 27, 2008 9:51 AM By Betty
This is a pastor who doesn't give explanations or reasons. At one time our choir sang a Gloria that had a tune like a popular song and the choir members clapped their hands in rhythm. I began clapping my hands louder and threw in a few extra claps every now and then and beat my hands on the church pew in front of me in rhythm with the choir members. The pastor talked to my husband (not me) to tell him to tell me to stop. He didn't have any discussions. When that didn't work, he told my husband that he had talked to his lawyer about taking out a restraining order against me and that his lawyer would help him with it. I wrote to the Boston newspaper to tell them that they might have some interesting news for their Religion section. I think that's why he doesn't want anythng to do with me. I am a fighter, not a wimp.
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Posted Sunday, January 27, 2008 5:45 PM By Maya
Betty, the problem with your pastor stems from the fact that by reminding him of his pastoral duties (promote pro life information, respect for the Blessed sacrament) you have invariably pushed his "guilt button".....resulting in hateful behaviour. Shame on him, for not only is he derelict in fulfilling his duty to guide his flock in truth, but is also guilty of persecuting the one reminding him.He is in bondage to the spirit of pride.......most prevalent in todays clergy,,,,,,,,,we need to pray for a transformation of humble & contrite hearts for these lost souls, hostages to the snares of the devil.The message of Fatima is crystalizing today more then ever...............the clergy is rotting from top down.......and the sheep scatter for lack of true leadership. Its going to get a lot worse before it gets better............not to worry if you have the weapon of the Rosary & the Blessed Mother on your side........she crushes the serpents head...all in Gods time.......we just have to remain faithful & trust in His Divine mercy.
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Posted Sunday, January 27, 2008 8:05 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
Betty,
God bless you, keep it up!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher, Founder & Chairman Concerned Roman Catholics of America, Inc. www.crcoa.com
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Posted Monday, January 28, 2008 3:51 PM By Grisha
Betty: How do the people in front of you react to the extra loud clapping and hand beating on thier pew?
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Posted Monday, January 28, 2008 7:08 PM By John L. Sillasen
Betty, don't let these folks put you down for that loud clapping. I was a member for almost two years of a Catholic Gospel choir, and we were known for our "loud" style. This, btw, was a traditional Catholic choir, and the priest often sang the Mass in chant ... although it wasn't exactly Gregorian chant ... more like St Louis Blues chant. So, clap away, bring beads and slap them over the pew in front of you. Put some rhythm into it; let 'em know a better style. Give that priest a copy of the "Blues Brothers" with the churh scene. If he wants to give away his parish responsibilities to laity, then go for it. Outdo the others. Pray God gives you the power. Dislodge this priest from his comfort zone, put him back on his Jesus throne ... keep him off balance until he has no recourse but Christ.
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