(June 12, 2023, 11:57 AM EDT) -- WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court on June 12 denied a petition by officials and entities affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) seeking review of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution’s church autonomy doctrine and “ministerial exception” after the Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that it lacked appellate jurisdiction over district court orders denying dismissal, denying reconsideration and seeking to bifurcate discovery or stay the proceedings in a bishop’s defamation suit....