Opinion ID: 1779062
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Gibson v. Brewer

Text: ś 37. The Supreme Court of Missouri reached a different result in Gibson v. Brewer, 952 S.W.2d 239 (Mo.1997), in which suit was brought against the diocese and its priests for claims arising out of a priest's improper sexual conduct. Dismissing claims requiring a finding of negligence, the Missouri court stated: Questions of hiring, ordaining, and retaining clergy, however, necessarily involve interpretation of religious doctrine, policy, and administration. Such excessive entanglement between church and state has the effect of inhibiting religion, in violation of the First Amendment. Agostini v. Felton, 521 U.S. 203, 232-33, 117 S.Ct. 1997, 2015, 138 L.Ed.2d 391 (1997); Serbian E. Orthodox Diocese v. Milivojevich, 426 U.S. 696, 708-11, 96 S.Ct. 2372, 2380, 49 L.Ed.2d 151, reh. Denied (citation). By the same token, judicial inquiry into hiring, ordaining and retaining clergy would result in an endorsement of religion by approving one model for church hiring, ordination, and retention of clergy. (citations omitted). 952 S.W.2d at 246-47.