N.D. Ga.: Ecclesiastical Abstention Doctrine bars court from deciding “representative status” in Bishop’s suit seeking indemnification of legal fees. The Church Litigation Update covers the case, Kawimbe v African Methodist Episcopal Church, Inc., Opinion and Order (N.D. Ga. Aug. 27, 2021), here. You can read the decision here.
Category: ecclesiastical abstention
W.D. N.C.: Catholic high school liable for firing teacher in same-sex marriage
W.D. N.C.: Catholic high school liable for firing teacher in same-sex marriage. The court rejected defenses based on the First Amendment—including the Ministerial Exception— Title VII, and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, among others. Religion Clause reports on the decision here. Read the decision here: Billard v. Charlotte Catholic High School, (W.D. N.C., Sept. 3, 2021).
“Suit Over Unification Church Leadership Is Dismissed”
“Suit Over Unification Church Leadership Is Dismissed” Religion Clause covers the decision by the U.S District Court for the Southern District of New York here.
Wash. Ct. App.: Parent Presbyterian denominational body owed deference in dispute with breakaway congregation
Wash. Ct. App.: Parent Presbyterian denominational body owed deference in dispute with breakaway congregationeligion. Religion Clause reports on the decision
here.
Ill. App. Ct.: Ecclesiastical Abstention Doctrine bars challenge to denial of rental of Catholic Community Center
Ill. App. Ct.: Ecclesiastical Abstention Doctrine bars challenge to denial of rental of Catholic Community Center. Religion Clause covers Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic Community Center Building Board v. St. Thomas Syromalabar Diocese of Chicago, No. 2-18-0792 (Ill. App. Ct., May 30, 2019), here.
Utah Ct. App.: Mail-in vote violates incorporated denominational governing documents, break-away from UMC invalid
Religion Clause covers the decision in Laumalie Ma’oni’oni Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga v. Ma’afu, No. 2019 UT App. 41 (Utah Ct. App., March 21, 2019), here.
“Claim of Fraudulent Luring Into Conversion To Christianity Dismissed on Ecclesiastical Abstention Grounds”
“Claim of Fraudulent Luring Into Conversion To Christianity Dismissed on Ecclesiastical Abstention Grounds” Religion Clause reports here on Rymer v. Lemaster, (M.D. Tenn., Oct. 4, 2017). The adopted magistrate judge’s recommendation is here.