Court Rules in Favor of Breakaway Episcopal Churches
Friday, Oct. 28, 2005
Posted: 4:15:16PM EST

Three Southern Californian Anglican churches came one step closer to severing their ties with the Episcopal Church U.S.A. on Thursday while maintaining their property.

Orange County Superior Court Judge David Velasquez ruled that the national denomination did not have a valid claim of ownership to the local parishes’ land and buildings, Lynn Moyer, the attorney for All Saints church in Long Beach and St. David’s church in North Hollywood, told the Long Beach Press Telegram.

The three parishes have been locked in a battle over property ownership issues with the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles since August 2004 when they decided to split from the denomination over doctrinal disputes. Central to the disputes was the understanding of homosexuality and the denomination’s decision to ordain a gay bishop and allow the blessings of same-sex unions. Story