The Oregonian is detailing a new lawsuit against LDS Inc. and the BSA by a group of men who are alleging repeated, drawn out sex abuse. While sex abuse lawsuits against LDS Inc. have been picking up steam as of late, what makes this story stand out is that the lawyer representing the men is claiming he has information that will reveal just how extensive sex abuse is in LDS Inc. and the BSA (Boy Scouts of America) and that they knew about it and did nothing but cover it up. Should be interesting to see what happens with this case. As a returned missionary and Eagle Scout, it seems as though I should feel bad about this… But I don’t… If victims of sex abuse were able to sue both organizations out of existence, I’d consider it justice đ
LDS Inc. and BSA change names to “Pedophiles Are Us”
It’s important to recognize that people who speak up about abuse are strengthening the LDS Church and the Boy Scouts.
Less abuse makes the LDS Church a better place.
Aw, Hellmut! You’re too nice, pointing out how these institutions actually benefit from being forced to stop sheltering abusers.
On a related note, I saw an interesting article about the Catholic church trying to counter a similar suit by claiming that shifting abusers around from parish to parish is private church business and the state has no business getting involved: here. Yikes!
Hellmut… That is a good point. In a sense, then, speaking up about abuse is actually going to make Mormonism more appealing – assuming it actually does something to deal with it. Potential members will think, “Oh, this church is proactive about abuse, now. It changes, just like it did with polygamy and race. I want to join.”
Hmmm… Maybe people shouldn’t speak up? đ
From an institutional perspective, it’s a balance between long and short term benefits, especially when it comes to marketing.
In my opinion, it’s illusory to expect that organized Mormonism will disappear any time soon. Just look at all the people who still pay astrologers and palm readers.
Therefore, we might as well try to make Mormonism as safe as possible. In the process, you constrain LDS leaders who are responsible for the whole mess in the first place.
Well, honestly, I think a focus on how it’s good (or conversely how it’s not good–which is what the hierarchy focuses on) for institutional mormonism is really beside the point. In fact, “beside the point” doesn’t even begin to describe how irrelevant it is. I would say if the church (and BSA as well) is forced by these lawsuits to really seriously do child abuse prevention within their purviews then many, many kids are going to be spared some unimaginable damage that will likely haunt them for the rest of their lives. From where I’m sitting an improved image for the church is a perfectly acceptable ancillary price to pay for that. It’s certainly better than sacrificing the bodies and souls of children on the altar of good PR.
I could care from market share for the church. The issue isn’t–oh, it’ll bring them down! It will shore them up! The issue is the fate of children. Who cares (in either direction) what it does or doesn’t do for the church.
Belaja… I certainly can’t disagree with that. I guess we were so fixated on the other issues that we overlooked the obvious one – stop the abuse. Thanks for bringing this back to the real issue.