John Chilton was in the courtroom today when the Virginia Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the dispute over property between the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and CANA over church property. Read his account at The Lead.
The Loudoun Times reports on the day in court with brief commentary from both sides in the dispute.
John's observances are excellent.
ReplyDeleteO wait. . . That should be observations, shouldn't it? Yes, they were excellent!
ReplyDeleteVW = gendl Has your governor changed the spelling of his name? ;-)
Susan, I hesitated a bit when I read your original comment, but I quickly moved on. Observances? Well, OK, John observed = observances. You fooled me.
ReplyDeleteWe'll see. Which ever way it goes it will be appealed to the US Supremes who, by action or inaction, will decide the issue.
ReplyDeleteNot like Johnston & Minns were going to mud-wrestle, is it? As the law was enacted to enable the continuation of a War of Rebellion, Secessionist church, it will be an interesting ruling either way.
ReplyDeleteIf the decision goes against CANA, will they appeal to the Supremes? The five Roman Catholics on the court may not favor a ruling for the congregations, nor will they care for the interference in church policies.
ReplyDeleteOh, but Mimi, they never would let their religion sway them one way or the other! They are lawyers. . .
ReplyDeleteSusan, thank you for my second big laugh of the day. As they say in 'puter talk: ROTFLMAO.
ReplyDeleteYes, I was just thinking that if it made it to the Supremes, all of those RC Justices were not going to set any precedents that would give break away RC congregations the right to the property. If they rule against TEC, it would do exactly that.
ReplyDeleteDon't count on the RCs, Mimi. They think that they are the One Church and regard suits like this, concerning TEC, as falling within the category Aquila non capit muscas ("The eagle does not catch flies"). Moreover, the bishops are hardly likely to risk ruffling feathers where their current cozy relationship with the Republican Right is concerned. The RC Church has not filed an amicus curiae brief in this case. Many churches, including the Seventh Day Adventists and the Brethren have filed supporting briefs.
ReplyDeleteps Benny has also made his support pretty clear for those wanting to bolt to his church on these issues.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lapinbizarre.
ReplyDeleteI don't think this will be so clear cut if it reaches the Supremes. This is a very right-wing ideological court, and may well rule where their sympathies lie.
Clarence Thomas attended Truro, one of the seceding churches, during his Episcopalian phase. He has now (now that he no longer needs to kiss up to John Danforth?) returned to his RC roots. Would he recuse himself? Recusal standards for the Court's right wing seem pretty relaxed nowadays.
ReplyDeleteWell, I can't even say, "I'm just a country lawyer, but..." because I'm no lawyer at all. We shall see.
ReplyDelete