Seek Justice for Mormon Church Abuse

Sexual violence is rampant in modern-day society, with over half of women and around one in three men reporting being sexually abused at some point in their lives.

Considering those statistics, it’s clear that abuse is occurring on a wide scale, and most of it is being covered up.

That said, some sexual abuse cases occur in trusted institutions, like churches. One of the most controversial and well-known instances of this is Mormon sexual abuse, which was widespread in Mormon churches across the country and covered up by high-level church officials for decades. When survivors began coming forward with their cases of church abuse, it empowered even more individuals to share their stories, too.

Now, we’re starting to develop a clearer picture of what was happening in Mormon churches around the country for far too long. It’s critical that you seek justice for Mormon church abuse if you’ve been impacted by it. You likely suffered physically, emotionally, and mentally after your attack. There is legal recourse available to you, and there are legal advocates who want to fight for you.

Learn more about how our compassionate and justice-seeking team here at Kermani LLP can help you file a lawsuit below.

Historical Context of Abuse in the Mormon Church

Mormons are members of the LDS Church (The Church of the Latter-Day Saints) who have developed their own unique religious beliefs and teachings. Mormon beliefs are somewhat based on Biblical teachings, but they primarily rely on revelations from Joseph Smith. Joesph Smith transcribed the Book of Mormon.

Because this religion puts so much weight onto one man, Joseph Smith, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the entire religion. The Church’s early history was unfortunately filled with racial discrimination and Mormon sex scandal after Mormon sex scandal. While abuse and discrimination are not unique to the Mormon religion, their early history has put a big blot on the entire group.

What’s really fueled widespread Mormon discrimination in recent times is the revelation of how LDS church members handled reports of abuse when survivors came forward. Unfortunately, most LDS churches attempted to handle sexual crimes within the church and repeatedly failed to report crimes, support the survivors, or even reprimand the abusers.

Key Incidents: From LDS Scandals to Nationwide Outrage

One of the earliest LDS scandals occurred in 2001 when the church had to pay over three million dollars to Jeremiah Scott after he sued the church for covering up his sexual abuse. The church denied liability and claimed they were only settling for economic reasons.

In 2008, another LDS church bishop was convicted of sexually molesting children in his church. In 2010, another bishop was charged with a shocking 43 counts of sex abuse, including the sexual exploitation of children. As the years went on, more and more stories and cases of Mormon sexual abuse were tried in courts.

In another scandal, the Boy Scouts affiliation was accused of protecting the Mormon Church and covering up sexual crimes in exchange for a $250 million contribution.

One of the most recent incidents that provoked nationwide outrage revolves around an LDS scandal involving the church’s legal teams. Recordings between Paul Rytting, a Utah attorney and head of the LDS’s Risk Management Division, and 31-year-old Chelsea Goodrich reveal how Mormon church sexual abuse gets covered up by religious leaders. Goodrich was explaining to the lawyer how she was abused sexually by a former bishop, who was also her father, as a child.

Bishop Michael Miller, who was also at the meeting, had heard a confession from the abuser himself, yet he was encouraged by the church’s attorney to not testify about what happened. He cited a law that exempts the clergy from having to divulge information learned during a confession. Without that testimony, the charges were ultimately dropped. Even worse, Rytting attempted to offer Goodrich hundreds of thousands of dollars to destroy the recordings of their meetings, which they thankfully never did.

This case specifically highlights how abuse cover-ups happen, and systemic abuse is upheld in the modern-day Mormon religion. Unfortunately, grooming victims begins at a young age, and all the church members are encouraged to go along with the abuse and hide criminal acts.

Types of Abuse in the Mormon Church

While sexual abuse has been the primary focus of lawsuits across the country, it isn’t the only type of abuse that’s occurring in Mormon churches. Mormon child abuse extends past sexual exploitation and includes physical, mental, and emotional abuse.

Often, these different forms of abuse are intertwined. For instance, sexual abuse may occur, but then the survivor experiences emotional abuse when the individuals they confide in defend and take the side of the religious leader and abuser. This can lead to significant mental distress when they realize they will not be helped by the people who are supposed to love and care for them.

Physical abuse is also a common way to silence survivors from speaking up about what happened.

Legal Responses to Mormon Abuse Lawsuits

In a recent Mormon abuse lawsuit, an unnamed survivor received a $2.28 billion settlement after she suffered childhood sexual abuse at church. Her mother allegedly attempted to report the incidents to the church hierarchy for years, but the crimes were never reported to law enforcement. Further, the survivor’s mother said the church cited ecclesiastical authority and used intimidation and shaming tactics to keep her silent.

If you want to take legal action but think it’s too late, then it’s advised that you reach out to an attorney about what happened. Some states have extended statute of limitations laws when it comes to child sexual violence and other institutionalized sex crimes in light of recent cases.

How to Identify Signs of Sexual Abuse in Religious Institutions

Unfortunately, it’s extremely difficult to identify signs of sexual abuse, especially when it’s being intentionally covered up and swept under the rug. This is even more true when the survivor is a child, who may or may not know what’s happening to them is wrong. Adult and child protection begins with identifying there’s a problem. That said, you can look for the following signs if you’re worried that sexual abuse may be occurring in your church:

• Unexplained injuries
  
• Sudden, unexpected behavior changes like aggression, depression, or fear
  
• A child acting provocatively beyond their age or understanding (a sign they’ve been groomed)
  
• Newfound health issues
  
• Neglecting personal hygiene
  
• Regression behaviors in younger children

If you suspect sexual abuse might be occurring, then take action. Talk to the survivor about what happened, and if possible, guide them towards the appropriate resources that can help. Do not encourage them to seek help within the institution that’s abusing them.

Filing a Mormon Abuse Lawsuit – What You Need to Know

Church leaders can be held legally liable for abuse and crimes that occur within their institutions when they have failed to exercise reasonable care in a situation. For instance, if sexual predators were protected in the church and leaders failed to report the crimes, then that could open the institutional leaders up to a lawsuit.

The sexual predators themselves can always be held accountable for their actions in civil or criminal court.

You can seek compensation for the losses you suffered as a result of the sexual abuse. Compensation should cover any medical bills, therapy costs, pain and suffering, and mental distress you endured.

Kermani LLP’s Role in Supporting Victims of Mormon Church Sexual Abuse

Here at Kermani LLP, our team is equipped to handle child sex abuse cases. We can help you seek justice for sex crimes or other forms of abuse that you may have experienced at a Mormon Church.

We will be your best legal advocate, standing up for you and advocating for your rights. We will shield you from further abuse, fear mongering tactics, and threats from religious leaders. We’ll also listen to your side of events with empathy and understanding, giving you the judgment-free zone you need to tell your truth. You can lean on the attorney-client privilege we’ll develop to ensure that nothing you say can be held against you or revealed without your consent.

Why Choose Kermani LLP for Your Mormon Abuse Lawsuit?

If you’ve suffered abuse in a Mormon religious institution, then it’s imperative that you locate a trusted legal advocate to stand by your side. Not only is it intimidating to go up against a religious institution, but it could also cause more harm to you psychologically if you don’t have a proper advocate by your side. The church will almost assuredly attempt to downplay what happened, minimize your injuries, and attempt to silence you.

Here at Kermani LLP, we won’t let that happen. We will fight aggressively for you, and we won’t let anyone’s religious title or position protect them from the legal system. We understand how devasting sexual abuse is to your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. That’s why we’re prepared to handle your case with the utmost compassion and care. You can check out our team’s past case results to see what we’ve done for other clients who have put their trust in us.

Are You Ready to Get in Touch with a Legal Advocate About What Happened?

If you experienced sexual abuse in Mormon church, then it’s never too late to come forward with your truth. Seeking justice may be an important part of your healing journey, and holding your perpetrator accountable could mean protecting others.

Discussing your situation with a lawyer can help you get a solid understanding of your rights and options moving forward. Schedule a free case evaluation with our team here at Kermani LLP now to get started on your pursuit of justice.