The legal angles in the Virginia dispute
The Washington Post has a story suggesting the diocese may--just may--be on firmer legal ground in that state than the breakaway parishes.
The key paragraphs:
Martin Nussbaum, a Colorado lawyer who has represented the Roman Catholic Church and evangelical Protestant congregations but is not involved in the Episcopal Church dispute, said he believes the diocese holds the stronger legal position.
"The majority of rulings suggest that in the Episcopal Church, the secessionist congregations cannot take their stuff with them," he said.
Still, he added, there are enough inconsistencies in the way courts have handled such cases that congregational leaders are encouraged to roll the legal dice.
