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	Church Organist Says He Was Abused, Fired By Luke Broadwater The Examiner [Baltimore] June 18, 2007 http://www.examiner.com/a-785854~Church_organist_says_he_was_abused__fired.html Baltimore - A church organist who says he was fired after he brought forward allegations of sexual abuse can pursue job discrimination claims against the Archdiocese of Washington, Maryland's highest court has ruled. In a 4-3 decision, the Maryland Court of Appeals found Thursday that a church organist's job is not "ministerial" in nature and therefore the church cannot invoke a "ministerial exemption" — a legal exception to discrimination claims that precludes government interference in the employment decisions of religious organizations. William Moersen was employed as an organist at St. Catherine Labouré Parish in Wheaton from 1958 to 1976 and again from 1991 to 2002. In 2001, he informed the pastor who was in charge of the parish and employment decisions that he had been sexually abused by a parish choirmaster from 1958 to 1964, according to the court's opinion. The abuse, Moersen alleged, occurred at the parish during church services, at church-sponsored functions and at other locations. Beginning in 1958 and through 1964, he said, he communicated to at least four different priests that he was being abused, according to the judges' opinion. Despite praising him for his honesty, the parish, however, never took any action against the offender, Moersen said. In 2001, immediately after reporting the sexual abuse again, Moersen alleges that the pastor began to find fault with his work. In November 2001, Moersen was told that he should retire and was offered up to $2,000 to seek psychiatric counseling. On Feb. 17, 2002, his employment was terminated unilaterally based on his "apparent inability to work cooperatively," the ruling states. Moersen brought an action alleging breach of contract, wrongful discharge and intentional infliction of emotional distress against the parish, its pastor and the Archdiocese of Washington, which moved to dismiss his complaint. But the majority of the judges on the high court allowed Moersen to move forward. "It is clear to this court that the respondent did not perform any ministerial duties," Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Judge Robert Bell wrote in the majority opinion. "As such, the ministerial exception does not apply to him, and he is free to pursue his employment discrimination claim." Luke Broadwater: lbroadwater@baltimoreexaminer.com
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