First Day of Bollinger Trial

Shortly after 11 this morning the presentment trial of Fr. David Bollinger began in Syracuse. In a ninth floor conference room of the law firm McKenzie Hughes, the Ecclesiastical Court convened to hear testimony from the Diocese of Central NY and Fr. Bollinger. As was reported by The Living Church last week, because of the flagrant violations of the court's mandates the diocese was denied witnesses and evidence in the trial. The diocesan legal team of Church Attorney James Sparks and an associate asked the court to reverse its decision on witnesses and evidence and they were denied. The diocesan legal team attempted to introduce ten exhibits and nine of them were declared inadmissable. Following the court's determination on the tenth exhibit the diocese rested its case. Tommorrow the court will hear from the witnesses of Fr. David Bollinger. The case is scheduled to be concluded on Wednesday.