Breakaway Anglican parishes appeal court order to share churches with diocese
TORONTO — Three breakaway Anglican parishes in Ontario are seeking to appeal a court order requiring them to share their churches with the diocese pending the resolution of a property dispute.
Lawyers for the Niagara-area churches, which have aligned themselves with the more conservative Anglican Network in Canada, filed for leave to appeal in court Monday and will debate the matter on June 19.
Network director Cheryl Chang says last week's court order was so different from a previous ruling that gave the breakaway parishes exclusive use of the facilities that it presents grounds for appeal.
Two of the churches have decided they can't share and have found alternate accommodations, while the third is sharing until other arrangements can be made.
The parishes - St. Hilda's in Oakville, St. George's in Lowville and Good Shepherd in St. Catharines - are among some 15 churches across the country that have left the Anglican Church of Canada.
The breakaway parishes cite conflicting theological views - namely the Anglican church's supportive stance on same-sex unions - as their reason for leaving.
