Pastor Robert Morris Seeks Forgiveness from Abuse Victim After Jail Release
Following his recent release from Osage County Jail, Robert Morris, the founder of Gateway Church, reached out to his victim, Cindy Clemishire, asking for her forgiveness after serving a six-month sentence for sexual abuse. His public apology reflects on the gravity of his past actions and the time he spent in incarceration.
In a statement provided to The Christian Post by his lawyer, William B. Mateja, Morris detailed his realization of the harm caused to Clemishire and expressed his regret. “What I did to Cindy decades ago was wrong… I am deeply sorry,” Morris stated, acknowledging the courage of the Clemishire family in bringing the abuse to light.
Morris emphasized the need for transparency, noting, “It is only in the light that things can truly be addressed and healed.” He reiterated his request for forgiveness, which he had initially sought privately years ago, from Clemishire and her family.
In response, Clemishire informed The Christian Post that she had already forgiven Morris, though she remains affected by the abuse. “I forgave Robert Morris many years ago… Forgiveness, however, does not erase the truth of what happened,” she stated, expressing concern over Morris’s failure to apologize directly during his guilty plea in court.
Robert Morris was indicted in March 2025 on multiple charges related to the abuse of Clemishire, which began in 1982 when she was 12 years old. Morris, then a traveling evangelist, continued the abuse for several years. In October, he pled guilty to the charges, accepting legal responsibility.
Attorney Mateja explained Morris’s decision to plead guilty, stating, “He simply accepted responsibility for his crime… He pled guilty because he wanted to accept responsibility for his conduct.” Morris was also ordered to pay $270,000 in restitution to Clemishire.
Beyond his criminal case, Morris faces a defamation lawsuit from Clemishire, who, along with her father, Jerry Lee Clemishire, seeks damages exceeding $1 million. The lawsuit alleges that Morris and Gateway Church mischaracterized her abuse as a consensual relationship, a claim contested in court.
The legal proceedings continue, with a petition for mandamus review filed by Gateway Church’s attorneys after a motion to dismiss the lawsuit was rejected. This comes as part of an ongoing effort to address the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine, which limits court jurisdiction over religious matters.
Clemishire expressed gratitude to the legal team, including Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, for their role in bringing Morris to justice. She highlighted the importance of accountability and truth in her healing journey, voicing hopes for other survivors to be heard and believed.
Publicly, Morris also apologized to the Christian community for the turmoil his actions caused, acknowledging the impact on believers. He expressed intent to live a life of quiet integrity, supported by his wife Debbie and family, drawing strength from scripture and the promise of grace.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
