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.
The mormon church is nothing but a rape cult.
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.
I grew up in mormonville and I’m shocked it’s only 100 allegations
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 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
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
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.
