Canadian Court Says Diocese and Congregations Must Share Properties

In Canada, a number of parishes, upset over issues such as same-sex unions, have voted to break away from the Anglican Church of Canada. Yesterday's Toronto Globe and Mail reports on an Ontario Superior Court ruling issued on Monday holding that three break-away parishes and the diocese must share possession of church properties until the court makes a final ruling on who is entitled to ownership. The three parishes involved are St. George's Anglican Church in Lowville, St. Hilda's Anglican Church in Oakville, and the Church of Good Shepherd in St. Catharines. Some lawyers say that a final decision on ownership of these properties could be years away.