The Diocese of Fort Worth Wins. TEC Loses.

Despite spending over $40 million in a zero-sum game of scorched earth litigation, the Episcopal Church (TEC) was defeated today in Texas' Tarrant County Court, with Judge Chupp ruling in favor of the traditionalist Diocese of Fort Worth.

The Diocese of Fort Worth voted to leave the Episcopal Church in 2008 and was sued by the denomination for all its property and assets. TEC claimed that these belonged to the national church and had been held by the diocese "in trust."

Chupp's order denies TEC's claim, and follows earlier decisions by Texas' Supreme Court, which stated that TEC's lawsuit should be tried on neutral principles of state property law and that there was no "trust relationship" between churches, dioceses and TEC.

Crazed

The Tarrant County ruling is the third in a series of legal reversals experienced by the Episcopal Church, following defeats in South Carolina and Quincy.

TEC, you lose, and perhaps $40 million+ might have been spent more wisely. 

LSP

The Episcopal Church Loses in South Carolina

Loser

Breaking news via Stand Firm. The Episcopal Church has lost it's lawsuit against the traditionalist Diocese of South Carolina. Here's an excerpt from the ruling:

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED,

1. The Plaintiffs are the owners of their real, personal and intellectual property.

2. The Defendants have no legal, beneficial or equitable interest in the Plaintiffs’ real, personal and intellectual property.

3. The Defendant TEC, also known as The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America and Defendant The Episcopal Church in South Carolina and their officers, agents, servants, employees, members, attorneys and any person in concert with or under their direction or control are permanently enjoined from using, assuming, or adopting in any way, directly or indirectly the names, styles, emblems or marks of the Plaintiff as hereinafter set out, or any names, styles, emblems or marks that may be reasonably perceived to be those names, styles emblems or marks. 

4. The Dorchester County clerk is directed, upon the filing of this order, to refund the sum of $50,000.00 to the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of South Carolina.

5. The Defendants counterclaims are dismissed with prejudice.

Winner

Congratulations to Bishop Mark Lawrence and the faithful Anglicans of South Carolina. Let's pray for a similar decision in Texas.

God bless,

LSP