Just $5 will help stop
ecclesiastical sex abuse
| Yes, even in the Mormon Church Let’s hope that revelations of ecclesiastical sexual abuse and coverups never become so commonplace that we fail to react with horror, treat every case as new, and provide needed support to every new victim who comes forth. It would be naive to think that sexual abuse at the hands of ecclesiastical leaders occurs only in the Catholic Church. More and more Latter-day Saints are finding the courage to report sexual abuse at the hands of ordained leaders. • Take, for instance, a woman whose Mormon bishop dispensed church funds in her time of need—on condition she give him oral sex. Twice. • Or a teenage girl who was molested by a bishop’s son only to have the bishop tell her to be grateful she was chosen as one of the boy’s eternal companions. • Or the fact that a number of victims have agreed to keep quiet in exchange for payment—taken from tithing funds. (If you’re one of them, the agreement is not binding. Keep the money and come forth.) Two needs emerge. One is a place for victims to tell their stories in confidence, receive validation, and, if needed, receive professional counseling at no charge. The other is the action to expose these goings-on (while protecting those who wish to remain anonymous). No one is interested in painting all LDS leaders with a broad brush. But for victims—and to spare potential future victims—it is vital to expose and stop the guilty and all who protect them, and to hold them accountable. Even Mormon doctrine calls for as much for the sake of their own salvation. (Doctrine and Covenants 19:15-20) Restore Our Humanity has taken up the cause. No one there takes any pay, but their important work incurs expenses. They’re not asking for much. Even $5 will make a difference. Please help now by clicking here and on “donate.” FYI, we just did. | Restore Our Humanity: Sexual Abuse InitiativeRestore Our Humanity will be working on an ongoing project to address, expose and stop once and for all the rampant child abuse, abuse enablement and abuse cover up that has been taking place within the LDS Church and Boy Scouts of America. This project will consist of 3 parts: 1) A probable lawsuit to hold the organizations responsible for covering up crimes and not reporting these to the authorities, and thereby becoming accomplices to criminal actions. If successful this could lead to civil actions and further litigation. 2) Media and documentary projects to allow Survivors to tell their stories and let the truth be heard. 3) A resource pool of healing professionals to be made available to all survivors and family who come forward in order to put them in touch with the best care, treatment and support for the duration of the project and beyond. |
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