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If the diocese were forced to sell some of the parishes in order to pay this legal settlement, it would mean that those churches and whatever schools were attached to them would have to be closed, which would devastate their members. Frankly, I don’t think that the faithful of the diocese should be punished for the sins of a few priests by having their churches closed. What kind of justice is that? Let the diocese sell some of its other properties if it must but it should not be forced to close and sell parishes since this harms people who were not responsible for the sex abuse scandal in the Church.

The difference is that the parishes are the individual churches and they are financially self-sufficient. They are subordinate to the diocese but they pay their own way and they exist for the benefit of the people who belong to them.

If the diocese were forced to sell some of the parishes in order to pay this legal settlement, it would mean that those churches and whatever schools were attached to them would have to be closed, which would devastate their members. Frankly, I don’t think that the faithful of the diocese should be punished for the sins of a few priests by having their churches closed. What kind of justice is that? Let the diocese sell some of its other properties if it must but it should not be forced to close and sell parishes since this harms people who were not responsible for the sex abuse scandal in the Church.

Are you throwing out a red herring? Please read the article again. The Churches, parking lots, schools, and rectories wouldn't come into play.

"...As of March, Catholic Church properties in San Diego County had an assessed value, including land and buildings, of $446 million. Half of the properties are listed as churches, “church parking, or related,” cemetery properties and public buildings/schools.

The other half includes vacant residential parcels, single-family residences, multiple-unit buildings, condominiums, vacant parcels zoned for commercial or industrial use, stores and parking lots..."

Frankly, I don’t think that the faithful of the diocese should be punished for the sins of a few priests by having their churches closed.

I understand your position. But the article says that

Half of the properties are listed as churches, “church parking, or related,” cemetery properties and public buildings/schools.

So the Diocese is hiding assets that are NOT essential to churches. Why can't the diocese sell those?