The question of whether sexual abuse is common in the Mormon Church can be tough to answer. It is perhaps safe to assume that abuse in the Mormon Church community is as common as in other religious institutions, for example, the Roman Catholic Church.
However, the exact number of cases of sexual abuse 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 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. In some cases, therapies such as hypnosis, age-regression techniques, and others, can help to uncover any repressed memories of childhood abuse.
Evidence of Sexual Abuse within the Mormon Church
A number of 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 the Church has tried to cover up abuse and even tried to protect abusers.
High-profile 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 case involves a Mormon Church 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 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 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 cases, there may be many others. Abuse in the Mormon Church may be more common than we might assume.
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. Abuse in the Mormon Church 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.
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. 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 had to endure 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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