There has been a great deal of press coverage on the topic of sexual abuse cases within the Mormon Church in the last few years. You might wonder who the sexual abusers in the Mormon Church are.
Holding a high or significant office within the Mormon Church does not stop a sexual predator from committing abuse. While abusers tend to be male and can come from all tiers of society, the Department of Health and Human Services states that family members or caregivers familiar with the child perpetrate most cases of child sexual abuse.
Abuse cases in the Mormon Church date back decades and, in many cases, trusted Church leaders such as bishops committed the abuse. Earlier this year, a Mormon Church bishop and driving instructor pleaded guilty to several counts of third-degree sexual abuse, as reported by Katu 2 ABC. Similar sexual abuse cases have recently come to light in the Mormon Church, and it seems evident that Church leaders and bishops can use their high positions and power to help them get away with their egregious acts for many years. In another high-profile case involving sexual abuse by a Church leader, the Daily Herald reports that a female missionary accused a previous president of the Missionary Training Center in Provo of sexually abusing her in the 1980s.
However, there are also cases where ordinary members of the Church or missionaries have committed abuse. According to ABC News, churchgoer Michael Jensen committed various offenses while still a minor. He went on to abuse children over several years. Allegedly, the Church tried to protect Michael Jensen initially and did not cooperate fully with law enforcement authorities.
Powerful Men as Abusers
The victims of sexual abuse by powerful Church leaders may not even understand that the abuser is grooming them, but instead, perceive it as receiving special attention. This can give an abuser extra power and lead to the victim feeling shame and embarrassment, or thinking that they are to blame for what happened.
In addition, if a child or a person of perceived lower standing than the abuser is sexually abused by a respected leader, they may be too scared to speak out against a powerful figure within their community. They may fear the consequences of reporting abuse such as retaliation or getting kicked out of the Church altogether. They may also doubt that anyone will believe them. This can result in a culture of silence which protects abusers and can lead to the perpetrator committing their egregious crimes undetected over many years, and in some instances even decades.
While it can be frightening to speak out against a powerful sexual predator in your Church, you and other potential victims deserve justice. According to the Journal of Family Psychology, experiencing sexual abuse as a child can have negative impacts on the victim’s psychology into adulthood. Sexual abuse is not normally a one-off offense, and abusers typically repeat their egregious crimes until someone stops them. It is important to speak up and hold abusers to account to prevent others from experiencing this trauma.
Speaking Out Can Be Difficult
The sexual abusers in the Mormon Church are often powerful leaders. Unfortunately, abusers that hold high offices sometimes commit their offenses under a cloak of secrecy and believe that the rank and the respect they command in the Church community keeps them safe from detection. In some cases, they are sadly correct in believing that they are untouchable. The Mormon Church itself has come under fire in previous years for protecting the abusers and not adequately supporting the victims. However, the tide has recently begun to turn, and victims now have more opportunities to take back power and hold abusers responsible for their despicable crimes.
Victims may feel intimidated and too frightened to speak out against a high-ranking Church official. However, there are resources available that can help them hold a sex abuser to account and stop the abuser from committing more crimes. If you suffered from sexual abuse in the Church, you do not have to go this alone. Help from various sources, national and local, is available to you. Likewise, if your loved one or someone you know suffered from sexual abuse by a Church leader, you can offer them an open ear and encourage them to find help, whether through counseling or legal recourse.
Consider contacting a sex abuse lawyer who can discuss your options for getting justice. There may be legal avenues for pursuing compensation in your sexual abuse case.
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can empathetically and sensitively assess your case. Call us at (800) 219-9622 and speak to one of our team members about your case in a free and confidential consultation.
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