Multiple Sex Scandals Are Rocking the MAGA Faith Community

Analysis & Context

A series of sexual misconduct and abuse allegations have emerged from within the conservative evangelical movement, exposing what critics describe as a systemic crisis of accountability among leaders who have positioned themselves as moral authorities in American public life.

Among the most prominent cases is that of Pastor Robert Morris of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, who pleaded guilty to child sex abuse charges. Morris, who had been one of the most influential pastors in America with a congregation of over 100,000, resigned after allegations surfaced that he had sexually abused a young girl beginning when she was 12 years old.

The Morris case is far from isolated. The co-founder of Covenant Eyes, a Christian internet accountability software company, saw his stepson charged with child sex abuse. An Indiana National Guard member and pastor's son was charged with child exploitation. These cases have emerged in rapid succession, creating a crisis of credibility for a movement that has long claimed moral superiority.

The Anglican Church in North America, a conservative denomination that broke from the Episcopal Church partly over issues of sexual ethics, is simultaneously facing allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against its highest-ranking leader, Archbishop Stephen Wood.

Critics argue that the concentration of unchecked authority in charismatic male leaders, combined with a culture that discourages questioning and prioritizes loyalty, creates conditions where abuse can flourish. The movement's emphasis on male headship and female submission has been identified as a particular risk factor.

The pattern of allegations has prompted calls for independent oversight mechanisms, mandatory background checks for all church leaders, and a fundamental reexamination of power structures within conservative evangelical institutions. Survivors and advocates argue that meaningful reform requires more than policy changes—it demands a cultural shift away from the celebrity pastor model.