A woman had accused the pastor of a Texas megachurch of sexually abusing her when she was 12.
Cindy Clemishire has publicly accused Robert Morris, a former spiritual advisor to Donald Trump, of sexually abusing her from 1982 to 1987.
According to Daily Mail, the allegations date back to the early 1980s when Clemishire claims the abuse began and continued for several years. Morris has admitted to "inappropriate sexual behavior" but denies that Clemishire was underage at the time. Morris is the founder and senior pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, with a weekly attendance of 100,000.
Clemishire alleges that the abuse started when Morris stayed at her family home in Tulsa during Christmas 1982. At the time, Morris was a traveling preacher who had met Clemishire and her family in Oklahoma in 1981. The two families became close, including Morris’ wife and son, leading to frequent interactions.
Clemishire's detailed accusations include Morris asking her to come to his room, lay on his bed, and then touching her inappropriately. According to Clemishire, the abuse continued for four and a half years before she spoke out. Clemishire's father intervened, demanding Morris be removed from ministry, leading to two years for "restoration."
Robert Morris has admitted to "inappropriate sexual behavior" but did not acknowledge Clemishire's age in his statement to The Christian Post. Morris claims to have repented in March 1987, subsequently seeking counseling and freedom ministry. In October 1989, Morris and his wife met with Clemishire's family to ask for forgiveness.
Clemishire disputes that her family ever gave Morris their blessing to return to ministry. In 2005, Clemishire sued Morris for $50,000 to cover therapy costs; Morris countered through an attorney and offered $25,000 for Clemishire to sign a non-disclosure agreement, which she refused. Morris was never criminally charged, and the statute of limitations has expired.
Clemishire has questioned Morris' repentance, noting that he did not come forward voluntarily but was instead reported. She expressed skepticism about the sincerity of his repentance, emphasizing the gravity of the abuse she endured.
“Of course we want to forgive, we're called to forgive. But he's never had anyone's blessing in my family to be back in the ministry,” said Cindy Clemishire.
Gateway Church leaders and elders have issued a statement supporting Morris, noting his openness about the moral failure over 35 years ago. They highlighted the proper biblical steps Morris took in his lengthy restoration process. However, Morris did not lead church services on the Saturday following the resurfaced allegations.
Morris' involvement extends beyond his church; he was part of Trump’s evangelical advisory board during the 2016 presidential campaign and visited Gateway Church in 2020. Despite the church’s support, Clemishire has hired Boz Tchividjian, Billy Graham's grandson, for a potential new lawsuit.
Lawrence Swicegood, a church spokesperson, stated that no additional interviews or statements would be provided at this time. Clemishire hopes her actions will bring positive outcomes for the church and other victims.
The allegations against Robert Morris have brought significant attention to Gateway Church and its senior pastor. Cindy Clemishire's accusations span from 1982 to 1987, detailing years of alleged abuse beginning when she was 12 years old. Morris has admitted to inappropriate behavior but maintains that Clemishire was not underage then. The church leadership continues to support Morris, emphasizing his repentance and restoration process. Clemishire is considering further legal action to shed light on her experience and potentially help other victims find freedom.
