A statement issued by the Presiding Bishop’s office said that the opinion was “particularly disappointing in the light of the long struggle in which the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of South Carolina have worked cooperatively to preserve the property of this parish for the mission of the church and the diocese.”
“Time has not permitted a careful analysis of the opinion or of the options that confront the church and the diocese at this point,” the statement said.
South Carolina Bishop Mark Lawrence said that “there’s a long wisdom of tradition in the scriptures, and counsel in the book of Ecclesiastes that there is a time to keep silent and a time to speak, and as picked up in the letter of James, where James says, ‘Know this my beloved brothers and sisters, let everyone be quick to hear and slow to speak.’ I believe this is such a time.”
Aparently this one has left a mark. Less strident than the usual PRAVDA like press releases.
After reading the ENS article, I am delighted, and also convinced, that the principle that civilly incorporated parishes have an immemorial right to own and control their own property should be upheld in the life of the Church. From the earliest time this has been true. Just check out the Arian controversy, or the Severan controversy. It’s often the fear of completely losing support to a rival that historically is the most helpful governor on the activities of innovative prelates and their minons. The very recent emergence of a strong and vigorously aggrandizing prelature is not a good thing for anyone in TEC.
Yep, that’s about the best spin the folks at 815 could put on this devastating loss for them.
The quote from +Mark Lawrence is actually very wise, which is no surprise. He has decided this is a time to keep a discrete silence. The facts speak loudly enough for themselves.
I for one applaud the Supreme’s decision. It’s a HUGE victory for all those who want to leave TEC and KEEP their property (which always was rightfully theirs, if as usual they paid for it and maintained it without much of any help from their local diocese).
David Handy+
[Comment deleted by Elf]
Hmm, David Booth Beers and the PB’s personal lawyer for these matters are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO busy they can’t comment. Interesting. Look what all that mission and evangelism money in the legal coffers can do for the Gozpell of the New Thang (r)! That’ll bring ’em in by the droves, it will.
One cannot help but contrast the prepared statement from 815 with Bishop Lawrences’ reliance on scripture.