Why did the Archdiocese get involved so deeply in a Washington, D.C., enterprise?

The Archdiocese made its loan commitments in better economic circumstances based on a business model that proved to be unsustainable. The Center was considered a worthy investment by the Archdiocese of Detroit and more than 168,000 donors as a place, in our nation's capital, and adjacent to the Catholic University of America, to carry the torch of Pope John Paul II's universal message of love, freedom, and peace in our contemporary culture. Since the Holy Father’s canonization in April 2014, the center has even greater significance for countless pilgrims who visit our nation’s capital.