Oklahoma woman testifies before Texas lawmakers on sexual abuse and non-disclosure agreements

Yahoo

21-03-2025

AUSTIN, Texas — An Oklahoma woman who accused former disgraced megachurch preacher Robert Morris of sexual abuse testified before the Texas House of Representatives, asking them to ban the use of 'non-disclosure agreements' in sexual abuse cases.
Cindy Clemishire publicly accused Robert Morris in 2024 of sexual misconduct ranging from inappropriate touching to rape by instrumentation. Almost two decades after the alleged abuse, Morris's attorneys offered the Oklahoma woman $25,000 if she would sign a non-disclosure agreement and remain silent.
She declined.
Texas House Bill 748, also called 'Trey's Law,' and Missouri House Bill 709, would make non-disclosure agreements unenforceable in child sex abuse cases.
Clemishire waited 43 years for her voice to be heard. Although her voice trembled and she choked back emotion, her words spoke loudly before the Texas House of Representatives, Judiciary, and Civil Jurisprudence Committee members.
'I am a survivor of child sexual abuse.'
Cindy Clemishire, Texas House of Representatives
Clemishire spoke of the years of abuse she allegedly suffered involving Morris that started on Christmas night in 1982 when a then-married father was a traveling evangelist and stayed at the Clemishire home while holding revival services in Hominy.
Morris, the founder of a Texas-based Gateway Church, one of the largest megachurches in the country, is free on $50,000 bail after being charged in Osage County District Court with five counts of lewd or indecent acts to a child.
Clemishire's accusations of sexual assault continued until Clemishire was 17 years old and, in 1987 told her parents about the abuse. Her father told Morris's pastor that if Morris didn't get out of the ministry, he would report him to the police.
It was a losing fight for the family.
'The first time he made the premeditated decision to violate and defile my purity, he told me, 'You can never tell anyone because it will ruin everything,'' Clemishire said.
'When I did finally tell someone, it seemed as though Robert Morris was right,' Clemishire said. 'It ruined everything.'
Clemishire testified how all the relationships in her life 'took a shift.'
'At 17 years old in 1987, I felt like it was all my fault. As I began the lifelong journey to sort through these emotional challenges, my life seemed to attract more shame while Robert's attracted fame.'
Cindy Clemishire
Through decades of off-and-on counseling, Clemishire said she has 'found my way to understand child sexual abuse, forgiveness, and healing.'
She said that at age 37, through her attorney, Oklahoma Attorney General Genter Drummond, who was in private practice in 2007, she asked Morris for $50,000 to cover past and future counseling.
Morris's attorney responded with a letter accusing 'an innocent 12-year-old Cindy of pursuing Robert and making Robert sound like the victim,' she said.
Morris offered a $25,000 settlement as long as Clemishre would sign an NDA.
'Because I refused to sign an NDA, my abuser is finally being held accountable for the horrific crimes he committed against me as a child,' Clemishire said. 'Because I refused to sign the NDA at 37, I can sit here at 55 and share my story and be the voice of so many people who don't have the courage – hoping I can help them.
Trey Carlock was a victim of child sexual abuse at the Branson-based Kanakuk Kamps. As part of his settlement, he was required to sign a 'restricted NDA.' He died by suicide in 2019 and called his settlement 'blood money,' according to his sister, Elizabeth Carlock Phillips, who also testified before Texas legislatures on Wednesday.
In addition to Clemishire and Phillips, Kathryn Robb, director of the Children's Justice Campaign, testified.
Morris's next court date is May 9, when a preliminary hearing on the allegations will be set.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.