**I imagine that if he didn't do this, he would have to contend with groupies showing up there**
No it is a private church and is not a part of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. It is NOT a Catholic Church in union with Rome.
I'm sorry, Salvation, but I believe you have forgotten some possibilities that obtain for the very strange situation in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Throughout Catholic history, the Popes have permitted chapels to be erected that were outside of the control of the diocesan bishop. It is a very interesting and peculiar bit of historical footnotes, but such things have happened and do happen. The Holy Father has real and immediate power to do many things and that can include the erection of a chapel with permissions granted for the saying of Mass, reservation of the sacrament, benediction, perpetual adoration. Indeed, all sorts of things have been sought and granted and have been done so
in pectore. Please be careful in jumping on sinkspur's bandwagon to condemn Mel Gibson and the chapel he erected. Not everything is revealed to the public just because the press or the public want to know -- or even because the Archdiocese of Los Angeles under the leadership of Cardinal Mahony wants to know. There have long been bishops consecrated
in pectore and cardinals named .
I perfectly understand if you disagree with me or believe me to be on the wrong page. I have my reasons for my position just as you do for citing your up to now. In pace Christi, Siobhan