Schmidt v. Catholic Diocese of Biloxi

WALLER, Chief Justice,

for the Court.

¶ 1. One hundred and fifty-seven former parishioners of the St. Paul Catholic Church in Pass Christian (“Plaintiffs”) filed suit in the Chancery Court of Harrison County against the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi, Inc., Most Reverend Thomas J. Rodi, as Bishop and President of the Biloxi Diocese, and Reverend Dennis Carver, individually and as pastor of St. Paul Church (hereinafter collectively “Church Defendants”). Plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief after Bishop Rodi effectively closed the St. Paul Church, which had been damaged in Hurricane…