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Judge OKs archdiocese cemetery lease deal

Philadelphia Orphans' Court Judge John W. Herron, on Tuesday said the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's plan to lease 13 cemeteries to a private, for-profit company was not a diversion of charitable assets, clearing the way for the deal to go forward.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has agreed to lease its 13 cemeteries to a Levittown company for a total payment of $89 million over 35 years, officials announced Thursday. We photograph the SS Peter and Paul Cemetery at 1600 S. Sproul Road, Springfield, Delco, on Sept. 26, 2013. Various scenes from the cemetery. ( CLEM MURRAY / Staff Photographer )
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has agreed to lease its 13 cemeteries to a Levittown company for a total payment of $89 million over 35 years, officials announced Thursday. We photograph the SS Peter and Paul Cemetery at 1600 S. Sproul Road, Springfield, Delco, on Sept. 26, 2013. Various scenes from the cemetery. ( CLEM MURRAY / Staff Photographer )Read more
    by Harold Brubaker, Inquirer Staff Writer
    Published 

Philadelphia Orphans' Court Judge John W. Herron, on Tuesday said the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's plan to lease 13 cemeteries to a private, for-profit company was not a diversion of charitable assets, clearing the way for the deal to go forward.

Under the agreement between the archdiocese and Stonemor Partners L.P., originally announced in September, StoneMor will make an initial payment of $53 million, with an additional $36 million spread over years six through 35 of the 60-year lease.

The deal is a key component of archdiocesan efforts to deal with several hundred million in long term financial obligations.

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