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submitted 6 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/politics@lemmy.world

Texas megachurch pastor Robert Morris, who Donald Trump once named as a spiritual adviser to his administration, announced he was stepping down from Gateway Church amid allegations he molested a 12-year-old girl in the 1980s. 

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 didn’t mention the girl’s age—but his alleged victim, Cindy Clemishire, told the religious watchdog blog The Wartburg Watch on Friday that she was only 12 when she was first sexually abused by Morris on Christmas Day in 1982. She claimed that he invited her into the room he was staying in at her family home during a visit, and touched her inappropriately on her breasts and “under her panties.”

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[-] Boddhisatva@lemmy.world 116 points 6 months ago

“It was kissing and petting and not intercourse, but it was wrong,” Morris said of the relationship to the Christian Post.

Is it really an allegation still when you are quoting him in the article admitting to it?

[-] NeptuneOrbit@lemmy.world 43 points 6 months ago

It's just a sparkling apology if it isn't administered under oath as part of a court pleading.

[-] Snowclone@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

Until convicted he's innocent until proven guilty. No matter how insanely obvious it is that he's guilty.

[-] HikingVet@lemmy.ca 102 points 6 months ago

Once again not a drag queen but a religious figure.

[-] inb4_FoundTheVegan@lemmy.world 57 points 6 months ago

When you are a pastor they let you do it.

[-] blindbunny@lemmy.ml 21 points 6 months ago

Hell they'll even move you into another community to do it again.

[-] thisbenzingring@lemmy.sdf.org 17 points 6 months ago

Not even a good joke, sadly its very real.

I went to a catholic school, very small had like 15 people in a grade for the most populated grades. Usually 2 grades in a classroom. A nun was the principle and we had a priest for the church and some religion classes.

One day the priest was removed and we were all told he went back to Ireland.

Years later when the catholic church was raked over the coals, the dirty deeds were spelled out in the news paper.

That priest was moved from small town USA, Chewelah Washington, to a bigger city, Spokane, to remove him from allegations of sexual abuse. He continued those abuses at the School he was reassigned to!!

https://www.bishop-accountability.org/accused/o-malley-james-j-1946/

The guy who baptized me and my brother and sister. The guy I considered next to Jesus. The guy I told all my childhood sins to.

Fuck that guy, I hope he is in hell.

[-] Adulated_Aspersion@lemmy.world 39 points 6 months ago

Not allegations.

ADMISSION of molestation.

[-] jeena@piefed.jeena.net 28 points 6 months ago

"Trump’s Spiritual Adviser"

Hahaha! Rofl

[-] SkybreakerEngineer@lemmy.world 6 points 6 months ago

Well, the last one that held that post was preaching that he's literally the second coming

[-] idiomaddict@feddit.de 2 points 6 months ago

It checks out

[-] IMongoose@lemmy.world 21 points 6 months ago

The most surprising thing is that he resigned.

[-] tacosanonymous@lemm.ee 21 points 6 months ago

I’m assuming he hasn’t stopped being the convicted felon rapist's spiritual adviser though?

[-] SpiceDealer@lemmy.world 18 points 6 months ago

It's always the self-righteous, "holier-than-thou" types. Remember, when these so-called holy men talk about the "evils" of porn and casual sex it's a self report.

[-] snekerpimp@lemmy.world 17 points 6 months ago

“Advisor on how to dupe the Christians” FIFY

[-] nilloc@discuss.tchncs.de 10 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

When they’re in a mega church, they come pre-duped.

[-] ShittyBeatlesFCPres@lemmy.world 3 points 6 months ago

I don’t think you’re giving normie white American evangelicals enough credit. Aside from kids and very old people, most join megachurches for community and status reasons. It doesn’t matter at all if the pastor preaches the exact opposite of what the Bible says — prosperity gospel, for example — it’s about showing up, seeing friends, and being part of a community. They aren’t being duped.

I don’t want to say no Evangelicals are sincere in their faith because, obviously, that isn’t true. Plenty people practice their faith by doing good works and helping the poor. But as that Niebuhr quote says: “Religion makes good people better and bad people worse.” A lot of white American Evangelical churches are about giving bad people excuses to be worse. Trump hasn’t been good for much but he did create a big “mask off” moment for lots of American “Christians.”

[-] snooggums@midwest.social 2 points 6 months ago

It doesn’t matter at all if the pastor preaches the exact opposite of what the Bible says — prosperity gospel, for example — it’s about showing up, seeing friends, and being part of a community. They aren’t being duped.

Yeah, it isn't like people in the US where megachurches are located have multiple other churches to choose from.

[-] idiomaddict@feddit.de 3 points 6 months ago

I can’t tell if that’s sarcasm or if megachurches just Walmart local churches

[-] Zoboomafoo@slrpnk.net 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Near me, a megachurch has been under construction for two decades has been begging for funds from the very poor community.

Every time I drive by it I hope I see a burned out shell instead. That money could have helped people, Jesus said to pray quietly at home

[-] Doom@ttrpg.network 14 points 6 months ago

Church, Child Pageants and Rich fucks.

Anyone who fucks with any of those is a pedo. Weird Trump hits all three.

So does Putin, how weird.

[-] snooggums@midwest.social 14 points 6 months ago

Oh look, another instance of child molesters flocking together.

[-] shalafi@lemmy.world 8 points 6 months ago

Remember the "scandal" over Obama's preacher? I do.

[-] mojo_raisin@lemmy.world 6 points 6 months ago

No, what was that about?

[-] Tylerdurdon@lemmy.world 5 points 6 months ago

At this point, I'm surprised they didn't just run with it like: "but the Bible doesn't say it's wrong so it must be right!"

[-] Fedizen@lemmy.world 5 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

this is like the second notable pedophile he associates with.

[-] politicalincorruption@lemmy.world 4 points 6 months ago

Molesters of a feather flock together.

[-] cabron_offsets@lemmy.world 4 points 6 months ago

VP candidate, probably.

[-] AsslessChaps@lemmynsfw.com 0 points 6 months ago

Even God himself raped a child.

[-] Snowclone@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

Do you mean Mary, the mother of Jesus? It really doesn't make sense to think that, God is not presented as having sex with her in any theology, kind of contradicts the whole virgin birth claim.

[-] exanime@lemmy.world 4 points 6 months ago

well, I think putting a child in someone without their consent is a kind of rape even if it did not include sexual intercourse

[-] Delusional@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

Rape happens because of God. Fuck that guy.

this post was submitted on 23 Jun 2024
559 points (99.1% liked)

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