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BYU coach calls out excessive 'hate' after alleged anti-Mormon chants; Big 12 investigates

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:14:52 -0500

Oklahoma State’s win over BYU was overshadowed by allegations of derogatory fan chants. Wednesday's BYU-Oklahoma State game marked the fourth known instance in a year that fans have been accused of using offensive chants during a college basketball game.

The Big 12 Conference later said it launched an investigation into the matter.

"All parties have been notified," the statement said. "The conference has zero tolerance for behavior of this nature and will address the matter in accordance with Big 12 sportsmanship policies."

After the game, Cougars men's basketball coach Kevin Young said he heard the Oklahoma State student section chanting, "F The Mormons."

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Young also asserted that his children would once again have questions about what allegedly transpired in Stillwater.

"It's a great win for Oklahoma State University. Their fans should be proud," he said. "It would be great if some class was warranted in there as well. I've got four small kids at home. I'm a Mormon. When I go home, they're going to ask me about it, same way as they asked me about it last year at Arizona," the second-year Cougars coach said.

"There's just too much hate in the world to be saying stuff like that. We've got enough problems in our world without going at people's religion and beliefs and whether it's in vogue or not."

BYU is the flagship school for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon Church. ӣ��Ƶ Digital contacted both BYU and Oklahoma State athletics departments for comment.

Oklahoma State President Jim Hess sent the following statement to ӣ��Ƶ Digital:

"I am aware of concerns raised by BYU's coaching staff regarding the conduct of some individuals in attendance at Wednesday’s basketball game. Any behavior that targets or demeans others has no place at Oklahoma State University and does not reflect who we are as Cowboys. The Cowboy Code calls us to treat others with respect and dignity, and we are reviewing what occurred and will address any violations of our standards of conduct appropriately.

"Oklahoma State University values the relationship we have with BYU and deeply respects their community and their faith. I have reached out to BYU leadership directly to express our commitment to upholding the standards we expect from our community. We will continue to work with our students and fans to ensure that the atmosphere at our events reflects the values of the Cowboy family."

BYU officials did not immediately respond.

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Oklahoma State fans rushed the court to celebrate the upset of No. 16 BYU.

In February 2025, Arizona apologized after the school said some fans participated in an "unacceptable chant" after the basketball team’s 96-95 loss to BYU in Tucson. According to online video, fans were heard yelling a profane phrase directed at Mormons as the teams were leaving the court.

In September, Colorado apologized and was fined $50,000 by the Big 12 after football fans directed expletives and religious slurs at Mormons during a 24-21 loss to the Cougars in Boulder. In November, Cincinnati apologized for football fans' anti-Mormon chants during a 26-14 loss to BYU in Ohio.

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Young said four or five players on BYU’s roster are Mormon.

"I understand what we represent. … Like I said, man, I try to talk to our guys about being examples in the world, why we can use basketball to really just bring people together and not tear people apart. It's something we talk about a lot. It's just disappointing.

"I hope someone prints that. I hope it's in bold on someone's publication and just try to maybe, together as a society, we can just help the world kind of move forward and not divide each other with hate and things that are really nonsensical."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Why mass shootings spur finger-pointing by politicians as they’ve become heartbreakingly common

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 03:00:35 -0400

It seems like there’s a mass shooting every other day, to the point where some aren’t covered and others get a day or two of media attention before they’re eclipsed by other news.

What’s also striking is that the deranged loners who had no ties to outside groups, whose families say they had no interest in politics, suddenly decide to pursue their grievances and open fire, even at schools. They have access to guns and turn into monsters, often getting themselves killed, or killing themselves, in the process.

MICHIGAN CHURCH SHOOTER'S ROMANCE HISTORY EMERGES AS SUSPECT'S FATHER APOLOGIZES TO VICTIMS' FAMILIES

This applies to the Mormon Church shooter and arsonist in Michigan, who never got over a breakup with a devout Mormon a decade ago, felt pressure to join the church and started calling it the Antichrist. Some shooters have served in the military.

And that, with stunning speed, brings us to the blame game. Both the Trump Republicans and the Democrats rush to attack the other side, even before we know much about the shooter, who by any reasonable definition is clinically insane.

Jon Stewart had a rant the other night which I mostly agree with:

"There’s a mass shooting now like every couple of hours. Previously, the routine would be we express our shock; we express our sadness; we offer our thoughts and prayers; we spend a day, maybe two, arguing about the appropriateness of bringing up guns at all; and then we do nothing until the next time. But as our politics becomes more polarized, even that learned cycle of helplessness has been replaced by a new, post-shooting pastime. That new pastime is, ‘Was this one of yours?'" After playing clips of conservative and liberal shows, Stewart said: "The game is so ubiquitous, now we often play it before we even know who the perpetrator is … Now call me old-fashioned, but I miss the good old days of mass shootings when networks took a principled stance to not shower attention on acts designed to get attention."

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The "Daily Show" host says the MSM are following the lead of social media, and the left got to celebrate when the late killer had a Trump/Vance sign in front of his house.

"Who the f*** cares? These mass shootings do not fit neatly into our left-right paradigm."

Now I agree that the media are narcissistic, but that’s not what’s at play here. And the reason I never talk or write about these lunatics by name is to avoid giving them the notoriety they crave. We’ve forgotten the names of most of the shooters — even that of the second would — be assassin who was ready to fire at President Trump last year — and they should all be anonymously condemned to the dustbin of history.

But there is a left-right paradigm that, honestly, is the foundation of much of the media, especially cable news. It’s what we know. It’s what we do.

FROM AOC TO ZOHRAN MAMDANI, THE DEMOCRATS ARE PEDDLING FAR-LEFT POLITICS

Most of the recent political violence is coming from the left, no question about it. Yet liberals seem unsure what to do about it, with rote statements that try to deflect liability. They’re almost defending the worst of the worst.

That’s why they were buoyant over the Michigan shooter who rooted for Trump and Vance – to remind people that there are also political shootings from the right wing.

Now it’s conservatives playing defense – as if shooting and setting fire to a Mormon church service wasn’t horrifying enough, killing at least four people and wounding eight.

"Why are we taking the bait from these psychos?" Stewart asks.

But the montage of clips he played don’t feature pundits; they show lawmakers and other leaders being interviewed. Which is part of what the media do to cover an ongoing story, at least as long as it stays in the news.

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We keep falling into the trap. Finger-pointing often crowds out reporting of each tragedy. Maybe we’ve all become inured to it now that mass shootings are so tragically commonplace.

Footnote: While the Washington punditocracy has been trashing Kamala Harris’ book tour as hurting Democrats and reminding them of Joe Biden’s decline, sales of the book are another story. Simon & Schuster says she has sold 350,000 copies so far, and has ordered a fifth printing to bring the total to 500,000. The publisher predicts it will be the best-selling memoir of 2025. So despite the slings and arrows, she’s laughing all the way to the bank.

FBI investigating Michigan church shooting as 'targeted' violence; some worshippers unaccounted for

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 08:27:44 -0400

The FBI is looking into the Michigan church shooting and fire as an incident of targeted violence.

Authorities identified ex-Marine Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, as the suspect who allegedly smashed a pickup truck into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, opened fire and set the building ablaze during a crowded Sunday service.

Police killed Sanford after he allegedly killed at least four people and wounded eight. Authorities said he was from the neighboring small town of Burton.

"I can confirm at this time that the FBI is now leading the investigation and is investigating this as an act of targeted violence," Reuben Coleman, acting special agent in charge of FBI Detroit Field Office, said on Sunday.

WHO IS THOMAS JACOB SANFORD? WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE SUSPECTED MICHIGAN CHURCH GUNMAN

"This act of violence has no place in our state or anywhere else in our country. The FBI is committed to continue finding out the facts, circumstances, and motives behind this tragedy," he said.

MICHIGAN CHURCH SHOOTING LEAVES MULTIPLE VICTIMS; POLICE SAY SHOOTER ‘DOWN’

Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye told reporters more victims could be found as searchers made their way through the entire church. One of the wounded people was in critical condition Sunday evening and the seven others were stable, The Associated Press reported.

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Sanford's motive is not yet clear. Investigators were searching Sanford's home, but authorities did not say what they found or provide any additional details about him, including whether he was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Utah Bath & Body Works manager says she was fired over company's pronoun policy

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 05:30:24 -0400

A former Bath & Body Works store manager in Layton, Utah, said she was fired after refusing to address a transgender employee by their preferred pronouns.

Jocelyn Boden filed a charge of discrimination last week with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission after she was terminated in May from the company she had worked at for three and a half years.

Boden, a "devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," said in her charge that she was "chastised and alienated" by co-workers after she was unwilling to address a new transgender employee by their preferred pronouns. Boden said she addressed the biological female co-worker, who identified as male, by their chosen name, but because of her religious convictions, could not address the co-worker by male pronouns.

"Ultimately, team members complained about Ms. Boden’s religiously motivated decision to the human resources department," the filing states. "This complaint led to an interrogation into Ms. Boden’s use of pronouns. Ms. Boden indicated her religious objection to Bath & Body Works’ pronoun policy, including during a discussion with her district manager just two days before the district manager terminated Ms. Boden’s employment."

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Boden was promptly fired after these complaints were filed, without warning and in violation of the company’s discipline policy, according to the filing.

A Bath & Body Works spokesperson told ӣ��Ƶ Digital, "Bath & Body Works complies with all laws concerning employment practices. As an equal opportunity employer, we do not discriminate in our management of our associates on the basis of any protected status."

According to documents in the filing, the company discharged Boden for violating their code of conduct, "which prohibits any unwanted conduct directed at an individual based on their sex, which includes sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or transgender status."

"Jocelyn admitted to this behavior and shared with multiple parties that she refused to use correct pronouns. As a result of this investigation, and her admittance, we are making the decision to part ways and end their employment effective immediately," her alleged termination notice states.

The discrimination charge was filed by Texas-based legal group, First Liberty, a group that fights religious liberty cases.

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First Liberty claims Bath & Body Works' conduct violated Boden’s religious rights under Title VII, which prohibits employment discrimination based on protected characteristics such as race and sex. It also alleged the company violated the Utah Anti-discrimination Act when it "retaliated" against Boden for expressing her religious beliefs, failed to grant her a religious accommodation, perpetuated a "hostile work environment" and "wrongfully" terminated her employment.

"I believe that using pronouns out of line with this understanding of gender is dishonest," Boden said in the filing to the EEOC. "My convictions do not allow me to lie by affirming a reality I believe is false. Therefore, I cannot refer to a female using male pronouns."

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Most workplace discrimination claims have to be processed through the EEOC before they can be resolved in court, Stephanie Taub, senior counsel for First Liberty, told CBN News.

The EEOC told ӣ��Ƶ Digital it was prohibited by law from commenting on alleged charges filed.

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Bath & Body Works LLC received a 100% score on providing an inclusive workplace by the Human Rights Campaign in 2025 and was named a leader in LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion.

American Culture Quiz: Test yourself on celeb birthstones and birthplaces, plus salutes to D-Day and Old Glory

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 05:12:07 -0400

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The American Culture Quiz from ӣ��Ƶ Digital offers eight new questions each week that test your command of our unique national traits, trends, history, people and popular interests.

This week's quiz unfurls the history of the Stars and Stripes — plus shines light on unforeseen challenges of the D-Day invasion of Europe in June 1944. But June is about more than just American history books. See how well you know celebrity birthstones and the birthplace of a late-blooming movie star.

Can you get all eight questions right?

To try your hand at more quizzes from ӣ��Ƶ Digital, click here.

Also, to take our latest News Quiz — published every Friday — click here.

(Photo credits: Getty Images, AP Images, iStock, ӣ��Ƶ Digital)

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LDS Church buys Kirtland temple, other historic buildings, from Community of Christ: 'Significant'

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 19:53:09 -0400

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased the historic Kirtland Temple, the first LDS temple built, along with other historical buildings and artifacts, from the Community of Christ, another Latter Day Saint denomination, the two groups announced in a joint statement last week.

"The responsibility and ownership for the Kirtland Temple, several historic buildings in Nauvoo, and various manuscripts and artifacts officially transferred from Community of Christ to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for an agreed-upon amount," said the March 5 statement, which was unsigned.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints paid the Community of Christ $192.5 million "without assigning specific values to the properties and items," said its website.

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The Kirtland Temple is located in Kirtland, Ohio.

Nauvoo, another city that is important to adherents of the LDS faith, is located in Illinois.

"Together, we share an interest in and reverence for these historic sites and items and are committed to preserving them for future generations," the statement also noted, adding that the process behind the sale began back in June 2021.

"This exchange of assets is significant for our church," said Stephen M. Veazey, president of Community of Christ.

"Through funding from increased endowments, Community of Christ will have greater capacity to pursue our mission priorities around the world, including continuing to fulfill the divinely envisioned purposes for our Temple in Independence, Missouri."

The Community of Christ, known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS) until the year 2001, dates back to Joseph Smith's creation of the Church of Christ in 1830, its website indicates.

Following Smith's death, the RLDS believed that his eldest son, Joseph Smith III, was to lead the Latter Day Saint movement, rather than Brigham Young.

There are about 250,000 members of the Community of Christ around the world, says its website, making it the second-largest Latter Day Saint denomination.

"Joseph [Smith] III conveyed Kirtland Temple to us. The Nauvoo properties are the Smith family properties. The paintings came from the Smith family; the New Translation manuscripts came from the Smith family, the Finney Bible came from the Smith family," said Community of Christ Apostle Lachlan Mackay in a statement provided to ӣ��Ƶ Digital.

"So the proceeds from the sale, at some level, are an extraordinarily generous gift from them, that will sustain us [financially] into the future," said Mackay.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, formerly known as Mormons, expressed gratitude for the work the Community of Christ did over the last century to maintain the buildings and artifacts.

"We are deeply honored to assume the stewardship of these sacred places, documents and artifacts," said Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in a statement.

"We thank our friends at Community of Christ for their great care and cooperation in preserving these historical treasures thus far. We are committed to doing the same," he said.

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The Kirtland Temple, dedicated in 1836, is now open for tours and is home to the "Spiritual Formation Center," says its website.

There are no immediate plans to transform the Kirtland Temple into a modern-day LDS temple, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said on its website.

The Kirtland Temple "will remain a historic building" and members of the Community of Christ will continue to have access to the building "for special meetings and gatherings over the coming years."

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints plans to reopen it March 25, 2024, for public tours at no charge," the organization said.

"Likewise, in Nauvoo, the Smith Family Homestead, the Mansion House, and the Red Brick Store will also reopen on March 25, 2024, for year-round public tours at no charge."

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In a statement published on its own website, the Community of Christ said the sale was necessary to allow for the church to continue its ministry.

"The current and future needs of the church, coupled with discerning God’s continuing call to pursue Christ’s peace in all its dimensions, created a compelling case for decisive action," said the Community of Christ.

"Leaders came to understand that letting go of these physical assets — as painful as it was —would generate financial resources that will make a significant difference in our ability to respond to that future," the group said.

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The ability to honor the denomination's history "is not dependent on ownership of properties or items," said the Community of Christ.

"The Historic Sites Foundation will continue to be a valued partner in telling and sharing the sacred story of Community of Christ. A shared memory of our past and an informed understanding of its meaning prepare us to courageously move into the future."

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Utah bill would protect clergy members when reporting child abuse to police

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 12:25:43 -0500

Utah faith leaders who learn about ongoing child abuse from a perpetrator during a religious confession will be able to alert police without fear of legal ramifications under a bill that received final legislative approval Thursday in the state Senate.

The measure extends to clergy members the same legal protections that exist for mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect, such as doctors, teachers or therapists. It passed the Senate in a 26-0 vote after receiving similarly unanimous approval in the House earlier this month. It now heads to the desk of Republican Gov. Spencer Cox.

State law in Utah, where the vast majority of lawmakers belong to the locally headquartered Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, exempts clergy of all denominations from a requirement to report child abuse if they learn about the crime in a confessional setting. Certain communications to clergy are considered privileged under the law, meaning neither the clergy member nor the person who confessed can be forced to testify in court about the contents of the conversation.

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While the bill does not remove the legal loophole known as clergy-penitent privilege, Rep. Anthony Loubet said it provides new protections that could incentivize clergy members to come forward. State law already requires clergy members who learn about abuse from any source other than the perpetrator to tell authorities.

"We hope to foster an environment where reporting child abuse is seen as not only a moral duty, but also a legally protected act," the Kearns Republican and primary sponsor said. "This bill represents a step forward in achieving that balance."

Religious leaders who report abuse still will not be required to testify. But by reporting the crime to police, Loubet said a more objective party can start investigating and find other witnesses to speed up abuse intervention.

Past proposals from Utah lawmakers to scrap the clergy exemption never even received a committee hearing as powerful religious groups pressured lawmakers to defend the sacred nature of confidential confessions. The new policy shielding clergy from being sued by a confessant they've accused of abuse is notably not opposed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, both organizations told The Associated Press this week.

However, the Catholic Diocese expressed concern that the bill could be a gateway to further changes requiring Catholic priests to report abuse learned through confession, which spokesperson Marie Mischel said would present them with "the untenable choice of breaking the law or being excommunicated."

Doug Anderson, spokesperson for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said church leaders do not oppose the policy but would not elaborate.

An earlier investigation by The AP revealed that more than half the states grant clergy-penitent privilege. As a result, some child predators who admit their crimes to clergy but not to law enforcement remain free and can continue harming children without police intervention.

Although child welfare advocates have attempted to alter or eliminate the privilege, religious institutions including the Catholic Church, the Latter-day Saints and the Jehovah’s Witnesses have successfully lobbied state legislators throughout the country to maintain the loophole. The AP has catalogued more than 100 attempts to amend or eliminate the privilege, all of which failed.

The AP investigation also found that the privilege is part of a risk management playbook that has helped the faith widely known as the Mormon church keep child sexual abuse cases secret. In addition to invoking the clergy privilege, the church also runs a sexual abuse reporting helpline that church leaders can use to divert abuse accusations away from law enforcement and instead to church attorneys who might bury the problem.

Loubet has characterized the Utah bill as a compromise that enhances child protections while maintaining respect for sacred practices — interests that he said should not be mutually exclusive.

Similar bills in Vermont and Delaware failed to pass out of committee last year. A clergy reporting proposal remains active in the Washington state House after it passed the Senate earlier this month.

Child abuse prevention advocates such as Rabbi Avremi Zippel, program director at Chabad Lubavitch of Utah and chair of the Utah Crime Victims Council, said clergy members often see the good in people and can be blinded by their own subjectivity when they hear reports of wrongdoing.

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Zippel, an outspoken survivor of childhood sexual abuse, said it's important for religious leaders to know they can divert to impartial investigators who might be able to save a child like him from future harm.

"For clergy, so often we make it an attempt in our regular day-to-day lives to portray God. And sadly, from time to time, the impetus is born for us to play God," he said. "The ability for clergy to also have the ability to avail themselves of the protections of reporting, to kick those situations to an objective outsider, is a gift that so many of our clergy across the state approve of."

But some local lawyers, such as Steve Burton of the Utah Defense Attorneys Association, have said abusers often approach church leaders because they have no one else they can ask for help. The bill, he argued, undermines that trust and may lead abusers to never pursue a path toward healing.

New leader in LDS church says it should do more to help victims of sexual abuse

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 14:32:49 -0500

The newest member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' top governing body said every faith — including his — must do more to protect victims of sexual abuse and help facilitate a healing process.

Last month, Patrick Kearon, 62, became the first new member since 2018 named to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the body which oversees the business interests and global development of the faith widely known as the Mormon church.

Speaking to The Associated Press on Tuesday, Kearon, who was raised in England and converted to the faith as an adult, outlined the global, compassionate approach he would take on a range of sensitive issues from the border crisis to the LGBTQ community. He was particularly emphatic on how he would like sex abuse victims to be cared for by the church.

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"There is no question in my mind that the abuse of a child or the deliberate abuse of anyone is the most heinous crime and must not be tolerated in any form," he said. "We must all be much better — regardless of which religious group or denomination — in caring for those who have been victims of those crimes heal, and move beyond just surviving that ordeal."

An AP investigation found that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ sexual abuse reporting hotline can be misused by its leaders to divert abuse accusations away from law enforcement and instead to church attorneys who may bury the problem, leaving victims in harm’s way. The Utah-based faith has stuck by the system despite the criticism and increasing scrutiny from attorneys and prosecutors who argue it is inadequate to quickly stop abuse and protect victims.

Kearon didn’t speak specifically about the hotline, but said the church does have protocols for reporting these crimes, which must be observed.

"We must deploy everything we can to help those who have been mistreated in the most dreadful ways, heal," he said. "There has been a lot of progress made in this regard, but we need to get better. "

Sex abuse incidents have such catastrophic and lifelong impacts on victims that there is little room for slip-ups, Kearon said.

"Even if one person slips through your fingers in terms of trying to help them heal, it's a disaster," he said.

Kearon, who many have described as a rising star in the church, filled a vacancy in the church's top governing body that was created by the death of M. Russell Ballard in November. Members serve lifetime appointments under the church president and his two top counselors.

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Born in England, Kearon has lived and worked there, in Saudi Arabia as well as in the U.S. in various industries including health care, food, transportation and communications. After joining the church, Kearon served in several leadership roles of increasing importance.

Raised in the Anglican Church, he converted on Christmas Eve in 1987 after what he describes as a "two-year journey of learning" that was peppered with doubt, cynicism, even disbelief. Even though his parents prayed at home, the family attended church only during Christmas and Easter or for special events, he said.

Kearon said he appreciates the "gentle foundation" his upbringing gave him because it allowed him to welcome faith as a driving force later in life when he fully understood that it was strong belief that made Latter-day Saints joyful and positive.

He sees his global background as relevant because the church is growing faster globally than it is in the U.S. Last year, the church announced that it reached 17 million members worldwide by the end of 2022, which reflects a 26% increase in convert baptisms compared to the previous year.

"That trend is going to continue," he said, adding that having served and lived in different parts of the world helps him think globally about issues that might only seem to affect one region or one country.

Kearon extends his perspective of a global church to issues such as immigration, which is contentious in the U.S. with a presidential election looming. He is well known for his 2016 speech urging compassion for refugees fleeing war-torn parts of the Middle East and Africa.

As a faith leader, while he understands the role of borders, Kearon said he believes in the idea of kindness, inclusion and welcoming the stranger.

"Our father in heaven does not see borders," he said. "Wherever his children are, we should be loving them."

He extends the same message of empathy when it comes to the LGBTQ community. The faith believes that while having feelings of same-sex attraction is not a sin, acting on it is.

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"It's important to try and understand others because we are all children of God," he said. "That takes work, and is not easy. But, when we look at these issues through a clear, simple lens of our belief, that really helps."

Kearon also emphasized that there should be no room for radicalization or nationalism in this faith.

"Any type of radicalization, as it's most commonly expressed, brings problems," he said. "Wherever we are in the world, we need to be a healing force in our communities and follow Jesus Christ's invitation to love our neighbors."

Survivors of polygamist cult reveal inner sanctum of murder, sweatshops, car theft rings

Sun, 07 Jan 2024 04:00:35 -0500

Survivors who endured decades of abuse and violence detailed their experience in a fundamentalist Mormon cult, headed by a polygamist nicknamed "The Mormon Manson," that is credited with dozens of assassinations.

The Church of the First Born Lamb of God, headed in Chihuahua, Mexico and lead by self-styled prophet Ervil LeBaron, is dissected in full bloody detail in the Hulu documentary series "Daughters of the Cult."

"It blows my mind. I sit and think, ‘This is impossible,'" Celia LeBaron, one of the cult leader's daughters, said in the new documentary. "If I hadn’t lived through it, I don’t know if I could believe it. Our family was killing people because of our father."

Another of LeBaron's children interviewed in the series, Hyrum, told producers that he was unsure exactly how many siblings he had from his father's side – collectively, they estimated approximately 50.

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church and headquartered in Utah, abandoned polygamy in 1890.

In response, Alma Dayer LeBaron moved south of the border with his wives and children in 1924, NBC News reported. Ervil and his older brother broke free from their father's community, attempting to join the Latter-day Saints.

But after they were excommunicated for practicing polygamy, the family started the Church of the First Born in response.

LeBaron, who would have 13 wives and at least 50 children, broke off to start his own church in the '60s. Soon, he began targeting rival cult leaders, convincing his flock to do his bidding in exchange for admittance into heaven.

"We were taught to live in awe of him as God's prophet, as the one true prophet on Earth," Anna LeBaron, Ervil’s daughter, told BBC.

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Blood atonement – an old Mormon doctrine that allowed sinners to be killed to cleanse them of evil – was used as reasoning for the killings, BBC reported. Leaders of the church refer to the practice as a "theoretical principle" that they do not implement in practice, according to the Deseret News.

LeBaron murdered his own brother for control of the group in 1972, according to the documentary – before he was sentenced to life in prison in 1980 in the death of rival sect leader Rulon Allred, he urged his followers to carry out numerous killings on his behalf.

Although LeBaron was arrested in Mexico for his brother's killing two years later, his conviction was overturned as the result of a technicality – or, according to some interviewed in the five-part docuseries, a bribe.

His followers raided Los Molinos, an offshoot sect started by LeBaron's younger brother, to kill the opposing cult leader – although they destroyed the town and killed two men, Verlan LeBaron was unscathed.

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The cult would kill at least 25 people in Mexico, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Allred, a homeopath and chiropractor in Salt Lake City who had 48 wives, headed the Apostolic United Bretheren sect – on May 10, 1977, two women in disguises and red wigs broke into his practice and shot him dead on LeBaron's orders, per reporting by Oxygen.com.

Police investigating the murder began to suspect that Allred's religion was the motivation for his killing after pamphlets from the Church of the First Born Lamb of God telling readers to "repent or be destroyed" were distributed among Allred's followers, Oxygen reported.

Two red wigs and a box containing a gun were found near the scene – investigators were able to trace that gun back to his youngest wife, Rena Chynoweth.

When LeBaron was arrested, his web of criminal activity – that spanned from the murders to sweatshops and car theft rings – began to unravel.

But even after his death at 56 years old of an apparent suicide 1981, his followers continued to kill in his name.

Based on a screed written by the late LeBaron during his incarceration, his followers compiled a hit list of about 50 people, Oxygen reported.

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Several members of the cult were arrested in the ‘80s and ’90s, according to VICE, and one was arrested in 2011 in connection to four Texas killings.

Nine members of LeBaron's family in a convoy en route to a wedding were shot dead in 2019 by Mexican hitmen, VICE reported. The family had allegedly been speaking out against drug traffickers and advocating for looser gun controls to protect themselves against them.

Over 50 members of Utah Mormon congregations suffer carbon monoxide poisoning during service

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 06:59:38 -0500

Over 50 members of a Utah Mormon Congregation suffered symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning during a service this weekend.

At least 54 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse in Monroe, Utah reported symptoms, according to NBC News, though only 49 required treatment. The Church says it suspects a malfunction with the building's heating system was to blame.

Church officials say the building will remain closed until they have confirmed the issue is fixed.

"We are concerned for the well-being of everyone impacted and are praying for their recovery," the church said in a statement, adding that it is "working to support medical and other expenses" for affected parishioners.

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Specific details about the symptoms from Sunday's incident were not forthcoming, but at least 22 people were hospitalized immediately after the service.

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Problems began when a 4-year-old girl reported breathing problems, followed by a man who began to feel sick, and a third person who reported a headache after leaving the building, according to NBC.

Ultimately, the local fire department was called. They confirmed the carbon monoxide leak and ordered an evacuation.

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The Sheriff's office in Monroe stated that local first responders did not have enough ambulances to transport all of the people reporting symptoms, and so units from nearby counties were called in, according to NBC.

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Church officials have not announced when they expect the building to be usable again.

M. Russell Ballard, second-in-line to lead LDS Church, dies at 95

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 13:47:52 -0500

One of the highest ranking leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, M. Russell Ballard, has died. He was 95.

He died Sunday surrounded by family at his home, according to a church statement Monday morning.

Ballard was second-in-line to become church president based on being the second-longest tenured member of a top governing body called the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, which he said he was called to join in 1985. The leadership body sits below the first presidency, and helps set church policy and oversees the faith’s business interests.

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The longest-tenured member of the Quorum becomes the new president in a church tradition established in 1889 to prevent lobbying and ensure a smooth transition in the faith known widely as the Mormon church.

Ballard was a great-great grandson of church co-founder Hyrum Smith. Beginning as a young missionary in England, he rose through church leadership ranks, becoming a bishop, president of the Toronto mission and member of the Presidency of the Seventy.

Speaking at a church conference last April, Ballard said the most valuable things in life are those that last the longest, including family relationships, which he realized when visiting the victims of natural disasters.

"Many were displaced, hungry and frightened. They needed medical assistance, food and shelter. They also needed their families," Ballard said. "These relationships are essential for emotional and physical health."

Recently Ballard was in the news as the church publicly accused Tim Ballard, the unrelated founder of the anti-child-trafficking organization Operation Underground Railroad, of unauthorized use of M. Russell Ballard’s name for "personal advantage and activity regarded as morally unacceptable."

Tim Ballard has denied the allegation and a lawsuit claims that he sexually coerced and assaulted women who took part in child-trafficking stings overseas.

M. Russell Ballard was born in Salt Lake City in 1928 to Melvin R. and Geraldine Smith Ballard. His wife, Barbara, died in 2018. He is survived by his seven children, 43 grandchildren, 105 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

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Funeral arrangements are pending.

In accordance with church traditions, a replacement will be chosen for Ballard at a yet-to-be determined time. Those announcements are often made at the faith's twice-yearly conference, the next of which is scheduled for the first weekend of April.

New members can come from anywhere, but in modern history most were already serving in a lower-tier leadership council. They tend to be older men who have achieved a measure of success in occupations outside the church.

The last five chosen for the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, including three in October 2015 and two in the spring of 2018, fit that description.

Minnesota pastor's viral post about people drinking coffee in church ignites fiery debate

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 04:15:55 -0400

A post by Pastor John Piper of Minnesota on Saturday, Sept. 30, has sparked a heated debate about the appropriateness of drinking coffee during Sunday church services.

"Can we reassess whether Sunday coffee-sipping in the sanctuary fits?" asked Piper on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Piper, a Baptist, is a theologian, pastor and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary in Minneapolis.

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Piper added that Hebrews 12:28 states, "Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe."

Piper's post has garnered over 1,000 responses, with some users appearing shocked at the very idea of bringing coffee into solemn church services — while others didn't seem phased in the least.

"I think we have bigger fish to fry, John. Personally, I'm in awe God puts up with me at all, Sunday through Saturday," wrote X user @Kellys_ex.

"There is a valid principle to consider here, whether or not you agree w/this particular application," noted another user, @NathanielJolly. "Those w/ a heart & concern for reverential worship & holiness should take some time to consider the principle."

ӣ��Ƶ Digital reached out to Piper for comment.

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Said one Roman Catholic priest in response to a ӣ��Ƶ Digital query, "Who's drinking coffee during Mass?!"

In Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Coptic and certain Protestant denominations, adherents are required to fast from food and beverages prior to receiving the Eucharist.

Each tradition has its own rules regarding how long adherents should fast, as their various websites noted.

Canon 919 of the Code of Canon Law states that those who will be receiving communion must fast from all food and beverages other than water for at least one hour prior to reception.

The fasting time frame used to be longer, Fr. Paul Hedman of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis told ӣ��Ƶ Digital.

"For a long time, this fast was from midnight — 'breakfast' is when you ‘broke the fast,’" said the Roman Catholic priest. "In recent times, this was reduced to three hours and now one hour prior to receiving communion," he said.

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In practice, this means that Catholics who will be receiving communion should not eat or drink about 20 minutes prior to the start of Mass, he said.

"While no Church law prevents someone who isn't receiving communion from eating or drinking at Mass, it would be unseemly for anyone to do so other than young children, as the sanctuary and nave of a Catholic Church are spaces consecrated specifically for worship," said Fr. Hedman.

Sarah St. Onge, who describes herself as Lutheran and is based in New York, wrote on X that she was "shocked at all of you," meaning those who defended the idea of drinking coffee during religious services.

St. Onge later clarified that while the strong language in her tweet was "in jest," she's still vehemently opposed to people bringing coffee to church — although she did not believe it was a sin.

"I have never said it's a sin to drink coffee in church, so no, I am not being legalistic, judgmental, whatever," she said.

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"The average American church service lasts less than two hours," St. Onge also told ӣ��Ƶ Digital.

And the average person, she said, should be able to "manage two hours without having a coffee."

Some people argued on X that coffee in the sanctuary was completely fine and even in line with biblical teaching.

"'Worship' is about the community coming together. So yes, coffee (and of course tea!) absolutely fits — hospitality is a gift from above," Ryan Peter, an author and musician, posted in response to Piper's original query.

X user "Freedom Dude" said that drinking coffee in church "keeps my mind sharp and ready to receive the Word."

He added, "I see no problem with it as long as it's not a distraction."

Rev. Hans Fiene, pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Crestwood, Missouri, is not in favor of church attendees drinking coffee during religious services.

"While the vast majority of Lutherans I know are coffee lovers, I've known very few who would ever think of bringing a cup of it into the sanctuary during the divine service," Fiene told ӣ��Ƶ Digital.

Fiene added that for Lutherans, "Holy worship is far more than a theological lecture. It's gathering to receive Christ's forgiveness, life and salvation."

He also said, "When God pours out these gifts upon us through His word and sacraments, that makes our sanctuary the holiest place on earth. Let's not turn our Father's house into a house of fair trade dark roast."

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Not all clergy members who spoke to ӣ��Ƶ Digital about the issue are opposed to members of their congregations sipping coffee in the middle of Sunday services.

Fr. Chris Steele, pastor of St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in Dallas, Texas, told ӣ��Ƶ Digital that in his parish, "coffee seems to be the 8th sacrament."

The Episcopalians, he said, do not have formal rules in place regarding fasting before the reception of Communion. (There is no mention of fasting in The Principles of Canon Law Common to the Churches of the Anglican Communion, nor in the Episcopal Church's Constitution and Canons.)

"There's a broad spectrum of practices," Steele said. "Some [people] do fast, but it's personal. Not many bring anything but water to the Eucharist, but during Morning Prayer on weekdays, it's common."

St. Christopher's, said Steele, has a "casual but reverent" approach to worship. "We're small and I'm busy enough that being the coffee cop isn't a good use of my time," he said.

The debate over coffee in church is a complete non-starter for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also known as the Mormons.

Coffee is strictly forbidden — at all times.

"In the early 1800s, God revealed a law of physical and spiritual health that we refer to as the Word of Wisdom," says the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on its website. "In this law, God details foods that are good for us to eat as well as substances we should avoid because of the harm they cause our bodies."

Coffee, along with tea and alcohol, are among the substances that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints avoid.

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A rabbi based in Florida shared his perspective with ӣ��Ƶ Digital on the notion of drinking coffee during religious services.

"In Jewish tradition, prayer is an opportunity to dialogue with, praise and even make requests from Almighty God," said Rabbi Pinchas Taylor of Plantation, Florida, who serves as director of the American Faith Coalition, a not-for-profit organization focused on sharing the moral laws and spiritual values of the Hebrew Bible.

"Attending synagogue and praying with a congregation is geared to create the experience of approaching a king," Taylor also said. "With that in mind, we do things that help us get into that mindset. For example, we dress up in a way that we would, were we in front of a king of flesh and blood. We put on certain garb — not because God ‘cares’ what we wear, but to put ourselves in the headspace of standing before the King of Kings."

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He added, "Prayer is an exercise in humility, and sipping coffee during the prayer experience seems to be something casual and irreverent, not befitting being in the focused presence of royalty … Overall, this seems like something that should be avoided."

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Social media users raised red flags about mommy blogger 'abuse' long before arrest

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 15:04:19 -0400

Months before mommy blogger Ruby Franke was arrested on suspicions of child abuse, fellow social media influencers and users had been sounding the alarm on the mom’s alleged abuse.

"I make documentaries and short films on unsolved cases true crime and social media influencers who abuse their power and manipulate audiences, because as I always say, it's not drama, it's dangerous," YouTuber known as "Swoop" said in a video back in March detailing Franke’s videos and alleged abuse.

Franke, a 41-year-old Mormom mom of six, was arrested last Wednesday after Santa Clara-Ivins police received a dispatch call around 10:50 p.m. from a youth asking for help.

The child was found malnourished and emaciated with "open wounds and duct tape around the extremities." Police responded to the home where the kid lived and found another child in similar condition. Both children were taken to an area hospital.

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One of Franke's adult daughters, Shari Franke, 20, posted a photo to her Instagram story on Thursday showing a police car parked on a suburban street, with the word "Finally." In another Instagram story that followed, Shari shared a statement.

"Hi all. Today has been a big day," she wrote. "Me and my family are so glad justice is being served. We've been trying to tell police and CPS for years about this, and so glad they finally decided to step up. Kids are safe, but there's a long road ahead. Please keep them in your prayers and also respect their privacy."

Franke’s channel "8 Passengers" amassed 2.5 million subscribers since it was launched in early 2015, before Franke jumped over to a different channel called "ConneXions."

Franke and ConneXions partner Jodi Hildebrand were arrested for alleged aggravated child abuse.

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Months before her arrest, internet sleuths had pointed out her alleged questionable, and perhaps illegal behavior.

"If you cut one more thing in my house, I'm going to take the scissors with me and I'm going to cut its head off," Franke told one of her children in a video/

Swoop struck a quizzical tone in her video, published months before Franke’s arrest, asking why a mom would post a video of her kids learning to shave, or why one son was sent to outdoor summer therapy camp.

"Now Ruby makes everything content, all the typical adolescent stuff that probably does not belong on the internet. Now to Ruby, it's all fair game even when her children show surprise or discomfort that they're being filmed during a particularly vulnerable moment, even when he asked her to stop or to put the camera down. Ruby didn't want to do it," Swoop said.

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The Utah mom was charging parents up to $15,000, and as low as $5,000, as a mental health counselor for parents as a "mental fitness trainer," Swoop recounted back in March.

TikTok has also exploded with videos exposing Franke for allegedly withholding food from her kids, exploiting them and accusing at least one daughter of faking an eating disorder. Other commenters and accounts claimed they had long picked up on signs that the mom was allegedly abusing her kids, pointing to how the kids said on camera they didn’t want to be filmed or how the mom recorded monumental moments such as a child learning how to shave.

Franke’s neighbors said they had long been concerned about her treatment of the children.

"Everyone is just breathing a collective sigh of relief, because we thought they were going to come out of that house with body bags," a male neighbor told NBC News under the condition of anonymity.

The neighbors alleged that Franke would insert herself into their day-to-day lives, including allegedly lecturing a male neighbor about a poster in his garage featuring women in their shorts.

UTAH JUDGE ASTONISHED BY TEEN KILLER'S LACK OF REMORSE: ‘IS THAT THE BEST YOU CAN DO?’

"I remember that she took away their Christmas one year," one male neighbor told NBC News. "And she would say things like ‘They’re not repenting correctly,’ which is a Mormon term for ‘they’re sinning.’ Just complete insanity."

Even Franke’s family members said they drew a fresh breath after they knew that her young children were safe following her arrest.

"It would feel very out of place for me to continue to post my regular content after the arrest of my sister. It feels like a weight has been lifted as we now know our nieces and nephews are safe," Franke’s sister, Bonnie Hoellein, posted in a since-deleted YouTube video, according to NBC.

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It is not clear when Franke and Hildebrand are ordered for a court appearance.

Utah district bans Bible in elementary and middle schools 'due to vulgarity or violence'

Sat, 03 Jun 2023 12:03:58 -0400

In the Bible, Jesus says "Let the children come to me" — but parents and teachers in Utah have decided it'll have to wait until high school.

At Davis School District, located north of Salt Lake City, the collection of Christian scripture has been shelved for students until they enter high school.

The district has removed the Bible from their elementary and middle school libraries after receiving a petition to ban the holy book due to its descriptions of sex and violence.

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The Bible ban is not the first of its kind — Utah schools previously began removing other books from libraries after a 2022 state law required schools to consider parents' input on age-appropriate books.

The Book of Mormon — a sacred text of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints — is the next holy book up for evaluation at the district.

On Dec. 11, the David School District received the petition from a parent to have the Bible removed from schools for being what the parent considered a "sex-ridden" book.

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The petition of the parent requesting review of the Bible was made available in March 2022 with the parent’s name and address withheld.

In the petition, the anonymous parent seems to mock Utah Parents United, a conservative parents coalition that sought to remove inappropriately sexual books from school libraries.

Within the first five months of the law being in place, parents filed over 250 complaints petitioning for certain books to be removed from schools.

"Utah Parents United left off one of the most sex-ridden books around: The Bible. You’ll no doubt find that the Bible has ‘no serious values for minors’ because it’s pornographic by our new definition," the petition read.

This complaint followed the passing of Utah’s "Sensitive Materials in Schools" law enacted in May which "prohibits certain sensitive instructional materials" if they contain "explicit sexual arousal, stimulation, masturbation, intercourse, sodomy or fondling."

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"Get this PORN out of our schools," the parent wrote along with an eight-page listing of "offensive" Bible passages. "If the books that have been banned so far are any indication for way lesser offenses, this should be a slam dunk."

The school district itself did not explain its reasoning for banning the Bible, nor did it cite which verses were the deciding factor in its removal.

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Davis School District boasts over 72,000 students across all grade levels.

ӣ��Ƶ Digital's Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report.

LDS church rejects whistleblower's allegations from '60 Minutes' interview

Tue, 16 May 2023 07:22:20 -0400

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) rejected the allegations brought forth by a whistleblower who claimed in a "60 Minutes" interview that the Church is operating a "clandestine hedge fund" after having accumulated more than $100 billion in assets.

David Nielsen, who worked for nine years at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ investment arm, Ensign Peak Advisers, argued that the church should lose its tax-exempt status for allegedly not using the money for charitable purposes.

In a statement to ӣ��Ƶ Digital, a spokesperson for the church condemned Nielsen's claims and the "60 Minutes" report.

"The Church believes in being financially responsible by carefully ensuring it has adequate resources available to fulfill its divinely appointed responsibilities," an LDS spokesperson told ӣ��Ƶ Digital. "To Church members who support the work of salvation through living the gospel of Jesus Christ, caring for those in need, inviting all to receive the gospel and uniting families for eternity, we’ll continue to move forward consistent with the gospel of Jesus Christ which makes this world a better place."

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"It’s unfortunate 60 Minutes sought to elevate a story based on unfounded allegations by a former employee who has a different view on how the Church should manage its resources," the statement added. The church added that it moves forward "consistent with the gospel of Jesus Christ."

In the interview, Nielsen told CBS News that the church collects an estimated $7 billion annually from its 17 million members through a practice known as tithing – which involves the church expecting members to contribute 10% of their incomes.

What is not spent each year is transferred into a reserve fund, Nielsen said. He claimed that this fund has ballooned beyond $100 billion since its inception in 1997.

That amount, CBS noted, is twice the size of Harvard's endowment or the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Nielsen claimed that Ensign Peak used false records and statements to falsely present as a charity, hoarding money and misleading church members.

"You could solve big problems with $100 billion," Nielsen said. "I thought we were gonna change the world. And we just grew the bank account."

"I thought I was gonna work for a charity. I thought that's what my skills were gonna do," Nielsen told CBS, "was help build the charity and do good with things. And the funds were never used for that. It was really a clandestine hedge fund."

Nielsen told "60 Minutes" that his former church bosses explained to him how the extra funds would be used for "the second coming."

"It's a bit tongue in cheek. But deep down, I think a lot of the employees really did believe that," he said.

In the interview, Nielsen said that in 2013, one of his bosses allegedly shared a document in a meeting disclosing how $1.4 billion from the fund went to the construction of a mall on land owned by the church and $600 million went to Beneficial Life, a church-owned, for-profit insurance company.

"Look, I'm not an expert on charities. But I'd been around the block enough to know that charitable organizations can't bail out for-profit businesses and maintain their charitable status," Nielsen said.

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In 2018, Nielsen alleges, the church called an emergency meeting after a website called "Mormonleaks" allegedly connected church members to shell companies that held billions of dollars in stocks and bonds. Nielsen resigned in 2019 and filed a 74-page whistleblower complaint with the Internal Revenue Service alleging that Ensign Peak violated its tax-exempt status by moving funds to for-profit businesses. It was not until 2021, he says, that he was contacted instead by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Christopher Waddell, one of three church bishops who oversees finances, said of Nielsen’s account of how the firm operated, "That's not just incorrect, that's flat-out wrong."

"As a Christian church we believe that someday there, Jesus Christ will return. But that's not why we have those resources. It's for the continuing operation and for the future," Waddell told CBS. "The Church actually owned Beneficial Life. And fortunately the church had the resources to bail out Beneficial Life during the Financial Crisis, 2008, 2009."

He added the mall project was not a bailout, but an investment.

Waddell also declined to disclose the estimated value of Ensign Peak given that religious organizations are exempt from having to fully disclose all financial information to the IRS. The SEC, however, requires any firm with more than $100 million in securities to file accurate reports on its holdings in order to protect market fairness and transparency.

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The SEC later found that the church "went to great lengths" to hide $32 billion in securities over nearly 20 years, creating 13 shell companies assigned to local phone numbers that went directly to voicemail. Ultimately, the SEC announced charges that were settled in February when Ensign Peaks agreed to a $4 million fine, and the church agreed to pay $1 million.

Push to require Mormon clergy to report child sexual abuse in Utah stalls

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 07:14:03 -0500

Lindsay Lundholm looked out over hundreds of people at the Utah State Capitol last year and felt a deep sense of healing. Abuse survivors, religious leaders and major party politicians were all gathered to rally for an end to a legal loophole that exempts religious clergy from being required to report child sexual abuse once it comes to their attention.

Lundholm, one of the rally's organizers, recalled telling the crowd how, growing up as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Idaho, she told her bishop about her painful abuse only to see it go unreported.

Unearthing the trauma wasn't easy, but back in August she hoped reforms could be forthcoming so others would not face what she did.

"There was really a lot of momentum," said Lundholm, now a teacher in northern Utah. "Everyone we were talking to was like, ‘This is a no brainer. This is something that needs to be changed.’"

It hasn't.

Pressed by Lundholm and other survivors, Republicans and Democrats announced plans last year to reform laws that exempt religious clergy from reporting child sexual abuse cases revealed in conversations with parishioners. Despite initial momentum, religious groups in several states have blocked those efforts, doubling down on lobbying tactics they've used for years to defend exemptions.

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That's the case in Utah, a deeply religious state where the majority of lawmakers are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known widely as the Mormon church. State law requires most professionals — therapists, doctors and teachers among them — report abuse, yet clergy are exempt from alerting authorities about abuse they learn of through confessions.

Behind-the-scenes conversations between legislative leaders in Utah and what Senate President Stuart Adams said was "a broad base of religious groups" helped thwart four separate proposals to add clergy to the list of professionals required to report child sexual abuse. None received hearings as lawmakers prepare to adjourn for the year.

"I think they have First Amendment rights and religious protections," Adams, a Latter-day Saint himself, said, noting fears among religious leaders that clergy could be punished for breaking vows of confidentiality.

Each proposal was introduced or announced after an Associated Press investigation found that the Utah-based faith's sexual abuse reporting hotline can be misused by its leaders to divert abuse accusations away from law enforcement and instead to church attorneys who may bury the problem, leaving victims in harm’s way.

In lawsuits detailed in the investigation, church attorneys have argued clergy-penitent privilege allows them to refuse to answer questions and turn over documents about alleged sexual abuse.

Church officials declined to comment about the stalled legislative efforts. The Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City did not respond to requests for comment but campaigned against them, saying in January that priests and clergy were different from others mandated to report sexual abuse, including doctors, teachers and social workers.

"Legislation that would require a priest to (report sexual abuse) violates our right to practice our religion," Bishop Oscar Solis, of the Salt Lake City Diocese, wrote in a Jan. 25 letter to parishioners.

Marci Hamilton, chief executive of the abuse prevention nonprofit Child USA, said churches have maintained the same playbook for decades in opposing more disclosure.

Routinely it involves a two-pronged approach, defending clergy-penitent privilege in statehouses and using it to avoid damaging disclosures in court cases, said Hamilton, also a University of Pennsylvania law professor.

"They have not veered from it. Both institutions are hoping that time will simply let everybody start trusting them again," Hamilton said, referring to Catholics and Latter-day Saints.

But, she added, "by preventing the public — and especially the sincere believers — from getting the full story you don’t create the accountability that these organizations should be held to and the secrets continue."

"The problem in the United States — and this is particularly acute in state like Utah — is that the lobbying power of these religious organizations is so extraordinary," Hamilton said.

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Laws in 33 states exempt clergy — regardless of religion — from laws requiring professionals such as teachers, physicians and psychotherapists to report child sexual abuse allegations to authorities. Religious leaders have systematically fought efforts to expand the list of states. They currently oppose efforts from Vermont to Washington, where a proposal advanced through the state Senate Tuesday.

Kansas lawmakers introduced multiple proposals on penalties for not reporting suspected child sexual abuse, including one in the state Senate that would have added clergy to a list of mandatory reporters. It faced especially fierce public rebukes from Catholic leaders because it didn’t exempt confessions. No proposal received even a hearing before an initial deadline this year.

In the wake of the AP's investigation last year, Republican state Rep. Phil Lyman and Democratic Rep. Angela Romero announced plans to reform Utah's clergy-penitent privilege loophole. Lyman, who served six years as a Latter-day Saints' bishop, said at the time lawmakers should want to reexamine the loophole "regardless of religious or political affiliation."

"People should be able to go and confess their sins to their bishop without fear of being prosecuted up until when they are confessing something that has affected someone’s else life significantly," he told the AP in August.

Lyman ultimately released a proposal that broadly affirmed clergy's exemption from mandatory reporting. It didn't advanced or received any hearing as lawmakers prepare to adjourn Friday. He did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Proposals from Democratic Reps. Romero and Brian King, and Sen. Stephanie Pitcher to close or narrow the loophole have also not moved forward amid opposition from religious groups.

Both Pitcher and Romero, who is Catholic, said they planned to reintroduce their proposals next year.

"With AP uncovering what they uncovered, you'd think this would be a matter of urgency for this Legislature and for Legislatures across the country. But again we are allowing these institutions to dictate what we mandate," Romero said, referring to the Catholic Church.

Several Utah lawmakers told AP that opponents of limiting clergy-penitent privilege regarding child sexual abuse had circulated research that they claimed suggests mandatory reporting reform doesn't result in more confirmed reports of sexual abuse and may deter perpetrators from speaking to clergy.

"What most of the research shows is that if people aren’t able to come to them for fear of being reported on, they’re not able to provide the help and support they need," Sen. Ann Milner said.

However, conclusions drawn from the study, which the Catholic Diocese also circulated in opposition to a similar bill from Romero in three years ago, have been challenged by its authors.

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University of Michigan law professor Frank Vandervort and his co-author, Vincent Palusci, a pediatrics professor at New York University, told the AP last year the study was limited, partly because churches often wouldn’t give them access to relevant data.

"A single article should not be the basis for making policy decisions," Vandervort said. "It may be entirely the case that there’s no connection between the changing of the laws and the number of reports."

Lundholm said Utah lawmakers adjourning without having a "true public discussion" on any clergy-penitent privilege reform proposal provoked eerily familiar feelings for survivors. Though she never expected political change to happen overnight, she said survivors like her who had abuse go unreported — once again — feel unheard.

"Maybe the worst part is that this is something that survivors experience often, and unfortunately, it’s rare when their stories are heard," she said.

Notorious polygamist Warren Jeffs' nephew jailed for kidnapping

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 14:36:24 -0500

The nephew of imprisoned Utah polygamous leader Warren Jeffs has been captured and is jailed in North Dakota on kidnapping charges, a sheriff said Monday. The 10-year-old girl he is accused of running off with was found safe, her father told a TV station.

Heber Jeffs was arrested by federal agents and brought to the Ward County Jail in Minot on Saturday, where he remains pending an extradition hearing scheduled for Monday afternoon, Sheriff Bob Roed said. It wasn't immediately clear if Heber Jeffs had an attorney.

The girl's father, Dowayne Barlow, told KSTU-TV in Salt Lake City that she was safe and would be returned soon.

SON OF POLYGAMOUS CULT LEADER WARREN JEFFS SPEAKS OUT IN DOC: ‘WE WERE BRAINWASHED’

Roed said he had no specific details about the arrest because his agency wasn’t involved. An FBI spokesman referred questions to authorities in two Utah counties. Phone messages left Monday with sheriffs in Piute and Beaver counties were not immediately returned.

Kidnapping charges were filed out of Utah against Heber Jeffs in December. Authorities said at the time that he and his niece — his sister's daughter — had gone missing, apparently to keep the girl from her mother on orders issued by Warren Jeffsfrom prison in Texas.

Court documents say Heber Jeffs had kept the girl in his home in Kingston, Utah, since his uncle said months earlier that he received a revelation from God directing his followers to "gather" the community’s women "and prepare to move to a location or locations as directed by Warren Jeffs," or his son, Helaman Jeffs.

LAWYERS WANT TO UNMASK IDENTITY OF POLYGAMIST LEADER WARREN JEFFS' ACCUSER

Warren Jeffs is president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The faith is an offshoot of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church, and espouses polygamy. It has historically been based in a small town that straddles the Utah-Arizona line. The mainstream church disavowed polygamy more than a century ago.

Since being found guilty on child sexual abuse charges stemming from underage marriages, Warren Jeffs has continued to serve as the group’s prophet from a federal prison in Texas where he’s serving a life sentence.

Prosecutors said that Heber Jeffs and his wife Sarah have cared for their niece since her parents split up when the girl was an infant. Rose Jeffs, the girl’s mother who is no longer an FLDS member, was allowed regular visitation and full access to her daughter until August. At that time, Heber Jeffs told her he would no longer allow visitation. The court documents point to the revelation as a primary reason.

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Court documents say Rose Jeffs then demanded to take her daughter back, at which point Heber Jeffs said he planned to cut off communication. Later, when law enforcement began pursuing Heber Jeffs, they couldn’t find him at his home or places he had worked, prompting a warrant for his arrest.

LDS Church comes out in support of federal law protecting same-sex marriage

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 20:47:56 -0500

In an unexpected move, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gave its support Tuesday to a proposed federal law that would recognize all legal marriages and codify marriages between same-sex couples.

The nearly 17-million member, Utah-based faith said in a statement that church doctrine would continue to consider same-sex relationships to be against God’s commandments. Yet it said it would support rights for same-sex couples as long as they didn’t infringe upon religious groups’ right to believe as they choose.

"We believe this approach is the way forward. As we work together to preserve the principles and practices of religious freedom together with the rights of LGBTQ individuals much can be accomplished to heal relationships and foster greater understanding," the church said in a statement posted on its website.

Support for the Respect for Marriage Act is under consideration in Congress and is the church’s latest step to take a more welcoming stance toward the LGBTQ community while holding firm to its belief that same-sex relationships are sinful.

RELIGIOUS WATCHDOG GROUPS WARN SECULAR SOCIETY CAUSING ‘SELF-CENSORSHIP’ AMONG CHRISTIANS

The bill repeals the Clinton-era Defense of Marriage Act and safeguards interracial marriages by requiring that valid marriages are recognized regardless of "sex, race, ethnicity or national origin."

The group added an amendment to the Respect for Marriage Act, intended to address conservatives' religious liberty concerns, "while leaving intact the core mission of the legislation to protect marriage equality," according to a joint statement from Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Susan Collins,R-Maine, Rob Portman, R-Ohio, Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., and Thom Tillis R-N.C..

The bipartisan amendment ensures nonprofit religious organizations will not be required to provide services, facilities or goods for the celebration of a same-sex marriage, and protects religious liberty and conscience protections available under the Constitution and federal law, including the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

UTAH GOVERNOR SLAMS OREGON FANS FOR OBSCENE CHANT AT BYU FOOTBALL GAME

It also does not authorize the federal government to recognize polygamous marriage and safeguards any benefit or status of an entity as long as it does not arise from a marriage.

Finally, the amendment "recognizes the importance of marriage, acknowledges that diverse beliefs and the people who hold them are due respect, and affirms that couples, including same-sex and interracial couples, deserve the dignity, stability and ongoing protection of marriage."

Utah's four congressmen each came out in support of the legislation earlier this year despite all of them being practicing members of the church.

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The bill was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year, but the Senate pushed back its vote in the hopes of garnering the support needed in the chamber to ensure it becomes law. It is set for a test vote in the Senate on Wednesday, with a final vote as soon as this week or later this month.

The Associated Press contributed to this post.

Media largely ignores anti-Mormon chant at Oregon-BYU game

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 18:32:40 -0400

WARNING: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE

Media outlets like CNN and MSNBC overlooked the recent incident involving Oregon Ducks fans shouting obscenities during a college football game on Saturday.

Over the weekend, videos emerged of Oregon fans loudly chanting "f--- the Mormons" during a game against Brigham Young University, a private school sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, R., shared one video of fans chanting on his Twitter account, calling the chant an example of religious bigotry.

"Religious bigotry alive and celebrated in Oregon," Cox tweeted.

UTAH GOVERNOR SLAMS OREGON FANS FOR OBSCENE CHANT AT BYU FOOTBALL GAME

The Oregon Pit, the student section of the University of Oregon, later apologized on Twitter shortly after the videos went public.

"To all @BYUfootball fans in attendance at todays game we would like to apologize for the actions of the students in attendance. We do not condone or support any hateful speech directed towards one’s religion and are ashamed of those who participated," it tweeted.

University of Oregon’s interim vice president for the Division of Student Life also issued a statement.

"The university apologizes for the despicable chants made by some University of Oregon fans at today’s football game with Brigham Young University. There is no place for hate, bias or bigotry at the University of Oregon. These actions are simply unacceptable. We will investigate, and we call on our students and campus community to refuse to accept or tolerate this type of behavior," the statement said.

Although Oregon was quick to respond after videos emerged, mainstream media largely ignored the incident as well as the university’s apology. MSNBC and CNN had no reports on the event, though NBC reported on the story on Sunday afternoon.

"A representative for the University of Oregon apologized on Saturday after video posted to social media appeared to show fans of the school's football team chanting an expletive directed at fans of Brigham Young University, a private university of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at a football game between the universities earlier the same day," Julianne McShane reported.

The New York Times and the Washington Post also have been silent on the story as well, even though the Washington Post reported on the game on Thursday.

CNN, ABC, ESPN PROMOTED DUKE VOLLEYBALL PLAYER’S RACIAL SLUR STORY, GO QUIET ON DEVELOPMENTS DEBUNKING CLAIM

This contrasted reporting on a racial slur allegedly being hurled at a Black women’s volleyball player at Duke University last month. Rachel Richardson claimed that during a match against Brigham Young University, she heard a fan yell the n-word towards her "throughout the entirety of the match." Shortly after her claim went viral, BYU apologized for the alleged incident and removed and banned the suspected fan who was revealed to be a Utah Valley University student.

However, an investigation into the event could not corroborate Richardson’s story, and several witnesses stated they did not hear any racial slurs during the game. So far, no video ever emerged of the slur being used.

Media outlets were quick to report on the story. ABC News’ website published at least three articles on the allegations and featured Richardson on "Good Morning America." CNN featured several segments on the topic including interviews with Richardson’s father, former NAACP president Cornell William Brooks and BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe. The story was also heavily featured on ESPN.

After BYU's investigation found no evidence corroborating Richardson's claim, some media outlets gave an update on the investigation. CNN's John Avalon did a segment critical of the media's rush to report the story before verifying it themselves.

"Fidelity to the facts is all that we as journalists and citizens should ask," Avlon said. "It’s understandable that there’s a desire to believe people when they say they’ve been victimized, but the accusations have to be backed up by facts and when the facts don’t fit upon further review, we need to set the record straight with as much intensity as the initial reports."

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Brigham Young University was also subjected to obscene chants of "f--- the Mormons" last year during a football game against the USC Trojans. Though no videos emerged of the chanting, the school later released a statement apologizing for the "distasteful" event.

"The offensive chant from our student section directed towards BYU during the football game last night does not align with our Trojan values," USC wrote at the time.

BYU removes pamphlets advertising off-campus LGTBQ resources from new student bags

Sun, 04 Sep 2022 15:34:01 -0400

Brigham Young University (BYU) removed pamphlets advertising off-campus resources for LGBTQ students from welcome bags given to new students in August.

The university, which is owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, removed the literature from the bags because the administration wants students to use the school's new Office of Belonging as their primary resource for such things, according to NBC News.

Made by RaYnbow Collective, a nonprofit not officially affiliated with BYU, the pamphlets offered information about regular events available to LGBTQ students off campus, as well as lists of local organizations that offer therapy, safe housing, mentorship and other things.

Maddison Tenney, a BYU student who is gay, told NBC News that she made the pamphlets after having felt lonely as a new student at the university in Provo, Utah, where students are forbidden from engaging in "same-sex romantic behavior" at the risk of being unenrolled.

CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY CRITICIZED FOR NEW ‘GENDER INCLUSIVE’ GUIDE ‘FUNDAMENTAL’ TO SCHOOL'S MISSION: ‘SHAMEFUL’

"I remember sitting in my white dorm room with these cement walls and breaking down," Tenney told the outlet. "I didn’t know anyone who was like me, who wanted to be faithful and embrace the fullness of themselves."

Tenney explained that she paid the requisite $200 and signed a contract with BYU's student newspaper, Daily Universe, which compiled the welcome bags. She then dropped off 5,000 of the pamphlets, which she described as "very vanilla, very inline with church teachings."

"We tried really hard to make sure it was kosher and in line with policy," she said. "We didn’t hear anything back besides, 'It looks great.'"

Tenney later reportedly received a message from a friend who told her she had been instructed as a resident assistant to remove the RaYnbow Collective pamphlets from each bag outside students' rooms.

CHRISTIAN SCHOOL REFUSES TO CHANGE LONG-HELD POLICY EXCLUDING SEXUAL BEHAVIOR DESPITE ALLEGED DEATH THREATS

Upon further investigation, Tenney learned that the Office of Student Life decided to remove the pamphlets after deeming that they went against the teachings of the church.

The administration explained in a statement to NBC that they "would like our students and employees to utilize our new Office of Belonging as their primary resource in these efforts."

"The decision to remove the materials by Student Life was based on the university’s commitment to provide support through the Office of Belonging and our counseling services and not to allow outside entities to imply affiliation with or endorsement from the university," the statement added.

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BYU created the Office of Belonging in August 2021, and said in its announcement that the office would "focus primarily on coordinating and enhancing belonging services and efforts on campus."

Mexican Juarez cartel ordered to pay over $4B for 2019 deaths of 9 American women, kids as young as infants

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 13:37:09 -0400

A North Dakota federal court judge has ordered a Mexican cartel to pay more than $4.6 billion in connection with accusations that members killed nine women and children from an offshoot Mormon community in 2019.

The Juarez cartel was ordered to pay $1.5 billion toward the victims’ families, who filed a lawsuit accusing the crime group of carrying out the November 2019 attack in Mexico as retribution for their public criticism and protests against the cartel.

Three American women and six children, including infants, were killed in the northern Mexico state of Sonora on Nov. 4, 2019.

Cartel members fired hundreds of rounds of ammunition into vehicles and then set them on fire. Mexican authorities said in 2020 that the mastermind of the attack was one of 17 people arrested.

US VICTIMS OF MEXICAN CARTEL MASSACRE RANGE FROM 8-MONTH-OLD TWINS TO 43-YEAR-OLD MOTHER

According to The Associated Press, the mostly bilingual American-Mexicans had lived in northern Mexico for decades and considered themselves Mormons, though they were not affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

MORMON MISSIONARY GROUP ROBBED IN MEXICO; LEADER AND WIFE THREATENED AT KNIFEPOINT, CHURCH SAYS

In their 2020 lawsuit, the grieving families accused the Juarez cartel of coordinating the attack as part of a decades-long effort to intimidate and coerce the local population and influence the Mexican government. At the time, they called it one of the most ruthless attacks to date.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Clare Hochhalter ordered the cartel last week to pay $1.5 billion – an amount that will be automatically tripled under federal Anti-Terrorism Act to $4.6 billion.

BABY FAITH WHO SURVIVED MEXICAN DRUG CARTEL MASSACRE REUNITED WITH FATHER: 'SHE IS A LIVING ANGEL'

After the news of the judgement, David Langford, who lost his wife Dawna and his two kids, said the "horror" that his children experienced and that his family had since endured at the hands of the Juarez cartel "will never, ever be made right," according to The Bismarck Tribune.

"We went into a United States courtroom in North Dakota seeking some acknowledgement of and measure of justice for the trauma inflicted on our family," he reportedly said, "and we received it."

MEXICAN CARTEL MASSACRE: GRISLY CRIME SCENE PHOTOS SHOW BLOOD-STAINED CAR SEAT, BULLET-RIDDEN WINDSHIELD

The government can freeze assets of terrorist organizations, but it's unclear if the U.S. Treasury Department holds any cartel assets.

The Bismarck Tribune reported that the cartel did not respond to a published summons or have representation at a trial in North Dakota in March.

A MEXICAN CARTEL AMBUSH LEFT MEMBERS OF A MORMON FAMILY DEAD; NOW LARA LOGAN SITS DOWN WITH THE SURVIVORS

The surviving family members include two widowers of women killed who were working in North Dakota at the time the suit was filed. Their lawyer said various family members were living in the state and working in the oil industry while traveling back and forth to Mexico.

During the trial, Adrian LeBaron-Soto, the father of victim Maria Rhonita LeBaron, testified that he and his family "were forced to do the unconscionable – collect our families’ bones and ashes," according to the Tribune.

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Maria Rhonita LeBaron’s four children, who ranged in age from 8 months old to 12, were also killed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Mormon missionary group robbed in Mexico; leader and wife threatened at knifepoint, church says

Sat, 13 Nov 2021 05:42:42 -0500

Two gunmen entered a church meetinghouse in Mexico on Friday and robbed dozens of Mormon missionaries of their phones, tablets and wallets, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said.

All 70 of the missionaries – 13 sisters and 57 elders – were safe, although the mission president and his wife were assaulted and threatened with a knife, the church confirmed in a release.

The full-time missionaries were attending a multi-zone conference in Torreón, Mexico.

CANCUN SHOOTING: 2 KILLED IN APPARENT DRUG EXECUTION ON BEACH, VACATIONERS FLEE

None of the missionaries needed additional medical care, the church said.

The suspects ran from the scene and local police were investigating. A church security officer was also evaluating the situation.
The missionaries have been removed from the area.

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"Our prayers are with these missionaries and their families as they recover from this frightening and traumatic experience," the church said.

Mormon sex therapist's ouster stirs worries of shame culture

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 04:30:58 -0400

Sex therapist Lisa Butterworth has long been willing to delve into sensitive sexuality questions with clients who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They seek her out to have open and frank conversations about the faith’s strict rules.

But after seeing another prominent sex therapist she considers a close friend and colleague recently kicked out of the church, Butterworth is worried fewer church members will seek help in fear of being reprimanded.

Butterworth, a church member living in Idaho, is among a contingent of mental health professionals who fear Natasha Helfer's ouster will further embolden a culture of shame. She wrote a letter condemning the decision that’s been signed by over 800 mental health professionals.

HIGH PROFILE EX-MORMON CHURCH MEMBER JAMES HUNTSMAN FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST CHURCH ALLEGING FRAUD

Helfer was excommunicated and lost her appeal last month to remain in the faith known widely as the Mormon church — a move critics say reflects the church doubling down on some of its more conservative views on sexuality. The Salt Lake City-based church has cited comments she made in support of removing the stigma around pornography, masturbation, and same-sex marriage, saying that contradicts church teachings.

Such an ouster is rare and is the harshest punishment available for a member of the faith like Helfer, who had cultivated a national reputation of pushing for mental health advocacy among church members. The majority of her patients come from a Latter-day Saint background, and many are mixed-faith couples in which one person belongs to the church and another has left.

Lauren Rogers, who was raised in the church, started a petition urging the church to reverse the decision and organized a protest outside its Salt Lake City headquarters. She said she wanted to fight for Helfer after her brother was excommunicated in 2015 for sharing his experience as a gay church member online.

"I wanted to make up for not being there for (my brother) and be there for this woman who was trying to protect people like him in the church," said Rogers, who lives in Maricopa, Arizona. "Excommunication needs to done away with. I think it’s an abusive practice ... and it’s a tool the church uses to silence people."

Helfer said she fears her case could set a precedent for removing other professionals and result in devastating consequences for church members who may no longer feel safe seeking treatment.

"Doing this to me alone is sending the message both to clinicians and, more importantly, to the public that you shouldn’t trust sex therapists," Helfer said. "Even if it doesn’t necessarily mean that other professionals will directly be affected, it will affect the population as to who will seek out those kinds of services."

Church officials declined to comment on Helfer losing her appeal or the criticism against them.

MORMON CHURCH FACES 7 NEW LAWSUITS FOR ALLEGED BOY SCOUTS SEX ABUSE COVER-UP IN ARIZONA

Members are taught not to have sex before marriage, kiss passionately, or arouse "emotions in your own body" that are supposed to be reserved for marriage. Gay sex also is forbidden.

Scott Gordon, president of FAIR, a volunteer organization that supports the church, acknowledged that it can be difficult for gay and transgender individuals to belong to a faith that they feel doesn’t fully accept them. But, he said, Helfer was not ousted because of her profession or her views on LGBTQ issues or sexuality.

"While that may seem like it’s the issue, it’s really not the issue," Gordon said. "The issue is actively going out and campaigning against the church. What the content is is almost irrelevant."

The message of Helfer’s ex-communication and that of other members seems to be that the faith can tolerate diverse opinions but "when that behavior seeks to influence others, then that’s when the church takes official action," said Kathleen Flake, a professor of Mormon studies at the University of Virginia.

Sam Young, who led a campaign criticizing the church’s practice of allowing lay leaders to do one-on-one interviews with young people that sometimes included sexual questions, was kicked out in 2018. Kate Kelly, the founder of a group pushing for women to be allowed in the lay clergy, was excommunicated in 2014.

In Helfer’s case, her former church leaders in Kansas sent her a letter in April after holding a disciplinary hearing explaining the reasons for her removal. The letter said her professional activities did not play a role but that she could no longer be a member because of a "pattern of clear and deliberate opposition to the Church, its doctrine, policies, and its leaders."

After a year, they will consider allowing her back if she stops using "disparaging and vulgar language to describe the Church and its leaders" and attends church meetings, the letter says.

Helfer said she has no plans to change her professional services but that she’s already heard from some clients who say they’re no longer comfortable working with her.

"My practice will survive," she said. "But a family with a young gay child may deal with their issue very differently after witnessing something like this — that may have long-term implications for them."

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"That’s where my heart weighs heaviest," she said.

High profile ex-Mormon church member James Huntsman files lawsuit against church alleging fraud

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 16:18:27 -0400

James Huntsman, the brother of former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. and son of billionaire philanthropist Jon Huntsman Sr., filed a lawsuit on Monday accusing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints of fraud and seeking millions in damages.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleges that the Mormon or LDS Church spent tithes from its members on commercial ventures rather than charity.

According to Huntsman, the church said those donations would be used for non-commercial purposes such as "missionary work, member indoctrination, temple work, and other education and charitable activities." Instead, the funds went towards developing the church’s commercial real estate and insurance holdings.

"This is not a case about faith; it is a case about fraud and corporate greed," the lawsuit says.

In the lawsuit, Huntsman claims he was defrauded out millions of dollars he expected to be used for charity. He says he tithed 10% of his annual income to the church between 1993 and 2017.

Members are asked to contribute 10% of their income to the church. The practice, which is used in other faith groups, isn't required for church members but is strongly encouraged.

MORMON CHURCH FACES 7 NEW LAWSUITS FOR ALLEGED BOY SCOUTS SEX ABUSE COVER-UP IN ARIZONA

The Washington Post initially reported the lawsuit Monday.

The lawsuit clarifies that its aim is not to criticize the central tenets or beliefs of the Mormon Church.

"Mr. Huntsman has the utmost respect for the members of the Church, and likewise respects their beliefs and customs. Indeed, for almost his entire life, Mr. Huntsman was a devout and faithful member of the Church, taking on leadership roles and dedicating his time and resources to what he believed to be the Church’s righteous mission," the lawsuit says. "Clearly, however, the LDS Corporations failed to treat Mr. Huntsman with the same respect."

Huntsman is seeking $5 million in damages. He says he will give that money to "organizations and communities whose members have been marginalized by the Church's teachings and doctrines, including by donating to charities supporting LGBTQ, African-American, and women's rights."

In a statement provided to ӣ��Ƶ, church spokesperson Eric Hawkins said Huntsman resigned his church membership last year and called his claims "baseless."

Contributions "are used for a broad array of religious purposes, including missionary work, education, humanitarian causes and the construction of meetinghouses, temples and other buildings important in the work of the Church," Hawkins said.

FORMER GEORGIA MAYORAL CANDIDATE USED $323G PPP LOAN ON SWIMMING POOL, FURNITURE, DOJ SAYS

The lawsuit comes more than a year after a former church investment manager filed a whistleblower complaint with the IRS, which The Washington Post initially obtained in December 2019.

The complaint alleged that the church has misled members and possibly broken federal tax rules for religious organizations by using an affiliated investment arm to set aside about $1 billion a year from the $7 billion that the faith receives annually in member donations.

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In the lawsuit, Huntsman says he repeatedly demanded the return of his donations following the whistleblower complaint but the church's corporation refused, "effectively taking the position that it could do whatever it wanted with tithing funds."

Hawkins has said the claims are "based on a narrow perspective and limited information."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Mormon church faces 7 new lawsuits for alleged Boy Scouts sex abuse cover-up in Arizona

Tue, 29 Dec 2020 19:56:37 -0500

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon church, is facing at least seven new lawsuits that accuse it of playing a role in covering up sex abuse among Boy Scout troops in Arizona.

Earlier this year, the Boy Scouts filed for bankruptcy amid tens of thousands of sexual abuse lawsuits implicating troop leaders and other volunteers in incidents stretching back decades. Accusers' current ages range from 8 to 93.

"The Boy Scouts filing for bankruptcy doesn’t end the investigation, as far as who knew what was going on, as far as these little kids being abused in scouting, when they knew it, and what they should have done to stop it," attorney Mark McKenna told ӣ��Ƶ Tuesday.

His law firm, Hurley McKenna & Mertz, is representing dozens of victims. In addition to the seven new lawsuits, it also has pursued cases against local scouting councils, and a number of Roman Catholic dioceses and archdioceses in similar Scout abuse cases across multiple states.

The new lawsuits allege that Mormon officials ignored reports of abuse from youths, and that troop leaders and volunteers remained in the Scouts organization despite allegations against them.

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY AFTER SEX ABUSE LAWSUITS

"It’s only because of their (the church's) sponsorship of these troops that families felt comfortable in trusting their kids to these Scout leaders, and that was a recipe for disaster," McKenna said.

The new cases were filed just ahead of Arizona’s end-of-year deadline for adult victims of child sex abuse to sue, according to the law firm. Each lawsuit is based on a separate male victim.

The church is accused of telling the victims to keep their accusations to themselves as officials conducted their own investigations.

Sam Penrod, a spokesman for the LDS, denied the accusations and said the church has no tolerance for any kind of abuse. He told the Associated Press that it would evaluate and address the claims.

The plaintiffs are hoping to learn through court discovery whether LDS officials had access to the Boy Scouts' ineligible volunteer files, documents that listed the names of alleged abusers, McKenna said.

"We believe though, there are instances where troops are sponsored by the LDS church, especially in places like California, Arizona, Utah and that troop leaders, in addition to being volunteers working in the troop, are also deacons in the LDS church...and that the bishops were aware of who these deacons were and had a responsibility for making sure that these scout leaders in troops sponsored by the LDS church were not abusing kids," he said.

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The Mormon church and the Scouts had been closely tied for decades, before a high-profile split last year. The church pulled 400,000 of its members from the Boy Scouts as the youth organization faced heightened scrutiny, a slew of sex abuse lawsuits, and when the Scouts recently embraced openly gay and transgender members.

ӣ��Ƶ’ David Aaro and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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