\u201cWe will persevere as we seek justice, even though the personal and financial costs will be significant. The present cause requires us to respond in this way,\u201d\u009d [Bishop] vonRosenberg wrote in a pastoral letter distributed Wednesday.<\/p>\n
With an appeal ahead, those costs for both sides will keep mounting.<\/p>\n
So far, the Diocese of South Carolina and 38 parishes that separated from the national church have spent $2 million on legal fees, Bishop Mark Lawrence said. They will continue to raise money to fight the appeal and noted that The Episcopal Church has spent far more nationwide to fight similar lawsuits.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s shameful to continue using church money in this way,\u201d\u009d [Bishop] Lawrence said.<\/p>\n
He added that the diocese just wants to move on, independent of The Episcopal Church, which is the North American province of the global Anglican Communion. \u201cWhile they speak peace, they engage in litigation,\u201d\u009d said Lawrence…<\/p>\n