A Matter of Property

This isn't news, exactly, but it is an answer to an important question that has been of concern to both Anglican Use and Anglican parishes that are considering membership in the Personal Ordinariates to be set up under the CDF according to Anglicanorum Coetibus. Fr. Phillips shares a letter from the St. Joseph Foundation, a well-regarded organization that helps Catholics vindicate their rights under canon law.

When the possibility of becoming part of an Ordinariate became a reality, like many others we had questions about some of the more practical issues, especially matters relating to property. Our Lady of the Atonement Church was founded nearly twenty-seven years ago, and when we were received into the Church the parish had very little property at all – just a modest rectory where my family and I were living. It had very little value, perhaps thirty thousand dollars or so. Nonetheless, it was listed with the archdiocese as our parish property, and the archbishop’s name went on the legal documents. Over the years the assets of the parish have steadily increased, and now our total property is listed at something over 23 million dollars, all with the Archbishop of San Antonio listed as the “owner,” but canonically the property of Our Lady of the Atonement Parish. Was there going to be any problem in having our property and parish assets transferred to an Ordinariate? I spoke to our archbishop, and he left no question whatsoever about his cooperation in doing whatever is necessary in both civil and canon law to complete the transfer when the time comes.

Read the rest at the Anglo-Catholic blog.