2d ago

Mormon church rocked by child sexual abuse allegations in California

www.theguardian.com Mormon church rocked by child sexual abuse allegations in California

Look-back window results in nearly 100 allegations against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Summary

Nearly 100 childhood sexual abuse allegations have emerged against the Mormon church (LDS) in California under a three-year legal window for adult survivors.

Multiple plaintiffs claim church leaders sexually abused them and that officials protected abusers rather than victims, handling cases as "matters of sin" without reporting to police.

Lawsuits allege an LDS "help line" suppressed abuse reports rather than aiding victims.

The church denies allegations, citing "discrepancies" in claims while asserting it takes abuse seriously and has prevention protocols in place.

ExMormon @lemmy.world

wjrii @lemmy.world

1d ago

Mormon church rocked by child sexual abuse allegations in California (xpost)

www.theguardian.com /us-news/2025/mar/08/mormon-church-child-sex-abuse-allegations-california

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You don't say... It's almost as if religious organizations have been predators and will continue to be predators.

I grew up in mormonville and I'm shocked it's only 100 allegations
- I'm shocked 100 people were able to overcome the indoctrination and were able to make the allegations.
  
  That's a good point the brainwashing in the Mormon church is intense
- Ex mormon here, and I had the same reaction. The shit that went on in that church is absolutely insane in retrospect. Like, it seemed "normal" at the time, but now looking back as an adult its all a bunch of "what the fuck" moments.
  Like that one time I was a 15 year old kid, getting asked by a church elder if I looked at porn as a "purity test". I have no idea how mormonism is even legal.
  
  I'm pretty sure bishops had a list of questions that they had to ask everyone in the 1-on-1 meetings. Concerning porn I distinctly remember
  Have you ever watched porn?
  And
  When was the last time you watched porn?
  What threw me off though was even though I answered "no" to the first (I was lying of course, I straight jork it), they still asked the second with no hesitation. I'm saying "they" because I got the same porn questions from multiple bishops, like at least 3. I'm pretty certain it's actual church policy. It's basically involuntary confessions now that I think about it, fuckin weird. One straight up asked me if I was into his daughter though, pretty sure that wasn't in the script haha.
- I promise you there are hundreds if not thousands more that are too afraid, or are so brainwashed that they believe to this day it was their fault.

The LDS Church is a sex cult that got out of control. And a sex cult that specifically focused on exploiting and abusing girls no less. So this shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.
- As opposed to a sex cult that is under control? /s
  
  An under control cult isn't publicly known

Abstinence makes the clergy grow fondlers
The LDS setup a child SA hotline years ago to keep clergy from getting caught by the law when guilty of SA. Someone calls it and they say it's covered under attorney-client if it's a LDS attorney or theological confession protections if it's LDS clergy or admin even if the law requires them to report SA to local LEO just like teachers or counselors.
https://apnews.com/article/mormon-church-sexual-abuse-takeaways-f01fba7521ddddffa89622668b54ac10

Aah, traditions... Joseph Smith and Bring'em Young would be proud.
For what it's worth, here's the list of teenage brides of those two holy pedos:
Teen Brides of Joseph Smith Jr.:
Fanny Alger—16 (JSJ—27 ) Sarah Ann Whitney—17 (JSJ—36 ) Flora Ann Woodworth—16 (JSJ—37 ) Emily Dow Partridge—19 (JSJ—37 Lucy Walker—17 (JSJ—37 ) Sarah Lawrence—17 (JSJ—37 ) Maria Lawrence—19 (JSJ—37 ) Helen Mar Kimball—14 (JSJ—37 ) Melissa Lott—19 (JSJ—37 ) Nancy Mariah Winchester—14 (JSJ—37 )
Teen Brides of Brigham Young:
Miriam Angeline Works—18 (BY—23 ) Harriet Elizabeth Cook —19 (BY—42 ) Clarissa Caroline Decker —15 (BY—42 ) Elizabeth Fairchild —16 (BY—43 ) Diana Chase —17 (BY—43 ) Emmeline Free —18 (BY—43 ) Ellen Rockwood —16 (BY—44 ) Mary Ann Turley —18 (BY—44 ) Lucy Bigelow —16 (BY—45 ) Mary Jane Bigelow —19 (BY—45 )

what? sexual abuse in the LDS?
- Next you're going to say there are a bunch of pedos in the Catholic church clergy!
  
  fork spotted in kitchen

Mormonism is just Scientology for poor people, and rape.
- Blasphemer! Scientology has rape too.
  
  Correction: Scientology has rape too.

The mormon church is nothing but a rape cult.

Considering how closely associated this sect of Christendom is with FLDS, a cult, this isn’t a good image for them.

Pretty sure child sex is written into every religions scriptures somewhere
- You just reminded me of a joke from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. During the Ireland arc (“The Gangs Still in Ireland”, season 15 episode 6), Mac pursues an interest in becoming a Catholic priest. He ends up asking, in a vaguely worded question if it is okay to be gay. By the end, he basically nopes out when he realizes the priest was referring to relations with young boys.

Abuse is going to happen In any organization that works with children (or adults even, anywhere there is the potential for power to be abused). It’s how your organization handles that abuse that matters.
If the Catholic Church/Mormon Church/Jehovah’s Witness didn’t train their leadership to keep these allegations of abuse internal, if the policy was “when you hear allegations get the police involved” - these places wouldn’t become havens for these kinds of problems. They create cultures where they just move these bad actors around to hide the problem, which lets others know that they’re free to prey on kids.
The Boy Scouts implemented the “rule of two” in response to their own lawsuits. You never have a child and an unrelated adult alone together.
Ultimately though - there’s something about the religious aspect that also makes it easy for them to justify this. They think of these children as tempters, that [individual] is a really good guy but that kids going through something to make them act like that. There’s also the infinite mercy of Jesus which we can throw all sins at, so obviously the way [individual] broke down crying and said the Sinner’s Prayer with me is a sign that they’re better now.
- Abuse is going to happen In any organization that works with children
  Abuse is going to be 10x worse in organizations that specialize in brainwashing and bigotry, emphasize hierarchy and cultivate secrecy.
  That's why, while you're correct, child abuse cases almost always come from cults (including the widely recognized cults we coyly call churches), sketchy historical children indoctrination outfits like the Scouts, much less often from schools, and rarely from pediatricians and other medical professionals.
  
  rarely from pediatricians and other medical professionals
  There are huge issues with abuse in congregate care. “Troubled teen” facilities and inpatient facilities that care for foster or “unwanted” children. A “troubled teen” who is sexually abused can be written off as “manipulative” or lying for attention. (The requirements and pay for working in such facilities are both minimal.)
  “Dr.” Phil was cheered for sending several children to Turnabout Ranch - many children were sexually or physically abused there.
  The problem will occur any time there’s an imbalance of power and access to the vulnerable. Institutions that deal with children must face this fact and enact policies to protect children.
  
  Plus, there's a disincentive to take proactive action in religious institutions because that's basically acknowledging that God isn't actually as involved as they think.

How shocking!

Yet another piece of wholly unsurprising news.

The hammer needs to be brought down on these 'people' the fact they are allowed to operate like this is disgusting
- You’d have to have people in office who cared.
  Anyone here in office?
  Anyone? . . . No?
  Well there you go.

Well, somebody had to pick up where the Catholic church left off...
- ...they left off? Or just dipped out of the spotlight for the time being?
  
  No, no - still kickin’.
  https://kpel965.com/new-orleans-saints-catholic-church-sex-abuse-emails/

35 comments