Abuse Survivor Petitions Texas Supreme Court
Cindy Clemishire has asked the Supreme Court of Texas to revive most of her defamation lawsuit against Gateway Church, disgraced founder Robert Morris and former church elders.
An appeals court dismissed most of her claims under the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine, which limits civil courts from interfering with church doctrine, governance and internal affairs. Clemishire’s lawyers argue the court stretched that protection too far because the dispute concerns public statements about abuse—not theology. Morris pleaded guilty in 2025 to five counts involving sexual abuse of Clemishire when she was a child.
Religious liberty is essential, but religious immunity isn’t.
Government shouldn’t decide whether your church believes in predestination, speaking in tongues, the Trinity or Saturday worship.
However, allegations involving sexual abuse, concealment or publicly defaming a victim aren’t theological doctrines.
So What?
Jesus didn’t tell churches to protect institutions, and He had some extraordinarily severe words about harming “little ones.”
Matthew 18:6
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
The Texas Supreme Court now has a chance to clarify where the line between church doctrine and criminal behaviour belongs, and it should be a no-brainer.
Read the latest report on Clemishire’s appeal
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