Woman Who Accused Ex-Trump Adviser of Molesting Her Says He Shouldn’t Lead a Church

Pastor Robert Morris, a prominent Texas megachurch leader and former spiritual adviser to Donald Trump, confessed to "inappropriate sexual behavior" in the 1980s after Cindy Clemishire accused him of molesting her when she was a child. Clemishire alleges that Morris abused her multiple times starting when she was 12. Morris admitted to several encounters but described the incidents as "kissing and petting" rather than intercourse, and claimed to have sought forgiveness and counseling. Clemishire, along with her attorney, disputes Morris' account and calls for greater accountability and transparency from church leaders.

• Accusation and Confession: Cindy Clemishire accused Pastor Robert Morris of molesting her multiple times beginning in 1982 when she was 12. Morris, now a senior pastor at Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, acknowledged the inappropriate behavior but minimized the extent of the abuse.
• Timeline of Abuse: Clemishire claims the abuse continued over four and a half years, starting when she was 12 and Morris was 21. Morris confirmed that the encounters occurred until 1987.
• Morris' Statement: In a statement to The Christian Post, Morris admitted to "inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady" but denied that it involved intercourse. He stated that the incidents were dealt with through confession and repentance at the time.
• Church Response: Gateway Church officials stated that Morris had properly disclosed the matter to church elders and that there have been no other moral failures since the resolution of the incident 35 years ago.
• Clemishire’s Perspective: Clemishire disputes Morris' characterization of her as a "young lady" and criticized his omission of the sexual misconduct from his public accounts of his life. She argues that Morris should not hold a position of leadership given his past actions.
• Legal and Moral Accountability: Clemishire’s attorney, Boz Tchividjian, emphasized that Morris' actions were criminal and criticized the language used to describe the incidents as an attempt to sanitize them.
• Morris’ Influence: Morris, a conservative Christian leader, has been involved in advancing conservative Christian morality through government and Republican politics. His past includes a role on Trump’s spiritual advisory board and public support for policies opposing transgender rights and critical race theory.

Clemishire's revelations raise questions about the accountability and transparency of church leaders, particularly those in positions of significant influence. The case also highlights the potential for abuse and the long-term impact on survivors, calling into question the appropriateness of allowing individuals with such histories to continue in prominent roles within religious communities.