Legal battle continues over Rose Park Buddhist temple

WEST VALLEY CITY (ABC 4 News) - Members of the Buddhist temple in Rose Park are worried their beloved temple could be taken away from them.

The Vietnamese-American Unified Buddhist Association of Utah wants answers from the monks of the Vietnamese-American Unified Buddhist Congress as to why its temple at 1185 W. 1000 North in Rose Park is now owned by a monk who may want to sell off the property.

Recently, the Utah group donated the property to congress.  After that, though, congress turned around and gave the deed to a monk who is not a member of the temple.  That monk has forced the congregation of more than 100 out of the temple and only allows them to worship inside two days a week.

Members suspect the new owner wants to sell the building for money.  Local temple leaders have not been able to get answers from congress as to why it sold the deed to a monk.

The Rose Park temple has been a place of worship for members for 19 years.  They tell ABC 4 News that they will not rest until the property rights are in the hands of someone who cares about them and their church.