Cindy Clemishire traveled from her native Oklahoma to Austin on Thursday to ask the Texas Supreme Court to revive her defamation lawsuit against Robert Morris, his wife and current and former Gateway Church elders. “It’s not just about what happens with this case, but it’s about what happe ns in the future to every other person after me,” Clemishire said. Morris pleaded guilty last year to sexually abusing Clemishire beginning when she was 12, dating back to the 1980s. He is serving the remainder of his sentence on probation after being released from an Oklahoma jail earlier this year. In August, a Texas appeals court dismissed Clemishire’s civil case, citing the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine, which limits courts’ involvement in matters of theological controversy, including church discipline. State Rep. Jeff Leach, who represents Clemishire, argues that statements Gateway made after learning about Morris’ sexual abuse defamed and harmed sexual abuse survivors. In the latest Texas Supreme Court filing, Leach argues that “religious liberty cannot mean religious immunity.” Gateway Church previously defended its statements. “Those statements were made by a church seeking to shepherd its congregation and, as the court held, are therefore protected by the First Amendment.” The church’s lead counsel told NBC 5 it would not comment on the latest Texas Supreme Court filing. Morris’ attorney also defended the previous court decisions Thursday. “Two courts have now agreed that Gateway’s affairs were inherently ecclesiastical and beyond the court’s jurisdiction. That’s not a loophole. That’s the Constitution working as intended and we’re confident the Texas Supreme Court will see it the same way.” Clemishire said she hopes Texas’ highest court will reopen her civil case. “The right is to protect religious freedom, but also protect children and any victim of abuse,” Clemshire said. “We’ve got to set a precedent that we’re going to protect children and victims of abuse at every level.” This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication. ...read more read less