Robert Morris, Texas megachurch pastor, pleads guilty to sexually abusing a child
NBCOCT 2
Texas Megachurch Founder Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Abuse
Above: People protest outside Gateway Church, following allegations against Robert Morris, on June 22, 2024. Image copyright: Chris Torres/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Justice finally prevailed when Robert Morris pleaded guilty to five counts of child abuse and received jail time plus sex offender registration. The legal system held this predator accountable for exploiting his position of trust to abuse a 12-year-old girl. Speaking up about abuse is the only way to protect children and ensure perpetrators face consequences.
Narrative B
The Robert Morris case exposes the sick pattern of sin-leveling that allows predatory clergy to be restored as if child abuse equals minor moral failings. Churches routinely shift blame onto victims while treating molestation like telling fibs or being prideful. This cognitive trick protects powerful religious leaders at the expense of those they've traumatized, despite the legal justice faced by some individuals like Morris.