The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) faces mounting lawsuits from survivors of sexual abuse by clergy, leaders, and members. At the center of the litigation is the Church's internal "help line" — a hotline staffed by attorneys that, according to lawsuits, was used to manage legal liability rather than protect children. Survivors allege the Church systematically failed to report abuse to authorities, moved known abusers to new congregations, and discouraged victims from going to police.
Litigation Timeline
Congressional Scrutiny
Congressional committee requests documents related to the Church's handling of abuse reports and the function of the help line. Former help line participants provide testimony.
regulatoryWave of State Lawsuits
Survivors file lawsuits in Utah, Oregon, Idaho, California, and other states. Some states pass new legislation eliminating or extending statutes of limitations for institutional abuse claims.
filingArizona Lawsuits Filed
Multiple lawsuits filed in Arizona alleging the Church failed to report known sexual abuse of children to authorities after receiving information through the help line.
filingAP Investigation Published
The Associated Press publishes a major investigation revealing how the LDS Church's help line was used to shield the Church from legal liability rather than protect children, citing specific cases where abuse continued after calls to the hotline.
scientificLDS Church Establishes Abuse Help Line
The Church creates an internal hotline for leaders who learn of abuse. The hotline is staffed by attorneys at Kirton McConkie, the Church's outside law firm.
product-launchNotable Verdicts & Settlements
Doe v. Corporation of the President (Arizona)
SettlementSettlement for a survivor of childhood sexual abuse by a youth leader in Arizona. The lawsuit alleged the Church knew of the leader's prior misconduct through the help line and failed to remove him.
BSA/LDS Joint Settlement (Boy Scouts Bankruptcy)
SettlementThe LDS Church contributed $250 million to the Boy Scouts of America bankruptcy settlement fund, resolving claims related to sexual abuse that occurred during LDS-sponsored Scouting activities.
Doe v. Corporation of the President (West Virginia — Scouting Abuse)
SettlementSettlement for a survivor of childhood sexual abuse by an LDS-sponsored Boy Scout leader in West Virginia. The lawsuit alleged that the Church knew of the leader's history of inappropriate behavior with youth through help line records and bishop reports but failed to remove him from his Scouting position. The case was filed after the federal judge rejected the BSA bankruptcy settlement as providing insufficient protection to the Church, reopening the path for individual claims against LDS entities for Scouting-related abuse.
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