Cindy Clemishire testifies against Gateway Church founder's abuse

Cindy Clemishire testified on Wednesday before a Texas House committee about her allegations of sexual abuse against Robert Morris, the founder of Gateway Church. She claimed that Morris began abusing her in the 1980s, starting when she was just 12 years old. Clemishire spoke in support of House Bill 748. This bill aims to make certain nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) in child sex abuse cases unenforceable. The bill was authored by State Representative Jeff Leach from Plano, Texas. During her testimony, Clemishire described how the abuse started when Morris was a traveling evangelist staying at her family's home. She recalled that he told her not to tell anyone, threatening that it would "ruin everything." She stated that the abuse continued until she was 17, when she finally confided in someone. Clemishire also shared her painful journey of dealing with the trauma. She expressed how she felt ashamed for many years, while Morris gained fame. She began seeking restitution in 2007. When she refused to sign an NDA in exchange for a $25,000 settlement offered by Morris's attorney, she felt empowered to tell her story. Morris was indicted in Oklahoma last week on five counts of lewd acts against a child and has pleaded not guilty. His next court date is scheduled for May 9. Following the allegations, Morris resigned as lead pastor of Gateway Church and admitted to inappropriate behavior. Since then, several church staff members have left, and an internal investigation led to the firing of multiple elders.