Bringing Abuse to Light
Salt Lake Tribune 17Oct99 N6
By James Shelledy: Salt Lake Tribune

and additional articles detailed after this summary

The LDS Church experiences sexual abuse allegations, just like every other religion, and experts say that the incidence of child sexual abuse in the Church is the same as in the rest of society. While the Church recognizes that abuse can not solely be handled through confession and repentance, critics say that the Church relies too heavily on clergy confidentiality, rather than report the abuse to authorities.

Even after establishing a program to educate leaders on how to handle abuse allegations, many lawsuits have been filed against the Church alleging that clergy have mishandled the reports. The Church has reached confidential settlements in many of those lawsuits, but one very public $750 million lawsuit in West Virginia is scheduled to go to trial this spring.

The Salt Lake Tribune launched a series of articles yesterday on the scope of Child abuse in and outside the LDS Church. Tribune editor James Shelledy notes in his launch of this series that no "comprehensive look in the mainstream news media of how the LDS Church, a unique spiritual organization that claims at least in nominal membership seven of 10 Utahns, handles accusations." Shelledy says that the resulting articles are the result of months of interviews and research by Tribune reporters. See also:

Letter From The Editor
Salt Lake Tribune 17Oct99 N6
By James Shelledy: Salt Lake Tribune

Pressure to Forgive Challenges Mormon Families, Divides Wards
Salt Lake Tribune 17Oct99 N6
By Peggy Fletcher Stack: Salt Lake Tribune

Clergy Ignores Victims, Allege LDS Plaintiffs
Salt Lake Tribune 17Oct99 N6
By Sheila K. McCann: Salt Lake Tribune

Excerpts Of The Interview With LDS Church Officials
Salt Lake Tribune 17Oct99 N6
Interview with Harold Brown, director of LDS Family Services, and Von Keetch of Kirton &McConkie, legal counsel for the LDS Church.

Churches Wake Up to Danger
Salt Lake Tribune 17Oct99 N6
By Peggy Fletcher Stack and Sheila K. McCann: Salt Lake Tribune