S.H.C. v. Sheng-Yen Lu

Cox, A.C.J.

— The First Amendment does not provide religious organizations with absolute immunity from liability for tortious conduct.1 If such liability is predicated on secular conduct and does not involve the interpretation of church doctrine or religious beliefs, there is no violation of the Constitution.2 Here, S.H.C. claims that the Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple, Inc., (Temple) is vicariously liable under various theories for alleged sexual acts committed by Grandmaster Sheng-Yen Lu (Grandmaster Lu). He is the *515spiritual leader and founder of the True Buddha religion practiced by followers…