Bankrupt Crystal Cathedral Sold to Catholics for $57M
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(Image credit: Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)
Bankrupt megachurch Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif. is changing faith traditions. The Roman Catholic Dioceses of Orange is purchasing the church’s 40-acre property with its towering glass building for $57.5 million in a deal approved by a bankruptcy court judge Thursday.
The megachurch, founded by television evangelist Robert H. Schuller in 1995, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October last year to restructure its staggering debt.
The founder’s son, Robert A. Schuller, took over the church until he was forced out, in part, by family members who reportedly disagreed with Schuller’s leadership. The younger Schuller, now chairman of FamilyNet media company, had the highest salary at the church when it went bankrupt at $196,478, the Orange County Register reported.
The current congregants of Crystal Cathedral will have to find a new place of worship though dozens attended the six-hour hearing pleading to call off a sale of the property.
The board of directors on Wednesday voted to approve the Catholic diocese’s purchase even though Chapman University in Orange County offered up to $59 million.
“It will become a true center for our Catholic community in Orange County,” Bishop Tod D. Brown told reporters after the hearing in federal bankruptcy court, the Associated Press reported.
The board chose the diocese to preserve the church as a religious institution, citing church bylaws and a desire to honor the donors who contributed to the church’s construction.
In 2008, the recession led to a decrease in church donations and ticket sales to its holiday pageants, according to church officials.
The church’s money troubles forced it to lay off at least 140 people last year, halve the air time of the “Hour of Power” TV program and even dismiss its orchestra and professional choir singers, church officials had said.
The cathedral decided to file for Chapter 11 only after some of its creditors sued for payment, according to church officials. Hundreds of creditors could be owed between $50 million and $100 million, according to documents filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Its largest creditors include several television stations.
The beleaguered church canceled its “Glory of Easter” for the first time last year. Its holiday pageants, which charged up to $45 admission, drew thousands of people. People who were hired for those grand productions were among the creditors who say they were owed money.
“It was a very big production,” said Juliet Noriega, the wardrobe manager for the pageants, who claims she was owed more than $11,000 last year. “The three wise men rode in on camels. The roman centurions made their entrances on horses. Because the cathedral was such a large venue everything they did there was quite large. There were 200 people on stage and thousands of costume pieces.”
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Yeah, that’s what Jesus wanted, big gaudy shiny multi-million dollar towers. I know that was in the New Testament somewhere….
Posted by: WorkingClass | November 18, 2011, 12:55 pm 12:55 pm
The structure is entirely made of glass. Imagine the insurance premiums on an all glass building that sits in an earthquake prone area. Every time I drove by it I thought it was a dumb move to build something like that. Robert Shuller started the church in an old closed down drive in movie theater. His parishioners would drive in, sit in their cars, enjoy their beer and cigarettes while attending church services.
Posted by: howdymo1 | November 18, 2011, 1:17 pm 1:17 pm
There is nothing divine about the building. It is a man made structure with a cross in/on it.
Posted by: raggmopp | November 18, 2011, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm
howdyno – there have been several earthquakes already and the CC has fared fine. Matter of fact, thousands of other glass buildings (in the same neighborhood and beyond) have not had any more damage than other non-glass buildings.
During the Northridge quake some years back, the Big A (Angel’s stadium, no more than a few miles down the street from CC) incurred more damage.
Posted by: raggmopp | November 18, 2011, 1:24 pm 1:24 pm
I certainly don’t need a ‘middle man’ to talk to God for me. These high paid clergy men/women are really something charging church members 10% of their income, passing the plate at services AND collecting a huge salary for one day of work per week………what a gig.
I believe people are finally waking up to this total scam. All anyone needs to do is go within and ask themselves how to be loving, compassionate, kind and treat all others as they would want to be treated.
Jesus himself said, ‘Make no church in my name’……..he adamently warned his followers of idoltry and was totally against churches.
Follow the Golden Rule, that’s it………..the only thing you need to know. Why ask a clergy person who doesn’t even follow the Golden Rule themselves most ofthe time…….certainly where greed and Ego is concerned………..
Posted by: cheri | November 18, 2011, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm
Just what the Catholic Church needs: another palace, while the vast majority of their followers continue to exist in abject poverty.
Posted by: Christine | November 18, 2011, 2:05 pm 2:05 pm
Faith doesn’t pay the bills, only the root of all evil pays the bills.
Posted by: Wayne E. Pfeffer | November 18, 2011, 2:07 pm 2:07 pm
ABC news doesn’t seem to be bias at all…only posting negative comments…shame shame. The root of all evil really is liberal news stations.
Posted by: Joe Joe | November 18, 2011, 2:19 pm 2:19 pm
All churches are just a means for some greedy person to get rich. Jesus didn’t need a church to pray in and he didn’t need anyone telling him how to pray or who to pray to. This story is one of the more obscene and disgusting stories I have ever read. Churches who collect money from it’s patrons should be using that money to serve and help the poor and needy NOT to buy gltter and gold. Shameful, just plain shameful!!!!!
Posted by: Iluvdausa | November 18, 2011, 2:42 pm 2:42 pm
A friend just forwarded this article to me. The selling of the Crystal Cathedral is a tradegy. The Schuller family brought hope and Jesus to millions of people around the world. Dr. Schuller with his positive thinking philosophy changed and saved the lives of so many people. He certainly did mine from suicide and I am not alone. When I was at the lowest point in my life, I discovered him on TV and listened to his sermons and my life was changed forever. I am deeply saddened for the Schullers. I cannot even begin to imagine the heartbreak they must be feeling after they have given to so many people around the world. I am appalled by the character assassinations of these good people. Pastors are human beings. Human beings are not perfect.
Posted by: Hillary | November 18, 2011, 3:28 pm 3:28 pm
hillary – thee is nothing good about the Schuller family. While you, and many others, are dealing with life changing and life threatening events, the Schuller’s were living in a mansion in Villa Park, driving very expensive cars and having care packages delivered to a sick wife by limo.
You found inspiration but it was not from the Schuller’s. The same message is in the bible. The Schuller’s are just another greedy bunch and they are taking your money. Now, it will be the catholic church.
Posted by: raggmopp | November 18, 2011, 3:43 pm 3:43 pm
All these ‘churches’ should be shut down and Christians ought to pray directly to our Lord! It’s the middle-men that have tained all religions and we really do NOT need them if we have Faith!!! So the mega-church went bankrupt!!! What a SHOCK when their leader is raking in almost 200K per year. How do these people DARE call themselves men of God??? They ALL disgust me!
Posted by: demNme5 | November 18, 2011, 3:57 pm 3:57 pm
I’m not Christian, but the Christmas pageants were great. Oh well. Have to find a theater production of “A Christmas Carol” instead.
Posted by: rm | November 18, 2011, 4:10 pm 4:10 pm
It is a beautiful building and at least it was purchased by people that can keep it up. Still, those many millions could have fed a lot of people. Was it really necessary to have something that huge and expensive to pray in?
Posted by: LW | November 18, 2011, 5:41 pm 5:41 pm
Thank GOD the Schulers are out of there.
Amen.
Posted by: jesus | November 18, 2011, 5:42 pm 5:42 pm
God needs money..all you jokers ante up or you are going to hell…suckers
Posted by: Mike316br | November 18, 2011, 6:04 pm 6:04 pm
Hey, MIKE316BR: You’ve got the Falwell approach down pretty good.
Posted by: howdymo1 | November 18, 2011, 6:30 pm 6:30 pm
This is an excellent example of a shepherd Fleecing the flock Jesus condemed the religious leaders who wanted prominence and flatering titles and a showy display of ones means. Shullers sons salary over $196,000.00 certainly reflects how jesus felt …disgusted. How about that Shullers daughter is also a preacher, public speaker who teaches from the pulpit If any are bible readers look up on how Jesus felt about woman teaching the congregation, scriptures teach – false prophets distort and they will always find the weak to give all they have this is just one example
Posted by: BC | November 19, 2011, 12:36 am 12:36 am
According to Wikipedia, the Crystal Cathedral Ministries was founded in 1955 not 1995. It held worship in a drive-in-theatre then moved to a building on the present (soon to be past) campus. It became the Crystal Cathedral in 1981 when it moved into the glass building. The whole name Crystal Cathedral is a misnomer as it neither made of crystal nor is it the seat of a bishop. It may yet be some day.
I worked at the place in the early 1980s. First, helping to build and install the second sound system for the sanctuary (crystal speaker clusters), then, operating it for the services (shows). I left after 3 months due to my identifying the place as a “ministry” dedicated to the cult of Schuller. I found he was in constant need of validation by the people around him. He was always soliciting your thoughts on how much good he was doing and how great a place “he” had built in the CC. It was very sad. This could help explain the meals for Arvella email. I’m glad I left. I was making great money, but I’m glad I left.
Be very careful whom you follow. It is easy to become enthralled by a grand personality. Dr. Schuller has one. There have been, and will always be grand personalities
Posted by: Clip | November 19, 2011, 2:48 pm 2:48 pm
Clip (2:48 PM); “Grand personalities”. Now who comes to mind?
Posted by: newcountryman | November 19, 2011, 8:24 pm 8:24 pm
House of glass? Great, now we won’t have to worry about
the priest being alone with the altar boys anymore.
Posted by: michael | November 19, 2011, 10:52 pm 10:52 pm
Bring back Jim and Tammy Faye Baker!!!
Oh well just another example of nutjob religious folk falling to the lords axe… he chops with his mighty axe all thine hypocrites.
Posted by: mcp123 | November 19, 2011, 10:53 pm 10:53 pm
The Church must still have a pretty good income. I never could understand the need
for huge, ornate, expensive churches. Jesus didn’t need one.
Posted by: Dennis | November 20, 2011, 8:49 am 8:49 am
Okay the Catholic Church does make their contributions,but how do you justify $57+ Million Dollars that could have been donated towards many causes throughout the world….children in need and hungry,elders who need heat and meals,those families affected by molestation,or set up some sort of scholarship fund for catholic kids who need financial aid for schooling that the state won’t pick up! I mean the list goes on! There’s just no explaining that insane amount of money on a place of worship considering God is with you where ever you are! Sin! Greed!
Posted by: 7crystaleyes | November 20, 2011, 9:16 am 9:16 am
he without sin cass the first stone, i remember when the church was a humble church, and yes pastors are people too, they fall, make mistake. Money can change the best of all of us, we loss track of what we believe in and are charater that we stood for at one time. So, i’m sorry this church had to pay for it, in the long run, but I hope the schuller famliy can find there faith again, and start over from which they came from, like the old saying was “GOD DON”T MAKE NO JUNK”
Posted by: linda | November 20, 2011, 9:58 am 9:58 am
I always did think this was blasphemy,,It is a sin to waist that kind of money on pomp and arrogance !!! God would never condone that kind of careless spending when so many are hungry and homeless…He said build an alter to me…not a crystal castle…WRONG…wrong wrong…
Posted by: cindy | November 20, 2011, 3:46 pm 3:46 pm
Boy, what an avalanche of hatred! The Crystal Cathedral will continue to function as a pulpit from which to promulgate the Christian message, which does not include the spewing of such hateful diatribe. With the eloquency of his message and the beauty of his headquarters building, Rev. Schuller was able to do a lot of good for the faithful and for the poor in Orange County. Hopefully, the Catholic Church will be able to continue its Christian ministry in the same spirit. The Catholic Church is comparatively rich, yes – but its clergy generally do not pursue riches for themselves. I don’t believe Rev. Schuller’s goal was to become rich, either. His living standard was a result of the generosity of his followers.
Posted by: Larry Jackson | December 2, 2011, 5:32 pm 5:32 pm
I guess no one gave their beloved wife/husband an extravagant gift before, God surely doesn’t deserve more than we give our spouses. Guess ya’ll aren’t really in love with God after all?
Catholics don’t go to Mass to just pray, they go to pray the most perfect prayer, eva! The Holy Sacrifice, the Mass! Catholics worship God by celebrating the one sacrifice, once and for all, of the Son.
Posted by: Chris | December 6, 2011, 12:04 am 12:04 am
well, at least they didn’t sell it to the Muslims!!
Posted by: dave | March 11, 2012, 3:41 am 3:41 am