ENS: Ohio Bishop comments on lawsuit filed against breakaway congregations

By Joe Bjordal
April 22, 2008

[Episcopal News Service] Saying that "we have a canonical, fiduciary and moral responsibility to protect and preserve," the Right Rev. Mark Hollingsworth, Jr., Bishop of Ohio, has made his first public comment on a lawsuit filed in late March against five congregations that have separated themselves from the Diocese of Ohio and the Episcopal Church.

Bishop Hollingsworth noted there have been "extensive negotiations," but that the parties are at an impasse on questions of property ownership.

"In order to achieve the mutually respectful resolution we have sought all along, we need clarification from the court regarding who has the responsibility of ownership in these deliberations," said Hollingsworth.

"This is not a change in our commitment, but the next necessary and reasonable step," he said. the rest