October 5, 2024
- Lawsuit Alleges Mormon Church Enabled Sexual Abuse: A new lawsuit filed in St. Louis County Circuit Court accuses leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of ignoring and even encouraging the sexual abuse of a teenage girl by a former bishop. The lawsuit claims that church officials, including a counselor who was a mandated reporter, failed to report the abuse to law enforcement despite being informed of it. The victim, now an adult, is seeking damages from the church, the former bishop (who is currently serving a prison sentence for the abuse), and the counselor. The lawsuit alleges that the church's unique level of control over its members and clergy created an environment where abuse could occur and be concealed.
September 16, 2024:
- New Lawsuit Filed in New York: A lawsuit filed in the Northern District of New York accuses former LDS leader Ronald Boyce and other church officials of childhood sexual abuse and sex trafficking. The plaintiffs allege that the church enabled and concealed the abuse to protect its financial interests. The suit details how Boyce allegedly exploited his position as a church-assigned mentor to commit these acts, while church leaders ignored or covered up the abuse.
September 15, 2024:
- Wife of FLDS Leader Sentenced: Josephine Bistline, one of the wives of Samuel Bateman, leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), was convicted and sentenced to 15 years for her role in the sexual abuse of young girls within the church. She was found guilty of recruiting and grooming underage girls for Bateman.
August 26, 2024:
- LDS to Contribute to BSA Sex Abuse Settlement: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) has reportedly agreed to contribute $250 million to the Boy Scouts of America's sex abuse settlement fund. This contribution is connected to allegations of sexual abuse perpetrated by an LDS scout leader, demonstrating the church's potential financial responsibility in the Boy Scouts' bankruptcy proceedings and their efforts to compensate survivors.
June 23, 2024:
- LDS Church Leader Won’t Be Charged With Failure to Report Abuse: The Dauphin County District Attorney's office announced that they will not pursue criminal charges against LDS church leader Rhett Hintze for failing to report child sex abuse allegations against a fellow church leader. Hintze was accused of knowing about specific acts of sexual abuse but neglecting to report them to the police.
March 14, 2024:
- Former LDS Bishop Arrested for Sexual Abuse: A former bishop in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, featured in an Associated Press investigation on the church's handling of sexual abuse allegations, was arrested in Virginia. He was indicted on charges of sexually abusing his daughter during a school trip when she was a child, according to court filings.
February 5, 2024:
- Utah Bill Allowing Clergy to Report Abuse Advances: A new Utah bill, HB432, introduced by Rep. Anthony Loubet, would allow clergy to report child abuse learned during confessions without facing civil or criminal liability. The bill has advanced and is set for a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee. Currently, Utah law does not require clergy to report such abuse, but this bill aims to change that.
January 5, 2024:
- LDS Church's Handling of Sex Abuse Claims: Audio recordings from 2017 reveal 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. Despite the church's internal management, recordings were handed over to the police, leading to the father's arrest. However, without the bishop's testimony, the prosecution could not proceed, highlighting the church's use of legal strategies to manage abuse allegations internally.
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How Prevalent Is Child Sexual Abuse In The Mormon Church?
The Mormon Church, officially known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), 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.
Abuse within the Mormon Church isn't just a few bad apples. It's a pervasive issue, deeply ingrained in the institution's fabric. Cases range from physical assault to emotional manipulation, often unfolding as a slow-burn horror story. Abusers, often trusted figures like bishops or youth leaders, manipulate their victims through grooming, building a facade of trust before exploiting it.
Physical contact in these abuses might include:
- Touching a child’s genitals or private parts for sexual gratification
- Forcing a child to touch their genitals or someone else’s
- Penetration with objects or body parts, either vaginally, orally, or anally
Abuses without physical contact can involve:
- Showing pornography to a child or creating pornographic materials involving children
- Exposing genitals to a child
- Making a child witness sexual acts
- Inappropriately watching a child undress or bathe
Victims of grooming might exhibit signs such as secrecy, withdrawal, unexplained gifts, reckless behaviors, anxiety, depression, self-harming actions, and even suicidal thoughts.
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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.
- December 2023: An Associated Press article revealed that the LDS Church had a Risk Management Division to shield the Church from SA allegations. The article detailed cases like that of John Goodrich, a former bishop in Hailey, Idaho, who escaped conviction for sexual abuse due to the Church's protective practices.
- April 2023: 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.
- 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: Another 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.
- February 2021: A lawsuit was filed by an Oregon man abused by a youth leader in the 1980s. The Church had allowed the abuser to remain in a position of authority even after a prior conviction for sodomy.
These cases and many others illustrate a pattern where the LDS Church prioritized protecting its reputation over addressing and preventing sexual abuse.
Are There Time Limits For Filing A Mormon Church Abuse Lawsuit?
The time limit to file a sexual abuse lawsuit, known as the statute of limitations, varies depending on several factors, including the state's laws, the victim's age, and when the abuse was discovered.
Recent legal changes in several states, such as Maryland, Pennsylvania, Maine, California, Washington, Idaho, and Utah, have extended or eliminated these deadlines to better accommodate survivors.
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How Has The Mormon Church Responded To Abuse Allegations?
The LDS Church has faced scathing criticism for its inadequate handling of abuse allegations. In response, they've rolled out new training programs and resources, but their effectiveness remains questionable. The true test lies in how the Church addresses past failures and ensures accountability for those who allowed abuse to fester under their watch.
What Compensation Is Available In Mormon Church Abuse Claims?
Survivors of sexual abuse in the LDS Church can seek financial compensation for various damages, including medical expenses, psychological harm, lost income, and pain and suffering. The average settlement in church SA cases typically ranges between $275,000 to $350,000, with some cases, like the Catholic Church, resulting in payouts over $3 billion.
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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Mass torts vs. class actions at a glance
When we're talking about mass tort and class action lawsuits, we're discussing two distinct legal approaches used to handle claims where many individuals are harmed by the same entity or event.
Mass tort lawsuits are a way to handle legal cases where many individuals have been harmed, but each person's situation is distinct. Think of it like a neighborhood where every house has different damage after a storm. In a mass tort, each homeowner would file their own lawsuit, but because the storm is the common factor, the court groups the lawsuits together to manage them more efficiently. The key here is that each person retains their own case and has a say in how it's settled, which reflects their unique damages.
In contrast, class action lawsuits and class action settlements bring people together under a single legal action. It's as if the whole neighborhood decided to sue the storm together, with one or a few neighbors representing everyone's interests. Here, individual control is limited. The representative, known as the lead plaintiff, along with their legal team, makes decisions that affect the entire group. When it comes to the payout, it's typically split evenly, or based on a formula that applies to all members.
What's best for you?
Let's quickly sum up the main points to help you decide which legal route could work better for your situation:
- Control: More personal control in mass torts; limited control in class actions.
- Compensation: Individualized in mass torts; uniform in class actions.
- Applicability: Mass torts fit for varied individual damages; class actions for uniform damages across the group.
- Efficiency: Class actions can be quicker and use fewer resources by combining claims.
So, if you're part of a group that's been wronged and you're thinking about legal action, consider these points. Do you need to maintain control over your case, or are you okay with a representative taking the lead? Do your damages require individual attention, or are they similar enough to others to share in a collective claim? Your answers will help determine whether a mass tort or a class action is the best route for your situation.
