By Tony Bruce | Thursday, June 20, 2024 | 3 min read
Texas megachurch pastor Robert Morris, who was once named as a spiritual adviser to former President Donald Trump, has announced his resignation from Gateway Church amid allegations of having molested a 12-year-old girl in the 1980s. Morris also stepped down as an overseer at Church of the Highlands, the largest church in Alabama, following these allegations.
What is Trump Doing Around People Like Robert Morris and Jeffrey Epstein?
The associations with figures like Morris and Epstein suggest a pattern where Trump has been linked to individuals with questionable and sometimes criminal behavior. This pattern raises concerns about the potential influence these individuals might have had and the ethical implications of such relationships. It also underscores the importance of accountability and transparency, especially for public figures and those in leadership roles.
The allegations against Morris have sent shockwaves through the Christian community, leading to his decision to step back from his roles within the church. This situation is particularly notable given Morris’s prominent position and influence, both within the church and in broader political circles.
These developments mark a significant moment for Gateway Church, which has a substantial congregation and influence in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The church will need to navigate this challenging period as they address the serious nature of these allegations and their impact on the community.
The resignation comes days after Morris, 62, seemingly admitted to molesting the girl in a statement to The Christian Post. In that statement, he conceded that he engaged in “inappropriate sexual behavior” with a “young lady” when he was already married with a child in his early 20s.
Morris ordered his victim to remain silent about the molestation, telling her, “because it will ruin everything,” according to Clemishire’s account to the publication.
The abuse allegedly continued for four years until the teenager confided in a close friend. This disclosure led Morris’s wife to discover the abuse, prompting Morris to briefly step down from his ministry. However, the detailed specifics of these incidents remained undisclosed until now.
“It was kissing and petting and not intercourse, but it was wrong,” Morris admitted in a statement to the Christian Post regarding the relationship.
Upon his return to the pulpit, Morris rapidly gained a large following as a preacher, eventually attracting the attention of Donald Trump, who appointed him to a spiritual advisory board in 2016.
Morris’s now-former church, located just outside Fort Worth, claims to have over 100,000 attendees each weekend, according to its website.
This case underscores the significant issue of accountability within religious institutions and raises questions about the vetting process for individuals appointed to influential advisory roles. The impact of such revelations extends beyond the church, affecting the broader community’s trust in leadership figures.
