The Episcopal Diocese of Long Island wants law firms to repay the $205,000 in legal fees that “dissident” parishioners allegedly paid out of church coffers after trying unsuccessfully to take over a church. The squabble erupted after the consecration of the church’s first openly gay bishop, in 2003.
The Diocese says the dissidents voted to disaffiliate St. James Church of Elmhurst in 2005, then used church money to pay their legal fees as they sought control of the parish’s 304-year-old property.
Disgusting use of the court system to intimidate lawyers in general and deny representation to future litigants.
The Beers-Schori doctrine: search out and destroy.
This action by the Diocese of Long Island seems, well…
Bizarre.
Outrageous.
And downright stupid.
Persisting in sin sometimes makes you dumb.
David Handy+
But would we have the same reaction if the corporation in question were not a religious one? Suppose a sub-group in a secular organization had to sought to disaffiliate using company funds and been rejected?
The decision was made by members of St. James to turn to the courts to arbitrate on a matter for which the latter are not well suited and this was the result. Having obtained such a judgment, there’s a certain logic in the Diocese seeking the return of funds used for – from the courts’ point of view – an illicit purpose.
Which just goes to show, for the [url=http://catholicandreformed.blogspot.com/2009/10/agony-of-possession.html]proto-Mennonites[/url] among us that talking about what is “fair” in a religious context, is a very different matter when it comes to dealings with the secular state.
Lawyers returning legal fees? That’s funny.
It’s like asking a shark to yak out your leg after he’s bitten it off.
The lawyers are the only winners in all of this church property litigation.
Gee,
How about if we all sue the Episcopal Church for the return of all contributions paid under the false promise given us by the bishops of that church to maintain the faith “as they received it.” Since 75% of the bishops and dioceses are in flagrant violation of that vow, it should be a slam dunk.
Lamb tried same in San Joaquin….judge said no…Bruno tried in LA…judge said no….Long Island is trying in New York….
Intercessor
And the judge will say “NO” to the Diocese of Long Island, too!
They’re going after the wrong parties. If church funds were wrongly appropriated by the departing parishioners to pay their lawyers, the departing parishioners should make restitution.