Texas Megachurch Pastor Robert Morris Admits Guilt in Child Sex Abuse Case
Cindy Clemishire Seeks Justice as Megachurch Leader Morris Pleads Guilty
Morris’ Guilty Plea: A Major Turning Point
Cindy Clemishire, who accused Robert Morris of molesting her at the age of 12, was present in the courtroom when Morris accepted responsibility for his actions—a resolution Clemishire had pursued for decades. Morris, founder of the Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, experienced a significant downfall after the allegations came to light.
A Widespread Ministry’s Collapse
Morris, renowned for establishing Gateway in 2000 and transforming it into a megachurch with tens of thousands of weekly attendees, saw his career unravel. His sermons reached global audiences, his books were bestsellers in evangelical circles, and he served as a faith adviser to President Donald Trump. However, his career ended abruptly in June 2024 following Clemishire’s public allegations of sexual abuse.
The Allegations and Morris’ Response
In a statement at that time, Morris admitted to a “moral failure” with a “young lady” decades earlier, without addressing specific allegations. Clemishire, aged 55, gave NBC News a detailed account of the abuse, which she stated began on Christmas night in 1982. She recounted how Morris, a traveling evangelist in his early 20s who sometimes stayed with her family in Oklahoma, invited her to his room and initiated several inappropriate encounters over the following years.
Seeking Closure and Restitution
After enduring years of trauma, Clemishire revealed the incidents to her parents and church leaders in 1987, but no police report was ever filed. Morris underwent what he referred to as a “restoration process” in the late 1980s, eventually returning to ministry. Pursuing restitution in the mid-2000s, Clemishire contacted Morris and Gateway Church leaders, requesting $50,000 for therapy costs related to processing her childhood trauma.
Failed Negotiations for Restitution
In 2007, records indicate that Morris’ lawyer at the time suggested Clemishire bore some responsibility for the “inappropriate behavior.” Although Morris offered $25,000, the negotiations collapsed when Clemishire refused to sign a nondisclosure agreement.
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