A report on what went wrong during efforts to save Assumption Church in Windsor has been released.
Lawyer Paul Mullins released a 43-page report that outlines a strained relationship between Assumption Parish, the Diocese of London and the company hired to run the fundraising campaign, Philanthropic Management Consultants.
Mullins says "the thing that I found most disturbing was how so much anger and hostility had evolved between the Bishop and the Diocese and the local volunteers.
PMC was hired on a five-year contract paying $20,000 a month and was tasked with raising $10-million for the restoration of the church, built in 1842.
Bishop Ronald Fabbro suspended the campaign in 2012 after years of conflict and $450,000 in losses, split equally between the diocese and the non-profit group, Assumption Heritage Fund, which helped to manage the campaign.
In his report, Mullins outlines there isn't any missing money. "They've all been accounted for but that doesn't say they were all spent wisely, or prudently or effectively.
A follow-up fundraising effort in 2013 failed to land any major donations and a subsequent anonymous donation of $10-million was pulled off the table due to diligence concerns.
Bishop Fabbro has released a statement in response to the report accepting responsibility for the mistakes that were made.
Just this week, local philanthropist Al Quesnel committed $5-million toward the restoration of the 173-year-old church in the area of Huron Church Rd. and University Ave. in the city's west end.