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Litigation Over Church Property Was Costly For Both Sides In Colorado Springs

By Howard M. Friedman

Yesterday's Colorado Springs Gazette reports on the high cost to both sides of the litigation over ownership of Colorado Springs Grace Church & St. Stephen's $17 million building after members split from the Episcopal Church USA. (See prior posting.) St. George?s Anglican Church-- the break away group that ultimately gave up the building-- has asked its members for a one-time family donation of $1,500 each to cover about $750,000 in legal fees plus tens of thousands of dollars in court costs. The Episcopal Diocese of Colorado spent $2.9 million to defend its ownership of the building. It was forced to sell stocks and bonds from its endowment portfolio to cover the costs at a time when its investment income dropped dramatically because of market conditions.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on September 23, 2009 (boomark / email).