The prelates living large is another disgrace entirely. They sure know how to spend other peoples money (usually in multiples of $100,000 or $1,000,000). So much for leading by example.
Technically, each parish is an independant corporation in civil law. But the practical reality is that there is an interlocking directorate. For example, in NY state, the parish corporation has a five man board of directors: president - bishop; vice president - vicar general; secretary/treasurer - pastor; two lay trustees recommended by the pastor & approved by the Bishop.
So - that pretty much sews up the deal. Your parish has its own bank account, but if the pastor doesnt steal, the bishop might through diocesan "assessments" (translated as taxation), forced gifts to the bishop (ala Cardinal Spellman). The then are there is the usary involved in interest bearing "debt" to the bishop (which is amusing, as the money ultimately came from the people of the parish via Diocesan appeals).
The land under the parish buildings would normally be vested in the parish corporation. In the Arch of NY, Cardinal Spellman literally forced all parishes to sell him all the buildings for $1 each! This in effect means that in any lawsuit, against the Archdiocese, each and all of the various parish buildings in all 415 parishes can be counted as assets of the Archdiocese!
Its a sure game - like three card monte, you lose every time. And if the bishop feels like suppressing (translated; closing) the parish, watch the assets disappear without a trace - even restricted endowments! When parishes merge, a lot of guys wearing Roman collars tend to help themselves.
I could easily cite numerous examples, but in general, if it is an "ethnic" (other then Irish) parish which is suppressed, it usually has money, as its members usually gave very well. And we all know of Bishops who love money.