This is the first piece in a new category called "Following the Money Trail." Over the coming weeks, we will be taking a detailed look at various financial transactions of the diocese and key players in the diocese. I'm sure you'll find the results very interesting.
Let's start with the diocese's purchase of a new "Convent" at 425 Langley Road in Pittsgrove. Tax records show the property was purchased in July 2008 for $800,000. Since it's so close to us, we snapped a few pictures so you could see this humble convent for yourself.
The description from its listing reads:
Enticingly Elegant is this lavish 5-6BR, 11+ ac. Country estate of ¨White Fence Farms¨ Cust. blt. Cape. Home incl grand entr Foyer, Liv/GreRm w/FP, DR, sensa. kit, GameR w/Wet Bar, & SunR! Full walk out bsmnt onto fab grou. incl. circ dvwy w/fount., 3 car att./2 car det. gar, rear patio, 6+ stall barn, 3 run in sheds! Call today!...
If you're thinking, "That doesn't look like a convent to me" or "If I'd known, I would have taken a vow of poverty too," you're not alone. It's certainly anything but humble living. The fact that it's financed by the donations of people who work just as hard as or harder than the mystery nuns who will occupy it, and could never afford such a lavish lifestyle, is a scandal. So much for the often quoted "option for the poor" the diocese uses as a justification for funneling money to Camden and away from our own parishes and schools. Also, the disparity between the way the nuns from St. Jude's were treated by the diocese and the way these mystery nuns are being treated is bewildering. We'll follow up on that later.
Of course the real irony is that the two closest churches to this property, St. Ann's in Elmer and St. Mary's in Malaga, are supposed to close in the near future. If both churches were sold, the revenue generated would probably not exceed the amount spent on this "convent." Ask yourself, what would Jesus do? If your answer is close two churches and replace them with an "enticingly elegant" convent that will house a maximum of six nuns in complete luxury, then you probably went to the same school of Catholicism as Galante, Vollmer, McGrath and Peter "My Shoes Are So Shiny, I Can See My Reflection in Them" Joyce.
Of course, while we were taking pictures, we noticed this sign on the ground. After all, what's a diocesan real estate debacle without Budd Realty? In this case, the McIlvaines appear to be the listing agent as well as the exclusive real estate consultant for the diocese. Double bonus super deal!
As an aside, when Follieri resold the Bishop's former condo, guess who the listing agent was? Yup, Budd Realty, all the way from Woodbury to North Wildwood.
Anyway, back to the main topic. So who is the Diocese so generously spending our donation dollars on? (We are not aware of any orders of equestrian nuns.) Well, it looks like we'll find out soon enough! The home sat empty for awhile, but Raymour & Flanigan delivered furniture last week, and heating/cooling workers were there earlier this week. So we'll let you know just as soon as our new neighbors move in.