Robert Morris, the pastor of Gateway Church in the Dallas area, has been indicted in Oklahoma for child sex crimes. Morris, who resigned from his position as pastor last year following allegations of sexual abuse, is also known for his role as a former spiritual adviser to President Donald Trump. Gateway Church is one of the largest megachurches in the U.S. and has been active in political matters.
Morris faces five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child, according to a press release from the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office. The indictment follows allegations made by Cindy Clemishire, an adult woman who said Morris sexually assaulted her while she was a child in Oklahoma in the 1980s, At that time, Morris was a traveling preacher, The Texas Tribune reports.
Clemishire expressed her gratitude in a message shared through her attorney, saying, “After almost 43 years, the law has finally caught up with Robert Morris for the horrific crimes he committed against me as a child. Now, it is time for the legal system to hold him accountable. 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.”
Clemishire’s statement came amid ongoing concerns over sexual abuse scandals within the Dallas religious community. Morris is one of several local religious figures recently accused of misconduct. Since the allegations against him, at least a dozen Dallas-area churches or pastors have faced similar accusations of sexual abuse or complicity in covering it up.
Morris, who founded Gateway Church in 2000, became heavily involved in politics in recent years. He served on President Trump’s evangelical advisory board during Trump’s 2016 campaign and played an active role in conservative causes. In 2017, Morris was part of efforts to oppose Texas’ “Bathroom Bill,” which aimed to restrict transgender people’s use of public bathrooms.
Morris’s political influence grew alongside his church’s prominence. For years, Gateway Church displayed slates of local school board candidates on its large screens before elections, which may have violated federal regulations prohibiting political activity by churches. In 2023, Morris encouraged his congregation of about 25,000 to support Republican candidates, claiming, “Many of you see what Satan has been trying to do even in our school systems.”
Morris’s political ties extended to Mercy Culture Church in Fort Worth, a congregation that received financial backing from Gateway and became known for its strong connections to local Republican circles. Mercy Culture frequently hosted Republican politicians and figures, including the chair of the Texas GOP.
