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	More Humble, More Faithful, Less Propertied Los Angeles Archdiocese to Sell Its Chief Administrative Building and Other " Non-Essential" Properties to Settle Sex Abuse Claims California Catholic Daily [Los Angeles] May 16, 2007 http://www.calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=ee527ec2-5eba-4a68-8e50-68a4d31c25a3 To fund its share of future financial settlements with alleged victims of clergy sexual abuse, the Los Angeles archdiocese announced it will sell the Archdiocesan Catholic Center in the mid-Wilshire area of Los Angeles as well as other " non-essential real estate properties," said a statement issued by Cardinal Roger Mahony yesterday. In December, the archdiocese settled 46 clergy abuse civil cases for a total of $60 million, of which the archdiocese contributed $40 million, said Mahony in his statement. At that time he noted that "a settlement in those cases will require the active participation of the many insurance companies who provided liability insurance during those past years when the abuse occurred." Attorneys, judges, and Church leaders are still negotiating these settlements. Though the archdiocese has insisted that "insurance companies must honor their responsibility to fund a major share of future settlements," the Church must also pay its share. Mahony said that he noted last December that, to do this, the archdiocese must "begin to dispose of non-essential real estate properties in order to raise funds for coming settlements." The cardinal promised that "no parishes or parish schools will be closed to fund these settlements, nor will their essential ministries be affected by the sales." The properties under consideration are not being used by parishes. Still, said Mahony, the archdiocese would prefer to retain the properties it is considering to sell. All properties, he said, "were acquired over the years to establish new parishes, schools, various charitable institutions, convents, etc." or are being "held for future parishes, future schools, and similar ministry purposes." Cardinal Mahony said the "first major property to be sold will be the Archdiocesan Catholic Center," since "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." "I have often said over the past years that God's grace is more powerful than the evil of sinful actions," said Mahony. "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."
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