Catholic church in US sold to Muslim group to clear debts

A closed Catholic church in the US state of Pennsylvania has been sold to a Muslim cultural group for nearly two million dollars to clear debts, a media report said today.

The Immaculate Conception BVM Church, situated in Bristol township in Bucks county, was sold for USD 1,775,000 on Friday to the United American Muslim Society (UAMS) of Brooklyn, LevittownNow.com reported.

The money from the sale will go to pay down a debt of USD 704,997 for Immaculate Conception and USD 258,042 for Queen of the Universe, Catholic community. The remaining funds will go to parish savings, Archdiocese of Philadelphia spokesman Ken Gavin was quoted as saying by the report.

The church, which closed on January 1, was merged with the Queen of the Universe Parish in 2014.

The announcement of the sale was made during weekend masses was "positively received by parishioners", Gavin said.

UAMS is the parent corporation for the Turkish-American Muslim Cultural Association on Levittown Parkway where they are based since 1991.

"They are widely known as people of faith, family, prayer and education in the moral life for their children and the families of Bristol Township," Gavin added.