If you are a practicing member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon Church, and you had to endure sexual abuse at the hands of a Church official, you have legal options for seeking justice.
The Mormon Church is a closely-knit community, pervading many aspects of its members’ lives. In many ways, the Church can feel like an extended family and offers support to its members. As an active member, you and your immediate family might be heavily involved with the Church locally and spend much of your time and resources on Church activities. Potentially standing up against the institution of the Mormon Church can feel intimidating. You might even wonder whether you will be kicked out if you file a sex abuse claim against the Mormon Church.
It is understandable to worry whether reporting abuse will turn your entire life upside down and could lead to losing the support of your community. However, even if you file a lawsuit targeting not only your abuser but also other Church officials or the entire Mormon Church, you should not have to worry about excommunication.
Mormon Church Excommunication
Getting kicked out of the Mormon Church is called excommunication. The rules for excommunication are quite clear. According to the Church, excommunication only takes place in extremely serious offenses. Your abuser should be the one to worry about getting excommunicated if convicted. The Church has taken this step before in the case of Michael Jensen, for example, who was convicted of abusing several children in his care per ABC News. Jensen was subsequently excommunicated.
In fact, according to the Mormon Church, excommunication is typically reserved for those who committed the most egregious of crimes or severely violated the Church’s rules, for instance by:
Committing a “Gross Iniquity”
If a Church member commits a gross iniquity, a wicked act, or gross injustice, the Mormon Church could potentially excommunicate them. Examples include murder, adultery, sexual perversion, or having been convicted of a serious felony by a civil or criminal court.
Advocating Plural Marriage
A Church member also risks excommunication if they are practicing plural marriage or advocating plural marriage.
Apostatizing from Church Teachings
If a Mormon Church member denounces an important religious principle or belief, they can also become a candidate for excommunication.
While the perpetrators of sexual abuse have grounds to worry about getting kicked out of the Church, you as the victim should not have to worry about excommunication. You are simply holding someone accountable for committing a crime.
The Church Has Taken Steps to Help Victims
In recent years, the Mormon Church has taken great strides in trying to mend its image when it comes to sexual abuse. While the Church has previously been accused of covering up abuse, sheltering abusers, and not doing enough for victims, it has tried to change this and focus on helping victims.
In 2018, the Mormon Church launched a comprehensive website dedicated to helping victims of abuse and their families. The Church has also made it clear that it does not tolerate sexual abuse whatsoever and encourages victims to come forward and speak out. According to the Church, the website is just one attempt to help victims and their families. In addition, the Mormon Church now offers training and guidance in the way of documents and videos for Church officials. This provides resources to Church leaders so they can counsel victims of sexual abuse as well as help them report any offenses.
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You Deserve Justice
It is natural to worry about the consequences of reporting a serious crime and filing legal action against a potentially powerful member of your own community. However, if you suffered from abuse, you should not have to worry about getting kicked out if you file a sex abuse case against the Mormon Church. The Church’s rules state the potential reasons for excommunication clearly, so your abuser should be the one worrying about excommunication, not you.
If you have suffered from sexual abuse in the Mormon Church, you can seek justice and compensation, even if the abuse lies back decades. Your sex abuse lawyer can help you find out if you still have legal recourse and what your next best steps may be. In some states, the allotted time for filing sex abuse cases has been extended, allowing more victims to come forward.
Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 219-9622 for your free, no-obligation consultation today.
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