In early January, an Oregon woman filed suit against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because her husband was sent to prison for sexual abuse of his minor daughter. Specifically, the lawsuit claims that a local leader of the Church violated the doctrine of confidentiality and clergy-penitent privilege by reporting her husband's confession to the police, which subsequently led to his arrest, conviction, and imprisonment.
According to the lawsuit, the woman learned that her husband had engaged in inappropriate conduct with his minor daughter. As members of the Church, the couple then followed church doctrine by having the husband confess his sins. The husband met with a number of local church leaders in their local stake, who participated as members of a church court. The husband confessed that he had engaged in improper sexual contact with his minor daughter.
Read Full Article »