Property fight looms in U.S. Episcopal split
Fri Jan 26, 2007
By Michael Conlon, Religion Writer
Reuters

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Gay issues splintering the U.S. Episcopal Church appear to be pushing it into a divorce and, like many separations, there is property at stake -- in this case worth millions.

Leaders of its 2.4 million members and conservative elements disagree over who owns the property, as the dispute over homosexuals in the church heats up. Already about 100 parishes have placed themselves under foreign jurisdiction.

Barring a compromise -- and given that property disputes are a matter of local, not U.S. national law -- it is a battle likely to be fought in the courts, state by state, for years. the rest