Eritrean Orth. Tweahdo Diocese v. Sinoda

Summary

The Supreme Court of Maryland held that the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine did not bar a Maryland religious corporation's wrongful detainer action to reclaim its parsonage from a defrocked bishop, because the dispute could be resolved under neutral principles of Maryland property law without deciding any question of religious doctrine, faith, or governance. Because the Church's bylaws, the deed, and Maryland's Religious Corporations Law confer no possessory right tied to the office of Bishop, the validity of Respondent's removal was immaterial. On the merits, Respondent occupied the property as a licensee — with no lease, no rent payments, and no exclusive possession — and his license was revoked by repeated requests to vacate, entitling the corporation to judgment. No separate opinions were filed.