The Archbishopric of Barcelona has intervened in three foundations linked to the Church, where it has the capacity to appoint trustees, after detecting several irregularities in the administrative area. These are the Valldejuli Foundation, the Sant Josep Oriol Foundation, and the Mare de Déu dels Desemparats Foundation. In the first case, there has been a de-capitalization, while in the other two, simply poor management.
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These are entities related to the management of nursing homes, and at the Valldejuli Foundation, two administrators have been dismissed and two other people have been appointed after the alleged fraudulent sale of real estate below market price.
The intervention has been carried out after investigating the facts with an independent external audit, according to a statement from the bishopric, which assures that the facts are still being investigated and that the matter has not yet been closed. Once there are firm conclusions, the Episcopal Palace will decide what steps to take and whether to take the matter to court.
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Beyond the sale of real estate, other irregularities have been found in the management of the aforementioned foundations. According to the diocese’s statement, following the external investigation, the administrator and director of the Valldejuli Foundation, who are also related to the other two foundations, submitted their resignation. These are permanent deacon Rubén García Lozano and priest Saturnino Rodríguez Rodríguez, who is also part of the curia in the archdiocese. The media outlet Religión Digital quantifies the patrimonial losses at several million euros, although the bishopric avoids referring to it.
The Sant Josep Oriol Foundation is responsible for the management of the priestly residence, and the other foundations manage two other centers: Valldejuli and La Torrassa, the latter in l’Hospitalet de Llobregat.
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