SurvivingScouting.org

Her story of child sex abuse toppled one of the nation's most popular pastors. She shares what it took to find her voice.
Date Shared: July 23rd, 2024
Date Released: July 23rd, 2024
Source: cbsnews.com

Excerpt


The woman who publicly accused Gateway Church pastor Robert Morris of sexually assaulting her when she was a child has opened up to CBS News Texas about her story.

Cindy Clemishire has found a new sense of peace.

"Having the truth be heard," she said. "It's changed the way I feel about myself."

It's been seven weeks since her story of being molested as a child first appeared in print.

Within days, Robert Morris, the pastor of one of the country's largest megachurches would resign, and Gateway Church in Southlake would pledge to investigate what he called "inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady."

Clemishire describes it differently.

"I call it child sexual abuse," said Clemishire.

It began, she says, on Christmas night in 1982.

She was 12, and Morris, she says, asked her to come to his room.

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