Catholics Asked to Pray About Crystal Cathedral Bid
At weekend Masses, O.C. diocese requests parishioner prayers for guidance as it considers buying the Garden Grove church and converting it to a Catholic cathedral.
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The Catholic Church is seeking divine assistance as it explores the idea of buying the Crystal Cathedral.
At Masses throughout Orange County this weekend, the diocese asked parishioners to pray for wisdom and guidance for a committee studying the possibility of bidding for the edifice.
The Crystal Cathedral, founded by the Rev. Robert H. Schuller, filed for bankruptcy protection last fall, saying it owed more than $50 million to creditors.
The famous glass church has already drawn bids of $46 million from Chapman University and a Newport Beach investment firm.
Now, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange is eyeing the Garden Grove property.
At Corpus Christi parish in Aliso Viejo, Fr. Fred Bailey devoted part of his Sunday morning sermon to the issue, fielding questions from his flock and explaining the possible benefits of such a purchase.
For starters, it would save the diocese a ton of money. Instead of current plans to spend $100 million (and several years) building a new Catholic cathedral in Santa Ana, the diocese could occupy a readymade landmark at a considerable discount.
The diocese could also move its hilltop Marywood retreat center and offices in Orange to the 40-acre property--then sell Marywood for an estimated $30 million.
One potential roadblock to the deal is that it would leave Crystal Cathedral church-goers homeless. In contrast, the Chapman and Newport bids would allow Schuller's church to continue using the cathedral and even buy back a portion of the property down the road.
Another question--no matter who buys the church--is what would happen to the cemetery on the property.
That's one of the issues that would need to be sorted out, Bailey told his parishioners.
For now, Bishop Tod D. Brown has simply authorized diocesan lawyers and advisors to research the idea. If it seems like the property might meet diocesan criteria for a new cathedral, "we have a duty to at least review the options," Brown said.
Lori Koczor
4:56 pm on Sunday, July 10, 2011
Our magnificent church!
AmericasTelevisionChurch
5:16 pm on Monday, July 11, 2011
Should remain an edifice built to the glory of God and operated by the Reformed Church of America (rca.org) ...
Jan Riley
4:45 am on Monday, July 11, 2011
Interesting side-note to this article: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints pays in advance for all the land for all their church buildings and temple buildings throughout the world and the buildings are completely paid for on their very first day of use.....all from the tithing contributions (ten percent) of the members. And no one is paid for anything. No salaries. From the Bishop's time to the music, and everything else, all Sunday services take place from the volunteered hours of the members. Individual members from the congregation take turns giving 10-15 minute
inspirational talks each week (including the youth), sharing their knowledge from the scriptures and their personal inspiring testimonies.....just like it was in Christ's New Testament church.....sans a payroll and members exhorting one another.
AmericasTelevisionChurch
5:18 pm on Monday, July 11, 2011
There is absolutely nothing wrong with ministers and staff being paid salaries. Would you suggest the same "temple structure for PBS?"
Jan Riley
5:38 pm on Monday, July 11, 2011
Nothing wrong with paid ministers and staff at all......absolutely correct....unless belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the one He organized and the one He is the Head of, is what matters to you. In His church there were/are no paid ministers and staff. In the Church of Jesus Christ, as He organized it, it was a totally lay clergy. And remember? God does not change.
Bruce DeCarlo
8:13 am on Monday, July 11, 2011
Divine guidance? It's real estate. Use your brain.
Shripathi Kamath
8:42 am on Monday, July 11, 2011
:-)
Apparently so, since "One potential roadblock to the deal is that it would leave Crystal Cathedral church-goers homeless". People do not go homeless unless they do not have real estate.
AmericasTelevisionChurch
5:20 pm on Monday, July 11, 2011
Mr. Netanyahu knows that, but too many criticize him. Why? God, who isn't making much more real estate these days, gave the full deed to Israel as Joshua led them into it!
Beth Jordan
9:21 am on Monday, July 11, 2011
In the spirit of ecumenism share the cathedral!
AmericasTelevisionChurch
5:10 pm on Monday, July 11, 2011
Fulton Sheen and Robert Schuller did ... why not now? :)
Nicole
9:53 am on Monday, July 11, 2011
Why not turn this into something much more productive like a an orphanage or a homeless shelter? I find it ironic that these "non-profit" churches have millions to spend on real estate and lawsuit settlements for a cause that is as dead as Zeus or Jupiter. This is a waste of money and a form of taxpayer fraud.
Shripathi Kamath
9:57 am on Monday, July 11, 2011
???
It is private property that is up for bids. Why do you suggest that it is a form of taxpayer fraud? If Chapman, for example, wins it, I presume it'd to expand their education business. How do you see it being an orphanage or a homeless shelter.
If the Church gets it, they can do what they want with it, can't they? As long as they follow the tax code and laws.
AmericasTelevisionChurch
5:22 pm on Monday, July 11, 2011
What you apparently did not know, is that the State of California took away their tax exempt status years ago (which should have been challenged more.) They called it a "performing arts center". I am all for Creed playing there five nights to sellout crowds, to save a protestant edifice!
Matt Gaffney
11:02 am on Monday, July 11, 2011
I went to 4:30PM Mass Saturday at Old Mission San Juan Capistrano & there was no mention of any of this.
AmericasTelevisionChurch
5:22 pm on Monday, July 11, 2011
It's been published ... inquire of the publisher, their source!
Roy Rivenburg
7:03 pm on Monday, July 11, 2011
Matt, it was supposed to be part of the prayers of the faithful.
Mike King
9:13 pm on Monday, July 11, 2011
Here's an example of where the comments beg the question more than the story. Bravo to the Patch paradigm.
STARCHY
11:31 am on Monday, July 18, 2011
all churches should pay real estate taxes. why are "the rest of us" forced to subsidize the largess of those who choose to believe in a fairy godfather in the clouds?
Henning Bjerre
2:00 pm on Thursday, August 11, 2011
This Crystal Cathedral building would be excellence home for many denominations. It is certianly cheaper than building a new one.
Lazlo
4:46 pm on Thursday, August 11, 2011
Why does the Catholic Diocese of Orange need to pray for divine assistance? The Bishops go to the Cardinals in the U.S. who go to the proper committee in Rome who refer it to the Pope who is infallible in matters of the divine--which I would assume includes "assistance"--who then gives God's thumbs up or thumbs down.........ah,oh,ok now I get it...asking for divine assistance is faster than navigating the papal sedimentocracy..........drat! I thought I had something going there for a second......