South Carolina Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments In Episcopal Church Split

Yesterday, the South Carolina Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Protestant Episcopal Church In The Diocese of South Carolina v. Episcopal Church.  In the case, a state trial court held that 38 break-away Episcopal parishes in South Carolina retain ownership of their real, personal and intellectual property. It rejected claims by The Episcopal Church that an express or a constructive trust existed under which it could claim the property. (See prior posting.)  Both The State and the Post and Courier have reports on the arguments.  Also available online are the Appellants' Brief and Respondents' Brief to the state Supreme Court.  A related case is winding its way through federal courts. (See prior posting.)