Seven years of sex abuse: How Mormon officials let it happen

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

BISBEE, Ariz. (AP) — MJ was a tiny, black-haired girl, just 5 years old, when her father admitted to his bishop that he was sexually abusing her.

The father, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and an admitted pornography addict, was in counseling with his bishop when he revealed the abuse. The bishop, who was also a family physician, followed church policy and called what church officials have dubbed the “help line” for guidance.

But the call offered little help for MJ. Lawyers for the church, widely known as the Mormon church, who staff the help line around the clock told Bishop John Herrod not to call police or child welfare officials. Instead he kept the abuse secret.

“They said, ‘You absolutely can do nothing,’” Herrod said in a recorded interview with law enforcement.

https://apnews.com/article/Mormon-church-sexual-abuse-investigation-e0e39cf9aa4fbe0d8c1442033b894660

[Jilly_in_VA]

1. In his position as a family physician

he was a mandated reporter. But in his church position he was bound by that clergy thing. He was kind of stuck. I guess he could have made an anonymous call though.

[Permanut]

2. Since these cult members use the name of Jesus..

It might be relevant to see what he says about child sex abuse:

“But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6, KJV).

[Hekate]

10. Yes indeed, Jesus said that

[enough]

3. Always, the girl or woman is expendable.

[shrike3]

4. Unfortunately, "Circling the wagons" seems to be a fairly common institutional response.

Frontline did a piece years ago on a doctor who went from Indian reservation to Indian reservation abusing children. Whenever he was found out, he was simply allowed to leave. BIA officials knew of him, yet did nothing. Some of the hospital administrators who'd let him move on agreed to appear on camera. Their reason for letting him go? Fear of being sued.

[Haggard Celine]

5. Sometimes I wonder whether religion turns people into pervs,

or do pervs seek out religion. From what I've seen and read about through the years, I think it's more the latter. People who are involved in church should be on guard, especially if they have children. And if you find out about someone who is committing abuse, report it to the police, not the preacher.

[Skittles]

6. yup

religion is proof you can make people believe - or not believe - anything

that sounds like heaven to a pervert

[Haggard Celine]

7. Excellent point.

A building full of credulous people. What wouldn't they love about that?

[FreeState]

12. The Mormon Church is a sex cult

That is trying to mainstream.

The founder married multiple underage children. He would send men on missions and marry their wives why they were gone. He told his victims on more than one occasion that if they didn’t go along with it their family was doomed, but if they went along with it they would be saved.

Edit to add link:

https://www.mrm.org/list-joseph-smiths-wives

[Haggard Celine]

13. That is their history. There's no denying it.

I don't think most Mormons are sex freaks, but there's been plenty of freakiness in their past and present. If I had to choose a religion to follow, Mormonism would be pretty far down the list.

[Scrivener7]

8. Aaaaaannnd the rapist is a Border Patrol agent.

I shudder to think of what THOSE children went through too.

[chowder66]

9. This line should be rewritten to say....

"Adams continued raping MJ for as many as seven more years, into her adolescence, and also abused her infant sister, who was born during that time. He frequently recorded the abuse on video and posted the video on the internet."

Should read:

"Adams and the Mormon Church continued raping MJ for as many as seven more years, into her adolescence, and also abused her infant sister, who was born during that time. He frequently recorded the abuse on video and posted the video on the internet."

[chowder66]

11. That was a tough read. I'm so disgusted I can barely see straight.

They should have their church status stripped and be designated as a dangerous cult.