Sad story of abuse of LDS scout ....

[_Lucretia MacEvil]

We do believe that, it just can't be practiced right now.

uncomfortably funny... until it occurred to me that you're serious about the blood atonement stuff.

No, you really did miss the memo. It's not doctrine anymore. You won't get a temple recommend if you preach or sympathise with those that advocate it. One of the many reasons why Brigham Young and Porter Rockwell wouldn't qualify for one now either.


Though the way we draw our conclusions don't run parallel, we can both agree they don't belong in mortality.

Okay, so is it doctrine or is it not doctrine? Gaz claims to know what's what with doctrine.

Gaz, that pedophile's bishop wrote a letter to the mother asking her to forgive him so he could be rebaptized. Maybe he should have written a letter to you, too. What's the deal? Is blood atonement doctrinal, or is forgiveness doctrinal? Who is out of line here, the bishop, you ... or, in my opinion, the both of you?

[_moksha]

Loran, do you think the reporting procedure by the Bishop and the Temple President was adequate?

[_Inconceivable]

Loran, do you think the reporting procedure by the Bishop and the Temple President was adequate?

I'd like to steal Cog's thunder if I may..

The truth of the matter is that there was no standard reporting procedure in dealing with pediphilia because those that claimed to be privy to all the knowledge essential to salvation did not understand its true nature. Otherwise it may have pre-empted the standards of abstainence of soul destroyers like those found following this sobering statement in the section below:

In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation..
(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 89:4)

There were few, if any warnings until just a few years ago.

My impression is that Pediphilia was a wolf in sheep's clothing they did not recognize. Though it generally involves a sexual act, it is in reality an act of violence on many levels that will permanently scar it's victim's soul for a lifetime. I think that due to the new policies put into place, at least local leaders know what they are to do now, regardless of whether they understand it's seriousness.

[_The Nehor]

We do believe that, it just can't be practiced right now.

uncomfortably funny... until it occurred to me that you're serious about the blood atonement stuff.

No, you really did miss the memo. It's not doctrine anymore. You won't get a temple recommend if you preach or sympathise with those that advocate it. One of the many reasons why Brigham Young and Porter Rockwell wouldn't qualify for one now either.


Though the way we draw our conclusions don't run parallel, we can both agree they don't belong in mortality.

I think you mean that you won't get a Temple Recommend if you preach or advocate that it be put into practice NOW which would be in gross violation of the law.

I don't know whether pedophiles are redeemable but I don't see how Gaz can claim they're not. The Atonement can do amazing things.

[_Jersey Girl]

Nehor,

What do you mean when you use the word "redeemable"?

Jersey Girl

[_Jason Bourne]

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:

A few years ago, Anne received a letter from a Mormon bishop in California. The bishop wrote to tell her that Joe was reapplying to be a member of the church. Would the family forgive him?

"You don't want to know what I said," says Anne.

Last I checked the main man in the New Testament said forgive to be forgiven. I recall when Terry Andersen, the news reporter who was held hostage in Lebenon for oh so long was finally freed. When asked how he felt about his captors he said basically this: "I am a Christian and we are told to forgive. I plan on forgiving them and living my life." I thought that was pretty profound given what he had been through.

You are way off base saying that the bringing up forgiveness is some special LDS thing in regards to child abuse.

[_Jason Bourne]

Stuff like this makes me physically ill. I too hope the church is better about dealing with this problem than it has been. But it's hard to know, isn't it?

It is tough to know all that goes on. This is a societal issue not just an LDS issue. It is too bad some here use it to whip the LDS Church over it. Makes me sick that some would exploit it in such a way.

[_Jason Bourne]

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:

A few years ago, Anne received a letter from a Mormon bishop in California. The bishop wrote to tell her that Joe was reapplying to be a member of the church. Would the family forgive him?

"You don't want to know what I said," says Anne.

I don't get why that bishop wrote to her with such a request. Is Joe's rebaptism conditioned upon Anne's forgiveness? I believe in forgiveness and hope someday she is ready to do that, for her own sake and her son's, but for the bishop to ask her this is intrusive, to say the least, it seeks to put the church on higher moral ground than she is on, the church takes no responsibility for this horrible thing and then it throws the responsibility -- and blame -- back on her if she won't forgive. &*(& $#E%YU# #$#@

When a person is Ex'd from the LDS Church and later wants to be baptized again a bishop HAS to ask those who were hurt by the person what their feelings are about the persons rebaptism. This is taken into account before the FP gives permissions. Typically a bishop asks for a letter fromt the person(s) harmed if they will give it and it goes with the paper work to SLC.

[_Jason Bourne]

[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.

So it makes sense that the mother was asked how she felt about Joe's readmission. And yes, her views may have an impact on Joe's readmission.

[_Bond...James Bond]

Jeez....just read that.

Honestly if I had a kid who was assaulted in that manner I might just go Gaz and curb stomp the piece of garbage. I'm a pretty liberal type person but sexual abuse of kids is something that should earn being shot on the first offense.

And no I wouldn't forgive....and that guy shouldn't forget that there's a crazed father out there who'd love to stomp a mudhole in his ass.

Of course I don't have any kids right now so......I guess the sexual predators are safe for now.