Article Author:
Associated Press
Sam Metz
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Survivors and religious leaders convene at the Utah State Capitol on Friday for state law exempting religious leaders requested a change. The requirement to report child sexual abuse has been brought to their attention with a mental confession.
"If we, as a nation, as a church, and as a nation, have failed to protect our children, we have failed. To that end, tears are streaming down our faces. Among them were survivors of abuse who applauded while
Randholm spoke about first-hand experience of abuse growing up in Idaho as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a young girl and member of the faith popularly known as the Mormon Church, she told her local bishop about the abuse, and instead of reporting it to law enforcement, the bishop asked the abuser for forgiveness from God.
Randholm's story was one of many shared on the steps of the Capitol, which stands on a hill overlooking Church headquarters and its Salt Lake Temple. Other women also shared their stories and read aloud the written accounts gathered for the demonstration, using them to encourage legislators to report abuses to clerics when confessed.
An Associated Press investigation found that the church's abuse reporting system could be misused by church leaders to divert accusations of abuse from law enforcement and instead be used by church lawyers. A rally would be held two weeks after it was discovered that there was a possibility of burying the problem and leaving the victim alone...a painful method.
The AP article states, Based on sealed records and lawsuits filed in Arizona and West Virginia, it uncovered a number of concerns victims had raised about the helpline, among them Church officials, who said that five including how he cited compulsory reporting laws, exemptions from so-called clerical penitence privileges, as excuses for not reporting the abuses brought to the attention of children as young as
since publication. , the church has criticized the story for being flawed, and in a statement this week, its representatives said the helpline "has everything to do with protecting children and nothing to do with the cover-up." However, it did not dispute any of the facts of the story.
Utah issued a report to clergy who received information about child neglect or sexual abuse during a spiritual confession. It is one of more than 20 states with similar laws that give exceptions. The exemption does not apply to therapists, doctors, or other adults known to provide confidential advice.
In Arizona, church attorneys It seeks to limit what church officials must answer to questions in a lawsuit accused of attempting to cover up child sexual abuse using the priestly privilege of repentance. A judge ruled this week that church officials must answer questions. I have recently advocated changing state laws exempting clergy from reporting requirements. Such legislation, however, could face an uphill battle in Utah, where the church has significant cultural and political influence, with an estimated two-thirds of the population as members. It relies on volunteers to count and serve as clergymen.
Democratic Rep. Angela Romero says efforts to end waivers in 2020 stalled.
"I'm tired of making excuses for my perpetrators," she said, noting that she had recently won support from Latter-day Saint Republicans.
In addition to Romero and her survivors, Friday's meeting also included a rabbi and a former Latter-day Saint bishop. Bishop Stuart Smith said clergy could benefit from clear abuse reporting guidelines.
"Such requirements codified in state law include: It may have the added benefit of enabling the bishop's helpline, which is now operating, to better serve its purpose: victims of abuse."