Diocese, Episcopal Church ask state Supreme Court to review property rulings

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_106787_ENG_HTM.htm

[Episcopal Life Online] 10 Apr 2009--The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and the Episcopal Church each asked the state Supreme Court April 7 to review a Fairfax County Court judge's rulings in a series of church property lawsuits.

The diocese said in a news release that is appealing for the review on a number of grounds, including a challenge to the constitutionality of Virginia's one-of-a-kind "Division Statute" (Section 57-9(A)), which dates to the Civil War and is triggered when there is a so-called "division" of a church or religious society, and the rulings of the Circuit Court in applying the law.