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Article: Sides in Fortin case argue religion issue ; Maine's highest court is asked to decide whether churches are exempt from lawsuits in sex-abuse cases.
- Article from:
- Portland Press Herald (Portland, ME)
- Article date:
- November 17, 2004
- Author:
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GREGORY D. KESICH Staff Writer
Portland Press Herald (Maine)
11-17-2004
Sides in Fortin case argue religion issue ; Maine's highest court is asked to decide whether churches are exempt from lawsuits in sex-abuse cases.
Byline: GREGORY D. KESICH Staff Writer
Edition: Final
Section: FRONT
In oral arguments Tuesday, Maine's highest court wrestled with a basic question: What does the U.S. Constitution really mean when it guarantees the free exercise of religion?
Specifically, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court was asked to overturn its 1997 decision in Swanson v. Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland, which has blocked sex-abuse lawsuits against the church in Maine by putting supervision of the clergy ...