Court dismisses suit against FW pastor
BRIEFS
08:01 AM CDT on Saturday, June 30, 2007
From Wire Reports
AUSTIN – Saying it would be unconstitutional for judges to interfere in a church's internal affairs, the Texas Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a lawsuit filed by a woman who was furious that her pastor told church elders and the congregation about her extramarital relationship.
The high court's 9-0 ruling reversed an appeals court's finding that Peggy Penley could sue the Rev. C.L. "Buddy" Westbrook, pastor of the CrossLand Community Bible Church in Fort Worth, for professional negligence because he was acting as her marital counselor and not as her pastor. Justices said it would be difficult to separate those roles.
Allowing judges to wade into the dispute would violate the church's First Amendment right to govern itself, they said.
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-tswbriefs_30tex.ART.State.Edition1.44014a0.htmlYou know what this means?
It means that the faith-based initiative can use taxpayer money to fund so-called "healthy marriage" programs, and then if those programs screw-up, nobody can sue them.
So much for creating a "level playing field."