That does not appear to be the case in Los Angeles, unless there's a lot more they're not telling us about Mahony.
The Vatican is in complete control. From today's "Los Angeles Times"...
The Vatican requires such permission for any transfer of goods -- real estate, cash, investments or loans -- worth more than $10 million, said Mahony's spokesman, Tod M. Tamberg...""In late May, as settlement talks between the archdiocese and plaintiffs' attorneys accelerated, Mahony traveled to Rome to consult with Vatican officials on financial aspects of the settlement and to receive required approvals for the loans and property sales under consideration, officials said.