In recent news, a scandal has erupted at Gateway Church in Texas following allegations of child sexual abuse against its founder and former pastor, Robert Morris. The accusations date back to the 1980s when Morris is said to have abused a young girl named Cindy Clemishire beginning when she was just 12 years old. The abuse reportedly took place in both Texas and Oklahoma.
Morris, who grew to prominence as an evangelical adviser to former President Donald Trump and hosted him at Gateway Church in Dallas in 2020, initially denied the allegations when they were first brought forward. However, he later confessed to engaging in 'inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady' and resigned from the church in March 1987.
The latest development in this scandal came to light when it was revealed that Morris had asked Clemishire for a price to keep quiet about the assaults during a phone call on September 22, 2005. The transcript of this conversation was obtained by NBC News through a former Gateway staff member.
Despite these revelations, some question the effectiveness of mandatory reporting legislation and believe that opening a 'look-back window' for victims to file civil cases against their abusers even after the statute of limitations has expired would be more beneficial. This is because many victims, like Clemishire, may not come forward until much later in life due to fear or shame.
State Representative Steve Toth plans to address this issue by raising the penalty for abusers and mandating church board members to become mandatory reporters. He also intends to educate district attorneys on the necessity of prosecuting and indicting individuals who helped conceal child sex abuse as part of his proposed legislation.
It is important to note that while this article provides factual information, it does not draw conclusions or make calls to action. The goal is to provide a comprehensive and unbiased account of the situation.
