The Catholic Diocese of Antigonish is facing the threat of another class action lawsuit, just as it prepares to send out settlement cheques to church sex abuse victims.
CTV News has learned this new lawsuit threat centres on the sale of church property to pay about 130 church sex abuse victims $18-milllion collectively.
A parish-owned summer getaway on Cape Breton's Mira River, known as Sangaree Island, is the focus of this threatened legal action.
Lawyer Clara Gray said she's completed a thick file on what has been, up until now, a behind the scenes battle to stop the sale of Sangaree Island.
"From the people I represent, I will say this: They are very angry," she said.
The church bought Sangaree Island 72-years ago and for decades it served family campers.
Michael Campbell, a spokesman for the parish pastoral council, said the island is ultimately owned by the diocese. Campbell added if parishioners wanted to keep the property they could certainly buy it.
Sangaree Island, along with three nearby uninhabited islands, are on the market for just under $1 million.
Gray said parishioners already have a valid claim for ownership.
"Coal miners in this community had their pays docked to pay for Sangaree Island over the years," she said. "The individuals who have been on Sangaree Island have done everything there. All the improvements were done by them, with their money, with their blood, sweat and tears."
It's not clear if the threat of a class action suit would stop any sale if the diocese received an offer on the properties.
Many of the church's 250 properties up for sale have found buyers. The properties have been dubbed non-essential by the diocese.
But some parishioners tell CTV News they're upset about the property being sold off.
"The people should not be made to pay for the sins of the fathers," said Linda Fraser, a parishioner at Saint Leonard Church in River Ryan, N.S. "The parishioners are having to give up their churches, their halls, everything they've worked for."
Enough money has already been gathered for the diocese to make one of three lump sum payments to abuse victims. By the end of May, the diocese says it will have given close to $5-million towards a portion of those settlements.
The $18 million settlement is just one legacy of Father Raymond Lahey, who negotiated the payments shortly before being found with child pornography on a laptop computer at the Ottawa airport in September 2009.
Lahey pleaded guilty Tuesday to possessing child pornography.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Randy MacDonald
