Anglican Communion News Service

 A Canadian judge has ruled that an Anglican priest cannot sue for wrongful dismissal.

Justice Hector Soubliere of the Ontario Court ruled on an unusual civil suit filed by Arthur Brewer against the Anglican Church of Canada's Ottawa diocese and Bishop John Baycroft.

The Toronto Star reports that Fr Brewer was seeking $125,000 in damages, claiming that the Church did not give him reasonable notice when it issued a termination letter on 9 June 1992.

The priest had suffered a heart attack, as well as a break-in and a fire at his Ottawa Church office in 1989. After 35 years in the ministry, he was transferred to another church in Ottawa, but a conflict arose with his parishioners.

Judge Soubliere said that according to the Church's canons and rules, a priest was an ecclesiastical office-holder - similar to the position of a judge or other secular authority - and was considered neither a contractor nor employee.

Instead, he or she was "in partnership with the bishop", sharing authority over the parish and "the people of God", the judge ruled.