Spokane Diocese sells headquarters to help pay for sexual abuse

Published: 2006-10-05

SPOKANE, Wash. (CNS) -- The Diocese of Spokane sold its Catholic Pastoral Center Oct. 4 to help raise funds to pay off claims for clergy sexual abuse of minors. The $2.05 million sale of the center, which houses diocesan central offices, was conducted by a telephone auction. It must still be cleared by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Eastern District of Washington, where diocesan creditors and claimants have 15 days to file objections. The diocese has been in bankruptcy protection proceedings since November 2004 in an effort to reach a financial settlement with more than 100 people who claim they were sexually abused by priests when they were children. The pastoral center is a three-story office building with 29,000 square feet of space. It was built in 1924 and housed a succession of insurance companies until the diocese bought it in 1966. A news release on the sale said the diocese will enter a dialogue with the new owner, Centennial Properties, about the possible lease of the property, but it is also considering several relocation options.

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