Seven Years of Sexual Abuse Among Mormons. Authorities Knew


We all know sexual abuse happens in all groups, religious, secular and family. What makes religion the worst place for it is the "holy" justification and the need to cover up and hide to keep the facade of "holy" in place. Catholics use the ridiculous myth Jesus told Peter he was Jesus' guy to build a Jesus empire. Mormons have something similar, the church boss has the authority to hear from God and tell others what's up. Sexual abuse stories are pouring out of Mormonism. The pattern is the same, "Don't tell authorities, it would be bad for the church." Stopping a child from being sexually abused is less important than protecting the image of the denomination.

The Bible has a valid insight into human behavior. Its writers noticed money changes people and they wrote about it several times. I suppose the writers had no idea of a huge and very wealthy faith when they wrote. They just wanted to control the poor who were below their status. How good it would have been it they had known how power within the institutions of religion played with the minds of men. It seems like even back then they could have guessed that men could and would use their version of a god to impose themselves sexually on other of the opposite sex, same sex and on children. But they didn't. Male clergy continue to exploit their position of superiority for their own sexual pleasure.

We just finished with a news cycle of sexual abuse by Southern Baptist clergy. At the core of the Baptist faith (so I've been told) is the view that each individual has the right to interpret the faith. Each preacher the same. This has not stopped those in high Southern Baptist positions to insist that they, and they alone, are correct in what the Bible means. I'm sure many a Baptist preacher has seduced a woman or child by telling them it would please God.

It seems to me Catholics, Mormons and whomever else would do their faiths a favor by declaring, "No one hears directly from God or Jesus. Stop saying you do." Of course, this would not work in favor of those who make the claim so it will not happen.  

Some Christians will continue to say, "This is a Christian nation." The rest of us are glad we keep the faith at arms' length. 


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