Anglican churches, including St. Matthew's in Abbotsford, lose court-costs appeal

From British Columbia-

St. Matthew's Church in Abbotsford is among four Anglican churches that have lost an appeal on a ruling that they pay court costs to the Diocese of New Westminster.

Two of three justices on a B.C. Court of Appeal panel on May 19 upheld a B.C. Supreme Court decision from June 2010. That decision said the four parishes were responsible for paying approximately $120,000 in court costs to the diocese.

The two sides have been in conflict over the issue of same-sex blessings and who is entitled to the church properties.

The four churches – which broke away from the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) to join the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) in 2008 – have maintained that allowing same-sex blessings is contrary to core Anglican doctrine.

The diocese continues to operate under the ACC, which favours same-sex blessings, and has won two court battles – in B.C. Supreme Court and the B.C. Court of Appeal – that ruled the parishes are using the church properties outside the jurisdiction of the diocese and must vacate.

More here-

http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/122836394.html