#BreakingNews Catholic Diocese Forced to Sell 43 Properties to Pay Abuse Victims in St. John's Newfoundland Canada



43 properties belonging to the Roman Catholic Church of Newfoundland and Labrador are being sold. The Supreme Court approved the sale of  Episcopal Corporation of St. John's, including 13 churches, as dozens more church property sales loom across eastern Newfoundland. The total combined value of 41 of the 42 properties is $20.6 million. These funds will be used to pay abuse victims. St. Paul's Parish was added to the list after the tabulation. Source: CBC 
FULL TEXT Release Diocese of St. John's:
Update from the Archbishop July 16, 2022 
Dear People of the Archdiocese of St. John’s: This coming Monday, July 18, 2022, the Court appointed Monitor for the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of St. John’s will be presenting his second report to the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador. As part of his report, he will be providing a summary of the results of the Sale by Tender process that concluded on June 2, 2022 and requesting Court approval for 42 land parcel sales. Included in those parcel sales is the sale of twelve of our parish churches. Only a few of these proposed church sales are to buyers intending to have the building continue to be used as a Catholic church. Also included in the Monitor’s report is a description of the proposed strategy for the sale of the 19 properties listed in the Tender Process that did not receive acceptable bids and for the sale of 70 other church properties situated in the Burin and Southern Avalon regions of the diocese. Included in this list of properties are all the remaining parish churches, halls and rectories. 


 This sale of churches and the corresponding amalgamation of parishes is a distressing and emotional process for all the people and clergy of the Archdiocese. It brings with it feelings of anger, loss, sadness, and for some people, even at times a sense of hopelessness. During this difficult and challenging time, I am extremely grateful to all the clergy and parishioners, who are working hard to move forward this process by which we are seeking to meet our legal obligations to the victims of abuse and restructure our diocese in a positive and sustainable manner. Asking that you please continue to join with me in praying for God’s healing grace for the victims of abuse and for the gifts of understanding, wisdom and patience for all of us as we continue to journey through this time of restructuring and change, I remain. Sincerely yours in Christ, +Peter Hundt Archbishop of St. John’s

Comments