Texas pastor explains why he wants Gateway Church to tell the truth about Robert Morris' allegations

A former pastor at the Gateway Church in Southlake said he believes past church leaders knew of disgraced founder Robert Morris' alleged sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl and assisted in covering it up.

Stephen LeBlanc, who is now senior pastor of the Sherman Bible Church, said he feels betrayed by Morris and doesn't believe Gateway is taking responsibility for its now-former leader's alleged actions.

Morris resigned from Gateway last month after Cindy Clemishire said he had sexually assaulted her for years, beginning when she was 12 years old in the 1980s.

In a statement Wednesday night, a Gateway spokesperson said: "The sexual abuse of Cindy as a child by Robert Morris is unfathomable."

"The elders are committed to finding the truth and holding people accountable," the spokesperson said. "Regrettably, prior to June 14, the current elders did not have all the facts."

LeBlanc, who said he had known Morris since the late 80s and accepted a job as a pastor at Gateway in 2011, said he had no idea the details of Morris' alleged sexual assault, despite Morris' frequent invocation of his past "immorality."

"It never in a thousand years would’ve crossed my mind to say 'Let me ask you, Robert, what was the age of this person?'" LeBlanc said. "It was always framed as indiscretion with a young lady. And when I hear young lady, I don’t think 12-year-old. I don’t think anybody does."

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