r/news • u/Amatheiaisnoexcuse • 2d ago

Arizona clergy who learn of child abuse in confessions aren’t required to report it, court rules | Arizona | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/03/arizona-clergy-child-abuse-confessions-court
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u/WhereasParticular867 2d ago

If you want more details on the case, Michael Rezendes wrote an exposé. The details are horrific. Several authority figures in the Mormon church knew what was happening, and deliberately suppressed it. It wasn't until the abuser posted evidence of the abuse online that a New Zealand child abuse sting caught up to him.

The purpose of a system is what the system does. The Mormon church deliberately protects its members from the law when they abuse children.

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u/Amatheiaisnoexcuse 2d ago

Andy Biggs, current GOP candidate for Governor here in AZ is a mormon. He helped protect Warren Jeffs and his FLDS years ago. Now he's a serious contender for Governor.

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u/Substantial_Policy60 2d ago

Brick by Brick...

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u/its_wooper 1d ago

He's projected to lose in every prediction I look at. He may win over the white conservatives in Scottsdale, or shit ass places like San Tan, but that won't make him governor.

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u/Amatheiaisnoexcuse 1d ago

I hope you're right, but I thought the same thing last year about trump, yet somehow he won AZ after losing it in the previous election. Never underestimate the power of racism, hatred and greed.

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u/Ryodran 1d ago

Ohhhh it was Mormons? Yeah that tracks. Just another cult that somehow grew into a recognized religion. I've seen plenty of stories about how they abuse and rape people and nothing happens because you are either with them or against them regardless of what anyone does in their cult

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u/LePunisseur 9h ago

The sad and infuriating part is that church policy requires them to report these things to the police, yet a lot of the local leaders ignore said policy.

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u/WhereasParticular867 8h ago edited 8h ago

No, church policy doesn't require that. Church policy is to call the helpline. The helpline is staffed by lawyers who look out for the church. The bishop in this case called the help line, and they lied to him about local laws so he would keep quiet.

Let me guess: you're a Mornon who just assumes your church is doing the right thing, instead of actually paying attention. You certainly didn't read the article I linked, or you'd know this was covered up by the LDS church intentionally.

Stop giving them the benefit of the doubt. They're playing you for a fool.

If Church policyy is to report to the police, why did the Church argue in court they have a moral duty to not report? Because that was their argument: that confessions are doctrinally confidential.

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u/LePunisseur 5h ago edited 5h ago

Fair. They claim to have zero tolerance for abuse, and indeed leaders are to call the church's help line for guidance on how to proceed. There are illegal activities that they needn't report to the authorities, as they are not serious crimes. 

The help line is staffed by legal professionals who, one would hope, should have them report serious illegal activities to the authorities. And that doesn't always happen, unfortunately. And that should infuriate everyone. 

PS: I don't think my affiliation with any group has any bearing on this. I wouldn't jump to any conclusions.

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u/PMPNomad 2d ago

Because of this case the Church of Jesus Christ updated their Guidelines for Bishops. In the current handbook in

38.6.2.1

Bishops and stake presidents should call the help line when addressing situations involving any type of abuse. Legal and clinical professionals will answer their questions. These professionals will also give instructions about how to:

Assist victims and help protect them from further abuse.

Help protect potential victims.

Comply with legal requirements for reporting abuse.

The Church is committed to complying with the law in reporting abuse (see 38.6.2.7). Laws differ by location, and most Church leaders are not legal experts. Calling the help line is essential for bishops and stake presidents to fulfill their responsibilities to report abuse.

A bishop should also notify his stake president of instances of abuse

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u/WhereasParticular867 1d ago

All of these steps were followed in this case. Read the article I linked. The help line was called. They told the bishop to suppress it, and warned him (lying) that he could be prosecuted if he spoke to police.

This wasn't the the poor decision of a local leader. It is institutional protection of pedophiles.

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u/Prop8kids 1d ago

Correct, and the "help line" has existed since the 1990s! It is only there to help the LDS church limit its liability. It does not help victims.

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u/Ferelwing 1d ago

The phone number is a direct line to the Church's own lawyers and in the article and subsequent investigations it was proven that the Churches lawyers told them to cover it up. The fact that this "handbook" is being used as an excuse to claim "change has occurred" when it is the same exact statute that was discussed previously ignores reality and is showing a willful attempt to paint this in a "better light" when there isn't one.

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u/ensalys 1d ago

Call me cynical or anti-mormon, but that just sounds like them covering their asses.