A Dallas County judge has ruled that a lawsuit filed against Gateway Church in Southlake by a survivor of sexual assault can move forward.

Cindy Clemishire sued the church and its elders for defamation, claiming they downplayed and mischaracterized abuse she suffered as a child at the hands of the church's founder and former lead pastor, Robert Morris .

The church asked the case be dismissed, arguing courts have no right to intervene in church matters.

"The doctrine is all about protecting the First Amendment, that the courts and the government shouldn't get into the affairs of the Church, so that's why I think fundamentally, it's a major Constitutional issue," said attorney Bill Mateja who represents Morris in the case.

Judge Emily Tobolowsky disagreed with the church, striking i

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