Federal Appeals Court Dismisses Lawsuit Over Russian Orthodox Bishop Selection

A three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against a former priest who challenged the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) regarding his failed appointment as a bishop. The plaintiff, Alexander Belya, had filed a lawsuit in 2020 alleging that church officials wrongfully blocked his elevation and falsely accused him of forging documents related to his election.

In a unanimous decision, the court invoked the church autonomy doctrine, also known as the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine. Writing for the panel, Circuit Judge Gerard Lynch stated that secular courts lack the constitutional authority to intervene in the internal governance and ministerial selection processes of religious organizations. The court concluded that adjudicating the dispute would require a jury to interpret church protocols, which would impermissibly interfere with the denomination's religious mission.

Legal counsel representing the church praised the ruling as a victory for religious freedom, asserting that internal leadership decisions should remain within the jurisdiction of the church. The decision affirms that federal courts will not oversee disputes concerning the appointment and supervision of clergy.