A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against Gateway Church and former pastor Robert Morris, citing the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine. The lawsuit, brought by four former members of the Southlake megachurch, alleged that the church and Morris had misused tithing money, promising that at least 15% of all tithes would be used for foreign missionary work.

Ecclesiastical Abstention Doctrine

The ecclesiastical abstention doctrine, a religious liberty principle, prevents courts from adjudicating the internal matters of religious organizations, particularly in civil cases. Chief Judge Amos L. Mazzant III of the Eastern District of Texas wrote that determining whether a church’s expenditures properly fall into a specific charitable purpose would require the court to involve itself in internal church controversies.

Former pastor Robert Morris pleaded guilty to five counts of lewd or indecent acts to a child in October and agreed to a 10-year suspended sentence. He resigned from his role at the church in 2024 after being accused of sexually abusing a child for about four years in the 1980s.

Ronald Breaux, an attorney representing Gateway, said the church is grateful for the court’s decision, stating that the First Amendment prohibits such an assault on Gateway’s religious autonomy and freedom.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.