South Bend council OKs new Catholic school deal

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The South Bend City Council has approved selling a piece of property to a Roman Catholic high school after an earlier deal was blocked by a federal judge.

Council members voted unanimously Monday night to accept $545,000 from the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend for the former Family Dollar store site. The South Bend Tribune reports the diocese was the only bidder for the property during a city auction last week.

The city bought the property in June for $1.2 million, intending to sell it to St. Joseph’s High School for $1 to accommodate construction of a new football field.

The American Civil Liberties Union sued, arguing that the deal would give substantial aid to a religious institution in violation of the First Amendment.