A reckoning is taking place in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Jehovah’s Witnesses as stories emerge of child sex abuse.
Years ago, outrage erupted over how the Catholic Church allowed such abuse to go unchecked, but fewer may be aware of how other faiths are covering up abuse in their ranks.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as Mormons, and Jehovah’s Witnesses are reportedly making use ofa legal exemption for clergy which allows abuse to go unreported. The exemption dictates that religious members who hear about abuse through confession are not required to report it to authorities.
Recently, newly released recordings revealed the lengths the Mormon church will go to cover up abuse and assault.Those recordings are part of a case involving Chelsea Goodrich, who grew up in the Mormon church. Her father was a bishop and began abusing her at the age of two. We hear her story and a former Jehovah’s Witness turned advocate.
We also highlight the latest reporting from Al Jazeera’s Fault Lines documentary, “Secrets of the Clergy”:
We reached out to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for a statement for this program, but did not hear back.
We also contacted the United States Branch of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Below is the statement we received in full.
Jehovah’s Witnesses view children as a sacred trust from God. Protecting children is of
utmost concern and importance to all Jehovah’s Witnesses. We treat children in a way
that makes them feel safe and genuinely loved. Since the 1980’s, our religion has
provided countless articles, videos, and other materials to parents to equip them to
identify the signs of abuse, maintain open lines of communication with their children, and
help their children defend themselves against any who might seek to do them harm.
Jehovah’s Witnesses abhor child abuse and view it as a crime. We recognize that the
authorities are responsible for addressing such crimes. In all cases, victims (and their
parents, if minors) have the right to report an accusation of child abuse to the authorities.
Therefore, victims, their parents, or anyone else who reports such an accusation to the
elders of our religion are clearly informed by the elders that they have the right to report
the matter to the authorities. Elders do not criticize anyone who chooses to make such a
report.
Elders do not shield any perpetrator of child abuse from the authorities. Jehovah’s
Witnesses strive to adhere to all mandatory reporting laws. This is in accord with the
principle found in the Bible book of Romans chapter 13 and verse 1, which reminds
Christians to be obedient to the governmental authorities. Any suggestion that Jehovah’s
Witnesses do otherwise is simply false. Even if the elders have no legal obligation to
report an accusation to the authorities, elders report the matter if the victim or another
minor is still in danger of abuse.
If an alleged abuser is one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the elders conduct a Scriptural
investigation. This is a purely religious proceeding handled by elders according to
Scriptural instructions and is limited to the issue of the alleged abuser’s standing as one
of Jehovah’s Witnesses. A congregant who is an unrepentant perpetrator of child abuse
is expelled from the congregation and is no longer considered one of Jehovah’s
Witnesses. The elders’ handling of an accusation of child abuse as a serious sin is not a
replacement for the authorities’ handling of the matter as a crime.
While it is true that elders do not share details of a congregant’s sin indiscriminately,
nothing in the Bible or the beliefs and practices of Jehovah’s Witnesses prevents elders
from sharing those details with the appropriate authorities if so directed by state law.
Jehovah’s Witnesses do not engage in lobbying for changes to secular laws. Instead, we
endeavor to follow whatever laws exist.
Elders provide spiritual support and comfort to those who request it. They strive to treat
victims of child abuse with compassion, understanding, and kindness. As spiritual
counselors, the elders endeavor to listen carefully and empathetically to victims and to
console them. Victims and their families may decide to consult a mental-health
professional. This is a personal decision.
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