Sex abuse has indeed occurred in Mormon schools, with several cases surfacing in the last few years at Brigham Young University (BYU), a Mormon Church university.
Recently, a number of sexual abuse survivors at the school have spoken out about what happened to them after reporting sexual abuse or assaults. The Mormon Church has accused students reporting sexual abuse or assault of violating the Church’s honor code. According to the New York Times, one student reporting rape to officials was accused of a violation of the BYU honor code and subsequently suspended from the school.
Students at Brigham Young University sign up for the Mormon Church’s BYU honor code which encourages them to dress modestly and adhere to a strict moral value system, including chastity before marriage, no alcohol drinking or drug use, and no sexual transgression whatsoever.
BYU has repeatedly been criticized for similar punishments for violation of the honor code. While some cases of sexual abuse have come to light at Mormon schools, it is plausible that many more students were, and probably still are, afraid of reporting sexual abuse for fear of receiving punishment.
Brigham Young University has since addressed sexual abuse on campus. After former students complained about their treatment when reporting sexual abuse on campus, BYU has recently stepped forward and announced an amnesty policy. The school declared that it would no longer punish victims of sexual abuse for BYU honor code violations. BYU has also made some other changes, including the appointment of a victim’s advocate to offer confidential counseling to students.
The Effect of Sexual Abuse on Young Victims
When children and young adults have become victims of sexual abuse, they can suffer from a number of negative consequences. This can be magnified if their reporting of sexual abuse leads to shaming or punishment, such as what happened to Brigham Young University students who reported rape and other sexual abuse on campus.
No two persons process sexual abuse in the same way, so there can be big differences in individuals and the effect that abuse can have on their lives. According to the American Counseling Association (ACA), childhood abuse can lead to a wide spectrum of psychological problems and hinder normal social growth. Some of the detrimental consequences of sexual abuse for sexual abuse survivors can be:
- Depression
- Self-blame
- Guilt
- Shame
- Eating disorders
- Repression
- Relationship problems
- Alcohol and drug abuse
- Thoughts of suicide
Moreover, sexual abuse survivors may take responsibility for the abuse, blaming themselves. This can especially be the case when the perpetrator is a respectable adult, such as a Church leader or a professor. If a young person is punished for reporting a crime at their school or church, that can contribute to feelings of self-loathing and worthlessness.
Suffering from sexual abuse in a close community, such as the Mormon Church and its schools, can be particularly troublesome for victims. For some, the Church is their extended family, and the potential of being an outcast and standing up against a respected Church leader can be frightening and emotionally challenging.
Speaking out against abuse at a Mormon school can also be frightening for students who may risk getting expelled and having their education interrupted. In addition, they may keep quiet due to fears that their peers could reject them for reporting sexual abuse.
While we now have evidence of sexual abuse taking place in Mormon Schools, there may be many more cases that have not come to light yet, with students deciding not to report what happened to them.
Reporting Sexual Abuse & the Mormon Church’s Response
While the public response from the Mormon Church gives the appearance that they are taking action to prevent and end sexual abuse in their schools and among their members, a November 2023 Daily Mail investigation suggests otherwise:
- Three Oregon women alleged the Mormon Church failed to protect them from a Mormon doctor who was accused of sexually assaulting more than 200 female patients.
- California church members alleged that Mormon leadership “fostered and encouraged” the “silence and the cover up” of sexual abuse of children, including a three-year-old girl.
- Bishops in Colorado were accused of failing to report a cycle of incestual abuse within a toxic family.
- Utah church leaders failed to report or respond to allegations of a church member sexually abusing a young girl. As a result, the accused went on to rape another woman in 2014.
Similar anecdotes from sexual abuse survivors seem to indicate that while the church is at least attempting to implement change, progress is slow. Unfortunately, in far too many cases, change is nonexistent.
The Abuser Should Be Punished, Not the Sexual Abuse Survivor
It can be difficult to know exactly how prevalent sexual abuse was and is in Mormon schools due to some schools punishing the victim for speaking out. It can be difficult for sexual abuse survivors to find the courage to come forward when they have to endure sexual abuse.
The victim may be concerned about whether the Church will believe them or whether reporting sexual abuse means their community will shun them. Adding punishment for violating the BYU honor code into the equation can serve as a powerful deterrent for reporting abuse, making it difficult to hold a perpetrator to account and get justice.
However, speaking up and going after a perpetrator of abuse is important not only for a victim’s health and well-being but also for the community of the Mormon Church as a whole. It is in everybody’s interests that an abuser is held to account so they do not go on committing their despicable acts indefinitely, putting other children and youths at risk.
The clergy sexual abuse lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can be by your side and help you get the justice and compensation you deserve. We can help you stand up for yourself and hold those liable who committed egregious acts, as well as those who attempted to cover up abuse or shelter an offender. Call us today for a free case review to determine whether your claim qualifies at (800) 219-9622.
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