A sexual abuse victim's defamation lawsuit against Gateway Church, former pastor Robert Morris and several church elders can proceed, a Dallas County judge ruled Tuesday.

Dallas County District Judge Emily Tobolowsky denied motions by the Southlake church and its elders to dismiss Cindy Clemishire's lawsuit against them. The decision comes nearly two weeks after a hearing in which Gateway's attorneys argued the dispute is a religious matter and shouldn't play out in secular court.

Gateway Church declined to comment. KERA News has reached out to attorneys for Clemishire, Robert Morris and the church elders and will update this story with any response.

Clemishire publicly revealed last year that Morris sexually abused her in the 1980s when she was 12 and he was 22.

Morris pleaded guil

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