There have long been reports accusing religious institutions, such as the Mormon Church, of a systematic cover-up of abuse in their respective congregations.
A culture of secrecy and protectionism has also emerged from within the Mormon Church in recent years, with several court cases alleging various abuse and cover-up incidents, some ranging back decades. In particular, one case involving Church missionary Michael Jensen who abused several children over a number of years starting in 2008, gained much publicity. Several families filed lawsuits against the Mormon Church, maintaining that the Church and some of its leaders failed to investigate the abuser even after several complaints. The families allege that the Mormon Church didn’t investigate these sexual abuse claims, and they did nothing to follow up on the allegations of abuse. The Church also ordained the abuser as an elder and agreed to let him volunteer as a missionary in 2011.
The Mormon Church has maintained that the allegations are false and that Church leaders encourage families to report the abuse incidents to the relevant law enforcement agencies.
It can be difficult to understand why institutions go through lengths to cover up abuse rather than helping victims hold the perpetrators to account. However, since abusers can come from the higher ranks of Church leaders, there is most likely a wish to “protect one’s own” and generally try to prevent a loss of reputation and credibility. The Mormon Church advocates purity and chastity, and admitting to widespread abuse would severely damage the “clean” image of the Church. It is also safe to assume that admitting to widespread abuse does leave religious institutions open to expensive lawsuits and potentially large settlements for compensating victims.
Mormon Church’s Victim Hotline
For over 20 years, the Mormon Church has provided a hotline allowing Church officials to report any sexual abuse incidences or suspected sexual abuse. According to the Church, the hotline was intended to speed up the process of uncovering abuse and sheltering the victims from further such egregious acts.
However, in recent years reports have surfaced stemming from court documents, revealing that this hotline may not serve the victims of abuse at all. The calls are not going to law enforcement but are, reportedly, picked up by a member of the Church in their family services division. The calls are then, allegedly, put through to a law firm affiliated with the Church. It has been claimed that the Church advises bishops and other Church leaders not to report the abuse allegations directly to law enforcement.
Some critics have argued that this is a way for the Church to protect itself first, before considering the victims. By funneling the calls through to a law firm, the lawyers can contact the victims first in an attempt to cover up the abuse allegations, protect the Church from lawsuits, and ensure the reputation of the Church stays intact.
What the Church Says
The Mormon Church maintains that it has continued to invest in training and resources for combating sexual abuse in the institution. The hotline supports bishops and advises them and other Church leaders about the applicable local abuse reporting laws. The Church generally does not disclose any data regarding its hotline, such as the number of calls received or any other details.
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We Can Help You Get Justice and Compensation
There can be many reasons why a religious institution wants to sweep allegations of sexual abuse under the rug, such as a perceived loss of reputation and potential loss of assets from lawsuits. However, that does not make it right. If the Mormon Church failed to investigate your abuse report, you could hold them to account and potentially recover compensation.
While it seems evident, according to several high-profile court cases, that the Mormon Church didn’t investigate abuse claims, victims of abuse have the right to fight for justice. A sex abuse lawyer can help you with getting your due. You could receive a settlement that covers your medical expenses and compensates you for some of the pain and suffering you had to endure.
While we fully understand that it is not easy for victims of abuse to come forward and speak out against the powerful Mormon Church, we can be behind you every step of the way. Pintas & Mullins Law Firm works on a “no win no fee” basis, so you will not incur any upfront attorney costs if you work with us.
Call us today to determine whether you have a claim and what your best next steps for getting justice are at (800) 219-9622.
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