Liquidation of Church Owned Property

As mentioned below, one of the interesting legal issues arising from the sexual abuse cases facing numerous Catholic dioceses is how do these sums get paid. Well, sure enough, here is an article on exactly that issue. The Los Angeles arch diocese is closing and selling a convent in Santa Barbara to create a fund for the victims. The spokesman for the archdiocese strikes just the right tone on this matter:

"The pain is being spread around," Tamberg said. "We're losing our headquarters here, and none of the employees got a pay raise this year. This is just part of making it right with the victims, and we all have to share in the process even though none of us -- the nuns, myself -- harmed anybody. All of us as a church have to pay for the sins of a few people."

However, this is small consolation to those who were benefited from the church's outreach programs designed to help the poor and suffering. But, what's the alternative?