BY COMMON CONSENT MORMON Newsttriru 0 I THE MortMON ALLIANCE ALLIANCE

Volume 2, No.‘7 July 1996

SEXUAL ABUSE A “BLIP”? MORMON ALLIANCE TELLS A DIFFERENT STORY

LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley, inflicted by the father and by at least two responding to aquestion from CBS‘s MikeWallace, ecclesiastical officers in the ward. including one of told 20 millionAmericans in April 1996 that sexual the previously named . Efforts to work abuse in Mormonism and inappropriate reactions by “through channels" encountered what they call a ecclesiastical leaders constituted “a blip here, a blip stone wall. When, out of desperation they went there." public, two of the mothers were excommunicated. The first volume of the Waugh; One father resigned his membership. Whamdue to be mailed August 1, tells “Abuse is always a tragedy because it destroys another story. It documents 388 separately innocence. which is irreplaceable,” comments identifiable cases of the sexual abuse of Mormons. Anderson. “Realizing that church and home‐~the two usually children. and 183 separate perpetrators places where you should feel safest-~are dangerous “And these figures are very conservative,“ state is a nightmare. But when expectations of editors Lavina Fielding Anderson and Janice Merrill understanding. healing. and justice are not met, the Allred. “Where a perpetrator has admitted to earlier nightmare turns into adouble betrayal." ‘victims’ than the one he was caught for, but hasn't This first volume is the 1995 annual. The second given anumber. we've counted it as two. But since volume, W will come out in the the average pedophile abuses about 200 children, the fall. It will document a wider scope of ecclesiastical numbers could actually be thousands higher. And of and spiritual abuse: missionaries subject to course, this book is notcomprehensive," ‑ capricious mission presidents. difficulties imposed The book, 317 pages of tightly packed text with on members who want to resign quietly, callings and full index, is divided into two parts. The first pan temple privileges yanked at a leader's pleasure, provides a context for understanding and dealing violations of established procedures in the M with sexual abuse in the Mormon Church including WSWforconducting disciplinary statements by General Authorities, policy guidelines councils, the experiences of gay and lesbian and manuals, resources available to parents, members of the Church struggling to balance their Criminal Investigations of Mormons Involved in testimonies with the message that there is no room Child Sexual Abuse, Statements about Ecclesiastical for them in the Church, and the steady, silent Reluctance to Act on Reported Abuse, RitualAbuse. hemorrhage of members who are made to feel that and Considerations for a Public LDS Policy on they no longer fit. Child Sexual Abuse. Copies of W The second halfconsists of the intertwined and Va um; 92,5. are available for $20each (includes complex stories of three families from the same shipping and handling) from Signature Books, Oklahoma ward. Three generations of men in one 564 West 400 North, , 84116, family tell how they were sexually abused by their (801)531-1483. Copies will also be available at the bishops. In the second family, five children and their Sunstone Symposium, 14-17 August in Salt Lake traumatized mother repon sexual and ritual abuse City. CHURCHWATCH Lavina Fielding Anderson

This column contains reports of events relevant to the on-going issues of leader-member relations, Mormon feminism, andacademicfreedom.

APRIL 1996. Glade Knight and Roger Banus. Stack. “Female Exudes Compassion, " Salt parents of BYUstudents, bought Southern Virginia mm 14 December 19954 College. a l30-year»old school in Buena Visk’L Virginia, after it slumped into financial difficulties 3 JUNE 1996. The LDSChurch issued a statement: They plan to create a campus with BYU-style ”Churches are dedicated for the worship of God and standards, though they‘ve “tried to make it clear that as havens from the cares and concems of the world, this is not a church-sponsored school" Michele The carrying of lethal weapons, concealed or Davis. “LDS Owners a 'Miracle’ for College.“ otherwise, within their walls is inappropriate, except Wm 16 May I 996; Associated Press, asrequired by officers of the law." The Utah state “LDS-Led College Gets Ally in Fight for concealed-weapons permit law apparently allows Accreditation, " WWI.7June 1996, 8-11. license holders to take guns into churches. schools. and private businesses The legislative committee 7 APRE 1996. Sterling M. McMun‘in, genial responded to requests for clarification of the law on Mormon philosopher, self-proclaimed “heretic.” and 15May “coolly‘” The next week. Governor Mike former US Commissioner of Education. died in St, Leavitt said he did not favor a change in the law. George His funeral service was held at Monument Now hesays hewill lead aneffort to amend the law. Park Fifteenth Ward in Salt Lake City Where his He claims that the church‘s statement was ‘totally former bishop spoke, biographer L. Jackson Newell coincidental‘ and that heand his staffhad made their reminisced about great qualities in this mentor and decision on Monday morning. “hours” before the friend. former aide and close friend Boyer Jarvis Church released its own statement. However, on movingly read some of Sterling's favorite scriptures, Tuesday. gun activists who met with the governor and classical music rounded out the program, received no clue that he was going to reverse his Episcopalian bishop and family friend Carolyn position More than 80 percent of Utah state Tanner Irish gave the benediction Seated on the legislators are active Mormons. holding past or stand were Elders John Carmack and Hugh Pinnock. present major ecclesiastical positions. Tony Semerad, ”Guns Inappropriate in Church, LDS 31 MAY 1996. Carolyn Tanner Irish was ordained Say, " WforJune 1996, 11-1, A-6; and consecrated abishop in the Episcopalian Church Bob Bernick. Jr.. “LDS Leaders Issue Statement and bishop coadjutor of the Diocese of Utah,Irish is Saying Weapons Have no Place in Church. ” the first woman Episcopalian bishop in Utah and W 4-5 June 1996, 11-8: Dan Harrie, only the third in the nation. Irish is the daughter of “Church's Word on Guns Pack: a Real Wallop, " Obert C. Tanner, Mormon philanthropist and 53111451 Zrihgng. 9 June 1996. 8-1, 8-2. theologian, and the granddaughter of Annie Clark Tanner, whose understated and candid 6 JUNE 1996‘ Gail Turley Houston, a professor of autobiography of her life in polygamy. AMonmn English at BYUfor six years. was fired because her Mother. has made it a classic in Mormon personal “actions and words on and off campus" were writings since its publication in the 1970's Irish was “harmful to tenets held by the church and the raised a Mormon and respects her heritage but university," Gail’s department and college approved stopped attending church as a college student her application for tenure (continuing status). but the because. asshe told a reporter, she needed to be in a University Faculty Committee on Rank and Status, place “where my questions were honored." Program with the approval of President Men-ill Bateman and of in my possession; Peggy Fletcher the Provost. reversed that decision. 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Its purposes are to identify and inappropriately to sex abuse in the Church are only document ecclesiastical/spiritual abuse, to promote “a blip here and a blip there." In the same session. healing and closure for its survivors. to build more Chris Rickett, who has served on the Case Repons sensitive leadership, to empower LDS members to Committee since the summer of 1994. will discuss participate with more authenticity in Mormonism. what it's like listening to people talk through their and to foster a healthier religious community. experiences with spiritual and ecclesiastical abuse W is the quarterly newsletter In the second session, Janice Merrill Allred will of the Mormon Alliance. Comments, articles, and address the topic, “Sacrificing the Children: Why the items for inclusion are welcome. if they are submit‑ Church Won’t Fight Sexual Abuse,“ Janice will ted thirty days before the mailing deadlines, which explore the theological connections between (1) are the first weeks of January, April, July, and authoritarian leadership and the perpetration and October, Please send them to Mormon Alliance. cover-up of child sexual abuse, (2) the idolatry 6337 S. Highland Drive, Mailbox 215, Salt Lake inherent in the Church‘s willingness to sacrifice City, UT 84121. children to its image, and (3) how sexual abuse differs only in degree but not in kind from other anstees of the MormonAlliance forms of spiritual and ecclesiastical abuse In the third session, apaper-workshop, James E. Janice MenillAllred, Lavina FieldingAnderson, Chapman, a social worker and trustee of the James E. Chapman, Allen Roberts, Mormon Alliance, will repeat his popular Marti Lynne Jones, Paul Swenson presentation on “Finding Your Way Through: Helpful Guideposts for Disaffected Mormons." This Subscription Information paper/workshop will analyze the therapeutic tasks Subscriptions are $30 for each calendar year. At that accompany the three phases of ambivalence, any point during the year that a subscription begins, commitment, and integration/resolution, and en‑ you will receive the four newsletters of that year, the courage the emergence of “new Mormons," Case Reports volume for that year, and notifications Audience panicipation.response, and discussion about the quarterly meetings in January, April, is encouraged in all three sessions August. and October. On request, you may receive meeting notices at no charge. To repon cases of ecclesiastical and spiritual abuse, contact Lavina Fielding Anderson, 1519 Roberta Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84115, (801) A Usefor Friends 467-1617. When things are heard that were not heard before and we‘re in doubt about THE ALLIANCE things that up to now were true-‑ at least we thought they were» AT SUNSTONE It’slike a new, strange land where perils and promises are unpredictable. The Mormon Alliance is sponsoring a three‑ where there are not charts session run of information, discussion, debate, and and much is frightening audience response at the Sunstone Symposium in and yet to be discovered asit is, Salt Lake City, August 14-17, (Check the Sunstone We need companions more program for times and places.) than in the days when all was certain. The first session is entitled “‘ABlip Here and a Blip There': Child Sexual Abuse in the Church." --J, Donald Johnston GENERAL CONFERENCE FANTASIES

A popularpartof each conference critique is when panelists andaudience members share theirfavorite general conferencefantasy. Before April 1996 conference, W editors posted an Internet invitation on some Mormon listsfor readers to share their ownfantasies. Watch for more conference fantasies infuture issues of W.

I want to hear more “Pillars of My Faith"kinds I’d like to hear every speaker make a of sermons. Personal essays about how true determined effort to remember that young principles have brought hope and comfort, and children are being expected by their parents to strengthened faith. I want to hear celebrations try to listen, and gear their content. tone of of the Mormon experience. I want to hear voice, and delivery to that fact. (Make that a sermons that “give reasons for the hope” that is sacrament meeting fantasy too.) in us. I want to hear more inclusion than exclusion, more tolerance and love. I want to A 4 hour Q&A session where members are hear harmony, not monotone, lauded. I want to allowed to question any of the First Presidency hear diversity touted. We should celebrate the and Quorum of the Twelve from hidden differentness of individuals and what makes microphones. them uniquely beautiful. Actual conferences, where people listen to I’dgive a whole bunch to hear someone likeJ. papers, have round table discussions, and so on, Golden Kimball. rather than five sessions of plenary speakers and nothing else. And an announcement that the I‘dlove to get the impression that leaders are governing bodies of the church will be speaking their own personal truth. It might be representative of the population of the church. kind of refreshing to see one of those GA‘s in a sports jacket instead of a dark suit. It also BYUPresident Bateman gives a special address might be disamring to hear some human error in which he dissolves the Standards Department stories about what happens in their GA circles, and allows students to dress themselves. Then a so we can see they are human beings instead of strongly pro-intellectual statement on academic infallible authorities and semi-deity. freedom is instituted, and he mentions the construction of anew paleontology museum on I’dlike to hear some time over the pulpitjust the site previously slated for the new FARMS one admission of being wrong and an apology. building.

MORMON ALLIANCE 6337 HIGHLANDDRIVE MAILBOX 215 SALT LAKECITY,UTAH 84121