The property ownership dispute between nine CANA parishes and the Diocese of Virginia grinds on. To recap where things stand, the Virginia Supreme Court earlier this year ruled in favor of the diocese and overturned a lower court decision, returning the cases to the lower court for retrial.
The CANA parishes asked Virginia Supreme Court to reconsider its own decision, but the court declined.
At that juncture the Virginia dispute stood where most church property disputes begin.
In October the lower court asked the parties for their views of how the trial(s) should proceed. CANA and the Diocese have now replied to the court. Eight of the nine CANA parishes filed a joint reply. Another filed its own.
A hearing is set for Friday November 12 to determine procedures and set the trial schedule. Among the questions is whether the nine cases will be consolidated. The parties anticipate the briefing and trial period to be April – June 2011.
The court documents can be read here.