Eight years of litigation involving the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh is over:
Property litigation involving Episcopal Diocese is over
By Ann Rodgers in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Eight years of property litigation involving the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh has ended, but most parishes that broke from the Episcopal Church still face negotiations over their buildings.
After the Pennsylvania Supreme Court last week denied an appeal from the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh, which had argued that it owned the property, the Anglican decided diocese it will not appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, spokesman David Trautman said.
“This whole string of litigation is ended, is done,” he said.
The lawsuit was filed in 2003 by Calvary Episcopal Church, Shadyside, whose leaders believed that Bishop Robert Duncan and many others might leave the denomination and try to take property. According to the Episcopal canons, all property — including parish buildings — is held in trust for the denomination.
The split occurred in 2008, when the majority at the diocesan convention voted to leave the Episcopal Church. Those who wished to remain Episcopalians immediately chose new leaders and continued that diocese. The Anglican diocese argued that it was the legitimate heir to the Episcopal Church property.
“We accept that the courts have not found in our favor and will, of course, comply with all court orders,” Anglican Archbishop Duncan wrote last week.
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I doubt that the remnant diocese will be able to make back its legal costs when they end up having to sell most of these properties, but then that was never the point, was it?
“the Episcopal Organization”
SRSLY, Christopher?
JC Fisher
My gut agrees w/ Michael, but the Better Angels of my nature are (trying to) agree w/ Tom.
I’m not in favor of either Michael’s or Christopher’s responses to this news. There are no winners here. I’m just glad it’s over.
If it’s a good move on the part of Pittsburgh’s “Christian Anglicans”, Christopher, how come they didn’t make it eight years ago? Think how many more pennies they’d have had to throw around if they’d done that. Instead, they poured their dollars into the coffers of lawyers – the only ones who’ve made out like bandits in this ludicrous time & money-waster.
Christopher, I hope that I am missing your joke because otherwise it sounds like a snarky attempt to make this loss some kind of a victory for “the cause.” Bishop Duncan may well end up with these buildings at pennies on the dollar, but that will be decided by TEC and not him. He left the church for his version of “Anglicanism” and must now embrace the consequences of that decision. Whether he’s right or he’s wrong, he can’t take things that do not belong to him and he knows it. Yes, it would be good if the others would share the wisdom show in this decision and move on. The rest of us have.