If you suffered sexual assault in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), you may have the option to file a lawsuit in your Mormon Church sex abuse case against the church itself, your perpetrator, or other individuals within the church who did not take the proper steps to protect you. Many victims have come forward in recent years with their stories of abuse in the LDS Church, some of which date back decades. With the support of loved ones, fellow survivors, and legal counsel, you can take back the power by pursuing a lawsuit against those responsible for causing you harm.
The Mormon Church Has a History of Allegations for Covering Up Abuse
At the center of many allegations of sexual abuse in the Mormon Church lie claims that the church not only committed or allowed the acts, but they also failed to properly address those that victims reported. KUTV reported one instance of the church’s failure to prevent abuse. A bishop assaulted two young sisters over an extended period after they enrolled in a church-sponsored program. The church supposedly excommunicated the bishop after discovering the abuse, but they did not tell church members, who continued to trust the perpetrator around their children.
An Insider article explains that these types of coverups occur commonly, as many documents have recently unveiled in light of lawsuits against the church. The article reveals that many people have accused the Mormon Church of using their 24-hour sex abuse hotline, which they established in 1995, to sweep instances of sexual assault under the rug to avoid facing expensive lawsuits. If you or your child suffered sexual abuse in the LDS Church, a lawyer may be able to help you seek financial recovery from the church.
You May Also Have the Opportunity to Hold Others Accountable
Who you can sue in your Mormon Church sex abuse case depends on the details of your circumstances, such as who perpetrated the assault, whether or not someone reported it to church officials, and if the church took steps to prevent the assault from happening. In many recent cases, victims have filed lawsuits against the church itself. However, you may have other options.
The Perpetrator of Your Abuse
If you suffered sexual abuse as an adult in the Mormon Church, you may have the option to file a lawsuit against the person who abused you. However, each state has its own statute of limitations, or legal time frame, during which you can file a civil action. The Associated Press noted in 2019 that 15 states had extended or repealed their statutes of limitation on child sexual abuse, allowing adults who suffered abuse as a child to pursue cases against their abusers years or even decades later.
Specific Church Officials Who Hid Allegations of Abuse
In some cases, victims allege that although they reported their abuse, church authorities chose to hide these records to protect those in a position of power and prevent the church from facing costly and embarrassing lawsuits. Now that the church has become the defendant in many sexual abuse lawsuits, the public has learned that certain “resources,” such as the sex abuse hotline, may have existed for this very reason. If you suspect a church official knew of your abuse and did not report it or worked to protect your abuser, you may have the option to sue them.
Church Leaders Who Failed to Keep Missionaries Safe
Although men make up most of the missionaries in the Mormon Church, women age 21 and older may also become missionaries. This role involves devoting two years of one’s life to the church, one’s spiritual growth, and the conversion of others. Missionaries often make trips to other countries as part of their work, sometimes in dangerous areas with high rates of crime and violence.
Female missionaries who have suffered sexual assault at the hands of natives in these countries allege that the church failed to keep them safe from these occurrences. If you become a Mormon missionary in another country and the LDS Church leaders who sent you did not take the appropriate measures to protect you from preventable harm, a lawyer may be able to help you file a case against them.
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A Lawyer Can Help You with Your Mormon Church Sex Abuse Case
Sexual abuse can have a lasting impact on a victim’s life long after it occurs. If you have struggled with the effects of sexual abuse or discovered the abuse of your child by someone in the LDS Church, Pintas & Mullins Law Firm may be able to help you determine who you can sue in your Mormon Church sex abuse case. We do not shy away from the tough cases, and we do not charge you anything unless we win compensation for you. Contact us today at (800) 219-9622 to discuss your case with our legal team.
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