He said that he has decided to sell the property and "invest the proceeds from that sale into the needs of the Catholic community."
The announcement was his latest action following public and media criticism about the new $2.2 million residence.
Gregory issued a statement of apology in his March 31 column in The Georgia Bulletin, Atlanta's archdiocesan newspaper, acknowledging he had received "heartfelt, genuine and candidly rebuking letters, e-mails and telephone messages" during the past weeks about the residence.
In the column he had said he would meet with archdiocesan consultative bodies to hear their assessment of what he should do about the new residence. He convened the meeting the morning of April 5 at the chancery. Afterward, a statement about his decision on the property was issued as a press release.
"I have decided to sell the Habersham property and invest the proceeds from that sale into the needs of the Catholic community," the archbishop said.
His decision came after consulting with members of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, Archdiocesan Finance Council and the Council of Priests, he said, "and hundreds of well-meaning parishioners of differing points of view — some who sent written observations — as well as my own personal reflection and prayer."
He continued, "In early May, I will vacate the house. At this time we are considering a number of locations including another archdiocesan property, excluding the former residence."
The new 6,000-square-foot residence is located on property donated to the archdiocese from the estate of Joseph Mitchell, nephew of Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone With The Wind. In his will, Mitchell requested that primary consideration be given to the Cathedral of Christ the King, where he worshipped. The cathedral received $7.5 million for its capital fund and spent roughly $1.9 million to buy the archbishop's former residence.
Cathedral officials had budgeted an additional $1 million to expand the archbishop's former residence so its six priests can live there, freeing up space on the cathedral's cramped campus. The cathedral rector, Msgr. Frank McNamee, asked Gregory to sell the residence to the cathedral because it is in walking distance and parishioners strongly wanted their priests to be that close.
The sale funds were used to build the new residence. An additional $300,000 went toward making it handicapped accessible and including a larger chapel than the one in the older residence.
Gregory moved into the newly built home in January. Some local Catholics reacted unfavourably to the move.