Jobaaj Stories
Former Megachurch Pastor Robert Morris Indicted on Child Sex Abuse Charges
Robert Morris, the 63-year-old founder of the Texas megachurch Gateway Church, has been indicted on five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child. The charges stem from alleged abuse that occurred in the 1980s in Oklahoma when Morris was a traveling preacher.
Allegations and Indictment
The victim, Cindy Clemishire, now 55, alleges the abuse began when she was 12 years old. She reported the incidents to authorities and to the religious watchdog blog, The Wartburg Watch, leading to Morris's resignation from Gateway Church last year. The Oklahoma Attorney General, Gentner Drummond, emphasized the severity of the crimes and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable, stating that the statute of limitations did not apply in this case due to Morris’s transient status at the time of the alleged offences.
Gateway Church's Response
Gateway Church released a statement expressing its support for Clemishire and its gratitude for the work of the justice system. The church previously conducted an internal investigation, resulting in the termination of some elders.
Potential Sentence and Ongoing Case
Morris faces up to 20 years in prison for each of the five charges. He has not yet been taken into custody. The case highlights the ongoing struggle to address sexual abuse within religious institutions and underscores the bravery of survivors coming forward to seek justice, even decades later. This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as they become available.
