Story On Church Real Estate Misses The Mark
Dear Editor,
As the Chancellor and Director of Fiscal Affairs for the Diocese of Worcester, it is my responsibility to write and tell you that WBJ’s recent story “Few Interested in Parish Properties” (April 12, 2010) could not be farther from the truth in terms of the real estate experience of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester.
First, as we have reported in the press and to our parishioners throughout the Diocese of Worcester, the Diocese is not “in financial trouble.”
Certainly there are individual parishes experiencing financial challenges and it is true the diocese has its own financial challenges, largely because of those same parishes. Who isn’t challenged financially today? But your article makes it appear as though the diocese is going under and just unloading properties. It is not.
Driving Factors
In those instances where parishes are being consolidated or merged with others it is generally the case that this is not happening for financial reasons, at least not solely. We have stated from the beginning of our pastoral planning process, and have followed the process assiduously, that the primary reason for restructuring parishes is to create a new sacramental and ministerial vitality in our parishes. This is done so that we may better serve our parishioners.
There are surely demographic reasons which come into play and, of course, the availability of priestly personnel is another factor. This has been broadly communicated in recent years. We work closely with parish groups in our process, and in an editorial in July 2008, our pastoral process was highly acclaimed by the Worcester Telegram & Gazette for its forthrightness, careful planning and pastoral care.
Moreover, our churches cannot be purchased for “a relative bargain.” We demonstrate extraordinary care in having our properties appraised. These assets belong to the people and the monies from our sales go to the people of the respective parishes and we work hard to obtain a fair market price in view of that. Key diocesan leaders, as dictated by our canon law, must vote their approval on all our sales as well. We give nothing away. Each sale is followed by its full disclosure in all the local media markets. We have been successful because of our process.
I was also disheartened that an individual your article cited was quoted as one “who handles sales for area parishes.” On no occasion has that individual ever been hired to handle any sale for the Diocese of Worcester. I, personally, coordinate those sales, and do so in concert with diocesan counsel and, in some cases, with carefully chosen real estate agents. But we have never employed the individual you named.
For that same individual to have claimed that he sees “church sales as land deals” demonstrates a total misunderstanding of how our diocese proceeds.
In the future I encourage your inquiry of us prior to making the kind of claims WBJ’s article cited.
Monsignor Thomas J. Sullivan
Diocese of Worcester
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