Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles wins another property battle

A California appellate court upholds a ruling that the property at St. Luke's Anglican Church in La Crescenta, which broke away from the national church, no longer belongs to the parish.
By Duke Helfand
June 12, 2009

The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles has scored its second legal victory this year in a battle with conservative churches that have sought to take their property with them as they break away to affiliate with overseas Anglican leaders.

A California appellate court this week affirmed a lower court ruling that said the property at St. Luke's Anglican Church in La Crescenta is held in trust for the diocese and the national Episcopal Church.

St. Luke's broke with the Episcopal Church in 2006 and aligned itself with Anglican leaders in Uganda. St. Luke's leaders said at the time that the U.S. church had strayed from its "historic faith." the rest