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| Grace Episcopal Church - Charleston, SC |
The Episcopal Church in South Carolina has filed to remove the state lawsuit filed against it to the U.S. District Court, citing statutory and constitutional issues that need to be addressed by the federal court. The Episcopal Church is also a defendant in the suit and has consented to the removal to the federal court.Not only did Mark Lawrence and the breakaways take property that belonged to the Episcopal Church when they left, they took the name of the Episcopal diocese. The faithful Episcopalians chose a clever new name after they were enjoined from using their proper name.
The suit, originally filed in South Carolina Circuit Court in Dorchester County by a group that is breaking away from The Episcopal Church, now moves entirely to the federal court system, according to Thomas S. Tisdale, Jr., Chancellor of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina, which is remaining part of The Episcopal Church.
“We have carefully examined the claims made against The Episcopal Church in South Carolina, and inherent in all these claims are federal statutory and constitutional issues that must be decided in a federal court rather than in South Carolina state court,” Mr. Tisdale said.
The plaintiffs, who include a group representing itself as “the Diocese of South Carolina” along with 35 parishes, now have 30 days to respond to the notice of removal. They could seek to have the case remanded to state court, and a federal judge would then have to decide where the case will be heard.
The photo is from an Easter service at Grace Episcopal Church in Charleston, where, as you see, the church was full, which warms my heart.
I just hope xLawrence & Co don't FIRE ON the Federal Court... :-X
ReplyDeleteI hope the case is moved to fedreral court. TEC would likely get a fairer hearing there.
DeleteThat is a beautiful picture and I think they would get a fairer and more intelligent and reasoned hearing in federal court.
DeleteI have refrained from commenting about Mark Lawarence because he is just so annoying that a rant could tip over into an encyclopedia. So, I'll leave it at, I think he is the very model of a modern major megalomaniac. (Apologies to Gilbert and Sullivan)
Bonnie, It's the same with me. Don't get me started on Mark Lawrence.
DeleteMake that a triple.
ReplyDeleteI probably shouldn't say this, but in a way, I prefer the new name. I've thought that The Episcopal Church in Louisiana has a nicer ring to it than The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana, but the Episcopalians in SC should not be forced into using another name. Lawrence and his cohorts fought to keep the name of the diocese to claim some sort of legitimacy and to cause confusion for people who are looking for an Episcopal church.
ReplyDeleteI think Mark Lawrence should be ashamed to dredge the people of the Episcopal Church through the quagmire of legal lawsuits. It wastes precious resources, and is in direct contradiction to an injunction by Saint Paul. Deacon Dianne Lowe
ReplyDeleteDianne, there is much for which Mark Lawrence will be held accountable.
DeleteBy way of "it's a small world," Grandmere:
ReplyDeleteThe Incumbent of Grace Church, the Revd Michael Wright, is a classmate of mine from Trinity College, Toronto. In fact, he and I were the youngest and second youngest members of our class.
Malcolm m'lad, this world of ours is small. You and Michael have come a long way.
DeleteWhat good does it do to move it to Federal Court? South Carolina doesn't recognize that Federal Courts have jurisdiction in the Confederacy do they? Or is that North Carolina?
ReplyDeleteWade, the silly posturing by the politicians was in North Carolina, but they will fail in the end, even as they continue to make trouble and make fools of themselves.
DeleteLawrence and his crowd may litigate as long as possible and drag their feet in complying with a federal court order, should it come, but they will have to comply.