April 29, 2016
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - A pair of nuns locked in a legal battle with singer Katy Perry over the purchase of a former convent claim in newly filed court papers that an incorrect translation of a Vatican decree was used to convince a judge to clear the sale of the property.
According to court documents filed this week on behalf of Sister Rita Callanan and Sister Catherine Rose Holzman, the decree, when properly translated, states that the Vatican was still examining the sisters' claim that they control the prized property in Los Angeles.
They allege that the Archdiocese of Los Angeles had not submitted that information to a judge who earlier this month annulled a separate sale of the former convent by the nuns to a restaurant owner.
The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary have sought to prevent the archdiocese from selling the complex to Perry for $14.5 million on grounds that they control the property and as such can decide on the buyer.
"Just hours after the court announced its (April 13) decision, (the nuns) learned for the first time that the (archdiocese) actually knew, at least three weeks before the decision, that proceedings remained in (Rome), but failed to inform the court of that crucial fact," according to the court papers filed this week.
However the archdiocese dismissed the sisters' claim and said in a statement that the three other remaining members of the order were not in agreement with the two nuns or their decision to sell the property to restaurateur Dana Hollister for $15.5 million.
"As the court ruling stated, the Hollister transaction was not valid," the statement said. "This was always our concern with the Hollister transaction that basically took possession of the sisters' property for just $44,000 and a contingent promissory note, without any guarantee that the sisters would ever receive any additional payment of the offer they received."
A hearing in the case is scheduled June 20.
Perry, who grew up as a born-again Christian but is known for her support of gay rights and sultry songs such as "Teenage Dream," has visited the nuns and sung for them in a fruitless bid at persuasion.
The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart was once a thriving order but only five sisters remain.
They moved out of the convent several years ago and have struggled to maintain the property.
Proceeds from the sale of the convent would go toward the nuns' upkeep.
