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Woman who accused Gateway Church founder of sexual abuse says recovery has been ‘lifelong’

Date Shared: October 10th, 2024
Date Released: October 9th, 2024
Source: dallasnews.com
Woman who accused Gateway Church founder of sexual abuse says recovery has been ‘lifelong’ A woman who says she was sexually abused by Pastor Robert Morris as a teen is finally living without shame. Cindy Clemishire still has the Christmas gift her grandmother gave her when she was 12. The white fur parka with a poofy hood and shiny pink lining hung in her parents’ closet for decades. The day she got the coat, Clemishire says, Robert Morris began sexually abusing her. She says the abuse lasted four and a half years. Now 54 and living...

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
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...

Lawyer for megachurch pastor blamed 12-year-old for initiating ‘inappropriate’ sexual conduct

Date Shared: July 9th, 2024
Date Released: July 9th, 2024
Source: nbcnews.com
Letters sent in 2007 by a lawyer for Robert Morris shed light on how the pastor explained his past sexual behavior with a child — and who else might have known about it. In 1982, pastor Robert Morris was a 21-year-old husband and father who traveled the country telling young people about Jesus. Cindy Clemishire was a 12-year-old girl who dressed in flowery pink pajamas and still liked to play with Barbie dolls. On Christmas that year, Morris — who would go on to found Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, and become a leading figure in the...

Gateway Church settled two lawsuits, including one alleging child sex abuse, this year

Date Shared: July 9th, 2024
Date Released: July 9th, 2024
Gateway Church settled multiple lawsuits in the months before and days after founder and lead pastor Robert Morris resigned over the revelation of child sexual abuse he was accused of in the 1980s, according to court documents. Court records show the North Texas megachurch, based in Southlake, settled at least two lawsuits in April and June of this year. One suit alleged that a different case of sexual abuse of a minor by a member of the North Texas megachurch was covered up by several pastors. The other suit claimed the church discriminated against an employee, who said she...

Robert Morris's book raises questions about time away from ministry

Date Shared: June 24th, 2024
Date Released: June 23rd, 2024
Source: wfaa.com
After an Oklahoma woman publicly accused Robert Morris of molesting her, the ex-Gateway Church pastor indicated he spent two years away from ministry seeking counselling and forgiveness.  "In March of 1987, the situation was brought to light, and it was confessed and repented of," Morris said in a statement. "I submitted myself to the elders of Shady Grove Church and the young lady's father. They asked me to step out of ministry and receive counselling and freedom ministry, which I did. Since that time, I have walked in purity and accountability in that area." "Two years later, in March of 1989,...

‘I’m so sorry.’ Gateway Church holds first services since founding pastor’s resignation

Date Shared: June 23rd, 2024
Date Released: June 23rd, 2024
Southlake’s Gateway church conducted its first weekend of services since Robert Morris, the founder and senior pastor, resigned after confessing to molesting a child in the 1980s, starting when the girl was 12. The megachurch’s main Southlake campus was full on Saturday night and there were protesters outside; Sunday was a different story. ——- Sunday’s sermon and addressing of Morris’ resignation by a church elder were recorded from Saturday service and played for the half-full auditorium Sunday, with many leaving before it concluded.

Palmetto pastor arrested on child porn charges

Date Shared: June 23rd, 2024
Date Released: June 21st, 2024
Source: fox13news.com
Jonathan Elwing, 43, and was senior pastor of Palm View Baptist Church, used cryptocurrency to make an online purchase of child sexual abuse material. Elwing was senior pastor of Palm View Baptist Church. He resigned from his position as pastor before being arrested.

Woman says Gateway Church pastor Robert Morris first molested her when she was 12-years-old

Date Shared: June 17th, 2024
Date Released: June 16th, 2024
Source: wfaa.com
Woman says Gateway Church pastor Robert Morris first molested her when she was 12-years-old In a statement, Morris admitted to "inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady" 35 years ago. A woman accuses Gateway Church pastor Robert Morris of first molesting her on Christmas in 1982, when she was 12-years-old.  Cindy Clemishire, the accuser, tells WFAA the abuse continued until 1987 when she told a friend what had happened. Clemishire says she told her parents after the friend advised her to do so.  Sunday, Morris admitted he was "involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady,"...

I Was 12 Years Old and Wearing My Pink Pajamas When Robert Morris, Now of Gateway Church, Began to Molest Me. The Alleged Abuse Lasted for 4 1/2 Years.

Date Shared: October 10th, 2024
Date Released: June 14th, 2024
At the urging of a mutual pastor friend, Cindy Clemishire and I spoke. Cindy has wanted to tell her story for a long time. I have been writing about sexual abuse in the evangelical church for fifteen years. Cindy’s presentation of her abuse by Robert Morris was detailed, down to a description of what she was wearing when Morris’ abuse began. For the lawyers, I must say it is “alleged” abuse. However, I believed her account within short order and knew her story must be told. As our readers know, many victims of childhood abuse often blame themselves for...

Judge sets $1.4M bond for pastor accused of fleeing to Texas after sexually abusing girl in Florida Keys

Date Shared: April 21st, 2024
Date Released: April 20th, 2024
Source: local10.com
A 62-year-old man who served as a First Baptist Church pastor when a teenage girl accused him of giving her a spiked drink and sexually abusing her appeared in court on Saturday in the Florida Keys. Rev. Monte LaVelle Chitty, a registered police volunteer, appeared before Monroe County Circuit Judge James W. Morgan III at the Marathon Courthouse wearing a light blue jumpsuit and handcuffs. Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Chitty on March 4 after they found incriminating text messages to the girl including, “I prefer you pass out after I play not before” and “You can’t...

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