An article in today's Gloucester County Times profiles Bishop Galante's as yet unoccupied "McRanchon," as some have called it. The article also ran in today's
Salem County Sunbeam and in today's
Bridgeton News. Supposedly this estate was purchased for five religious sisters, but it's been empty for quite some time. Quote:
"Given the need of the sisters and given the fact that the property was being offered to the diocese at such a substantial discount, we've purchased the property for the religious sisters," [diocesan spokesman] Walton said.
But the Council of Parishes of Southern New Jersey, a grass-roots parish organization, said the sisters moving into the house is a knee-jerk reaction on the part of the Diocese of Camden and that it was not its original, intended use.
"We don't believe it," said Leah Vassallo, co-chair of the Council of Parishes. "First of all, it makes no sense. Why should nuns live in what is described as a lavish country estate? It's completely contradictory to what the nuns mission and purpose is." ....
"There's a huge difference between a five-bedroom house and an $800,000 house," Vassallo said.
As you may remember, we covered this back in December here on Savestmarys:
Click here to read our expose.Additionally,
The Sentinel of Gloucester County published an article entitled "$800,000 Executive Home Purchased by Diocese" (see next blog article). You'll notice that Andy Walton,
spokesman for the Galante Administration, claims that the house was intended for a very small group of religious sisters. Well then why has the diocese let it sit vacant for the better part of a year? And what sisters who've presumably taken a vow of poverty would want or need such a lavish house? Is this one of the "charitable works" that the Bishop's Annual Appeal goes to fund? My own family of four lives in a small post-war house with three very small bedrooms and practically non-existent closets. We're very happy here, but we have taken no vow of poverty. Perhaps we ought to join a religious order and upgrade our lifestyle.
Needless to say, most have long assumed that estate was
not originally purchased with the sisters in mind, but for Bishop Galante, possibly for his retirement. But since the
Follieri Scandal, which broke July 15th, 2008, exactly one week before the Diocese bought this estate, all eyes have been focused on the various residences of the bishop. So it seems that now they have to move the sisters into the estate home to make it look legit. Or at least, that's the way it appears to most observers we've spoken to about it.
The estate is located here (see map below). As you can see, St. Mary's Malaga is remarkably close by.
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Here is a photo of the stable/horse barn. Who knew the sisters rode horses in their spare time? Perhaps they are one of those obscure equestrian orders.
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