Schott Touts Forgiveness and Restoration After Jail Visit
Mercy Culture Pastor Landon Schott visited convicted child molester Robert Morris in an Oklahoma jail this week, drawing praise and criticism. Morris, the 64-year-old founder of Gateway Church, pleaded guilty last October to molesting Cindy Clemishire when she was 12. After their meeting, Schott claimed God told him Morris is forgiven and called the moment spiritually significant. Schott linked Morris’s expected release near Easter to themes of redemption and new beginnings.
Supporters Embrace Mercy Message, Critics Warn of Harm
Schott’s Facebook post emphasized mercy, saying, “Even in this situation, the gospel is being preached.” Many commenters praised his words, including fellow pastors. But survivors and critics accused him of re-platforming abusers without repentance. Katherine Leach, a Gateway Church member, asked Schott to demand public repentance from Morris rather than praise him. Clemishire herself said Morris has never apologized or looked at her in court.
Pattern of Re-Platforming Raises Red Flags
This is not the first time Schott has supported disgraced leaders. Last May, he welcomed Michael Brown to Mercy Culture, despite findings of “sexually abusive misconduct” from a third-party investigation. Schott’s wife, Heather, defended Brown on her podcast, calling allegations against him “gossip” and “witchcraft.” Critics argue that Schott’s rejection of “cancel culture” ignores accountability.
Gateway’s Past Shadows Schott’s Praise
Schott credits Gateway and Morris with shaping his ministry, but Gateway has faced lawsuits over alleged cover-ups and financial fraud. Critics like Leach say praising the church’s “structures” ignores decades of abuse and silencing. Clemishire revealed that Morris threatened her with prosecution when she asked for therapy funds in 2005 and tried to silence her with a nondisclosure agreement.
Survivors Call for Accountability, Not Platforms
Clemishire and others insist that forgiveness requires repentance and restitution. “No pedophile should be in any pulpit,” she told The Roys Report. Many fear that Schott’s actions could lead Morris’s followers to minimize his crimes. Critics say mercy should never erase justice or silence survivors’ pain.
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Pastor Landon Schott visits Robert Morris in jail, declares God has forgiven him
Photo by Emiliano Bar on Unsplash
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