Katy Perry on LA Convent Battle: Nuns' Sale to Dana Hollister Invalid! What Happens Next?

By Maria Myka| Jul 31, 2015

If you don't already know, Katy Perry wants to buy a $15 million former convent in Los Angeles, and the sale hasn't been sailing smoothly.

The "Roar" singer is still fighting to own the property as a judge refused to evict the local developer who bought it only last month.

At the hearing on Thursday, Bloomberg news said that the judge pronounced the sale of the church property improper and invalid. While the lawsuit is still unresolved, the judge claimed that the archbishop can't sell the property to Perry, either.

California Superior Court Judge James C. Chaflant told the lawyers, "Nobody gets this property during the pendency of this lawsuit."

Fox News reported that developer Dana Hollister wanted to turn the convent into a boutique hotel and restaurant, while Perry wants to transform it into her private home.

The convent - a Roman styled villa - sits on eight acres on top of a hill in the Los Feliz neighborhood near Hollywood.

The conflict came when the order of the nuns who owned the property for over 40 years hastily sold the property to Hollister in June without the approval from the Los Angeles Archbishop.

Although both parties agreed that the property should be sold, they are fighting over the control of the proceeds and whether or not Perry or Hollister are suitable buyers.

Fox said that Perry, who was born to protestant minister parents, has agreed to pay $14.5 million for the convent, and agreed to relocating the adjoining house of prayers used by the priests. Hollister, on the other hand, agreed to pay $15.5 million with $5.5 million dedicated to relocating said prayer house.

The monetary proceeds may not be the only issue here as well. One of the nuns, Sister Catherine Rose said in an email, "In selling to Katy Perry, we feel we are being forced to violate our canonical vows to the Catholic Church."

This made it clear that the sisters were not fans of Perry, "for what should be obvious reasons coming from Catholic nuns," as they phrased it in the filing.

Chalfant also observed that "This is a problem for the sisters because they don't trust the archdiocese."

Judge Chalfan said that the dispute may take up to two years to resolve.

However, the New York Times reported that while he invalidated the sale to Miss Hollister, he did agree to let her keep the sale pending the hearing in September.

On the other hand, Perry has agreed on paying rent to the convent while the case is still being litigated.

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