ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (AP) - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre has sold its headquarters for $5.2 million - money church officials say will be used to pay creditors.
Newsday reports the diocese became the largest in the country last year to declare bankruptcy amid more than 200 lawsuits it faced under New York State’s Child Victims Act.
The law opened a so-called lookback window - since extended until August - that allows childhoods victims of sexual abuse to file civil claims beyond statute of limitations restrictions.
The diocese, home to 1.4 million Catholics in the Long Island region, sold the five-story pastoral center and an adjacent parking lot to Synergy Holding Partners LLC.
Church officials said they decided to sell the headquarters in 2018 after deciding it was no longer cost effective.
Sean Dolan, a diocesan spokesman, said Friday that the location of the new headquarters has not been finalized.
The diocese also decided to close seven grammar schools over the past year amid declining enrollment and revenue.
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