Warnick v. All Saints Episcopal Church

RAU, J.,

I. STATEMENT OF THE CASE

This case involves the constitutional question of whether a civil court may interfere with how a church chooses its priest. Specifically, Father Jeremy M. Warnick (appellant) sued All Saints Episcopal Church, Charles E. Bennison (the Episcopal Bishop of Pennsylvania), and three All Saints congregants, challenging Bishop Bennison’s decision to revoke his license to minister in Pennsylvania, Bishop Bennison’s letter to the congregation explaining the decision and statements made by congregants about Father Warnick at a church meeting. The bishop’s decisions…