Pop star Katy Perry is engaged in a legal battle with a group of nuns over the sale of an old convent.
Christian Today reports that the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary initially sold the convent, which is located in the Los Feliz district of Los Angeles, to Dana Hollister, a restauranter.
The nuns, now in their late 70’s and 80’s, used to live in the convent until they decided to sell their former home to Hollister for $15.5 million.
However, the nuns’ archdiocese filed a lawsuit last June, attempting to get the convent back, arguing that the nuns did not have the authority to sell the property.
A Los Angeles Superior Court Judge ruled in favor of the archdiocese, effectively voiding the sale of the convent to Hollister.
"The Archdiocese was forced to take legal action to protect all the five sisters from being taken advantage of by the Dana Hollister transaction," a statement from the archdiocese said, adding that it will continue to provide care for the nuns.
However, that was when Perry stepped in, offering to buy the convent for $14.5 million.
Perry reportedly went to visit the nuns, dressed in conservative clothes. The nuns told the LA Times that Perry showed them a “Jesus” tattoo she had on her wrist and sang “Happy Day,” but the nuns were not convinced and preferred Hollister’s offer.
The nuns’ attorney, John Scholnick, said that the ruling voiding the sale of the convent to Hollister did not authorize its sale to Perry, although he acknowledged that Perry may appeal the court decision.
Perry is the daughter of a Protestant pastor and began her career as a Gospel singer, but has since left the faith. In 2013 she told Marie Claire magazine: "I'm not Buddhist, I'm not Hindu, I'm not Christian, but I still feel like I have a deep connection with God."
Publication date: April 14, 2016
