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AMERICAN ANGLICAN COUNCIL DEMANDS FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY FROM EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Episcopalians Urged to Sign Transparency Petition
By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
7/31/2007
The American Anglican Council, an organization of conservative Episcopalians and Anglicans, is demanding that The Episcopal Church tell Episcopalians where the money is coming from in its massive multi-million dollar litigation against orthodox parishes and priests.
Canon David Anderson told VirtueOnline that if the litigation is using lawful funds the Episcopal Church (TEC) has nothing to lose by transparency. "Those in the TEC and those outside are concerned about the diversion of resources into litigation by both plaintiffs and defendants which ties up mission effort in courts for years."
Said one irate layman, "Just whose money are they using anyway? It is our money, from our donations and plate offerings given in trust. Part of every dollar WE put in the plate every Sunday goes to Mrs. Schori and TEC Chancellor David Booth Beers Legal Fund for their 'take no prisoners' civil lawsuits against former Episcopal churches and their vestry members who managed to escape their TEC's False Imprisonment."
Recently four bishops wrote an open letter to the church's governing body protesting the actions of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church. "We would like to know, where the money is coming from in order to conduct this litigation, especially in view of the fact that the program budget is being reduced because insufficient funds are being received from dioceses.
"We ask you, our Executive Council, to make a public report of how much money the Episcopal Church has spent in recent years on court costs and attorney fees in these extensive litigations. In what budget is it accounted for? Has any income from trust funds been used to support these litigations? How much and from which funds?
"How much compensation has the law firm of the Episcopal Church's chancellor, David Beers, received, for servicing this litigation? An open and transparent disclosure is crucially important to avoid speculation, rumors and consequent distrust of the Episcopal Church."
The American Anglican Council has filed a Legal Transparency Petition, which reads as follows:
"The Episcopal Church's (TEC) continued litigation against parishes and vestries is a great concern to many in the Anglican Communion. These lawsuits come at a high price emotionally, spiritually, and financially. Of special concern is the source of TEC's funding. Where are they getting the money to sue these churches? Should TEC be open about the amount spent and the source of their litigation funding? If you are concerned about this issue and want to do something about it, then click on the provided link and sign the American Anglican Council's on-line petition. Help us bring this issue into the light!"
Click here to sign the TEC Legal Transparency Petition (www.showmethemoney.kintera.org)
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