The number of sexual abuse claims against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), often referred to as the Mormon Church, is far more extensive and widespread than many realize, with hundreds of lawsuits filed nationwide. These claims reveal a disturbing pattern of alleged systemic failures and cover-ups that span decades, bringing to light how institutions can prioritize their reputation over the safety of those within their care. Let’s explore the scope and nature of these Mormon Church sexual abuse lawsuits and learn about the crucial steps survivors can take to seek justice and accountability.
How Widespread Are Mormon Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuits?
Hundreds of survivors have filed lawsuits against the LDS Church, revealing decades of alleged abuse, cover-ups, and institutional failure to protect children.
Key facts about the LDS Church abuse lawsuits:
- Over 300 lawsuits have been filed nationwide—100+ in California alone
- Allegations include systemic cover-ups, failure to report abuse, and internal shielding of predators
- Perpetrators include bishops, youth leaders, missionaries, and others in positions of trust
- Victims claim the Church used its internal helpline and clergy privilege to avoid law enforcement
- Survivors are seeking justice, compensation, and institutional accountability
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The Growing Wave of Mormon LDS Church Abuse Lawsuits
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in civil lawsuits filed against the LDS Church. This surge is partly due to legislative changes in various states, known as "lookback windows," which temporarily suspend or extend the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims that happened years or decades ago. These new laws have empowered countless survivors who were previously barred from seeking justice due to the passage of time.
While the exact total number of lawsuits can be difficult to pinpoint due to confidential settlements and ongoing litigation, attorneys involved in these cases estimate that:
- Over 300 claims have been submitted nationwide.
- In California alone, over 100 sexual abuse lawsuits have been filed against the LDS Church, leading to a proposed settlement in principle for many of these claims as of mid-2025.
- The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation recently denied a request to consolidate over 40 federal lawsuits against the LDS Church into a single federal MDL, emphasizing that the cases span more than five decades and involve a wide range of perpetrators, policies, and geographic locations. This means each case will largely proceed individually, allowing for a focus on the unique facts of each survivor's experience.
These numbers are a stark reminder that sexual abuse within the LDS Church is more than isolated incidents. In fact, as alleged in numerous complaints, it is part of a broader, systemic issue.
Allegations of Systemic Cover-Up and Institutional Negligence
Many lawsuits against the LDS Church detail similar patterns of alleged institutional misconduct. Survivors and their legal advocates claim that the Church has historically prioritized its reputation and internal processes over reporting abuse to law enforcement. Common allegations include:
- Failure to Report: Instead of reporting abuse to civil authorities, local leaders allegedly contacted Church headquarters or legal counsel through an internal helpline. Plaintiffs contend that this internal reporting system was designed to keep allegations private and shield the church from public scrutiny.
- Concealment and Minimization: Allegations suggest that the Church engaged in efforts to cover up or minimize abuse within its communities, sometimes moving alleged abusers to new congregations or positions of authority where they could continue to have access to vulnerable individuals.
- Discouraging External Reporting: Survivors allege they were sometimes discouraged by Church leaders from reporting abuse to the police, with an emphasis placed on "forgiveness" and internal resolution.
- Lack of Proper Vetting and Supervision: Lawsuits claim that the Church failed to adequately vet individuals in positions of trust (such as bishops, youth leaders, and missionaries) and failed to properly supervise them, allowing known or suspected abusers to continue interacting with children and vulnerable adults.
- Exploitation of Clergy-Penitent Privilege: In some instances, the legal concept of clergy-penitent privilege has been a point of contention, with allegations that it has been used to avoid disclosing abuse rather than protecting sacred confidences in a way that respects the law's intent.
For example, a significant Arizona lawsuit in recent years highlighted allegations that the LDS helpline itself instructed a bishop not to report known child sexual abuse, sparking national outrage and increasing legal scrutiny of the Church's internal policies. In California, a jury awarded a survivor $2.3 billion in damages against her stepfather, with the lawsuit alleging that local LDS leaders knew about the abuse but did not report it, instead shaming the survivor into silence.
Who Are the Alleged Perpetrators?
The alleged perpetrators in these lawsuits come from various roles within the LDS Church, reflecting the widespread nature of the problem:
- Bishops and other local leaders: Individuals in positions of spiritual authority and trust.
- Youth leaders and volunteers: Those entrusted with supervising and guiding children and teenagers in Church activities.
- Missionaries: Both current and former missionaries have been named in complaints.
- Other Church members: Individuals who held positions of influence or had access to children and vulnerable adults through Church activities.
The common thread is the alleged failure of the institution to protect individuals from harm and to respond appropriately when abuse allegations arose.
The Path to Justice: Why Survivors Are Filing Mormon Church Lawsuits
Survivors pursue civil lawsuits against the LDS Church and individual abusers for several critical reasons:
- Accountability: To hold both individual perpetrators and the institution that allegedly enabled the abuse responsible for their actions and inactions.
- Compensation for Healing: To recover damages for the profound physical, emotional, and financial costs associated with sexual abuse, including therapy, medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
- Systemic Change: Successful lawsuits can force institutions to re-evaluate and reform their policies and practices, leading to better child protection measures and greater transparency.
- Validation: For many survivors, the legal process offers a pathway to have their experiences acknowledged and validated, which can be an empowering part of their healing journey.
The ongoing litigation against the LDS Church, while challenging for survivors, represents a collective effort to expose alleged past harms and pave the way for a safer future within religious institutions.
When You are Ready to Talk, the File Abuse Lawsuit Team Will Listen
If you are a survivor of sexual abuse within the Mormon Church or any other institution, understanding your legal rights is essential. Taking the first step to explore your options can be a powerful part of your healing process. Contact File Abuse Lawsuit today for a free and confidential consultation to learn how you can pursue justice and accountability. Call us at (209) 283-2205 to speak with an empathetic legal advocate who understands the unique challenges you face.