Katy Perry is planning to buy an eight-acre estate in Los Feliz, but there are two nuns who are opposed to the idea of their former convent falling into the hands of the singer.
Sister Rita Callanan and Sister Catherine Rose Holzman (of the Sisters of the Most Holy and Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary) have opposed the idea of Perry taking ownership of the property where their motherhouse had been based since 1970.
However, they have favoured the idea of selling it to restaurateur Dana Hollister, who too is vying to purchase the property, reports nytimes.com.
In the midst of the property dispute is the question whether the Roman Catholic Archdiocese or the pair of nuns own and have the right to sell the property. While the nuns, who believe they are the rightful owners, currently are pushing to seal the deal with Hollister, local Archbishop Jose Gomez is fighting to sell the convent to Perry.
Hollister had promised roughly $15.5 million for the estate (she has paid $100,000 in cash to date). Perry, on the other hand, has offered a smaller sum of $14.5 million in cash.
The archdiocese has sued Hollister, and Judge Robert O'Brien has been asked to issue an injunction to stop Sister Rita and Sister Catherine Rose from selling the property to the restaurateur, who reportedly already has moved into the estate.
Court filings show that the archdiocese believes Hollister's interest in the purchase is contingent on her being granted the power to develop a restaurant and hotel on the property and is strongly against the idea.
"There’s no reason for them to allege that. It’s part of the ridiculousness that propels this whole story forward,” Hollister has said of the claim.
A hearing will take place on July 30 in the Los Angeles county superior court.
