An Arizona judge has dismissed a high-profile child sexual abuse lawsuit against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Judge says the Utah-based faith didn’t have to report Paul Adams’ assault of his daughters. Attorney representing the children vows to appeal.
“Church defendants were not required under the Mandatory Reporting Statute to report the abuse of Jane Doe 1 by her father,” Dickerson wrote in his decision, “because their knowledge of the abuse came from confidential communications which fall within the clergy-penitent exception.” “How do you explain to young victims that a rapist’s religious beliefs are more important than their right to be free from rape?” she asked. Cadigan also said the ruling, if allowed to stand, would “completely eviscerate the state’s child protection law.”
The law offices of Kirton McConkie in Salt Lake City in 2021. The firm helps The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in abuse cases.
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Court cites clergy-penitent privilege in dismissing child sex abuse lawsuit against Mormon churchAn Arizona Superior Court judge has dismissed a high-profile child sexual abuse lawsuit against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ruling that church officials who knew that a church member was sexually abusing his daughter had no duty to report the abuse to police or social service agencies because the information was received...
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Court cites clergy-penitent privilege in dismissing child sex abuse lawsuit against Mormon churchAn Arizona Superior Court judge has dismissed a high-profile child sexual abuse lawsuit against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ruling that church officials who knew that a church member was sexually abusing his daughter had no duty to report the abuse to police or social service agencies because the information was received...
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Court cites clergy-penitent privilege in dismissing child sex abuse lawsuit against Mormon churchAn Arizona Superior Court judge has dismissed a high-profile child sexual abuse lawsuit against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ruling that church officials who knew that a church member was sexually abusing his daughter had no duty to report the abuse to police or social service agencies because the information was received...
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Court cites clergy-penitent privilege in dismissing child sex abuse lawsuit against Mormon churchAn Arizona Superior Court judge has dismissed a high-profile child sexual abuse lawsuit against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ruling that church officials who knew that a church member was sexually abusing his daughter had no duty to report the abuse to police or social service agencies because the information was received...
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Court cites clergy-penitent privilege in dismissing child sex abuse lawsuit against Mormon churchAn Arizona Superior Court judge has dismissed a high-profile child sexual abuse lawsuit against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ruling that church officials who knew that a church member was sexually abusing his daughter had no duty to report the abuse to police or social service agencies because the information was received...
Read more »