Robert Morris, the prominent pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, who once served as a spiritual adviser to former President Donald Trump, finds himself at the center of a growing scandal. Morris, who recently admitted to "inappropriate sexual behavior" with a child, had previously threatened his victim with prosecution when she sought restitution.
This revelation comes from a series of emails obtained by NBC News, shedding light on the attempts of his accuser, Cindy Clemishire, to seek justice and compensation for the trauma inflicted on her.
In emails dating back to 2005, Clemishire, then 35, wrote to Morris, stating, "Twenty-three years after you began destroying my life, I am still dealing with the pain and damage you caused." Morris responded two weeks later, expressing superficial concern and offering a legal warning. "My attorney advises that if I pay you any money under a threat of exposure, you could be criminally prosecuted and Debbie and I do not want that," Morris wrote, referring to his wife, Debbie Morris.
The email exchange reveals Clemishire's persistent attempts to get Morris to acknowledge the impact of his actions and compensate her for the abuse she endured as a child. The abuse allegedly took place from December 1982 until 1987, beginning when Clemishire was just 12 years old. Morris described his actions as "confessed and repented of," yet continued to evade responsibility by threatening his victim with legal repercussions.
Clemishire's quest for justice took a significant turn last week when she went public with her allegations in a post on The Wartburg Watch, a website dedicated to exposing abuse in churches. She detailed how Morris molested her over several years, starting on Christmas night in 1982. The public revelation led to Morris' resignation from Gateway Church, one of the nation's largest churches, following intense backlash from church members and elected officials.
Morris' resignation came after Gateway's board of elders acknowledged in a statement that Morris had multiple sexual encounters with a "young lady" in his 20s, but claimed they were unaware that the victim was a 12-year-old child. The elders announced they had accepted Morris' resignation and would conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
Despite the elders' statements, questions remain about why the church leadership did not investigate Morris' past more thoroughly. Clemishire and her lawyer, Boz Tchividjian, argue that the Gateway elders had a responsibility to investigate Morris' account of the events, rather than accepting his vague narrative. "It seems as if it was preferable for them to simply accept his vague narrative instead of seeking the truth regarding a sexual offense perpetrated upon a minor," Tchividjian said.
The emails also reveal that Tom Lane, a former Gateway Church elder, was aware of Clemishire's attempts to seek restitution. Lane communicated with Clemishire on behalf of Morris, expressing concern and offering support but failing to address the severity of the allegations. In a statement to NBC News, Lane claimed he did not fully understand the severity of the abuse or that Clemishire was only 12 years old when it began.
As the investigation into Morris' actions continues, the scandal has brought renewed scrutiny to the church's handling of abuse allegations and the culture of silence that often surrounds such cases. Clemishire's story underscores the need for transparency and accountability within religious institutions, and her courage in coming forward may inspire other survivors to seek justice.
