Judge says disputed sale of convent appears to be invalid

The dispute has pitted Los Angeles’ Catholic archbishop against an order of elderly nuns with only five surviving members, at least two of whom oppose selling their former home to Perry.

LOS ANGELES (AP) – A judge said Thursday he believes a group of elderly nuns improperly sold their hilltop convent to a businesswoman but delayed any efforts by church officials to finalize a competing sale to pop singer Katy Perry. They claim that Hollister, who plans to turn the property into a boutique hotel with a restaurant and bar, struck an illegitimate deal with two of the nuns who once resided in the convent. Hollister, for her part, has argued that the deal is more favorable to the nuns, and already started moving into the property.

According to Sisters Rita and Catherine Rose, Gomez told them last year that he wanted to sell to “someone named Katherine Hudson”, who they later learned was Katy Perry.

In the meantime, the judge is allowing Hollister to stay in the property, to which she previously took possession.

The archbishop accuses Hollister of taking advantage of Sisters Rita Callanan, 77, Catherine Rose Holzma, 86, and other nuns who once lived in the villa, by giving them just a downpayment and promissory note.

The involvement of Perry as well as infighting between the nuns and archbishop packed the courtroom Thursday with journalists, concerned residents, Hollister and two of the nuns. Hollister has agreed to pay $15.5 million, with $5.5 million dedicated to relocating the prayer house.

The archdiocese is wanting to possess the offer the Siblings of Immaculate Center of the Blessed Mary and the Very Most Holy made out of Dana Hollister nullified.

Lawyers for the archdiocese are now asking that a preliminary injunction be issued enjoining Hollister from occupying the property and from interfering with the plaintiffs’ attempts to sell the property to Perry.

A ruling in favour of the archbishop will likely pave the way to Perry finalising her reported $14.5 million purchase of the desirable piece of real estate in the Los Feliz neighbourhood near Hollywood.

In May, at the archbishop’s request, the nuns met with Perry to see if a compromise could be worked out.

Chalfant said the case boiled down to control and ruled that the dispute should be governed by church, not civil, laws. Attorneys for all parties are scheduled to be back in court September 15. But the sisters objected to selling the property to Perry after learning about the singer and her “public image”, the attorneys said in court documents.

Chalfant noted that the nuns did not properly follow their own procedures when they agreed to sell the convent to Hollister in June. Hollister, who lives in another former convent nearby, said she’s done some work, restoring the pool and removing an altar from the main room, which has a 30-foot ceiling and hand-carved fireplace. Perry’s bid, however, was a cash offer. The transaction, they said, would bring more money and provide care for sisters in their retirement.

A new celebrity feud would boost Katy Perry’s standing at this point, but the fight she’s now in is probably not going to help her profile.