Episode 5: Pedophilia in the Church

Host Athena Hope, a black trans woman currently living in Texas, covers the startling trend of pastor pedophiles in our society. Athena also discusses the recent horrific bills Republicans are attempting to make law.

Sources/Reading Material: https://linktr.ee/TAWEpisode5

Chapters

• 0:15 Intro
• 0:50 Main Content Intro
• 1:15 Pastor Robert Morris
• 5:16 Pastor Jose Saez Jr.
• 8:02 Senate Bill 456
• 10:38 House Bill 3817
• 15:13 Outro

Transcript

Athena Hope: 0:16

Hello everyone, welcome to the Transgenders at War podcast, the show that focuses on transgender people, politics and how transgender people are affected by it. I'm your host, athena Hope. In this episode, we will be discussing a few stories from the past week. We will talk about the worrying trend of pastor pedophiles and the downright awful bills the Republicans are passing. Please be warned that this episode contains a trigger warning for sexual abuse. We have a lot to discuss, so let's dive into it.

Athena Hope: 0:56

While some Christians and religious individuals accuse drag queens and gay people of inappropriate behavior towards children, it's important to consider whether these are accusations or are they just projections. The frequent report of pedophile pastors indicate a serious issue within religious institutions. On this show, we will begin tracking these cases. I found half a dozen of these cases in the past week alone, so let's talk about it. Our first case involves Robert Morris, the former spiritual advisor to Donald Trump. A grand jury has indicted Morris on five counts of sexual acts with a 12-year-old girl. In the year 2000, pastor Robert Morris founded the Gateway Church in South Lake Texas. The church grew rapidly and became a megachurch with around 100,000 members. On March 12, 2025, the court indicted Morris, who now faces up to life in prison for sexually assaulting Cindy Clemishire, who now faces up to life in prison for sexually assaulting Cindy Clemishire.

Athena Hope: 1:50

Morris sexually assaulted Cindy multiple times in the 80s. He raped her over a period of four years. Cindy said she was only 12 years old and was wearing pink pajamas when he started. She has been seeking justice for decades. Her persistence has finally led to these charges. In 2005, cindy reached out to Pastor Morris through emails and phone calls seeking acknowledgement and accountability. She shared 23 years after you began destroying my life, I am still dealing with the pain and damage you caused. Morris responded by threatening her with legal action and attempting to bribe her into silence. Cindy had to wait over 40 years to see any hope for justice. Cindy said that she had repeatedly tried to disclose the abuse to the church elders and pastors, but they ignored her. It was only when she spoke publicly did any meaningful action take place.

Athena Hope: 2:35

After Pastor Morris was exposed, the church issued a statement describing his behavior simply as, quote a moral failure by engaging in inappropriate behavior with a young lady. The church elders further stated quote since the resolution of this 35-year-old matter, there has been no other moral failures. The church elders stated that his punishment was already dealt with through repentance and confession. Let me be crystal clear. This isn't just a moral failure. This is a criminal act and it demands justice. Your God won't save you from punishment this time. You raped a 12-year-old girl for years and now the world knows you deserve nothing but to be buried under the jail, and I highly doubt someone who commits an act as vile as this hasn't harmed other children. Who knows how many victims and moral failures Morris had over the decades? I wouldn't be surprised if more victims came forward. Four elders of the church board who were aware of Morris' actions were temporarily placed on leave.

Athena Hope: 3:34

During the investigation, pastor Morris often weaponized his group of 100,000 members to help support his Christian nationalist agenda. He encouraged them to put pressure on lawmakers to pass conservative and anti-transgender laws. This included a bill that required people to use bathrooms matching their gender assigned at birth rather than their gender identity. For conservatives, every accusation is a confession, but let's not forget the irony here. Morris suggested he would be safer in a bathroom with you instead of a trans person. Do not trust in the words of Christian nationalists. They use their faith as a shield and will tell you trans and gay people are dangerous only to hide the wicked acts that they do behind the scenes. Morris was Donald Trump's leading spiritual advisor. Trump has praised Morris multiple times, but, as they say, birds of a feather flock together. In a future episode, we'll reveal Donald Trump's deep ties to Jeffrey Epstein and continue to expose these predators.

Athena Hope: 4:29

Pastor Robert Morris is a wicked man. He regularly used his large group of 100,000 members to push his conservative agenda, as well as tricking his followers into giving him millions of dollars. Money and wealth he uses to live a luxurious lifestyle with mansions and private jets. Money and wealth he uses to live a luxurious lifestyle with mansions and private jets. Churches in America enjoy collecting money tax-free while wielding significant influence over our laws and policies. This needs to change. We cannot allow those who exploit and target the vulnerable to influence our government. I'm only on the second pastor predator and I'm already about to throw up after reading about this guy. Religious people are using their status to get away with molesting and abusing kids. I have to report on this and bring it to light. Do not bring your children around these pastors. They are sick and it is shown their other church staff will help them hide what they do. Our next pastor predator comes from Brentwood, new York.

Athena Hope: 5:19

On March 11th 2025, a pastor pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting a child. Pastor Jose Saiz Jr faces a minimum sentence of only 15 years in prison, with the possibility of up to 30 years behind bars. Saiz engaged in sexually explicit conversations with multiple minors and an undercover law enforcement officer using the messaging app Telegram. His admissions to the officers are nothing short of horrifying. He confessed to targeting children between the ages of 11 and 15, even admitting to abusing a baby. He brazenly stated that he used his church to seek out young victims. It goes further than that. Saiz also admitted to encouraging a minor to produce child pornography and distribute it. He confessed to saving these clips and sharing them with at least 10 other people. The depth of his depravity is staggering and, in his own words, reveal a chilling lack of remorse. He said quote I'm sorry that I could not stop.

Athena Hope: 6:15

The FBI got involved after someone sent them an online tip about what Sayez was doing. They searched his phone with a warrant and found 15 videos with child pornography saved on Telegram. One of these videos showed a child performing sexual acts. Fbi Assistant Director Bakshis had this to say the defendant not only admitted to sexually abusing young children, but also discussed his church and his members as targets of additional abuse. His sustained exploitation of children in person and online is clear, and this guilty plea is a step forward on the road to justice for his victims. Children are among the most vulnerable in our communities and the FBI will stop at nothing to make sure they are protected and the monsters who would do them harm are put behind bars.

Athena Hope: 6:59

The thought that Sayez could be released in as little as 15 years, or even 7 to 8 years with good behavior, is terrifying. People like this do not change, and the risk of him re-offending is a grave concern. When he is free, he is just going to infiltrate another church and find more victims. How did our justice system arrive at such a soft sentence for such horrific crimes, and how much did his title of church pastor influence this outcome? Horrific crimes and how much did his title of church pastor influence this outcome? As a father of three young children himself, sayez's betrayal of trust is even more egregious. If not for the FBI's intervention, how many more victims would there have been? And how many other pastors are still out there hiding their crimes behind a facade of piety?

Athena Hope: 7:39

Reporting on this trend is not easy. It's emotionally taxing on me and deeply disturbing, but it's essential that we shine a light on these dark corners of our society. Just because someone claims to be a person of faith does not make them a good person. We must hold the churches accountable and demand transparency and justice for the victims. It is just shocking that mainstream media is not reporting on some of the bills that Republicans have been passing.

Athena Hope: 8:09

Republicans create laws and bills that are based only on hatred and fear. Let's start with Bill SB-456, a bill that Republicans have already passed. This bill allows adults to check the genitalia of children with no need for permission from their parents. Yes, you heard that right. This bill arises from transphobia. Pretending to be a way to identify transgender children, this bill allows healthcare workers to check a child's genitals if they think the child might be transgender, and they can do this without the parent's permission. The bill defines sex based on whether someone can produce eggs or sperm and categorizes intersex individuals strictly as male or female, without determining how. This bill requires separate restrooms and changing rooms for those assigned male or female at birth. An earlier version of this bill said any teacher could inspect children's genitalia, but now only healthcare workers can. However, the core issue remains. Adults can legally inspect a child's genitals in secret without parents' permission. Healthcare workers have a free pass as long as they say that they suspect the child of being transgender. This bill won't just hurt transgender kids, it will hurt cisgender children from pedophile adults who will abuse this law.

Athena Hope: 9:19

Republicans, I have a serious question for you. Do you hate transgender people so much that you're willing to allow random adults to look at and fondle your child's genitals without your knowledge? I can't comprehend how this bill is seen as anything but a violation of children's rights and privacy. We have been saying for a while now that Republicans are obsessed with children's genitals, and now they've passed a bill to legalize it. This makes me sick to my core that we could live in a world where this becomes the law. The abuse Republicans will use this for will be outstanding. They don't even have to suspect a child is transgender. With this bill, they now have a legal pass to look at and fondle a child's genitals anytime they want.

Athena Hope: 9:54

This is the Christian nationalist agenda in action. The mainstream media has been silent on this bill, and it's only when it becomes law and children start coming home traumatized that parents will realize the horror of what's allowed to happen, and by then it will be too late. It was never about keeping kids safe. The Christian nationalist agenda is clear Hurt transgender people at any cost, even if it means hurting their own children to do it. I hope Republicans are happy with what they voted for. The economy is turning shit and they're focusing on traumatizing kids instead. This bill is nothing short of legalized child rape. Is this what making America great again looks like? I am absolutely disgusted with the direction this country is taking. On the bright side, though, at least this bill doesn't affect my very existence. That will be the next bill we will discuss.

Athena Hope: 10:38

Next, we're discussing a bill that has sparked nationwide outrage and concern. Texas House Bill 3817, also known as the Gender Identity Fraud Act, republican Representative Tom Olofsen has introduced this bill. This bill would make it illegal for transgender people to say or write that they are a different gender than the one that they were assigned at birth. If this law is approved, anyone who breaks it could go to prison for up to two years and pay a fine of $10,000. This law would apply if someone gives false or misleading information about their gender identity to the government or their employer if it doesn't match your gender assigned at birth. The implications of this bill is terrifying. If it becomes law, transgender people will be punished for being honest about their gender identity. It would also remove legal recognition and punish those who have already changed their gender on official documents.

Athena Hope: 11:25

House Bill 3817 is part of the Christian nationalist agenda that seeks to erase transgender people. It aligns with Trump's executive orders that mandate federal agencies to recognize only a person sex assigned at birth on official documents instead of their gender identity. But the attacks don't stop there. Republicans are trying to extend a ban on gender affirming care. This ban would apply not just to kids, but to adults too. Texas Representative Brent Money recently filed a bill that would make it illegal for healthcare providers to give puberty blockers, hormone therapy or surgeries to anyone wanting to affirm their gender identity, no matter their age. In response to the bill, brent Money stated on Twitter that he was just quote protecting children and vulnerable individuals.

Athena Hope: 12:07

Republicans, I think I speak for all sane people when I say this. You say you're doing all this to protect women and children, but how about you just fuck off? If you really cared about protecting children, you would address the leading cause of death among kids and teens school shootings, but that issue is off the table for you. These efforts are not about protection. They are about pushing a Christian nationalist agenda that seeks to harm and erase minorities. The number of laws against LGBT rights are increasing quickly. Since the start of 2025, over 500 anti-gay bills have been proposed, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

Athena Hope: 12:40

Transgender people have said for years that the Republicans' ultimate goal is genocide. It was never about sports, women's safety, fairness or trans kids. This bill would make everyday things like signing an email with the chosen name or telling an employer your gender identity illegal. Just like Germany before, it was a tactic to normalize a lack of empathy so that the annihilation of entire demographics can be justified, project 2025 is inching closer and closer to its goal of genocide against trans people. Those who call us alarmists for saying Christian nationalists are trying to commit genocide against us. Look where we are now. This is genocide.

Athena Hope: 13:17

Texas should be condemned for human rights violations. If this bill passes, they should have already been condemned for all their hate. This is as despicable as it gets, and I'm disgusted. We must stand up and speak out against these atrocities. The so-called party of small government is dictating how people should live their lives, stripping away freedoms under the guise of protection. How can this be the land of the free when laws actively seek to erase entire communities? The reason why I and 15,000 other trans people are being kicked out the military is to hurt and kill us off systematically, the military being the biggest employer of trans people. This was meant to cause nothing but harm. This is precisely what a Christian nationalist is someone who is evil down to their very core.

Athena Hope: 13:57

The idea of punishing every trans person for not conforming to societal norms brings a smile to the faces of Christian nationalists as they continue their crusade against us. The damage is already done, even if the bill doesn't pass. The overturned window has shifted, normalizing radical ideas Like a frog in boiling water. Trans people are in the hot seat right now. Where is our help? Why have the Democrats abandoned us? Where are our allies? Even Gavin Newsom of California condemned trans people last week. People we thought we could trust have abandoned us for political gain.

Athena Hope: 14:29

Let me leave you with a quote from Martin Niemöller, someone who lived during the rise of Hitler. First they came for the socialists and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me. While this specific bill might not pass, it's clear that Republicans and Christian nationalists are determined to advance their agenda. Their vision of making America great again is to go back to a time where only straight, white Christian men were the only ones accepted, and unless they are stopped, they will get what they want.

Athena Hope: 15:13

I would like to thank each and every one of you for taking the time to listen to this episode. I used to live in a world where I felt completely useless while absolutely horrible things were happening around me. Since doing this podcast, it finally makes me feel like I have a voice and can do something. This is only something that I want to expand. In the future. I plan on being on YouTube. I will travel the country and even bring Republicans or people with completely opposite opinions on this podcast.

Athena Hope: 15:40

I want to be the progressive Ben Shapiro Just imagine, ben, but not so evil Someone who can help explain ideas and concepts to people, because ignorance and lack of understanding are among the most significant issues in our country. My name is Athena Hope and my mission is to bring love and understanding everywhere. I know I won't be able to reach every single person, but I'm sure I can reach most, and that would be good enough. As always, you can get sources for everything talked about in this episode inside the show notes. Unless things change, the revolution will start, and I will be more than happy to do my part in it. I ask all of you to leave this episode with peace and love. We will have justice. We demand it. I'm your host, athena Hope, and until next time. This has been Transgenders at War.