After years of sharing her story with no action taken, Cindy Clemishire has closure after reading a statement in court at the trial of the man who abused her, former pastor Robert Morris.
Morris started grooming and sexually molesting Clemishire when she was just 12 years old, when he and his wife and children were staying in their home. Morris was also a pastor at the time. The abuse continued, according to Clemishire, for four years.
The 64-year-old appeared in court on Oct. 2 and pleaded guilty on all five counts. Morris will serve six months in the Osage County jail and then be on probation for nine years and six months, according to a plea agreement outlined by Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond. He also must pay $270,000 in restitution to Clemishire.
Facing her abuser
During the hearing, Clemishire made a public statement in court.
“In my victim statement, I told Robert that, not only did he steal my innocence and basically murdered the woman I was supposed to grow into, he basically built this twisted framework on a foundation that my parents had built with me that was very solid,” said Clemishire in a CBN interview last week. “He began building a framework that was very twisted on what love is, and it taught me that abuse is love.”
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Clemishire’s father joined her in the courtroom, holding her hand in support.
“It was emotional to be sitting next to my dad and holding his hand, knowing the immense feelings that were going through him. He loved Robert. We were like family. I know [it] was extremely painful for him.”
When Clemishire read her victim statement aloud, Morris didn’t look up once. He simply stared down at the table. Clemishire shared that she “never felt a sense of remorse” from him.
Freedom to finally be heard
In 2024, Clemishire shared all the details of what had happened to her publicly, which set things in motion, including Morris’s resignation as lead pastor of Gateway Church Southlake, Texas. However, Clemishire also stated that she sent a letter to the elders of the church back in 2005. No action was taken at that time.
“When you tell so many people that have authority in that religious sector, and some pretty high-up people know, some of the highest up in that part of our religious world, and they just continue to sweep it under the rug,” said Clemishire. “They say he’s been restored, they don’t ask about my restoration, they don’t pursue helping me find restoration or my family.”
The 54-year-old shared that watching nothing be done for years hampered her faith in organized religion, especially one that talks about helping out vulnerable people. Thankfully, Clemishire always stood on her Christian faith regardless.
“I go straight back to my childhood foundation that my parents gave me. My dad, his faith is in Jesus, not in church. He became a Christian as an adult. So his foundation was really in the Word of God, not in church, and so he gave that same foundation to us, and I just was never taught to believe in man. I was taught to believe the Word of God. I was taught to have a personal relationship with Jesus — to pray, and that’s what I’ve done my whole adult life, even in very difficult times.”
Choosing forgiveness
Clemishire continues to work towards forgiving Morris and the way his abuse affected her life.
“Again, 70 times seven. I think it’s because the wound — something triggers something, and we have to forgive again, and that forgiveness is not for him. It is for me. It is not about his life, and if I ever say, ‘I forgive Robert,’ that doesn’t mean I like him, that doesn’t mean I condone what he did, that doesn’t mean that I think he should be a free man roaming the earth without any consequences. It has nothing to do with Robert’s life, and has everything to do with mine and my relationship with God, and my relationship with my friends and family.”
Last Thursday, after the judgement was doled out to Morris, Clemishire felt her own transformation.
“The only way I can verbalize what happened in that courtroom was, when he walked out in handcuffs and I stood up, I felt like I had been wearing a costume my entire adult life and living out that character. And that costume came off of me and stayed on the bench I was sitting on in that courtroom, and I walked out as the woman that God actually created me to be.”
The Oklahoma court system involves victims in the process to make sure the final verdict rests well with all involved.
Este artículo fue publicado originalmente en CHV Radio.
Sylvia St. Cyr es locutora de radio en CHVN, un medio cristiano en Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canadá.
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21 Responses
Cindy Clemishire is a brave, and strong individual. I am happy she feels transformed and is apparently satisfied with the final verdict.
I confess I am not satisfied with the sentence Robert Morris has received. It seems both the wealthy and members of the clergy receive lighter sentences than the average citizen. Morris is both wealthy and a (formerly) well known pastor.
I agree with you Todd. You are absolutely right. And, the fact that Morrison didn’t apologize speaks volumes. Apology always follows repentance. He isn’t repentant.
My old friend Todd, I am with you on all of that. All I can say is that since I have experienced a cell in hell once reserved for goats like this, he is not getting away with anything. When he goes, and we all do eventually, he has an eternity to pay for his crime. This knowledge keeps me from screaming about how unbalanced our justice system is.
“This knowledge keeps me from screaming about how unbalanced our justice system is.”
That’s why they call it an opiate.
While I am glad Cynthia has closure i really feel that sentence is way too short!
I hope this will be a reminder to all who commit such crimes about the permanent damage that crime does! And that it effects the victims often for the rest of their natural lives!
I am so glad she feels free and that some of the damage that has been done has lost some effect.
I pray that Cindy can walk in the forgiveness she dispensed so freely. What a wonderful woman! I also hope that Robert holds his head in shame, and that everyone in his circle can see what he truly is. The Prosecutor in this case is a Hero. There were mile high hurdles over which he had to jump. I can say nothing more about Morris.
Unfortunately earlier this year I noticed Robert Morris seemed to have opened up a new YouTube channel in which it appeared as if he was teaching a group of Americans over in Israel on Biblical Truths. It looked current rather than older and had me wondering if currently he is particiating with Tour Groups to go over to Israel to teach as a Pastor. Unfortunately I doubt he’ll ever fully give up the podium or writing books. He made millions.
Michael Tait also belongs in jail. God is no respector of persons.
Morris’ jail sentence doesn’t match the horrendous abuse he inflicted on Mrs.Clemishire. As a former court official I understand how plea agreements work for the white and wealthy. 6 months is an injustice to any victim ! Being registered as a sex offender for life isn’t enough. The money is another slap for Justice. Cindy,you are one in a million woman of courage and many victims will come out of the darkness to find help to prosecute their predators . A predator in the pulpit is worse than a street thug!
I understand and agree, 6 months in a county jail is a bunch of rubbish. Originally it was a 10 year sentence in prison, which is what numerous others would have gotten. These please deals are garbage… what was the deal anyhow?
Little robert morris is laughing all the way to the bank with his I’ll gotten and literally stolen wealth of $117 million.
Why wasn’t his wife Debbie indicted for having knowledge and staying quiet? Let me guess, money.
Robert’s actions are horrible…and completely predictable. Unfortunately, there’s some men (even in ministry) who will sexually strike out at any target of opportunity. There’s also some men who wouldn’t touch a 12 year old under ANY circumstances. We must be thankful for those guys! However, since neither group wears a sign around their necks that clearly distinguishes them apart, we must treat our daughters as though anyone could belong to the first group.
That’s not a religious opinion. It’s plain common sense. God help us to gain some of it.
What a beautiful story of forgiveness, healing and justice. So sad however that it took so long for Cindy to be free.
I pray God will restore the years the locust have eaten and the worm destroyed in her life,
I am so happy for you Cindy! It’s your day now! Life is restored to you at last, and you are vindicated FINALLY after trying to tell leaders over the years who brushed it under the rug. Shame on them. You keep going for God and making the changes in the laws to help other victims. I am proud of you!!
I like Cindy’s comments about how she didn’t let the clergy abuse separate her from God. The most egregious thing of an evangelist, which is what Morris supposedly was at the time, a traveling evangelist so called, whose stated role is to lead people to a relationship with Jesus, is to do something which leads someone away from Jesus. To do what Morris did, for years, knowing that his sin could lead Cindy to permanently separate herself from God, chills the soul.
And then, years later, when he knew she was still suffering from his actions, to do nothing which could help restore her relationship with God, if she needed that, is so beyond the pale. His concern should not have been first and foremost the therapy payments she needed; it should have been her walk with God.
He should have known that his words and actions, primarily apologizing and sincerely asking for her forgiveness, could help her walk with God. To say nothing of also important, but not as important, trauma-related issues as the effects of what he did to her, that could still affect her life.
This glaring omission demonstrates a complete lack of pastoral instinct, and should be viewed as the main reason for him never being platformed again when he gets out of jail, for all those who will say he did his time and should be allowed restoration back into ministry. A pastor without the heart of a pastor is a very dangerous man.
I’m so happy for you, Cindy! God bless you.
While I don’t believe that the sentence was adequate, I am grateful that she has found some peace.
…continued from discussion on forgiveness in the Charlie Kirk widow article on this website.
5) The solution is not forgiveness where there is no repentance, but in Colossians 3:13
“bear with each other…” when there is no repentance. This means withholding forgiveness but protecting oneself by seeking justice or separation. When there is repentance, then the second part of the verse applies “… and forgive one another “. It is wrong theology to gloss over the first part of the verse. Forgiveness does NOT apply when there is no repentance.
6) Think about it. In which case is an offender more likely to repeat the same abuse. case a) or case b) below?
a) if he confesses publicly, repents, gives restitution (which may even mean prison for heinous crimes)
b) if he and his community insists that the victim “simply forgive” just for the sake of her emotional health.
In this case b), will you agree that the offender is free to commit the crime again?
An attorney who is a podcaster also on YouTube named Vanessa Johnson gives updates, and today Oct. 23 she gave an update about the lawsuits against Morris and Gateway because they covered up and lied about the money they were giving the Jewish and Global missions and money that went unaccounted for. Go to her channel and she explains it all. “Vanessa Johnson Attorney” is what you can look for her under that name. She has extensive experience working with sex crime victims also. She is awesome!
When someone looks down, like Robert did, while you spoke, I can’t help but think he was experiencing shame. I think that’s why he couldn’t look at you.
I’m so glad you have been taught to look to God, Himself and not at pastors and church leaders.
I’m praying for you both. It is a grave tragedy. May God deeply heal & restore you.