- Robert Morris, a former Texas megachurch leader, has been indicted in Oklahoma on five counts of child sex crimes dating back to the 1980s. This followed accusations from Cindy Clemishire, who alleged she was abused starting in 1982.
- Morris resigned from Gateway Church in 2024 after Clemishire publicly accused him, and it was revealed that church leaders had knowledge of the abuse but did nothing.
- The former pastor faces up to 20 years in prison per charge.
Full Story
The founder of a Texas megachurch who resigned last year amid sexual abuse allegations has been indicted in Oklahoma on child sex crime charges dating back to the early 1980s. Robert Morris now faces five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child.
Media Landscape
This story is a Media Miss by the right as only 9% of the coverage is from right leaning media. Learn more
Left 59%
Center 32%
Right 9%
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Last year, Cindy Clemishire publicly accused Morris of sexually abusing her starting in 1982, when she was 12 years old and Morris was in his early 20s.
At the time, Morris was a traveling evangelist in Oklahoma who had become close to her family.
Days after Clemishire’s allegations, Morris resigned from his position at Dallas-based Gateway Church.
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What did Clemishire say about coming forward?
Clemishire told The Dallas Morning Post in October 2024 that it took her years to realize what had happened to her was abuse and a crime.
In 2014, Morris admitted in a sermon he was “sexually immoral” as a young man.
In a statement on Wednesday, March 12, Clemishire spoke out.
“After almost 43 years, the law has finally caught up with Robert Morris for the horrific crimes he committed against me,” she said in the statement. “My family and I are deeply grateful to the authorities who have worked tirelessly to make this day possible and remain hopeful that justice will ultimately prevail.”
What did Gateway Church say about the indictment?
Gateway Church released a statement Wednesday.
“We are aware of the actions being taken by the legal authorities in Oklahoma and are grateful for the work of the justice system in holding abusers accountable for their actions. We continue to pray for Cindy Clemishire and her family, for the members and staff of Gateway Church, and for all of those impacted by this terrible situation.”
Gateway Church
Last year, an investigation revealed that several people at Gateway Church knew about the abuse allegation against Morris but didn’t do anything about it.
As a result, four leaders in the church were fired.
Morris could face up to 20 years in prison for each of the five charges.
His lawyers have not commented on the indictment.
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Morris’ ties to Trump
Morris gained political notoriety over the last 10 years, having served on a faith advisory council during President Donald Trump’s first term and hosted Trump at Gateway Church in June 2020.
A spokesperson for Trump said in 2024 that Morris had not played a role in his 2024 presidential campaign.
[Kale Carey]
THE FOUNDING MEMBER OF A TEXAS MEGACHURCH WHO RESIGNED LAST YEAR AMID SEXUAL ABUSE ALLEGATIONS HAS BEEN INDICTED IN OKLAHOMA ON CHILD SEX CRIME CHARGES DATING BACK TO THE EARLY 1980’S.
ROBERT MORRIS NOW FACES FIVE COUNTS OF LEWD OR INDECENT ACTS WITH A CHILD.
LAST YEAR, CINDY CLEMISHIRE PUBLICLY ACCUSED MORRIS OF SEXUALLY ABUSING HER STARTING IN 19-82 WHEN SHE WAS 12 YEAR OLD – AND MORRIS WAS IN HIS EARLY 20’S
MORRIS AT THE TIME WAS A TRAVELING EVANGELIST IN OKLAHOMA WHO HAD BECOME CLOSE TO HER FAMILY.
DAYS AFTER CLEMISHIRE’S ALLEGATIONS … MORRIS RESIGNED FROM HIS POSITION AT DALLAS-BASED GATEWAY CHURCH.
CLEMISHIRE TOLD THE DALLAS MORNING POST IN OCTOBER IT TOOK HER YEARS TO REALIZE WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO HER WAS ABUSE.
my counselor used to say I can remember her asking me when I was 28 or 29 have you ever been angry about this .. even when I told her the first time I think she was surprised I didn’t know it was a crime.
BACK IN 2014, MORRIS ADMITTED IN A SERMON HE WAS “SEXUALLY IMMORAL” AS A YOUNG MAN.
IN A STATEMENT WEDNESDAY, CLEMISHIRE SAID:
“AFTER ALMOST 43 YEARS, THE LAW HAS FINALLY CAUGHT UP WITH ROBERT MORRIS FOR THE HORRIFIC CRIMES HE COMMITTED AGAINST ME” … ADDING … “MY FAMILY AND I ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO THE AUTHORITIES WHO HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO MAKE THIS DAY POSSIBLE AND REMAIN HOPEFUL THAT JUSTICE WILL ULTIMATELY PREVAIL.”
GATEWAY CHURCH ALSO RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING THEY ARE “GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN HOLDING ABUSERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR CINDY CLEMISHIRE AND HER FAMILY,
BACK IN NOVEMBER WE REPORTED ON AN INVESTIGATION REVEALING SEVERAL PEOPLE AT GATEWAY CHURCH KNEW ABOUT THE ABUSE ALLEGATION AGAINST MORRIS, BUT DIDN’T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
AS A RESULT, FOUR LEADERS IN THE CHURCH WERE FIRED.
MORRIS COULD FACE UP TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON FOR EACH OF THE FIVE CHARGES.
HIS LAWYERS HAVE NOT COMMENTED ON THE INDICTMENT.
MORRIS GAINED POLITICAL NOTORIETY OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, HAVING SERVED ON A FAITH ADVISORY COUNCIL DURING PRESIDENT TRUMP’S FIRST TERM AND HOSTING TRUMP AT GATEWAY IN JUNE 20-20.
A SPOKESPERSON FOR TRUMP SAID LAST YEAR THAT MORRIS HAD NOT PLAYED A ROLE IN HIS 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.
FOR SAN, I’M KALÉ CAREY.
FOR ALL YOUR LATEST NEWS HEADLINES – DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP TODAY.
Media Landscape
This story is a Media Miss by the right as only 9% of the coverage is from right leaning media. Learn more
Left 59%
Center 32%
Right 9%
Bias Summary
- Robert Morris, founder of Gateway Church, has been indicted on five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child, according to Oklahoma officials.
- Cindy Clemishire accused Morris of molesting her starting in 1982, which led to his indictment.
- Gateway Church confirmed the allegations and stated they are grateful for the justice system's work in holding abusers accountable.
- Cindy Clemishire expressed hope for justice after 43 years, stating the law has finally caught up with Morris for his actions against her.
Bias Comparison
Media outlets on the left
emphasize the “child sexual abuse charges” and Morris’ connection to Donald Trump, framing the scandal within broader narratives of institutional power abuse and perceived moral failings of conservative figures.
Media outlets in the center
focused on the key facts of the case and the church’s “cultural reckoning.” The term “despicable,” used by the attorney general, was universally quoted, signaling agreement on the severity of the allegations, yet the broader context and implications were interpreted through differing ideological lenses, revealing deeper cultural divides regarding religion, politics, and moral accountability.
Media outlets on the right
focused on the individual’s role as a “megachurch pastor,” potentially linking the scandal to religious institutions, and highlighted the “heartbreaking and vile” nature of the alleged abuse, reflecting a condemnation rooted in traditional moral values.
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Bias Distribution
57 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
57
Leaning Left
26
Center
14
Leaning Right
4
Last Updated
2 weeks ago
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