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Virginia High Court Hears Oral Arguments In Episcopal Church Split

By Howard M. Friedman

The Washington Times has extensive coverage of the oral arguments presented on Tuesday in the Virginia Supreme Court in In re: Multi-Circuit Episcopal Church Property Litigation. (See prior posting.) Three of the Court's 8 justices had recused themselves. The remaining five justices pressed lawyers on whether Virginia's "Division Statute" applies to the case. The statute provides that if a "division" has occurred in a church, a majority of the congregation may decide to which "branch" the congregation shall belong. Lawyers argued over whether a "division" had occurred in the Episcopal Church, and whether the Convocation of Anglican Churches in North America (CANA) is a "branch" of the Church.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on April 15, 2010 (boomark / email).