The Church Attorney in the Bruno case has endorsed the motion asking the Episcopal Church’s Hearing Panel to permit the parishioners of St James the Great to return to their parish pending final disposition of the misconduct case lodged against Bishop J. Jon Bruno of Los Angeles. On 29 Aug 2016 Raymond J. Coughlan, Jr., representing the national church in the proceedings said it “made no sense” to continue to lock the congregation out of the Newport Beach parish church. Locking the congregation out of the property “sends the wrong message”, Mr. Coughlan said, noting the Episcopal Church is a “welcoming, inclusive church. The lockout is the opposite.” A decision on the parish’s motion to compel Bishop Bruno to return home is expected later this month after the bishop files his response to their pleading.