Received by e-mail from the Diocese of Los Angeles:
[The Episcopal News, Los Angeles, March 29, 2010] — The California Court of Appeal has granted a writ requiring the Superior Court of Orange County to enter an order for judgment enforcing the Episcopal Church’s ownership of Newport Beach property and assets claimed by a breakaway congregation.
The Court’s opinion, filed on March 26, comes after a 2009 petition filed by the Diocese with regard to the property of St. James’ Episcopal Church, Newport Beach, a majority of whose members voted in 2004 to disaffiliate with the wider denomination.The opinion follows the California Supreme Court’s 2009 decision affirming that parish property is held in trust for the local diocese and wider Episcopal Church.
Issued by the Court’s Fourth Appellate District, Division 3, and authored by Presiding Justice David Sills, the opinion is posted here: http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/search/case/disposition.cfm?dist=43&doc_id=1916836.
“When I received the news of the Appellate Court’s decision, I was overjoyed,” said Diocesan Bishop J. Jon Bruno. “It is now time for us to move on with a sense of understanding of what it is to be called by God.
“We will do the best that we can to use the assets restored to us to proclaim the Gospel of Christ. The future is bright. We are looking toward the positive nature of ministry that the Diocese of Los Angeles has always looked toward, and we will not dwell in the past. We’ll extend loving arms of reconciliation to all those who choose to return home to the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.”
John R. Shiner, lead counsel for the Diocese, stated: “We are delighted the Court of Appeal followed the clear directive of the California Supreme Court, thus bringing the property ownership issue to closure.”