C. Mahony sells convent to pay settlement "Facing their Convent's Closure"

[sprout]

The Archdioces of Los Angeles is not asking the Sisters to sell their *private residence *or privately held property to pay for the scandal, as has been suggested of his emminence.

The sisters have been living in the home, rent free, for decades, and do have a convent (owned by their order and not the archdiocese) where they can go.

The real estate in question, owned by the Archdiocese, has a conservatively estimated market value of around $700,000, which for Santa Barbara is dirt cheap! If the sisters did want to stay in Santa Barbara and work with whatever poor may be there then perhaps they could find a neighborhood in one of the poorer surrounding communities i.e. Isla Vista, outskirts of Carpinteria, La Conchita.

The archdiocese is selling off it’s administrative offices, haven’t heard anyone there complaining.

I have been to the Cathedral and found it to be among the most beautiful churches I have visited and I have seen plenty throughout the US and Europe; it’s an inspired loving testament to the honor and glory of God.

 

[DWPC]

The sisters have been living in the home, rent free, for decades, and do have a convent (owned by their order and not the archdiocese) where they can go.

Yep, that bunch of freeloading old biddies needs to get the heave-ho. God forbid Hizzexcellency give up anything. Where would he hold receptions for the Mayor of LA and his mistress?

I have been to the Cathedral and found it to be among the most beautiful churches I have visited and I have seen plenty throughout the US and Europe; it’s an inspired loving testament to the honor and glory of God.

Some consider hip-hop beautiful too. Mahoney’s monstrosity, like his episcopacy, is a blemish on the Church that California was built upon and only provides testament to his hubris and pride.

 

[Wolseley]

If the man had a shred of decency, or shame, he would resign. He is a failure. There is nothing he can do to repair what he has done as a bishop, as a religious leader. He is a disgrace. He has lost all moral authority. How can he live with himself?

He has an ego that is bigger than all outdoors, that’s how. I mean, a man who considers himself to be above both the liturgical laws of the Catholic Church and the Federal laws of the United States certainly won’t find it difficult to stifle any misgivings he has about making others pay for his own massive blunderings.

 

[rpp]

Protect the guilty, punish the innocent and, where possible, take advantage of the poor, needy and elderly in the process.

This, apparently, is the social justice policy of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Expect more of this.

Cardinal Mahony should move into a studio apartment as a penance, **while simultaneously **asking the Holy Father to approve his resignation.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

For what it’s worth, it appears that the Cardinal lives in the rectory of the Cathedral. Can’t sell that off either.

 

[iserve]

It might be interesting to note that priests in the Boston scandal never lost a cent of their personal wealth. While countless properties paid for with the pennies of immigrants were sold off to pay out, the vacation homes in tony beach communities owned by these perverts were safe from O’Malleys swath! John Geoghan’s home in Scituate is still with his sister, and his family is also now suing the state of Massachusetts for his “wrongful death” in prison.

There could hardly be a more repugnant response than that of the Boston Archdiocese, despite the humility of O’Malleys willingness to live elsewhere,( to which he IS obliged since he is a franciscan.) The wounds created by these monsters had barely time to start to heal when the whole diocese imploded in financial ruin and was sold off like an out of business sale. And just like those businessmen, the owner takes the proceeds and sets up a new shop elsewhere. The re-building will begin shortly . . . once we forget and open our wallets yet again.

 

[onetruechurch]

I believe Mother Angelica had a big problem with the bishops when she was starting her satellite radio. I also believe she had a run-in with Mahony but I don’t have the details.
History seems to be repeating itself for the church. There were other times in our church’s history when the lowly nuns,Sts Catherine and Teresa of Avilla had to rescue the church from the worldly priests, bishops, etc.

 

[bpbasilphx]

I confess, I’m sickened and dismayed by this story. What an unconscionable offence against simple justice!

 

[Brendan]

Boston Archdiocese, despite the humility of O’Malleys willingness to live elsewhere,( to which he IS obliged since he is a franciscan.)

Sort of, monastic and mendicant priests are released from their vows when they are raised to the Epsicopal state. They, in essence, become Diocesan.

The Fransicians (and most others) have special exemptions that allow the bishop (who is no longer officially part of their Order) to continue to wear their habit.

But +O’Malley is no longer under vows to the Fransician Order and is not obliged to follow their vow of poverty. The fact that he continues to do so is to his credit

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

There’s an updated article in the Los Angeles Times. Offers of Help Overwhelm Santa Barbara Nuns.

And for those who don’t like to register at web sites, do you know about BugMeNot?

 

[mercygate]

That is the Los Angeles Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, dersively referred to as the “Taj Mahony” or sometimes “the Yellow Armadillo”.

Beautiful structure, isn’t it?

Have you been there? I (as a lover of dim Gothic spaces, preferably located on the other side of the Atlantic) found myself awestruck by the place. It is brilliant as both architecture and as a setting for the Mass. The fact that they might do screwy liturgies in there should not be blamed on the building. Seen from the site, seen from the inside, it is breathtaking.

And it did not cost the diocese a dime. All private donations.

Maybe some of those donors could ante up for the lawsuits. But the suits amount to 3 times the cost of the cathedral.

 

[mercygate]

I am inclined to think that the Cardinal and auxilliaries should sell their residences to pay for the abuse settlements- and maybe even the Cathedral, and buy cheaper homes- and build a Cathedral that is more tasteful- or** find an old, large church to make into the Cathedral.**

Not feasible in L.A. Earthquakes have caused too much damage to the substructures of older buildings. The new cathedral can withstand a 27-inch lateral shift in a Richter scale shock of 8.4 magnitude.

 

[mercygate]

People love to rag on the cathedral and that’s fine, but it’s not relevant to this thread. The cathedral isn’t going to be sold to pay off the abuse settlements and it has absolutely nothing to do with the sisters in question.

I’m in the LA Archdiocese and I’m seriously distressed about this story. The article started with a big picture on the front page of the LA Times. I read it and was sorry that I was Catholic. I don’t want to be affiliated with a church that treats people the way they’ve treated these sisters.

I understand that the need to sell off property to come up with the money to pay the abuse settlement. And I can understand that they might decide to sell off a convent they own. It’s within their rights.

But no one from the archdiocese bothered to contact the sisters personally. They sent a note to the motherhouse of the order, not even to the convent being affected. There was nothing in their letter offering to help them find another place to live. Just “get out.”

This is so cold and unfeeling I can’t believe it.

Every time I think the church is maybe ready to move forward I find that actually, it’s ready to give itself another black eye.

Social justice anyone?

My sympathies are with you but how many people was the convent designed to support?

As someone once observed, “it takes a lot of money to support these ladies in their poverty.”

 

[mercygate]

But why isn’t the “cathedral” going to be sold off to pay for these lawsuits??? It has as much to do with this whole deal as the Sisters and the convent do. If they’re being held liable for this mess, why shouldn’t the “cathedral” be fair game, too???

OK. Put a “FOR SALE” sign out on the front lawn. How many takers do you think there would be?

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

My sympathies are with you but how many people was the convent designed to support?

As someone once observed, “it takes a lot of money to support these ladies in their poverty.”

I have no idea. And I don’t have a problem with the archdiocese selling the property. It’s their right to do so. But I honestly think this could have been handled in a better way, treating these women as sisters in Christ.

 

[mercygate]

I have no idea. And I don’t have a problem with the archdiocese selling the property. It’s their right to do so. But I honestly think this could have been handled in a better way, treating these women as sisters in Christ.

Yeah. But as we saw with the brouhaha over Mother Angelica, that’s not the Mahoney m.o.

 

[Wolseley]

From the article:

'Several community members, headed by Anthony Dal Bello, a Santa Barbara businessman who has known the local Sisters of Bethany since childhood, are forming a committee to try to help them and hope to set up a fund for donations.

“We’d like to find some way for them to stay where they are,” said Dal Bello, who recalls assisting with Mass at the convent as a boy and later serving as president of the local Catholic social service agency. “If the archdiocese has to sell it, we’ll have to try to find the finances to buy it. And otherwise, we’ll have to come up with something else.”'

I think that’s outstanding! Local Catholics buy the convent from His Eminence, and then allow the nuns to stay in their home. Not only is it an act of charity, it also puts Mahony in his place.

 

[rpp]

From the article:

'Several community members, headed by Anthony Dal Bello, a Santa Barbara businessman who has known the local Sisters of Bethany since childhood, are forming a committee to try to help them and hope to set up a fund for donations.

“We’d like to find some way for them to stay where they are,” said Dal Bello, who recalls assisting with Mass at the convent as a boy and later serving as president of the local Catholic social service agency. "If the archdiocese has to sell it, we’ll have to try to find the finances to buy it. And otherwise, we’ll have to come up with something else."’

I think that’s outstanding! Local Catholics buy the convent from His Eminence, and then allow the nuns to stay in their home. Not only is it an act of charity, it also puts Mahony in his place.

I think this is what the archbishop had in mind. No one is putting him in his place. He knew Catholics would step forward and he is going to sell the place at a premium, above what it is worth, to people who love and care for the nuns. In a cold, hard way, it is calculated to generate more revenue.

 

[sprout]

Have you been there? I (as a lover of dim Gothic spaces, preferably located on the other side of the Atlantic) found myself awestruck by the place. It is brilliant as both architecture and as a setting for the Mass. The fact that they might do screwy liturgies in there should not be blamed on the building. Seen from the site, seen from the inside, it is breathtaking.

Agreed.

I stopped by the Cathedral on my way up the Coast. The highlight or most noticeable feature viewing from the 101 is the large mural of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I pulled off at the next exit and found my way around to the Cathedral and went inside.

I have toured Cathedrals throughout Europe including the Notre Dame, St. Marks in Venice, several in Germany, Austria, France, Italy (Venice, Milan, and Florence). I have been to literally hundreds of different Catholic churches throughout the US. I have never been as awestruck as I was by the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. The tapestries with the saints was the coup de gras, it really made visible the communion of saints; the angels and saints participating in the Mass with us.

I think alot of people who say they hate it have never even seen it other than pictures of the exterior and they say this because they truly hate the person who had it built. What a thing to hate and call ugly anyway, a Cathedral, the house of God. A Cathedral dedicated to and named for Our Lady of the Angels.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

olacathedral.org/zoom/interior4.html

 

[mercygate]

Agreed.

I stopped by the Cathedral on my way up the Coast. The highlight or most noticeable feature viewing from the 101 is the large mural of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I pulled off at the next exit and found my way around to the Cathedral and went inside.

I have toured Cathedrals throughout Europe including the Notre Dame, St. Marks in Venice, several in Germany, Austria, France, Italy (Venice, Milan, and Florence). I have been to literally hundreds of different Catholic churches throughout the US. I have never been as awestruck as I was by the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. The tapestries with the saints was the coup de gras, it really made visible the communion of saints; the angels and saints participating in the Mass with us.

I think alot of people who say they hate it have never even seen it other than pictures of the exterior and they say this because they truly hate the person who had it built. What a thing to hate and call ugly anyway, a Cathedral, the house of God. A Cathedral dedicated to and named for Our Lady of the Angels.

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

Yeah. Off topic but true: you HAVE to see it to see how the light infuses the space through those walls of white alabaster! Tapestries: The architect is a genius.