In response to a suit initiated by others, we are asking the courts to rule that we were within our rights to insist that the clergy at the parishes involved have indeed abandoned their ministry in our Canadian church. We contend they said so in a letter to the bishop last May as they handed in their licences from him and purported to join another church, based in Argentina.
Neale Adams to the parishioners of St. Matthew’s, St. Luke’s and St. John’s: “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.” Don’t you just love those warm, inclusive fuzzies?
All the rest can stay in their parishes…in the Anglican Church of Canada…because we really want and need their money. And for the ones who can’t tolerate the diocese change in theology then…well…you can go…but we’re going to keep all the money you ever donated anyhow. Can you launch a class-action suit to get back donations given in good faith to one organization which then changes its mind and does something completely different? I mean if I donated money to the Canadian cancer Society and then they decided to change their laws and become a rugby club could I get my money back?
I believe the diocese also clarified some of its stance in these comments:
[blockquote]”In its statement of defense, the Diocese notes that Bishop Ingham has always acted in accordance with the Diocese’s Constitution and Canons, and his actions have been properly ratified by Diocesan Council.
The statement adds that the term “historic, orthodox Anglican teaching and practice†has no basis in law or in Anglicanism, and that “the Solemn Declaration does not constrain the evolution of doctrine.â€[/blockquote]
Those statements appeared on the Diocese of New Westminster website last week (the site is currently down, but a google cache is available).