The question of whether sexual abuse is common in the Mormon Church can be tough to answer. It is perhaps safe to assume that Mormon Church sex abuse by those in leadership positions is as common as in other religious institutions, for example, the Roman Catholic Church.
In fact, according to Helping Survivors of Sexual Abuse & Assault, clergy sexual abuse statistics suggest clergy sexual abuse in the Catholic Church can be traced back to the 1600s. In 2007 alone, there were 228 allegations of sexual abuse by Catholic priests, and more than 260 reports of clergy sexual abuse in Protestant churches reported to three different insurance companies.
The Truth About Clergy Sexual Abuse in the Mormon Church
Sadly, the exact number of cases of sexual abuse and clergy sexual abuse victims in the Mormon Church will likely remain a mystery. Mormon communities are extremely closely knit, which can make it hard for victims to speak out. Consider how many sex abuse cases potentially remain undetected due to victims not feeling strong enough to come forward and stand up against their abuser or the Church. There can be several reasons why clergy sexual abuse victims might prefer to keep abuse a secret, for example:
- Feelings of shame and guilt
- Fear of retaliation
- Fear of getting cast out of the church
- Thinking the abuse is their fault
- Worry about publicity
- Fear of having to face an abuser in court
In a few cases, a victim of child sexual abuse may not remember much, if anything, of what happened to them when they were very young. Indeed, occasionally the only clue that a child has suffered from sexual abuse can be a struggle later in life, such as:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Eating disorders
- Substance abuse
- Mental health problems
- Problems with relationships
- Feelings of guilt and shame
- Mood swings
The American Psychological Association (APA) states that while the theory of memory repression is somewhat contested and there is little empirical evidence, young children may not fully understand what happens to them and develop a selective memory after a child sexual abuse experience. In some cases, therapies such as hypnosis, age-regression techniques, and others can help to uncover any repressed memories of childhood abuse.
Evidence of Clergy Sexual Abuse within the Mormon Church
A number of clergy abuse lawsuits have appeared in recent years, suggesting that sexual abuse in the Mormon Church is common and perhaps much more so than previously assumed. Tellingly, some of these cases do not only allege sexual abuse, but they also claim that an LDS church cover up has occurred in an attempt to conceal abuse and even tried to protect abusers.
High-profile LDS lawsuits in the press in the last few years include that of Michael Jensen, who was convicted of several counts of child abuse in West Virginia. A number of families sued the Mormon Church for allegedly covering up the abuse and protecting the perpetrator. Michael Jensen abused young children from several families over a period of some years. He is now serving a prison sentence.
Another recent high-profile child sexual abuse case involves a Mormon bishop facing charges for sexual abuse of two girls over a number of years. In this case, the plaintiffs also allege that the Mormon Church did not do enough to stop the bishop from committing sexual abuse since he was apparently a known offender.
There are other LDS lawsuits dealing with cases of sexual abuse in the Mormon Church. However, there is no way of knowing exactly how many persons might have suffered from sexual abuse in the Church. Any LDS lawsuits in the public domain may simply be the tip of the iceberg. While only a few lawsuits filter through to the general public, with the press reporting on the Mormon sex abuse cases, there may be many others. Abuse in the Mormon Church may be more common than we might assume.
The Role of Church Officials and Leaders in Mormon Sex Abuse Cases
In December of 2023, the Associated Press investigated allegations of child sexual abuse perpetrated by a Mormon bishop upon his own daughter. The actions of church leadership in response seem to be indicative of how the church typically handles clergy sexual abuse allegations.
The 31-year-old victim reported to the Church’s director of Risk Management that her father had sexually abused her as a child. In the meantime, the father had confessed his actions to his church bishop. The Mormon bishop called the Church’s Help Line, which was established for the purpose of reporting sexual abuse. The father was excommunicated from the church shortly thereafter.
In the wake of the excommunication, the victim reported the abuse to the local police. However, the church leaders informed the victim that the bishop to whom the father had confessed could not testify to his knowledge of the abuse due to a state law known as the clergy-penitent privilege. The law provides a loophole for clergy who are otherwise required to report child sex abuse to the authorities. Since the admission of guilt was made in a confessional setting, the Church leaders were not required to report it.
As a result, without the testimony of the Mormon bishop, the prosecutors chose to drop the case.
The church then offered the victim a settlement of $300,000, provided she consented to sign a nondisclosure agreement and not pursue further lawsuits against the church regarding the matter. As a result, the abuser continues to practice dentistry in his community to this day without restriction, punishment, or any accountability for his actions.
Survivors Have the Right to Demand Justice
In the last few decades, many survivors have broken the silence and stood up against the abuse perpetrated by leaders and elders in the Mormon Church. Seeing others speak out and demand justice can give survivors hope that they can also fight for their rights and receive compensation for their suffering and financial damages. Mormon Church sex abuse may be common, and many abusers may still be free to commit their egregious acts because the Church has sheltered them or victims have not yet come forward.
Child sexual abuse can come in many forms, including aggressive sexual questioning of minors, touching, and other inappropriate sexual acts and behaviors. If you have suffered from abuse by a Church leader and are not sure whether you have a case, you should speak to us. A sexual assault attorney at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm could potentially help you sue the perpetrator as well as the Church. You could receive compensation that can help you move on with your life.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 794-0444
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If the abuse you endured as a clergy sexual abuse victim caused health problems and had other negative effects on your life, those responsible should make you whole again. We work on a contingency basis, so you do not have to worry about any out-of-pocket attorney costs as we only receive our fee if and when we win your case. While we understand that taking on the Mormon Church may feel overwhelming, we can stand up for your rights and hold a perpetrator or religious institution to account.
Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm now for a free case evaluation with one of our team members at (800) 219-9622.
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