A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit involving Gateway Church leadership, Robert Morris and a group of church members who alleged the Southlake megachurch misused<\/a> tithe money donated by its congregation.\u00a0<\/p>\n Chief District Judge Amos L. Mazzant agreed with the Southlake-based megachurch that tithe money usage donated by its congregation is a religious matter rather than a civil one, according to the June 23 order.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cDetermining whether a church\u2019s expenditures properly fall into a specific charitable purpose would require the Court to involve itself in internal church controversies by defining Gateway\u2019s mission and outreach efforts, which are topics unfit for adjudication,\u201d Mazzant wrote.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mazzant dismissed the case under the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine, a principle derived from the First Amendment right to religious freedom that prevents courts from exercising jurisdiction in internal church matters, according to UNT Dallas College of Law<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n The decision concludes a lawsuit four congregants filed against the church, Morris and founding elder Steve Dulin in October 2024, alleging Gateway leadership engaged in financial fraud after falsely promising members a portion of their tithes would go toward foreign missionary work.\u00a0<\/p>\n The lawsuit alleged Gateway\u2019s promise wasn\u2019t upheld and that they don\u2019t know what happened to the tithes, which could total more than $15 million annually.\u00a0<\/p>\n The case also referenced a time when Morris spoke about a deal he made<\/a> with Gateway members in offering their money back if they were not fully satisfied with the church.<\/p>\n Tithing<\/a>, or the concept of giving a 10th of what one has, dates to the Hebrew Bible. Generally, the money or resources collected are used to support clergy, maintain churches or help the poor.\u00a0<\/p>\n The attorney representing the four church members did not immediately respond to the Fort Worth Report\u2019s request for comment.<\/p>\n Ronald W. Breaux, the attorney who represented Gateway, said the First Amendment \u201cprohibits such an assault on Gateway\u2019s religious autonomy and freedom.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cPlaintiffs sought to second-guess Gateway\u2019s beliefs and decisions on the fundamental religious question of tithing,\u201d Breaux said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Gateway Church and Morris agreed to dismiss a multimillion dollar legal battle<\/a> over retirement pay in May and move the matter to an arbitration forum rather than settling in court.\u00a0<\/p>\n Morris pled guilty to five<\/a> counts of lewd and indecent acts with a child last October and was released from Osage County Jail<\/a> in Oklahoma in March. He served six months of a 10-year sentence.\u00a0<\/p>\n Morris is registered as a sex offender in Palo Pinto County, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.<\/p>\n Morris and Gateway Church still face other legal battles. Cindy Clemishire and her father filed a lawsuit seeking $1 million<\/a> from Morris, his wife and the megachurch last June for defamation and failing to report the alleged abuse.<\/p>\n Marissa Greene is a Report for America corps member, covering faith for the Fort Worth Report. You can contact her at marissa.greene@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n