Gateway Church, Robert Morris sued for defamation in Dallas by accuser

The woman who accused Southlake-based Gateway Church’s founding pastor Robert Morris of sexually abusing her when she was a child is suing the megachurch, Morris and his wife for defamation and failing to report the alleged abuse.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Dallas County by Cindy Clemishire and her father, pointed to Morris' previous statement acknowledging the abuse claims, where he referred to Clemishire as a “young lady.”

Morris’ statement, which was sent to Gateway staff shortly after the allegation against Morris became public last year, indicated he stepped out of ministry as part of a “restoration process” after Clemishire first reported the alleged abuse to her parents in the late 1980s.

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