SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — The bishop for the Catholic Diocese of San Jose has reversed course and said he will not live in a $2.3 million Silicone Valley home that the diocese bought for his retirement.
Bishop Patrick J. McGrath acknowledged he "erred in judgment" and said he plans instead to live in a rectory at one of the diocese's parishes, the San Jose Mercury News reported Tuesday. The house will be put up for sale.
"I failed to consider adequately the housing crisis in this valley and the struggles of so many families and communities in light of that crisis," McGrath said in a statement. "I have heard from many on this topic and I have decided not to move into this house."
"I assume full responsibility for this decision and I believe that the sale of the house is the appropriate action," said Bishop Patrick J. McGrath of San Jose.
McGrath's reversal came after the purchase of the nearly 3,300-square-foot home (306 square-meter) raised concerns among some of the diocese's 640,000 Catholics, given the church's mission of charity and serving the poor.
It also appeared at odds with McGrath's previously expressed concerns about housing inequality in Northern California, where soaring housing prices have pushed some lower-income residents into homelessness.
In 2016, McGrath co-authored an article backing a $950 million bond measure for affordable housing in which he wrote "too many children and families are living in cars or tripled up with other families in small homes because they can't afford the rent on their own."
"There is no moral or social justification, no justification whatsoever, for the lack of housing," he wrote.
The home has been described as similar to a Tuscan estate — with soaring ceilings, a "grand-sized chef's kitchen" and a "spa-like marble bathroom.
The bishop, 73, said any profit from the home sale will be donated to Charities Housing, a division of Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County.
"I assume full responsibility for this decision and I believe that the sale of the house is the appropriate action," he said.
Houses in the Valley are the most expensive in the nation. The proposed house for our retiring Bishop was reviewed by the Diocese on at least 2 levels and purchased with special retirement funds where the house would be owned by the Diocese and would be a good investment. Only because a local news writer/editor made a front page issue out of the matter was a concerned raised. This is the same writer/editor that has repeatedly hammered/bullied esteemed leadership of a local Catholic girls high school for not reporting child abuse to state authorities when local fact inquiry showed conduct was less than child abuse. It is a shame that our Bishop was similarly bullied and humiliated. He is a fine and holy man deserving of a nice retirement place.
Disgraceful...not in keeping with simplicity! Thanks to the persistent efforts of SPOTLIGHT II this U.S."Bishop Bling" was forced to change his plans and live simply. WWJD?
Well, sure, the bishop deserves a “nice retirement place,” but one that costs 2.1 million? I think we have here a case of clericalism run amok.
Well, sure, the bishop deserves a “nice retirement place,” but one that costs 2.1 million? I think we have here a case of clericalism run amok.
In light of everything that has been happening in the church, why would he even think that this would be okay with people?
Exactly
The priests who run the non-profit I work for just spent $2.4M to build FOUR - five bedroom homes for 20 children with disabilities in foster care. A much better use of the same funds.
Bishop McGrath has been a very good bishop here in the Diocese of San Jose, but he made a poor decision regarding the purchase of a $2,300,000 house in the Willow Glen area of San Jose. Thankfully, he has reversed himself. That was the right thing to do.
I'm a Realtor with 25 years' experience selling homes in the San Jose / Silicon Valley area. I can assure you that the house that the Diocese bought was far beyond a "normal" house for our area. As of this writing, the median sale price of a house in Santa Clara County is $1.35 million, in San Jose it is $1,175,000, and in the lovely Willow Glen part of San Jose, it is $1,462,000. Yes, houses are expensive here. But most people living alone do not need a fully remodeled 5 bedroom, 4 bath house with more than 3,000 SF on a 14,000 SF lot with a guest cottage. It was a mistake. The bishop has admitted it, he's doing a "180", and we should forgive him for it.
What I would like to know is who exactly advised him that this was a good idea, when many of the 600,000 or 650,000 Catholics in the diocese struggle with their own housing needs? I have a feeling that it may be other clerics, many of whom never had to pay a mortgage themselves and do not understand "the value of a dollar".
This is not about a journalist having a bone to pick. Sadly, we are in the midst of a crisis in our church, between the scandals of McCarrick, the PA grand jury findings, and now the nasty and unsubstantiated accusations against the pope. The timing could not have been worse.
A few months ago, I helped to sell (after his passing) the condo that was owned by Archbishop Quinn. It was a modest, 2 bedroom, 2 bath place in a seniors complex which he had bought. It was fine. It was decent housing. It was not lavish. I think it would be a good role model for other leaders of the church for their retirement. Put simply, it would not scandalize the faithful - and that remains a worthwhile concept to consider.
I'm grateful that the press did bring this story to light, painful as it was. It helped our bishop to reverse course, which was needed. Transparency is a good thing, even if it causes discomfort in the short term. Now we need that same transparency regarding the abuse cases in each diocese.
PS It is Silicon Valley, not Silicone Valley.
Do as I say not as I do ! Another Cardinal out of touch with his flock.