Robert Morris recently made headlines after pleading not guilty in court for five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child in regards to the abuse case that allegedly occurred with Cindy Clemishire when she was only 12. Now, additional court filings have revealed shocking details about the knowledge that Gateway Church’s elders had about this case.
According to the Christian Post, these documents claim that the elders of the church knew over a decade ago that Morris had a “highly inappropriate relationship” with Cindy Clemishire. The filings also hold a statement from Morris he was allegedly going to read to the congregation back in 2011 when an anonymous email was sent to both media outlets and all Gateway elders.
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In this statement, which was not shared with the Gateway congregation, Morris admitted to acting inappropriately with Clemishire, writing, “I have been told that it was about two weeks before her 13th birthday,” and, “Although I knew she was underage, I was shocked to hear this because she appeared much older. My behavior was completely inexcusable and I am 100% at fault.”
Reportedly, Gateway decided that reading this statement would include issues of “invasion of privacy laws” as well as “publicly embarrass” Cindy Clemishire.
Now, Morris’ lawyer Bill Mateja told The Dallas Morning news that he, “…is certainly deserving of the victim’s punches,” but “is tired of being the punching bag of Gateway’s current leadership as it tries to play its game of blame-shifting.”
Mateja also stated that “Gateway forced out Pastor Morris because he was not ‘transparent’ with Gateway’s leadership about his relationship with Ms. Cindy Clemishire,” but that the church “knew the facts.”
Mateja further noted that Gateway’s decision not to disclose Morris’ interactions with Clemishire was a “…deliberative process that included verifying Morris’ story, consulting with lawyers who advised against disclosure in order to protect the victims’ rights, and fully taking into account the victim’s family’s request that it not be disclosed.”
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Back in May, Morris also filed for Gateway to pay around $1 million for his retirement benefits along with payments underway of $800,000 a year until he reaches the age of 70 and $600,000 following that until both he and his wife pass. Gateway has said that Morris “…committed criminal actions against a child and even today refuses to acknowledge the full extent of his criminal actions. Gateway is not obligated under any agreements to pay Robert Morris a penny.”
Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.
