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Megachurch Pastor Resigns Over Child Abuse Claims
A woman has accused Texas mega-church pastor, Robert Morris, of abusing her from the age of 12.
Published June 20, 2024 at 9:14am by Marley Malenfant
Gateway Church Pastor Resigns After Admission of Sexual Abuse
Robert Morris, senior pastor of Gateway Church in Texas, resigns following revelations of sexual misconduct with a child in the 1980s.
The Allegations:
- Cindy Clemishire accuses Morris of abuse starting when she was 12.
- Clemishire, now 54, shares her story in " The Wartburg Watch," a blog exposing Christian church scandals.
- The abuse allegedly continued for over four years.
Gateway Church Responds:
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The Board of Elders announces Morris' resignation, expressing regret for not knowing his past:
"The elders’ prior understanding was that Morris’s extramarital relationship...was with ‘a young lady’ and not abuse of a 12-year-old child...we regret that we did not have the information that we now have."
Clemishire's Response:
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Expresses "mixed feelings" about Morris' resignation, stating:
"Though I am grateful...I am disappointed...He should have been terminated."
Legal Context:
- Texas law imposes no limitation on criminal charges for continuous sexual abuse of a young child (under 17).
- Texas Code of Criminal Procedure allows for charges, which have yet to be filed as of Thursday.
Read more: Texas megachurch pastor Robert Morris resigns after allegations of child abuse