Yesterday, the Arizona Court of Appeals reinstated a sexual abuse lawsuit against the Mormon church, citing the church’s leadership handbook, which says prevention of “serious injury” is a justifiable reason for a bishop or stake president to “disclose confidential information without first seeking guidance.”
Read the ruling: https://www.appeals2.az.gov/Decisions/CV20230293Memo.pdf
From page 11 of the ruling:
“Section 32.4.4 of the handbook states:
In only one situation should a bishop or stake
president disclose confidential information
without first seeking guidance. That is when
disclosure is necessary to prevent life-
threatening harm or serious injury and there is
not time to seek guidance. In such cases, the
duty to protect others is more important than
the duty of confidentiality. Leaders should
contact civil authorities immediately.
(Emphasis added.)”
Paul Adams case report: Paul Douglas Adams
Leizza Adams case report: Leizza Alcantara Adams
A key question here: Does the Mormon church consider child sexual abuse a “serious injury?”
The court of appeals stated: “At his deposition, [former bishopric counselor] Creviston testified that child sex abuse would constitute a ‘serious injury’ under Church doctrine. This testimony, along with Section 32.4.4, raises the question of whether the Church Defendants violated Church doctrine by not reporting Paul to the authorities. In other words, there is a genuine issue whether it was ‘reasonable and necessary’ for Church Defendants to withhold reporting Jane Doe I’s abuse.”
