A Disturbing Case of Child Rape and Church Silence
In a deeply disturbing case, a man confesses to his bishop that he is raping his own 5-year-old daughter. Shockingly, the bishop remains silent for seven years, following the advice of a church lawyer, while the abuse continues. Even more horrifying, the man goes on to rape his 6-week-old daughter.
Recently, a lawsuit brought by several of the man’s children against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was dismissed by a Cochise County judge. It is disheartening, although not unexpected, that the judge declined to hold the church accountable. Unlike teachers and doctors who are required by law to report child abuse, members of the clergy are exempt from this obligation.
What is truly shocking is that a key state legislator refuses to consider changing the law to protect victims like the 5-year-old girl and her sister, who suffered unimaginable abuse. Rep. Quang Nguyen, a Catholic himself, defended the sacredness of the seal of confession, claiming that a rapist’s religious rights are more important than a child’s right to be protected.
This appalling story came to light last year following an investigation by the Associated Press into the Mormon church’s handling of child sexual abuse cases. The father, Paul Adams, admitted to raping his daughter during a counseling session with his bishop. Instead of reporting the crime to the authorities, the bishop called the church’s helpline and was instructed by an attorney not to involve the police or anyone outside the church.
The abuse continued for seven more years until Adams was finally arrested in 2017. It was discovered that he had recorded his perverse attacks on his children and posted them online. Three of Adams’ six children filed a lawsuit against the church, bishops, and other officials, accusing them of negligence and conspiring to cover up the abuse to protect the church’s reputation.
However, the lawsuit was dismissed by Judge Timothy Dickerson, who stated that the church had no legal duty to report the abuse. The church officials claimed to be “pleased” with the decision, asserting that they had acted within the boundaries of Arizona law.
This brings us to the issue of Arizona’s legislation and the lawmakers responsible for it. Rep. Stacey Travers introduced a bill that would require clergy members to report abuse if there is a reasonable suspicion that it is ongoing or poses a threat to minors. Unfortunately, the bill did not receive a hearing or committee assignment, and Rep. Quang Nguyen, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, refuses to give it any consideration. He believes the bill is an attack on the church and questions why clergy members should involve the police or child services.
Nguyen’s stance fails to acknowledge the devastating reality faced by victims like the 5-year-old girl from Bisbee, who endured years of abuse while the clergy turned a blind eye. It is disgraceful that her father’s rights were prioritized over her well-being.
“The seal of confession is never to be broken,” Nguyen declared. “And priests will go to jail for it.” However, it is the children who suffer in silence while their abusers escape accountability.
This case highlights the urgent need for legislative reform to protect vulnerable children from abuse. It is essential that lawmakers prioritize the safety and welfare of victims over the sacredness of religious practices. Silence and inaction only perpetuate the cycle of abuse and allow perpetrators to continue harming innocent lives.
It is a shame that Rep. Nguyen fails to recognize the gravity of this issue and the lifelong impact it has on survivors. The 5-year-old girl’s suffering will never truly go away, and it is the responsibility of society and its leaders to ensure that no child endures such horrors in silence.
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