Sad story of abuse of LDS scout ....

[_Inconceivable]

There have been many sad stories before the Boy Scouts of America implemented the current safeguards. There have been many bad calls by bishops as well. I didn't like the article much. The writer has ulterior motives. Otherwise he would have done some homework and reported on what the church, BSA, law enforcement and legislation have done in the last 13 years.

Please correct me if I am wrong. The Bishop (or other religeous leaders of any church including a scoutmaster) is required by law to report any alleged child sexual abuse to local police. As I understand, the church requires them also to contact their damage control hotline as well.

The church does keep a list of those convicted of sexual crimes. They are forbidden leadership positions for life within all youth programs. Unfortunately for those that still see Joseph Smith as a role model, he would necessarily be included on the sexual predator list for having extramarital relations with girls perhaps as young as 14 years of age. On somewhat of a sidenote, a male can only teach in primary if there is at least one other adult present.


As for the Boy Scouts, I served as Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster for about 7 years, during which time I was the deacon's quorem advisor. The BSA has some very strict rules in place. Here are a few of them:

Two deep leadership on all activities including travel.
An adult never sleeps in the same tent as the boys
A father my sleep in a tent with his son but only if there are no other boys in the tent
All leaders must go through a background check (I have no idea of what it entails)
All leaders are required to go through training that includes the "it happened to me" program as well as local and national requirements on reporting abuse.
They are required by law to report any alleged child sexual abuse.

For many, all the above safeguards were too little, too late.

The church got the Word of Wisdom 150 years ago (although it was not practiced till the early 1900's) - Proof that Joseph Smith (a sexual predator in his own right) was a prophet.

Where was the inspiration to preempt and safeguard such abominations to children? Many hearts died pierced with deep wounds. Even the early '90's were a trainwreck for bad/no policy. Shame on them for being such blind guides.

What could be so difficult to come to the knowledge that there is no legitimate cure for pedaphilia?

[_The Nehor]

Would his readmittance be contingent upon their capacity or willingness to forgive him?

I don't think so.

[_Rollo Tomasi]

[Anne was the mother. Joe was the son. Joe received the abuse, not Anne. Anne neither received nor gave any abuse at all.

Actually, Robert was the son who was abused; Joe was the scout leader who abused Robert.

[_Bryan Inks]

There have been many sad stories before the Boy Scouts of America implemented the current safeguards. There have been many bad calls by bishops as well. I didn't like the article much. The writer has ulterior motives. Otherwise he would have done some homework and reported on what the church, BSA, law enforcement and legislation have done in the last 13 years.

Please correct me if I am wrong. The Bishop (or other religeous leaders of any church including a scoutmaster) is required by law to report any alleged child sexual abuse to local police. As I understand, the church requires them also to contact their damage control hotline as well.

The church does keep a list of those convicted of sexual crimes. They are forbidden leadership positions for life within all youth programs. Unfortunately for those that still see Joseph Smith as a role model, he would necessarily be included on the sexual predator list for having extramarital relations with girls perhaps as young as 14 years of age. On somewhat of a sidenote, a male can only teach in primary if there is at least one other adult present.


As for the Boy Scouts, I served as Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster for about 7 years, during which time I was the deacon's quorem advisor. The BSA has some very strict rules in place. Here are a few of them:

Two deep leadership on all activities including travel.
An adult never sleeps in the same tent as the boys
A father my sleep in a tent with his son but only if there are no other boys in the tent
All leaders must go through a background check (I have no idea of what it entails)
All leaders are required to go through training that includes the "it happened to me" program as well as local and national requirements on reporting abuse.
They are required by law to report any alleged child sexual abuse.

For many, all the above safeguards were too little, too late.

The church got the Word of Wisdom 150 years ago (although it was not practiced till the early 1900's) - Proof that Joseph Smith (a sexual predator in his own right) was a prophet.

Where was the inspiration to preempt and safeguard such abominations to children? Many hearts died pierced with deep wounds. Even the early '90's were a trainwreck for bad/no policy. Shame on them for being such blind guides.

What could be so difficult to come to the knowledge that there is no legitimate cure for pedaphilia?

You may want to try reading the article again for a couple of reasons.

First: The BSA organization had nothing to do with this situation, other than "Joe" being called to be Robert's Scoutmaster (which puts it more into the Church's hands than anything). The abuse never happened during scouting events.

Second: They did talk about what the Church has done "since 1989". They talked about the hotline and various other programs.

The Mormon church hasn't received the flogging that Roman Catholics have over the abuse of children. That could be because of the church's efforts to identify and quash predators in its ranks. In 1989, the church created an educational program about child abuse for its elders. It also established a 1-800 "abuse help line" in 1995 that connected Mormon congregation leaders with professional therapists and lawyers. The church also began tracking Mormon sex offenders by flagging their records, ostensibly to keep them away from children.

Edited: My apologies. They did turn it into an article about the scouts. . . but they also presented most of the information you were griping about them not presenting.

[_Dr. Shades]

Actually, Robert was the son who was abused; Joe was the scout leader who abused Robert.

Oh man, now I feel like an idiot.

[_Coggins7]

I just got done reading the whole thing. Wow, what a sad, sad story.

The clincher, in my opinion, came at the very end and sums up the LDS church's philosophy on child abuse (and every other form of abuse) in a tidy little package. Referring to the Joe, the child victim, his mother Anne reports:

Well, its Friday, and the creepy crawlies are out and about as usual. Slim Shady's guile plastered smear against the Church above leads the pack.

As I read this piece, two observations crossed my mind. The first is what does any of this have to do with the Church? The second is that the lawsuit lottery is as alive and well in the Pacific Northwest as it is in other parts of the country. How can the Church be held responsible for the individual actions of its members based on nothing more than the fact of their membership? The precedent this sets is intriguing. If a Mormon pedophile molests a child, you sue the Church of which he is a member. If this is the case, then what prevents the victims of a Mormon who runs a red light and causes a serious accident from suing the Church for damages and medical costs? After all, the person is a member of that Church, and the Church has deep pockets.

Its not enough that the pervert goes to jail; the church of which he is a member apparently somehow should have prevented his actions. Gee, where's the SCMC when you need them?

[_Who Knows]

...what prevents the victims of a Mormon who runs a red light and causes a serious accident from suing the Church for damages and medical costs? After all, the person is a member of that Church, and the Church has deep pockets.

Actually, if this guy (who runs the red light) is on official church business, then I believe the person does have a right to compensation from the church.

I think you missed the point of the article...

[_Coggins7]

I think you missed the point of the article...

Which is?

[_Who Knows]

I think you missed the point of the article...

Which is?

Well, what do you think of your scenario, when I added that the guy running the red light was doing church business? Would the church have some liability?

[_harmony]

I think you missed the point of the article...

Which is?

That Scouts is official business of the LDS church. And if the Scoutmaster, called to the task by the church, is abusing boys while on LDS Scout activities and there were no safeguards in place to make sure these sorts of things don't happen, then the church has some culpability, and thus shares some of the blame.