The Diocese of Los Angeles has sued the clergy and vestry of All Saints’ Church, Long Beach, St. James’, Newport Beach, and St. David’s, North Hollywood, charging trespass, theft, breach of contract and fiduciary duty, unfair trade practices and interference with the diocese’s economic interests.

The complaints were filed Sept. 7 in the Superior Courts of Los Angeles and Orange counties. They were brought by the diocese on behalf of the bishop and the “faithful congregants and true leadership” of the three parishes and allege that “because of the Episcopal Church’s stance on homosexuality, [the defendants] attempted to affiliate the parish with a non-Episcopal church and bishop in Uganda, and then evicted the remaining faithful congregants.”

The diocese asks that trusteeship of the parishes be returned to the diocese, that there be an accounting of funds, and that costs and damages be leveled against the clergy and vestry.

Eric C. Sohlgren, lead counsel for the defendants, characterized the lawsuits as being “devoid of fairness and compassion” and claimed the diocese seeks “to punish” the parishes “for exercising their religious freedom of choice to affiliate with another diocese and bishop in the Anglican Communion.”

(from The Living Church, Oct. 10, 2004)