LDS church sexual abuse lawsuit investigation

LDS sexual abuse: Who’s affected?

Were you or a loved one sexually abused by a member of the Church of Latter-day Saints? You may have a legal claim, even as an adult.

The Church of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon or LDS church, is one of the many religious institutions facing allegations of sexual abuse committed by its church leaders all around the country.

Mormon sexual abuse has to stop, and abusers and the network of LDS institutions must be held accountable. If you or a loved one were sexually abused as a minor by a member of the LDS church—including by a bishop, elder, Scoutmaster or missionary—you may be eligible to seek compensation and peace of mind. As more people come forward, others may be encouraged to do the same.

Sexual abuse within the Mormon Church

Young survivors of LDS sexual abuse and their families may not know that the trusted adult who does wonderful things for them is actually “grooming” them, gaining their trust in all matters so that the family has full faith in the abuser.

Church members report that when allegations of LDS sexual abuse are brought to the church, it is generally a bishop who hears about them first. It is alleged that the bishop then unilaterally decides whether action should be taken against the abuser or to help the child, and often the elders decide to withhold information from the police and courts using only “inspiration” and minimal written guidance from the Church of Latter-day Saints. This can result in the church being protected against scandal at the cost of lifelong trauma for survivors.

Sexual abuse long-term effects

Adults need to keep an eye out for signs of sexual abuse that the children in their lives may exhibit, which can vary depending on the age of the child and many other factors.

Children who have suffered from sexual abuse can face many potential problems as a result, lasting far longer than the abuse itself. Sexual abuse long-term effects on children can include:

• Depression
• Guilt, shame, and self-blame
• Eating disorders
• Somatic concerns
• Anxiety
• Dissociative patterns,
• Repression and/or denial
• Sexual problems
• Relationship problems
• More

Who can file an LDS sexual abuse lawsuit?

Mormon sexual abuse has reportedly happened in a variety of settings, including:

• Scouting programs
• The Indian Placement Program
• Foster Care or Adoption programs
• LDS Church-sponsored activities, events, trips or missions
• Youth camps and programs

If you or a loved one were abused and LDS church leaders knew it and shielded the perpetrator from the law, you may be eligible to file an LDS sexual abuse lawsuit against the Mormon Church. Virtually all states have changed laws to make the reporting of sexual assault and the ability to sue easier by eliminating or extending deadlines. Courts are accepting LDS church abuse lawsuits from older survivors who faced abuse years ago. 

Fill out the form now to begin the process of seeking justice. 

Mormon sex abuse lawsuit history

A growing number of people are coming forward with sexual abuse allegations against the Mormon church spanning decades. In at least 43 lawsuits between 2000 and 2016, the LDS church was accused of failing to prevent or report the alleged sexual abuse of 90 children, per a review by Law360, and was more concerned with its financial standing than protecting church sex abuse victims. Of these cases, 22 ended in settlements, seven were dismissed and two went to trial and led to awards for the plaintiffs. At the time of the Law360 report, five cases were still pending and seven did not have information available.

In 2017, two Navajo women and a Crow woman alleged that the Church of Latter-day Saints failed to protect them when they were sexually assaulted as children during the 1960s and 1970s while partaking in a Mormon off-reservation, home-placement assimilation program. These lawsuits were filed after other litigation filed by Native American adults who alleged they also suffered similar abuse as children in the program, which was active between 1947 and the mid-1990s, per The Atlantic.

“Understand that you are not alone,” said one of the plaintiffs, identified as AH, in a statement to those who suffered sexual abuse while in the program, per the Law360 article. “It is not your fault. The shame is not yours, rather the shame belongs to those who abused, as well as those who allowed the abuse to happen.”

In mid-2019, Insider reported that the LDS church had been accused of attempting to quiet victims and avoid lawsuits using their sexual abuse hotline, which they allegedly used to direct victims to internal review rather than to external authorities, and would then sweep the matter aside.

In a statement to Insider in response to its article, an LDS spokesperson stated: “Abuse is a matter taken very seriously by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is not tolerated, and the Church has invested heavily in resources and training, including the helpline, to prevent, combat and address abuse.”

One recent lawsuit alleges that two Mormon bishops failed to report sexual abuse that had been reported to them involving children abused by their father. They justified their failure to report by citing religious privilege.

In another case, a lawsuit was filed against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in San José, California, for failing to prevent sexual abuseagainst two sisters by a former high-ranking church leader.

The Mormon abuse lawsuit alleges that former LDS bishop Joseph Neipp from San José’s Branham Ward sexually abused two young girls while they were enrolled in a program sponsored by the church, according to Business Wire. He used his position as a bishop within the church (similar to a priest or a rabbi) to “groom” the girls for abuse on church grounds, the lawsuit claims.

Neipp now faces criminal charges for child sex abuse in the Santa Clara County Superior Court. The lawsuit aims to hold the LDS church accountable for failing to protect the girls from sexual abuse.

Fill out the free form on this page to see if you qualify.