on style, on simplicity, on lots of things,' he told National Catholic Reporter last year. 'I find myself examining my own conscience. 'Even if, in your wildest imaginations, you could dream up a scenario in which the archdiocese would want to sell it, it couldn't be sold since it is a landmarked building and has to remain as-is,' Zwilling said.ĭolan has acknowledged, however, that Pope Francis' example has led him to question 'the perks, the cushiness, we associate with being a bishop.' Besides, it's on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it can't easily be sold or converted to other uses, he said. Patrick's Cathedral, said Joseph Zwilling, spokesman for the Archdiocese of New York.

That's the case with Dolan's mansion, which connects to St. They also have offices, host functions like fundraisers and house church staff besides bishops. In response to questions about archbishops' residences, representatives for the church leaders say they are used as more than living quarters. The archdiocese bought this house for Schnurr in 2009 for $469,718, which led to some grumbling by local Catholics. The residence portion, which includes living space for several other priests, will cost about $1.3 million, according to the archdiocese.Įven in smaller cities, some archbishops live in houses few in their flock could likely afford.Īrchbishop Dennis Schnurr of Cincinnati, for example, lives by himself in a four-bedroom, four-bath house in Hamilton County, Ohio. The Archdiocese of Denver is building a $6.5 million, 13,500-square-foot center that will include meeting space, a kitchen, a library, a chapel and an apartment for Archbishop Samuel Aquila. Archbishop Jose Gomez, who moved to Los Angeles in 2010, now lives there with six priests. In addition to the above examples, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles spent $7 million building a 26,000-square-foot rectory for its former archbishop in 2002, according to public records. At the time, the archdiocese was facing a budget shortfall that resulted in the firing of 11 full-time employees, according to the San Antonio Express-News. The residence was built by Garcia-Siller's predecessor in 2009 for $1.1 million. The appraised value is $3.84 million, according to the King County Department of Assessments. Others live alone in roomy residences.Īrchbishop James Sartain of Seattle, for example, lives by himself in this three-story house.

In addition to regal residences, many archbishops acquire other perks: live-in assistants, housekeepers, chauffeurs and cooks. 'They should convert the mansions to museums and move into rectories.' Steven Avella, a Catholic priest and professor of religious history at Marquette University. 'There's no reason a bishop has to live like a prince or medieval monarch, even if he inherited the place from his predecessor,' said the Rev. It was a way of saying, 'We've made it, and we're here to stay.'īut the point has been proved, some Catholics say, and Pope Francis has urged archbishops to refocus their resources on caring for the poor and marginalized. They also say the mansions are historical landmarks and can't easily be sold or converted to other uses.Ī century ago, Catholics celebrated the success of their church in the United States by building mansions for their archbishops, historians say. Representatives for Cardinals Dolan and George point out that their mansions were built more than 100 years ago and are used as offices and for hosting guests and fundraisers as well as residences.

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