An international religious group that is accused in lawsuits of cult-like practices has offered $3.8 million to buy the campus of the former Christ the King Seminary in the Town of Aurora.
The Buffalo Diocese last week asked a federal bankruptcy court judge to approve a bidding and auction process that would allow for the sale of the campus, with the proceeds being set aside to fund a settlement with child sex abuse claimants.
World Mission Society Church of God, which submitted a purchase offer of $3.8 million to the diocese in June, has agreed to act as the “stalking horse bidder” in a competitive bid process, according to court papers.
World Mission Society claims to be the lone church on Earth established by God to save humankind. Its members believe in Jesus Christ and in a second messianic coming by Ahnsahnghong, who lived from 1918 to 1985 and founded the church in South Korea in 1964.
Unlike most Christians, World Mission Society church members reject images of the cross as idolatry and do not celebrate Christmas because they believe it has nothing to do with the actual birthday of Jesus. World Mission Society members also observe Passover, a traditional Jewish holiday, keep Sabbath on Saturdays and have espoused apocalyptic end times scenarios.
The Buffalo Diocese has set the price at $5.3 million for a bucolic property in the Town of Aurora where it used to have men trained to become priests.
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