Texas megachurch pastor Robert Morris, who Donald Trump once named as a spiritual adviser to his administration, announced he was stepping down from Gateway Church amid allegations he molested a 12-year-old girl in the 1980s.
The resignation comes days after Morris, 62, seemingly admitted to molesting the girl in a statement to The Christian Post. In that statement, he conceded that he engaged in “inappropriate sexual behavior” with a “young lady” when he was already married with a child in his early 20s.
Morris didn’t mention the girl’s age—but his alleged victim, Cindy Clemishire, told the religious watchdog blog The Wartburg Watch on Friday that she was only 12 when she was first sexually abused by Morris on Christmas Day in 1982. She claimed that he invited her into the room he was staying in at her family home during a visit, and touched her inappropriately on her breasts and “under her panties.”
“It was kissing and petting and not intercourse, but it was wrong,” Morris said of the relationship to the Christian Post.
Is it really an allegation still when you are quoting him in the article admitting to it?
It’s just a sparkling apology if it isn’t administered under oath as part of a court pleading.
If I was writing the article I would have pointed out the admission, rather than pointing towards the allegation. Which is based on his admission.
If you were writing the article you probably wouldn’t get to pick your headline. Headline writing is not an art, it’s a boring science of putting it in the most regular and concise of terms.
He resigned amid allegations of abuse. Those are the cold hard facts. If it turns out that the Christian Monitor how misquoted him or coerced him etc then this outlet might also be liable for claiming something not quite 100% defensible in a court of law.
That makes sense. Thanks for clarifying the liability issue.
Until convicted he’s innocent until proven guilty. No matter how insanely obvious it is that he’s guilty.
Once again not a drag queen but a religious figure.
When you are a pastor they let you do it.
Hell they’ll even move you into another community to do it again.
Not even a good joke, sadly its very real.
I went to a catholic school, very small had like 15 people in a grade for the most populated grades. Usually 2 grades in a classroom. A nun was the principle and we had a priest for the church and some religion classes.
One day the priest was removed and we were all told he went back to Ireland.
Years later when the catholic church was raked over the coals, the dirty deeds were spelled out in the news paper.
That priest was moved from small town USA, Chewelah Washington, to a bigger city, Spokane, to remove him from allegations of sexual abuse. He continued those abuses at the School he was reassigned to!!
https://www.bishop-accountability.org/accused/o-malley-james-j-1946/
The guy who baptized me and my brother and sister. The guy I considered next to Jesus. The guy I told all my childhood sins to.
Fuck that guy, I hope he is in hell.
Trump’s spiritual advisor resigns after admitting he sexually assaulted a 12-year-old child.
Much better headline in my opinion.
Convicted felon Donald Trump’s spiritual advisor resigns after admitting he sexually assaulted a 12-year-old child.
Minor edit.
Repeatedly sexual assaulted a 12 year old child. The abuse happened over a 5 year period.
I hope there is no statute of limitations on child sexual assault in his jurisdiction.
There isn’t now, but there was then. He isn’t likely to face any charges. Civil trial is more possible, but still difficult.
He sexually assaulted a 12 year old over and over for years, became a millionaire pastor, and now is retiring while his church does damage control, “both sideing” their support for both him and his victim. The church leaders claim they “just didn’t know” how young she was when he was assaulting her, even though hes been publically talking about his "redemption for his sin " for 30yrs+.
As usual with church sexual abuse, everyone walks away unscathed but the victim, who takes all the pain and has to deal with all the shame.
Not allegations.
ADMISSION of molestation.
The most surprising thing is that he resigned.
It’s always the self-righteous, “holier-than-thou” types. Remember, when these so-called holy men talk about the “evils” of porn and casual sex it’s a self report.
I’m assuming he hasn’t stopped being the convicted felon rapist’s spiritual adviser though?
“Advisor on how to dupe the Christians” FIFY
I don’t think you’re giving normie white American evangelicals enough credit. Aside from kids and very old people, most join megachurches for community and status reasons. It doesn’t matter at all if the pastor preaches the exact opposite of what the Bible says — prosperity gospel, for example — it’s about showing up, seeing friends, and being part of a community. They aren’t being duped.
I don’t want to say no Evangelicals are sincere in their faith because, obviously, that isn’t true. Plenty people practice their faith by doing good works and helping the poor. But as that Niebuhr quote says: “Religion makes good people better and bad people worse.” A lot of white American Evangelical churches are about giving bad people excuses to be worse. Trump hasn’t been good for much but he did create a big “mask off” moment for lots of American “Christians.”
Remember the “scandal” over Obama’s preacher? I do.
No, what was that about?
this is like the second notable pedophile he associates with.
Molesters of a feather flock together.
VP candidate, probably.
At this point, I’m surprised they didn’t just run with it like: “but the Bible doesn’t say it’s wrong so it must be right!”
