The Catholic Church is considering placing on the rental market, at affordable prices, empty real estate, as parish residences, to help in the housing crisis.
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29/10/2026
by
Lusa
A Catholic Church is admitting the possibility of placing on the rental market, at affordable prices, buildings that are empty, such as parish residences.
According to information advanced by the auxiliary bishop of Porto and president of the Spiscopal Commission of the Social Pastoral to the newspaper ‘online’ 7Margens, faced with the crisis in housing several dioceses have already begun to analyze the situation, in order to use properties that are not being used.
“ This reflection is already coming from behind and will now be strengthened so that some of the situations can be translated into housing ", said the auxiliary bishop of Porto, adding knowledge of parish houses that have already been placed in the rental market.
For Roberto Mariz, the Catholic Church must “consider the availability [of real estate], in given situations, for the purpose of housing and, in particular, for rent with prices that can be controlled, accessible”.
The auxiliary bishop of Porto, however, recognized that the number of properties available and that can be placed on the accessible rental market may not be very high, since a part is actually being used or is not able to be used as housing.

