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The Anglican Church of Canada
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Anglican Journal News: Niagara in dispute with local
churches

SOLANGE DE SANTIS
STAFF WRITER

Mar 1, 2008
Hamilton, Ont. 
An Ontario Superior Court judge ruled on Feb. 29 that
the diocese of Niagara may not send its clergy into
two area churches in the next two weeks to hold Sunday
services for members of the congregations that remain
loyal after most of their fellow parishioners voted to
leave the Anglican Church of Canada.

³I am disappointed with the decision today, but we
have to respect and abide by it. I feel for those
faithful members of the parishes. We will try to
make some arrangement for them if we possibly can,²
said Bishop Michael Bird, who is based at the diocesan
office here. 

It was the first court decision since 11 Anglican
Canadian parishes decided, at their regular vestries
(annual meetings) in February, to separate. They now
identify themselves as part of the Anglican Network in
Canada.

Clergy and lay people who supported separation were
cheered by the ruling. ³We are so thankful. We want to
be able to worship together as a community
uninterrupted. (Those loyal to the diocese) are more
than welcome to attendany of our services,² said Rev.
Ray David Glenn of St. George, Lowville.

To read the rest of the story, please visit the
AnglicanJournal Web site,
www.anglicanjournal.com