So I just found out that last night the Crystal Cathedral had to declare bankruptcy and was subsequently acquired by the Catholic diocese of Orange, California. The Vatican has formally approved the $57.5 million transaction.
The Church seats 2,736 people and was designed by Philip Johnson. It was established at the behest of Reverend Robert Schuller, who has been the main pastor there for decades.
The Catholic Diocese struck a deal with Robert Schuller's organization to allow him to lease the church for 3 years, after which they will move to a smaller Catholic church in the area, and the Catholic community will take over this large edifice.
Interestingly, the currently named "cathedral" is a misnomer since no bishop has his "cathedra", or chair, there. But after three years, it will indeed become a cathedral once the Catholic bishop officially relocates. Was this foreshadowing?
Apparently there has been substantial growth in the Catholic community of that area which is why they require this large church. I'm glad to see this type of growth.
I am glad that this church was saved. But I am oh so sad that the Catholic Church bought it. I feel so bad for the people that invested in this church. I also feel that Robert Schuller, became way to old to handle the Cathedral.
ReplyDeleteWonderful that the building was purchased by Catholics who can keep up the place and offer it to the Glory of God as it was intended.
ReplyDeleteI am Catholic and I am against it totally. I feel that with all the hardship in the world and in the catholic community. We go to church to give money to the church because our priest are always saying please support our mother the church. I do but not to spend 57 million on a church. I give to help the sick poor and needy if the church has extra money not to buy a church to show it off.
ReplyDeleteJohn 12, 3-5
ReplyDelete3 Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus* and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.d 4Then Judas the Iscariot, one [of] his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, 5“Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages* and given to the poor?”