Legal Opinion
In re Multi-Circuit Episcopal Church Property Litigation
Fairfax County Circuit Court
Decided April 3, 2008No. Case Nos. CL 2007-0248724, CL 2006-15792, CL 2006-15793, CL 2007-556, CL 2007-1235, CL 2007-1236, CL 2007-1237, CL 2007-1238, CL 2007-1625, CL 2007-5249, CL 2007-5250, CL 2007-5362, CL 2007-5363, CL 2007-5364, CL 2007-5682, CL 2007-5683, CL 2007-5684, CL 2007-5685, CL 2007-5686, CL 2007-5902, CL 2007-5903, and CL 2007-11514PublishedCited by 1 opinion
1Opinion of the Court
By Judge Randy I. Bellows
Of the several issues now before the Court, the sole issue that is ripe for decision, and the one that therefore shall be decided today, is whether the powers and the authorities of Va. Code § 57-9(A) (hereinafter “§ 57-9(A)”) may be invoked in the instant litigation.
That matter requires the resolution of four questions:
First, what are the definitions of “church” and “religious society,” as those terms are used in § 57-9(A), and do either of these terms apply to the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Virginia (hereinafter “Diocese”), the Protestant…
2Cases cited96 opinions
- City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Center, Inc.Supreme Court of the United States · 1985
- Lugar v. Edmondson Oil Co.Supreme Court of the United States · 1982
- Dandridge v. WilliamsSupreme Court of the United States · 1970
- Cantwell v. ConnecticutSupreme Court of the United States · 1940
- Lemon v. KurtzmanSupreme Court of the United States · 1971
91 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by1 opinion
- In re Multi-Circuit Episcopal Church Property LitigationFairfax County Circuit Court · 2012