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A wave of new lawsuits has been filed against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) in California, alleging widespread sexual abuse by church leaders. The lawsuits stem from a three-year legal look-back window, which temporarily allowed survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file claims regardless of when the abuse occurred. Nearly 100 survivors have now come forward with accusations, painting a disturbing picture of systemic abuse and institutional cover-ups within the LDS Church, The Guardian reported today.
Allegations Reflect Patterns Seen in Other Religious Organizations
The claims against the LDS Church echo similar scandals involving other hierarchical institutions, including the Catholic Church, the Church of Scientology, and the Boy Scouts of America. Survivors allege that LDS officials used their positions of power to groom, manipulate, and abuse children. Many lawsuits claim that church leadership either knew about the abuse or should have known but failed to take action, allowing predators to continue their misconduct under the church’s protection.
Among the latest allegations, five individuals have reported being sexually abused in San Diego County. Three of the survivors claim their abusers were high-ranking spiritual leaders within their congregations. Some plaintiffs state they disclosed their abuse to church authorities, only to have their accusations ignored or dismissed. One woman alleges that church leaders acted to shield her abusers rather than report them to law enforcement, treating the accusations as a matter of sin rather than a criminal offense.
The Role of the LDS Church’s Internal Handling of Abuse Cases
One major point of contention in the lawsuits is the LDS Church’s internal system for handling abuse allegations. Survivors argue that rather than reporting abuse to the authorities, the church often seeks to manage these cases internally, prioritizing the protection of its reputation over the well-being of victims. Lawsuits claim that an LDS “help line”—purportedly set up to assist victims—was instead used to suppress reports and shield accused abusers from external scrutiny.
In one harrowing case, a survivor alleges she endured sexual abuse from 1961 to 1978 at the hands of two male family members, both of whom held leadership roles in the church. Another survivor reports being repeatedly abused in 1978 by a bishop, only to have his disclosure dismissed by another church leader. In yet another case, a father who reported his son’s abuse to an LDS official was warned that failing to support the alleged perpetrator could lead to excommunication.
The Broader Pattern of Abuse and Institutional Protection
The LDS Church has faced increasing legal scrutiny in recent years, as more survivors have come forward with accounts of abuse dating back decades. Investigative reports and legal complaints have highlighted a troubling pattern: rather than removing abusers and protecting victims, church officials have repeatedly shielded perpetrators from accountability.
High-profile cases such as that of Joseph Bishop, a former president of the LDS Church’s Missionary Training Center, have exposed the church’s failures to take action against known abusers. Bishop admitted to sexual misconduct in 2018, yet church leaders had long been aware of allegations against him. Similarly, an investigation in Arizona revealed that LDS officials knew about a father abusing his daughters for years but chose to handle the case internally rather than report it to law enforcement.
Legal Challenges and Growing Accountability Efforts
Despite these deeply troubling allegations, legal action against the LDS Church has faced significant obstacles. Religious institutions have historically been afforded broad legal protections, often shielding them from liability in abuse cases. Survivors seeking justice must often prove that high-ranking church officials had explicit knowledge of the abuse and failed to act—a difficult standard in organizations structured around secrecy.
However, recent changes in legislation have started to shift the legal landscape. Look-back windows, such as the one in California, have allowed survivors to file lawsuits that were previously time-barred by statutes of limitations. Legal experts note that while religious organizations often benefit from First Amendment protections, public awareness and pressure are beginning to force greater accountability.
The lawsuits against the LDS Church have become so numerous that attorneys are seeking to consolidate them into a single multi-district litigation in California. This legal strategy would streamline proceedings and allow courts to examine broader patterns of abuse and institutional response across multiple cases.
The Psychological Toll on Survivors
For survivors of sexual abuse within the LDS Church, the trauma extends beyond the abuse itself. Many report struggling with feelings of shame, self-doubt, and religious guilt. The tight-knit nature of LDS communities can make speaking out particularly challenging, as survivors fear being ostracized by their families and faith groups. Some survivors describe feelings of betrayal, having trusted church leaders who were meant to guide and protect them. Others report experiencing religious trauma and struggling to reconcile their faith with the harm they suffered.
Seeking Justice and Support
While legal battles against the LDS Church continue, many survivors emphasize that accountability extends beyond the courtroom. Public awareness, survivor advocacy, and legal reforms are all critical in ensuring that religious institutions prioritize the safety of their members over institutional self-preservation. Survivors of sexual abuse deserve justice, recognition, and the assurance that future generations will not suffer the same fate.
For survivors seeking support, resources are available. If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, help is available through the Childhelp abuse hotline at 800-422-4453 or online at ascasupport.org for adult survivors of child abuse.
