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    Diocese closes purchase of Crystal Cathedral

    Associated Press – Fri, Feb 3, 2012

    ORANGE, Calif. (AP) — The Diocese of Orange has closed on its purchase of the shimmering Crystal Cathedral and surrounding 31-acre grounds, putting the iconic building seen as a testament to televangelism in Catholic hands.

    The diocese said Friday that escrow proceedings had closed on its $57.5 million purchase of the property, which will become the site of a long-sought cathedral for Orange County's nearly 1.3 million Catholics.

    The sale of the sprawling property in Garden Grove was critical for the financially ailing Crystal Cathedral to help pay creditors and emerge from federal bankruptcy protection.

    "Our goal is to preserve an already cherished religious landmark and to enhance its worship use for Orange County Catholics and all people of faith who may be inspired by this wonderful, now Catholic, cathedral," Bishop Tod. D. Brown said in a statement.

    The sale of the building designed by renowned architect Philip Johnson could mark an end to the storied televangelist ministry broadcast that came crashing down in hard times.

    The building's glass-paned walls that let worshippers see the sky is the backdrop for the church's "Hour of Power" televangelist program, which is the source of 70 percent of the church's revenue.

    Many churchgoers opposed the sale of the building to the diocese, preferring an alternative presented in a bidding war by Orange County's Chapman University that would have let the ministry continue to use the site. But church board members and founder Rev. Robert H. Schuller decided in the end they wanted to keep the building as a house of worship.

    "It is time for all believers not to focus on differences, but on respect and appreciation for our common goals," Schuller said in a statement. "Today is not an ending; rather, it is a divine continuance of a beautiful, sacred campus that was dedicated to the greater glory of God."

    Experts say the ministry will need to work to rebuild its identity after losing its iconic home. There will be a period of transition. The ministry can continue to use the glimmering church and other campus structures for up to three years while diocese officials prepare the site for Catholic worship.

    For example, the church will need a central altar and a baptismal font, diocese officials said.

    The Crystal Cathedral sought bankruptcy protection in 2010, citing a drop in revenues following the recession. A message was left at the church Friday seeking comment.

     
    • painterdave
      painterdave  •  3 mths ago
      The Catholic Church did not need that structure and only shows us that instead of helping poor people in need who are desperate, they buy a building.
      • Carol37
        Carol37 3 mths ago
        They do NOT CARE about the POOR AND THE SICK.

        My neighbor who is a lifetime friend is a Cancer Survivor. Not ONE Priest or nun nor anyone in the CC called to see how she is doing these 13 years. They have not even darkened her door. It is all about MONEY!
      • rnb4me2
        rnb4me2 3 mths ago
        Catholic Servise Inc.
    • Tiocfadh ar la
      Tiocfadh ar la  •  3 mths ago
      And they want to close our 150 year old Catholic church? The nerve they have preaching hard times to us.
    • Stmarsaille
      Stmarsaille  •  3 mths ago
      What didn't Robert Schuller believe his own heresies and pay off the debt with positive thinking? What didn't he, "plant a seed," in another ministry to insure God's blessing? In the end, all of that prosperity teaching has absolutely NOTHING to do with Christianity, or with God -- it is actually an abomination to Him. It is a lie and these people prove it everyday. If the Crystal Cathedral, and the ministry of Schuller was so vital to God, then why did all of this happen?
      • Lakes Lady
        Lakes Lady 3 mths ago
        Prosperity teaching as some kind of interpretation of the Bible has always bothered me too. It's really hard to find a church that doesn't stick strictly to promoting the Bible instead of each denominations' interpretations that some council decided were the rules
    • Goldwing
      Goldwing  •  3 mths ago
      It wasn't the recession, but Schuler's kid's who sent the church into bankruptcy, not paying bills, etc. Once Schuler retired, it was over. In fighting and irresponsible spending were its downfall.
      • Honey
        Honey 3 mths ago
        Did you forget that the senior schuler sent his limo to pick up food for himself and his wife and demanded that theaithful support them???
    • Carbon Copy
      Carbon Copy  •  Olympia, Washington  •  3 mths ago
      Do you think that the Diocese of Orange would not have any fundraiser drive for this? For 1.3 mil Catholics, they only need to chip in average about $45.00 each, what a bargain. Good move!
    • Baron hans
      Baron hans  •  3 mths ago
      Sadly many tele evangeleists may start out good & honorable but we see how they become richer and richer as time goes on. Rev Schuller and his son and daughter though very good ministers are certainly close to be in the top 10% income earners in the USA.
      That the Catholic church bought this property is a good thing and at a fairly reasonable price for establish the cathedral of Orange county.
      I would like to see where the church can help allow other faiths to use the campus at a reasonable rent to help truly show unity of faith and honor to Him.
      • Honey
        Honey 3 mths ago
        Reminds me of the ray stevens song...it's something you should read or listen to on youtube. Would Jesus wear a rolex..

        Woke up this mornin', turned on the t.v. set.
        there in livin' color, was somethin' I can't forget.
        This man was preachin' at me, yeah, layin' on the charm
        askin' me for twenty, with ten-thousand on his arm.
        He wore designer clothes, and a big smile on his face
        sellin' me salvation while they sang Amazin' Grace.
        Askin' me for money, when he had all the signs of wealth.
        I almost wrote a check out, yeah, then I asked myself

        Would He wear a pinky ring, would He drive a fancy car?
        Would His wife wear furs and diamonds, would His dressin' room have a star?
        If He came back tomorrow, well there's somethin' I'd like to know
        Could ya tell me, Would Jesus wear a Rolex on His television show.
        Would Jesus be political if He came back to earth?
        Have His second home in Palm Springs, yeah, a try to hide His worth?
        Take money, from those poor folks, when He comes back again,
        and admit He's talked to all them preachers who say they been a talkin' to Him?
      • David
        David 3 mths ago
        You are a joke baron hans.
    • just me
      just me  •  3 mths ago
      most televangelist end up spewing dribble and false doctrine, or at least a one sided feel good doctrine before it's all over with. not wanting to offend it's adoring public by warning them to repent of sin and not preaching that there is a hell. instead they amass riches for themselves while telling the ppoor to send in their seed, evenif they don't have it and sit back and" expect a miracle".....that's why a lot of these "preachers" will stand before the Lord at judgement and say, "but Lord, we did great things in your name"...and theLord will say, "depart from me, I NEVER knew you"...
    • DNYS
      DNYS  •  San Jose, California  •  3 mths ago
      God giveth, and God has taken away! Schuller, that means back to the "drive in" ministries with your greedy kids pushing that old jalopy pulpit.
    • nometh
      nometh  •  Terre Haute, Indiana  •  3 mths ago
      To wounded god's child: lay off the drugs. Get help.
      I know of drugs.it will destroy you....and worst of all....all around you.
      • Diana
        Diana 3 mths ago
        yes, they are sue destroying me!
    • Shaman
      Shaman  •  Mountainside, New Jersey  •  3 mths ago
      Sprawling property in Garden Grove.
      Shimmering Crystal Cathedral.
      Escrow proceedings.
      Federal bankruptcy protection.
      $57.5 million purchase.

      Dang ! Maybe next time we should feed the hungry and house the poor.
    • Windows is acting up
      Windows is acting up  •  3 mths ago
      the window treatments alone will cost them a fortune in that place.
    • I am Chives
      I am Chives  •  Denver, Colorado  •  3 mths ago
      my ex- watched this all the time. I wunder what she thinks now?
    • POTUS
      POTUS  •  3 mths ago
      Real Christians have no need of ostentatious mega buildings. It about your personal relationship with God, nothing else.
    • Bruce
      Bruce  •  Springfield, Missouri  •  3 mths ago
      We would all be better off (and know where our money is going) if we worked in our own communities rather than trust these fallible people to control millions of dollars. I have never heard of an archeological dig in Jerusalem to find Christ's original corporate offices.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  Phoenix, Arizona  •  3 mths ago
      When a religion glorifies a multimillion dollar building more than preaching the word of God; something has to be wrong with their thinking. If Jesus would come back today and see how religion has become Big Businesses and Big fancy buildings, and Scam artists, he would be appalled at what he sees. The TELevangelist scammers, crying and whimpering to con money from people who believe what they are saying is sincere. One wonders where all the money went from this Mega Church. High living, limos, fancy clothes, who knows? And all in the name of Religion. A sad situation.
    • Harvey
      Harvey  •  San Diego, California  •  3 mths ago
      They want seperation of church and state then the government should tax them like a corporation. they shurly are a corporation they pay thier CEOs plenty.
    • Joseph
      Joseph  •  3 mths ago
      Schuler can go back to preaching as he did originally....at a drive-in.
    • O.K.
      O.K.  •  Germantown, Maryland  •  3 mths ago
      A Church is not a building. A church is a community of people serving God. This might have to do with how much money is in the pockets of people of Orange Co. rather than how much love in their hearts.
    • Lakes Lady
      Lakes Lady  •  3 mths ago
      I'm not as upset over Catholic Church purchasing the building as with televangelism constantly coaxing people to donate then using the money to build such an ostentatious building. The building doesn't represent faith at all, it represents all that is wrong with society's obsession with bigger and costlier everything.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  3 mths ago
      If Jesus had a grave, he would be rolling over in it......
     Post a comment
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