Diocese, parishes to share churches

UNNATI GANDHI



From Tuesday's Globe and Mail



May 6, 2008 at 4:49 AM EDT



The Anglican Diocese of Niagara and three breakaway parishes must share custody of three Southwestern Ontario churches until the courts ultimately decide who holds the keys to the properties, an Ontario Superior Court judge ruled yesterday.



I accept that although there are fundamental religious disputes between these parties ... there is clearly a dispute over property rights, Madam Justice Jane Milanetti wrote in her 21-page decision.



She ruled that the three parishes and the diocese share possession of St. George's Anglican Church in Lowville, St. Hilda's Anglican Church in Oakville, and the Church of Good Shepherd in St. Catharines. She further ordered that the diocese, which is named in the titles of two of the three properties, have full access to and use of the three properties between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. every Sunday, as well as other feast days such as Christmas.



The order is meant to be in place until the courts decide who owns the properties. Some lawyers have suggested that could take up to a decade.



Archdeacon Michael Patterson, a spokesman for the Niagara diocese of the Anglican Church of Canada, said he was very pleased and hoped the resolution would be acceptable to all.



But Reverend Charlie Masters, who voted with his parishioners at St. George's to break away from the church, said parishioners were saddened and deeply disappointed by the judge's decision.



The Anglican Network said it would be considering its options on how to proceed.



The three congregations are among a number of parishes that have voted to break ranks with the Anglican Church of Canada in a dispute over issues including the blessing of same-sex unions, which they oppose.