Cathedral

Chapman University increased its purchase price for the bankrupt Crystal Cathedral campus by $1.5 million to a total price of $51.5 million, and creditors officially designated the school as the preferred buyer of the Garden Grove property in court documents filed Monday. The filings made clear why the church and its creditors support Chapman's plan over a $53.6-million offer by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange. In some documents, cathedral attorneys argued that the diocese offer, which would require the Crystal Cathedral to seek a new place for worship within three years, was financially risky to the ministry and the weekly "Hour of Power" broadcast.

Chapman University has been picked by the board of the bankrupt Crystal Cathedral as the preferred buyer of the Garden Grove property. Under the plan, Chapman University would purchase the campus for $50 million and allow the church ministry to lease and eventually buy back its core buildings. Chapman President James L. Doti said he had not spoken to the board about the decision, but believes it is the right one for the ministry, founded by Robert H. Schuller in 1955. "All the creditors will be paid," he said.

The earthquake-damaged National Cathedral in Washington will reopen to visitors and worshipers Nov. 12 after spending $25 million on initial repairs. Officials at the Episcopal church warn it may take "tens of millions" of dollars more and numerous years to restore and fix the building. An online statement from cathedral officials says the need to stabilize parts of the building, including some towers, was why it took so long to reopen. But this building is used to long construction periods -- it took 80 years to complete after the cornerstone was laid in 1907.  Where will the millions for ongoing repairs come from?

Dawn broke high in the Colorado Rockies, the enormous blot on the horizon revealing itself slowly, regally against an indigo sky. I dropped my pack on the frozen tundra, overcome by awe and a taut, primal fear. Before me stood cathedral upon cathedral of stone, a mysterious citadel crisscrossed by narrow ledges and vertical walls lashed by fierce winds. This was the sheer eastern face of Longs Peak, a 14,259-foot fortress of rock that had recently killed three climbers and has sent hundreds more scurrying in retreat.

The judge in the Crystal Cathedral bankruptcy case agreed Wednesday to move forward with an exit plan that calls for the sale of the church's Garden Grove property. In the next month, about 400 creditors will vote on an exit strategy; the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange and Chapman University, both of which increased their initial bids, remain the leading candidates to buy the property. The creditors committee, composed of various vendors, is open to considering other offers, attorney Nanette Sanders told the court.

Buildings emptied, monuments closed, trains and planes were halted, and people ran in terror into the streets after a rare earthquake measuring 5.8 jolted the eastern United States, stunning millions who consider temblors a California problem and who, in many cases, simply couldn't believe what was happening. "This is an ACTUAL EARTHQUAKE ALERT," read a notice posted on New York's emergency management website, minutes after the quake sent the city's high-rises and bridges swaying.

Chapman University and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange appear to be the front-runners to buy the bankrupt Crystal Cathedral, but if church insiders vote to block the sale of the property, creditors vow to sue, according to court documents filed Tuesday. In that event, the creditors committee would attempt to recover what it sees as "preferential" payments to church insiders in the two years leading up to the church's Chapter 11 filing, the documents say. A spokesman for the Crystal Cathedral did not respond to a request for comment.

The bankrupt Crystal Cathedral will continue to rely on a faith-based approach to emerging from Chapter 11 while the creditors committee works on a separate exit plan for the church, lawyers said in court Monday. The church's leadership announced Sunday that it no longer wants to sell the Garden Grove campus to pay off more than $50 million in debt and instead would attempt to raise that amount through donations. On Monday, the church's website proclaimed, "Be part of the miracle.

Leaders of Orange County's bankrupt Crystal Cathedral backed away from talk of selling and called on congregants and "Hour of Power" television viewers to open their checkbooks to help erase more than $50 million in debt. The announcement that the architecturally rich Garden Grove campus is not for sale came during Sunday morning services and followed a vote Thursday by its board of directors. Last week the church reorganized the board, adding five members. In a statement, church founder Robert H. Schuller called the decision not to sell "unexpected" but applauded the effort.

Jim McDonald, a longtime member at the Crystal Cathedral, wants to preserve the legacy of founder Robert H. Schuller. Which is why the Fountain Valley resident is continuing to support and organize an online and paper petition to rid the bankrupt church's board of directors of any voting family members, despite Wednesday's announced shake-up in which five independent voices were added. "If you read the petition, it's really straightforward," McDonald, a spokesman for the effort, said Thursday.