Breaking the Silence: Mormon Church Abuse Lawsuits

If you or someone you love were sexually abused by a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints you may have grounds to pursue legal action, and to seek financial damages for the harm you suffered. 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), commonly known as the Mormon Church, has faced numerous allegations of sexual abuse over the years. Investigations and lawsuits have unveiled disturbing incidents, suggesting a longstanding system within the Church aimed at concealing such abuses.

In some recent, high profile cases, victims who have come forward about their abuse at the hands of members of the Mormon church have reached million-dollar settlements with the religious institution. In other cases, the abusers — as high up as bishops — were arrested and criminally charged.

In one case, a jury awarded $2.8 billion in damages to a woman sexually abused by her stepfather at her Mormon Church. Church leaders had shamed her into silence rather than reporting the abuse, she alleged.

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A Culture of Cover-Ups at The LDS Church

The Mormon Church has been in the spotlight for decades over claims of sexual abuse. 

Investigations, reports and lawsuits have revealed numerous incidents of sexual abuse of children and adults within the church, along with allegations that it maintained an internal system to cover up abuse. 

Late last year, the Associated Press published audio recordings from 2017 that revealed how the LDS Church's “Risk Management Division” discouraged a bishop from testifying against a father who confessed to sexually abusing his daughter.

The church offered the victim and her mother $300,000 for a confidentiality agreement. However, without the bishop's testimony, the prosecution could not proceed, highlighting the church's use of legal strategies to manage abuse allegations internally.

But now, thanks to the passage of survivor-friendly legislation in states across the country, a growing number of LDS sexual abuse survivors are taking a stand to fight back and pursue civil legal action. 

These civil lawsuits seek to expose the Church’s systemic internal processes for silencing victims, as well as winning financial compensation for those who have been harmed. 

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Survivor-Friendly Legislation Makes Lawsuits Easier To File

Different states have different laws when it comes to filing sexual assault claims.

But the good news is, there is a growing list of states that have changed, or are changing their laws, to make it easier for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to seek legal recourse and compensation — no matter how long ago the abuse was. 

Civil sexual abuse lawsuits are subject to a legal deadline known as the statute of limitations. If you have a potential sexual abuse claim, it’s important to know the statute of limitations that applies to your case, as survivors are generally barred from filing lawsuits and recovering compensation if this legal deadline has expired.

States can have vastly different statutes of limitations for civil sexual abuse lawsuits, including differentiating between claims involving survivors who were abused as adults and survivors who were abused as children. 

But the law is rapidly evolving, and more and more states are passing survivor-friendly measures that take into account the trauma and systems that might impact the amount of time it takes for a victim of sexual abuse to come forward. 

For example, in Maryland, a new law has removed the statute of limitations on child sex abuse claims and revived claims that previously expired. In Pennsylvania, a pending bill would create a temporary two-year window for survivors to file claims.

And in Washington, state lawmakers are considering a measure that would eliminate the statute of limitations in civil sexual abuse cases and retroactively apply the law to previously time-barred claims, giving survivors an opportunity to file legal actions over abuse that occurred as any time.

The state the victim lives in, or was abused in, may impact the claim. 

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What Are Some Notable Cases Of Mormon Church Sexual Abuse?

Several high-profile cases have shaken the Church in recent years:

• January 30, 2024: Rhett Hintze, a "stake president" in the LDS Church, was charged for failing to report child SA accusations against a former bishop, Shawn Gooden, in Pennsylvania.
  
  
• January 2023: The LDS Church settled a lawsuit for $1.1 million with a Washington man who was abused as a preschooler by a teenage volunteer. The Church had discouraged the family from going to the authorities.
  
  
• August 2022: An AP article detailed a case where a father admitted to abusing his 5-year-old daughter. The bishop was advised by the Church's "help line" not to report the abuse, allowing it to continue for years.
  
  
• September 2022: Carl Matthew Johnson, a former bishop, was arrested for sexually abusing children in the 1980s and 1990s. The Church had instructed his victims to remain silent.
  
  

These cases and many others illustrate a pattern where the LDS Church prioritized protecting its reputation over addressing and preventing sexual abuse.

Should You Contact A Sex Abuse Lawyer?

If you or someone you love has suffered abuse within the LDS Church, know that you are not alone. Many others have found the courage to speak out, their voices echoing a collective demand for accountability and change. 

Reaching out to a lawyer experienced in these cases can provide crucial support and guidance as you navigate the path towards justice and healing.

Remember, silence is the abuser's greatest weapon. By breaking your silence, you can reclaim your power and pave the way for a safer future for all.

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