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Those accused of sex abuse include Bishops of the Church who are laymen (unlike Catholic clergy or religious leaders of other denominations.) They are “go-to” leaders for members of the Church and are responsible for the spiritual wellbeing and progress of members.
Missionaries who spread the teachings of the Church in other states or countries have also come under fire. These missionaries, known as “elders” or “sisters”, may even be invited into homes to speak about the beliefs of the Mormon Church. The Church must be held responsible for enabling abusers within its community.
Reports of sexual abuse or misconduct by Mormon youth leaders are common in these communities. Youth leaders are meant to instill the teachings of the church in Mormon youth, and many predatory members take advantage of their role with youth and commit unspeakable acts of sexual violence against vulnerable children.
Priests, rabbis, nuns, and other members of religious institutions have been accused of sexually abusing young children for decades.
Recently, many victims have spoken up about sex abuse at the hands of leaders and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, commonly known as LDS or the Mormon Church. The Church is a vast global organization with more than 30,000 congregations and almost 16 million members around the world.
In 2001, the Church paid a $3 million settlement to Jeremiah Scott, for sexual abuse by church member Franklin Curtis when Scott was around 11 years old.
In 2010, former Bishop Lon Kennard, Sr. was charged with 43 felony counts of sex abuse and exploitation of a child.
In 2013, 16-year-old Michael Jensen was classified as a violent sexual predator and sentenced to 35 to 75 years in prison. The local bishop was reportedly aware of the complaints but did not alert law enforcement.
In 2017, former Bishop Erik Hughes was sentenced to prison for the sexual abuse of two teenage boys in Mapleton, Utah.
In August 2017, a 316-page document was released by MormonLeaks detailing instances of alleged and confirmed sex abuse dating back to 1959.
In 2017, Darran Scott was sentenced to 10 years in prison by an Australian court for the sexual abuse of young boys. He had met some of these boys while he was Mormon leader.
Trustworthy Interviews
Trustworthy Interviews, also known as Worthiness Interviews, are conducted by the Bishop in every Mormon ward. According to the Church, the purpose of these interviews is to prepare children and teenagers spiritually and ensure they are obeying the commandments. These interviews start around the age of eight and are meant to be conducted annually into adulthood.
The dark reality is that these interviews can be the perfect opportunity for sexual predators to ask children inappropriate questions of a sexual nature. These children are alone in a room with the Bishop as he asks them questions about masturbation, sexual urges, or if they’ve acted on their urges.
These interviews have created an incredibly unsafe environment for children and have resulted in reports of misconduct to church leaders. Despite this, leaders actively covered up reported sexual abuse and did not contact local authorities.
If you were sexually abused by a Bishop or other Mormon church leader during one of these interviews, you have a right to submit a claim and seek compensation from the church.
You May Be Entitled to Significant Compensation
The pain and suffering from sexual abuse affects survivors long after the incident, especially when it is perpetrated by a well-respected member of one’s church. This type of incident is an adverse childhood experience (ACE) and can haunt a minor throughout their life. Sex abuse must be stopped, and sexual predators must be held responsible for their actions.
If you or a loved one were sexually abused by a leader or member of the LDS Church, you deserve justice, compensation, and peace.
Our firm works tirelessly to hold sexual predators accountable and provide relief and justice to survivors. We are one of the largest sex abuse law firms in the country and we’re representing hundreds of Mormon victims now. We offer expertise, complete confidentiality, and compassionate representation to our clients. Join many others in the fight for justice against powerful sexual abusers in the Mormon Church and help prevent them from harming future generations.
You don’t have to suffer in silence or feel alone and unsupported. We are here for you.
If you are experiencing thoughts of self-harm, know that you are not alone. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is available 24/7.
Call 800-273-8255 for free and confidential support.
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