Sudanese Demands

"Cease All Litigation," eh?

I know this has made the rounds of the blogosphere, but I can't resist reproducing it here, too.

You will recall that a strange addition in the Sudanese statement yesterday called on the Episcopal Church "to cease court actions with immediate effect."

Ace Reporter Jim Naughton brings us this delightful bit of irony:

Yesterday, the Episcopal Church of Sudan urged the Episcopal Church to suspend all litigation against breakaway churches attempting to leave the denomination but maintain possession of the parish property. Their call has an ironic twist, as is evident in the latest newsletter of the American Friends of the Episcopal Church of Sudan. (See pages 10-11.)

In brief, the Episcopal Church of Sudan lost control of its guesthouse to the Reformed Episcopal Church of the Sudan. The RECS said that it broke from the ECS because the ECS condoned homosexuality. The guesthouse was then sold to a Sudanese corporation. The Episcopal Church of Sudan sued. In March, it won. An Episcopal church in Virginia, and members of American Friends of the Church of Sudan helped pay for the lawsuit.

Yes, the Diocese of Virginia heavily supported the Episcopal Church of the Sudan in reclaiming its property. Now the Diocese of Virginia is embroiled in a battle to retain the parishes it owns. And Archbishop Daniel has written them off (as he wrote off all his companion dioceses) in his media interview.

Mote, meet Log.