An Arizona lawsuit claims that Latter Day Saints Church officials had a duty to report horrific sex abuse allegedly perpetrated by a father on his young children.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of three children who allegedly suffered severe sex abuse for at least seven years at the hands of their father Paul Adams, says that two LDS bishops and a Sunday school teacher knew of the abuse, but failed to report it to law enforcement or child protection agencies. The complaint points out that the teacher, who was also a former border-patrol agent, had a duty to report under her roles, but failed to do so.

“Each of the Defendants had personal observations of the abuse, and also knew of the abuse outside of any confidential communication,” alleges the complaint.

The lawsuit names Mormon Church entities, including the Corporations of the President of the church and presiding bishop, as well as a medical service company, and individuals. According to the complaint, the Mormon Church’s handbook states that leaders and members should report abuse to civil authorities; however, in the case of these children, Mormon Church leaders and members failed to provide information to authorities, resulting in the continuation of severe sexual abuse.

“At all relevant times the Church assumed special responsibilities towards its members including disciplinary and red flagging system meant to identify and track sexual predators and other dangerous individuals within the membership in order to protect innocent child members from the harm they might inflict,” argues the lawsuit.

Instead of telling LDS Church leaders to report child sex abuse to authorities, the complaint describes a helpline provided by the Mormon church. In the case of these children, two Mormon bishops called the helpline for guidance, but were told they didn’t need to report the abuse, says the complaint.

The lawsuit points out that Mormon bishops are described as “fathers” or “caretakers” of their congregations, called wards, and are responsible for members’ wellbeing. “In their capacities…” the complaint says of the defendants, including the bishops as well as a Sunday school teacher, “they each had a special relationship with members of the congregation, including the minor plaintiffs. This relationship gave rise to a duty to protect members of the congregation, including the minor Plaintiffs from a foreseeable risk of harm.”

The AZ Central reports that the father, Paul Adams, confessed to abusing one of his children to his bishop, Dr. John Herrod; however, the bishop failed to report the abuse to police. Reportedly, the bishop involved Leizza Adams, his wife, in the hopes that she would protect her children from the abuse.

Did Other LDS Church Officials Know of the Abuse?

In addition, the lawsuit alleges that Herrod told other church officials about the abuse, looking for guidance. Instead of telling the bishop to report it to authorities, they allegedly referred him to the helpline. According to the complaint, when the bishop called the helpline, church representatives urged him not to report, telling him this was not obligated under “clergy-penitent privilege.”

According to AZ Central, the Mormon helpline is run by a Salt Lake City law firm.

“In other words,” notes the complaint, “the Church implements the Helpline not for the protection and spiritual counseling of sexual abuse victims, as professed in Church doctrine and literature, but for Kirton McConkie attorneys to snuff out complaints and protect the Church from potentially costly lawsuits.”

The lawsuit points out that a second bishop also called the helpline and received the same advice.

The complaint also points out that a teacher knew of the father’s “abusive and psychotic behavior toward his wife and children,” however, she failed to report abuse she had witnessed to authorities.

In addition, the lawsuit notes that Paul Adams was, in fact, ex-communicated by the Mormon Church in 2015 for issues related to his abusive behaviors. In total, argues the complaint, the Mormon bishops and other church officials knew of the abuse outside of Paul Adam’s confession, but still failed to report it to civil authorities, allowing the abuse to continue for years.

For its part, the Mormon Church claims that the bishops were required to maintain confidentiality under state laws regarding confessions to clergy. In a letter, an attorney for the church maintains that the bishops did all they could to stop the abuse.

“The Church will continue to offer assistance to these young victims, but the Church will also vigorously defend against this baseless lawsuit,” states the letter.

The complaint asserts that the children have suffered severe and permanent emotional and physical injuries from the abuse. According to the American Counseling Association, survivors of child sexual assault and abuse can face long term struggles with depression, guilt, and anxiety. These can manifest in eating disorders, sexual problems, and trouble building and maintaining relationships.

In addition to the abuse, Paul Adams allegedly recorded and uploaded pornographic images of his daughters onto the dark web – putting them at risk of being stalked in the future, reports the AZ Central.

Reportedly, all six of the Adams’ children have been adopted into other homes and do not share the same last name as their parents.

According to AZ Central, the father, Paul Adams, was charged with 11 counts of child sex abuse and indicted in 2011; however, he later hanged himself in prison while awaiting trial. His wife, Leizza, was convicted of child abuse in 2018.