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	Pennsylvania: Bishop Bennison Prevails in Fraud Suit By Mary Frances Schjonberg Episcopal Life October 27, 2008 http://www.episcopal-life.org/81803_101962_ENG_HTM.htm A Montgomery County, Pennsylvania jury decided October 24 that inhibited Bishop Charles Bennison Jr. did not commit fraud when he deposed a diocesan priest six years ago. The Rev. David Moyer claimed that Bennison should not have deposed him using the "abandonment of communion" provision in the Episcopal Church's Constitution and Canons. He claimed that Bennison, "motivated by secular animosity," had "wrongfully" sought to "force [Moyer] out of his vocation, his church, his congregation and his home." Moyer had asked for damages for loss of employment and mental suffering. The jury, sitting in Norristown, deliberated for a few hours before ruling against Moyer's claims, which are detailed here. Bennison deposed Moyer in September 2002 because Moyer repeatedly refused to allow the bishop and his predecessor to make formal visits, required by the canons, to Church of the Good Shepherd in Rosemont, a Philadelphia suburb, where Moyer had been rector for 13 years at the time. Moyer also presented confirmands to then-Archbishop Maurice Sinclair of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone without having Bennison's required permission to do so. Then-Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold became involved in the issue, meeting with Bennison, Moyer and the lay leaders of the parish. "Although I have no canonical authority in this diocesan matter, I have employed every means at my disposal to help find a way forward that honored the concerns of all, and strongly urged that they enter into a process of mediation," Griswold said just after Moyer's deposition. Moyer still claims to be rector of Good Shepherd, a parish still listed on the Diocese of Pennsylvania's website. Consecrated as a Traditional Anglican Communion bishop in February 2005, Moyer was once president of Forward in Faith North America, an organization which is opposed to what it perceives as liberal trends in the church, including the ordination of women and homosexuals. He is currently listed as an "ex-officio adjunct" member of its council. Diocese of Quincy Bishop Keith Ackerman is the current president. The Pennsylvania Standing Committee, which is acting as the ecclesiastical authority in the diocese, said in a statement posted on the diocesan website that it was pleased with the outcome. "We never believed that there was any legal or factual basis for the suit, and we are gratified by the jury verdict," the members said.
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