Robert Morris warned sex abuse accuser she could be prosecuted for seeking compensation, emails show

Robert Morris warned sex abuse accuser she could be prosecuted for seeking compensation, emails show  NBC News

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Jun 22, 2024 - 05:30
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Robert Morris warned sex abuse accuser she could be prosecuted for seeking compensation, emails show

Report: Pastor Robert Morris Accused of Sexual Abuse

Last week, pastor Robert Morris resigned from Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, after publicly confessing to engaging in “sexual behavior” with a child. Emails obtained by NBC News reveal that the accuser, Cindy Clemishire, had confronted Morris and sought compensation twenty-three years prior to his confession.

Seeking Restitution

  1. Cindy Clemishire wrote an email to Robert Morris on September 20, 2005, expressing the pain and damage caused by him.
  2. She requested restitution and asked Morris to pray about it and call her.
  3. Morris responded two weeks later, expressing care for Clemishire and stating that he had already confessed his sins to her father.
  4. He warned that paying her money under a threat of exposure could lead to criminal prosecution.

Attempts for Compensation

  • The emails exchanged between Clemishire, Morris, and a former Gateway elder in 2005 reveal Clemishire’s attempts to seek compensation for the trauma she experienced as a child.
  • Clemishire emphasized that individuals who commit child molestation are typically imprisoned and pay punitive damages, while Morris had faced no consequences.
Cindy, the accuser, at age 12, with her older sister.
Cindy Clemishire at age 12 with her older sister. (Courtesy Cindy Clemishire)

Public Allegations and Resignation

  • At the urging of a retired pastor, Clemishire went public with her allegations against Morris on The Wartburg Watch website.
  • In an interview with NBC News, she accused Morris of molesting her for years starting when she was 12 years old.
  • Morris has not been charged with a crime and did not respond to a request for comment.
  • Gateway Church initially acknowledged Morris’ sexual encounters with a “young lady” but later accepted his resignation following backlash.
Robert Morris, center, founding pastor of the megachurch Gateway, during a service at the church in Fort Worth, Texas.
Robert Morris, center, founding pastor of Gateway Church, during a service at the Fort Worth campus in 2018. (Ilana Panich-Linsman / The New York Times / Redux file)

Gateway Church’s Response

  1. Gateway Church’s board of elders initially believed Morris’ extramarital relationship was with a “young lady” and not child abuse.
  2. They acknowledged Morris’ transparency and repentance but faced criticism from church members and elected officials.
  3. The board accepted Morris’ resignation and hired a law firm to investigate the matter.

Questions on Investigation

  • One Gateway Church elder, Tom Lane, was aware of Clemishire’s attempts to seek compensation but may not have been aware of the child sexual abuse allegations.
  • Lane believed Clemishire was under 18 and old enough to consent to a sexual relationship with Morris.
  • Clemishire’s lawyer questioned why Gateway elders did not investigate Morris’ claims and blindly accepted his narrative.

Unanswered Emails

  • The emails do not include Clemishire’s response to Lane’s message, indicating that she wanted to address the matter directly with Morris.
  • Clemishire wrote to Morris again, expressing the emotional damage she had suffered and giving him one last chance to call her.
  • Morris never called, and Clemishire did not follow up on setting up a meeting with him.

Correction: Richard Harmer is Tom Lane’s spokesperson, not his lawyer.

Source: nbcnews.com