CALIFORNIA
Orange County Register

By TERI SFORZA / STAFF WRITER

The Catholic Diocese of Orange has transferred ownership of properties worth some $100 million to individual churches over recent years.

Church officials say the move aligns the laws of God’s church with the laws of man, but critics denounce it as an attempt to insulate the diocese from big payouts if it’s sued.

Dozens of parcels have changed hands since 2009, with the bulk transferred in 2012. Valuable properties that once belonged to the diocese and now belong to the churches include the Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano, St. Joseph in Santa Ana, Saints Simon and Jude in Huntington Beach and more than a dozen others throughout the county.

“More than five years ago, the Diocese of Orange underwent a process to bring the civil organization of its parishes into alignment with their canonical status,” diocese spokesman Ryan Lilyengren…