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Why Utah Mormon Church Sexual Abuse ‘Cycle’ Efforts Stalled

This will be a law that will eventually force ministers in Utah to report sexual harassment if a member of their congregation admits to it.

HB 115 would put religious leaders in the same boat as therapists and doctors who are required by law to report to the police.

But in Utah, where 89 of the state’s 103 legislators are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Mormons, Senate President Stuart Adams, himself a member of the church, simply refused to raise the issue. ground and effectively kills it.

Democrats who supported the bill said it showed the powerful influence of lobbying by the Mormon and Catholic churches.

Rep. Angela Romero, Democrat, said I: “I was raised Catholic, I was baptized, I was confirmed, but as a politician and a person who engages in sexual violence, I just see many people go missing and then commit crimes again.

“What I’m trying to stop is this cycle of violence.”

The events in Utah come at a time when Britain is grappling with similar questions about clergy’s duty to report child abuse. In October, the government’s Independent Child Sexual Abuse Inquiry recommended that priests be required by law to report abuse, even if it meant breaking the confessional seal.

According to the report, which took years to prepare, “failure to file a report under such circumstances should be a criminal offence.”

In Utah, cases like Paul Adams spurred Ms. Romero into efforts to change the law.

According to a lawsuit filed in Arizona, Mr. Adams admitted to two Mormon bishops in 2010 that he abused his own family. Although one bishop reported the abuse to a hotline, he was advised not to report the abuse to the police.

This meant that Mr. Adams could continue to rape his older daughter and her younger sister for seven years and post videos online before he was eventually arrested.

The case of Mr Adams, who committed suicide in 2017, shows why reform is needed, said Lynn Cadigan, a lawyer representing his family.

“If the bishop had reported it and the police had gone and stolen his computers, they would have stopped the abuse,” she said. “The Mormon Church is just trying to protect its financial assets.

“They don’t want to be blamed, they don’t want to be held accountable under secular law.

“Which is more important? Stop raping 16 year olds or let men talk to their bishops about the rape of their children?”

Hopes for reform have been revived in Utah after a series of devastating reports last year. connected press, including things like Mr. Adams.

But in the state senate, it was found that there was not only a Republican majority, but also a Mormon majority.

Ms. Romero attempted to introduce her bill to the January legislature, but was told she would not be given time to speak.

Despite criticism from conservative groups such as the Catholic League, Ms Romero said she would reintroduce it next year. “This is a problem that we can no longer ignore,” she said.

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 30: A woman holds a banner at a rally in downtown Salt Lake City calling for the Mormon church to change its policy.
A woman holds a banner at a rally in downtown Salt Lake City urging the Mormon Church to change its policy and start “talking about dignity” with children who may touch on sexual matters in March 2018 (Photo: George Frey/GettyImages)

The main reason for the resistance to change is the clash of two incompatible values, says David Finkelhor, director of the University of New Hampshire’s Crime Against Children Research Center.

These values ​​are “the need to protect children and the need to protect the sacraments of religious practice,” and the Mormon Church is not unique.

Mr. Finkelhor said: “American politicians have been very respectful of religion for many years, and religious freedom is very strong here.

“The changes are happening as a result of scandals, but also because the number of people who do not belong to any church has increased dramatically.

“I anticipate that freedom of religion will be weakened, if not completely abolished, in several ways, but that will take time.”

Senate President Adams did not respond to a request for comment. I.

At a press conference last month, he said that the clergy are protected by the First Amendment, which cannot be violated under any circumstances.

He said, “I don’t want to put clerics in a place where they have to be excommunicated or thrown into prison. Those are options and I don’t think that’s right.”

Source: I News

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