Camden Diocese says lease with Solid Rock is ‘void’

The Diocese of Camden has terminated an agreement to sell one of its facilities to the Solid Rock Community Center.

Diocese officials say the lease of the former Holy Rosary parish to the Solid Rock Community Center, which had an option to buy, ran out at the end of March.

Diocese Spokesman Peter Feuerherd says Solid Rock had faltered on its payments.”So as far as we’re concerned,” he said, “the agreement with Solid Rock is void.”Solid Rock is known for its involvement with the ex-convict and homeless communities–specifically for housing so-called ‘tent city’ residents. Such actions have drawn public scrutiny, but Feuerherd claimed, “Pressure from the community had no impact on this decision at all.”Pastor Amir Khan of Solid Rock disagrees.”I absolutely believe that the community pressure absolutely 100 percent is effecting where we are right now,” he said. Khan says it makes economic sense for both parties for the arrangement to stay as-is, and is confident the two will come to an agreement.

Khan says he isn’t packing his things, though–in fact, he says, he’s moving in even more of them.

The Diocese says it’s waiting for an official response from Solid Rock before it takes further action.