A judge's order for plaintiffs and their attorney to pay more than $1 million in court costs in a sexual misconduct lawsuit against Bishop Earl Paulk will discourage other victims from suing abusers, plaintiffs' supporters said Wednesday.

Victims will think they could end up crushed financially if they sue, said David Clohessy of St. Louis, head of the support group Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

"I would be hard pressed to think of a ruling anywhere more hateful and outlandish," Clohessy said.

Mona and Bobby Brewer sued Paulk two years ago over a sexual affair Paulk had with Mona Brewer. The Brewers withdrew the suit last year, then refiled separate suits in DeKalb Superior Court.

The judge's order pertains to the dismissed suit. The refiled suits cannot move ahead until the $1 million is paid or the order is overturned, Mona Brewer said.

Louis Levenson, the Brewers' attorney, asked the Georgia Court of Appeals to review the order filed in February.

Matt Wilkins, one of Paulk's attorneys, said the legal process will sort the questions out. He said the order speaks for itself. It says the first lawsuit is without merit because Paulk did not coerce or exercise a controlling influence over Brewer.

Clohessy, Mona Brewer, Levenson and about six others met outside the DeKalb County courthouse Wednesday.

Levenson agreed the judge's "dramatic emphasis" in ordering them to pay would chill complaints against misbehaving church leaders.

Bobby Brewer was not present. The Brewers are divorcing.

"Even if it gets harder, I'm going to continue," Mona Brewer said. "I believe what I am doing is going to help other victims in the long run."

Paulk could not be reached, and his family declined to comment.

Paulk was once a high-flying pulpit star with an independent Protestant church in DeKalb County of more than 10,000 members. A series of allegations and admitted sexual misconduct, including fathering a child with his brother's wife, effectively ended his ministry. He pleaded guilty to felony perjury in a deposition in the initial suit when he said he did not have sex outside his marriage.