A Texas megachurch pastor who was appointed to Donald Trump’s group of “spiritual advisors” in 2016 has admitted to fondling a 12-year-old girl in 1982 while he was 20 years old and staying with the girl’s family, The Daily Beast reports.
The confession, made in a statement to The Christian Post, came after the woman, who identified herself as Cindy Klemisher, spoke to Wartburg Watch and accused the Rev. Robert Morris, now senior pastor of Gateway Church in Dallas-Fort Worth, of sexually assaulting her.
She told Wartburg Watch, “She didn’t think anything of it. He told her to lie on her back and touched her stomach. He told her to close her eyes. Then he touched her breasts and touched her under her panties. And he warned her, ‘Don’t tell anyone about this, it will ruin everything.'”
According to the Beast, “The abuse continued for years before Cremicher confided in a close friend, and Morris’ wife reportedly found out, leading Morris to resign from his pastorate. He eventually returned to the church, founding Gateway Church in 2000 and growing it into one of the largest megachurches in the country, with an estimated weekly attendance of 100,000.”
When pressed about the allegations by The Christian Post, Morris explained in a statement: “When I was in my early 20s, I engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a young woman in a house where I was staying. It was kissing and fondling – not sexual intercourse – but it was wrong. This conduct occurred on several occasions over the next few years.”
He added: “In March of 1987, this situation was brought to light, confessed and repented. I submitted to the elders of Shady Grove Church and the father of the young woman. They asked me to resign from my ordination and receive counseling and the ordination of freedom, which I did. Since that time, I have walked clean and responsible in this area.”
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You can watch Pastor Morris talk about how to get “salvation” on YouTube below:
