Katy Perry has been told she cannot buy a convent in Los Angeles by its former resident nuns. “It would be a sin to sell to her,” they commented.
Continuing an ongoing dispute over the ownership of the convent, the five former nuns who used to reside in the property have spoken out about Perry’s bid to move in.
The eight acre estate in Los Feliz, Los Angeles is a former convent turned residential property. For 40 years it was home to the California Institute of the Sisters of the Most Holy and Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Four years ago the order’s remaining five nuns were asked to leave the property by Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez.
The Archbishop is now in a legal battle with the five sisters over the sale of the property. Though the nuns vacated the property, they still control its deeds.
As reported by Billboard, Gomez is hoping to sell to Katy Perry, while the nuns hope to sell to local restaurateur Dana Hollister. Perry has reportedly offered $14.5 million (£9.4 million) for the property, which comprises 30,000 square feet of living space and an adjoining prayer house.
Getty“Katy Perry represents everything we don’t believe in,” said 86 year old Sister Catherine Rose Holzman. “It would be a sin to sell to her.”
Researching Perry online, Holzman discovered a video where the singer spoke of her religious family and confessed that she became a pop star because “I sold my soul to the devil.”
“Even mentioning that she would sell her soul to Satan is against our principles and beliefs,” Holzman said. ““In selling to Katy Perry, we feel we are being forced to violate our canonical vows to the Catholic Church.”
In an attempt to make peace, Perry met with the five nuns at the property in May. Holzman claimed the pop star explained the online video as “just for entertainment” and showed the nuns the ‘Jesus’ tattoo on her left wrist. She then performed a version of the gospel song ‘Oh Happy Day.’
“She was nice,” says Holzman. “She told us why she wanted the property and then sang a song and left.”
Despite this, the nuns insist they will not sell the property to Perry.
“We are going to Rome. We are not quitting now. We are just getting warmed up. I owe it to every sister up in Heaven looking down on me.”
Meanwhile, a fan who kissed Katy Perry’s neck during an awkward onstage encounter with the star in Brazil has denied that she was inebriated.
The incident took place at Rock In Rio festival on Sunday (September 27) when Perry invited the fan, thought to be called Rayane, onto the stage.
The fan appeared inebriated or under the influence of drugs (“rolling”, as Perry put it) and proceeded to kiss the singer’s neck and generally act a little overly-familiar. Watch footage here.