A terrible bombshell of a case dropped into Multnomah County courts today: lawyer Kelly Clark is suing the Church of Latter Day Saints for $5 million on behalf of a local Mormon man who says a church leader in the 70s sexually abused him, causing severe emotional and psychological damage.

The case in Multnomah County is actually part of a three-city lawsuit against the Mormon Church, stemming from sexual abuse accusations against three separate perpetrators in Seattle, Portland and San Francisco.

According to Clark, his client moved into the Woodburn ward of the Mormon church when he was about 12 and was a talented musician. The church organist there took the kid under his wing and proceeded to sexually abuse him in “dozens, maybe 100 incidents.”

The teenager eventually got up the courage to tell his bishop about the abuse and the bishop said he would resolve the problem. But the bishop never told police about the abuse and the alleged victim never received any counseling. “If law enforcement is involved, the kid gets counseling, the kid gets help,” says Clark. “He has really, really struggled. He has been in an out of jail, dealt with drug issues. The emotion and the sadness just oozes out of him.” Clark’s client in Portland is gay and that adds to his isolating relationship with the church, says Clark. “He says he’s too gay to be a Mormon and he’s too Mormon to go to any other church.”

“The Mormon church will tell you that they have a mandatory child abuse reporting policy, but in all three cases it was reported to the local bishop and in none of those cases was it reported to law enforcement and in none of those three cases did the victims get any help,” says Clark, who will argue in court that these cases qualified as situations where the clergy was bound by law to report abuse to the police. Though they’re not pursuing criminal prosecution of the church bishops, Clark says his clients are hoping that the hefty civil penalties will get the Mormon church to take notice of abuse within its ranks.

In San Francisco and Seattle, the abuse victims are also suing the Boy Scouts, since the alleged perpetrators were not only church leaders, but Boy Scout leaders as well.

Sarah Shay Mirk reported on transportation, sex and gender issues, and politics at the Mercury from 2008-2013. They have gone on to make many things, including countless comics and several books.

8 replies on “$5 Million Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Filed Against Mormon Church in Multnomah County”

  1. Mormons have all but ruined the Boy Scouts. It started over 30 years ago and I could already see problems at that time. Praying was an issue. Anyway, there was a concerted effort by the church to take over scouting. Religious perves in the woods with young boys? Glad I got out when I did.

  2. “He says he’s too gay to be a Mormon and he’s too Mormon to go to any other church.”
    Why would he want to go to a church at all, ever again?
    Religion ruins everything.

  4. I demanded and succeeded to have all records of my membership to the LDS church be removed; in effect resigning from the LDS church.
    I attended BYU in 1982-84, one class I took was Genealogy 263 taught by Prof (Bro) Bloxham. He taught the Mormon theology that the skin color of an AfroAmerican is black as a result of a curse. This is 6 years after the LDS church police allowed blacks to “Hold the priesthood”. In other words; You’re inferrior but you can attend our church. This is an response to 138 years of vile remarks made by the LDS leadership, and bigotry written in the Book of Mormon and other LDS scriptures.
    Any Mormon who wishes to protest against bigotry may resign may visit http://www.mormonresignation.com/ for information.
    I am now free and have a clean conscious; no mormon Home Teachers, Visiting teachers (police) and neighbors to check up on me. Most say othing to me which is more than OK with me.

  5. For those of you too young to know or to remember, the action against the Mormon Church doctrine of Black inferiority began in Portland When a Vancouver Washington attorney ordained a young Black man into Mormon concept of priesthood at the Travelodge Mtor Hotel an E. Broadway. He was a high priest and ws “excommunicated” yet 2 years later when he had a solid case against them for criminal conspiracy they relented and began to accept Blacks in priesthood. When he refused to discontinue his struggle against them the assassinated another attorney in an attempt to set him up. They have yet to pay for that crime. Look up “Mormons Take Notice” on you browser.

  6. I am saddened this happened to this man. My heart hopes he can find help and overcome something so terrible. I hope he gets his day in court to find the truth and bring those responsible to justice. Seeking truth can be difficult in a world where man mingles his views and interpretations with that of Gods. Unfortunatly, the other claims on this website, are just claims. When someone is looking to find truth, they look at the source of those providing the information. These are just claims fed by hate and anger.
    In terms of the Boys Scouts, they now require a extensive background investigation on all leaders and have the two-deep leadership rule. This was not due to just Mormon Perpetrators, but a number of incidence within many faiths and organizations. The Mormon church provides a substanial financial support to the Boy Scouts, it wouldn’t be able to operate if the church withdrew all of its membership. The Boys Scout program is an amazing program for boys, they need it in today’s world of moral decay, it provides character and opportunities to serve others.

    I feel sorry for those who responded with hate, nothing goes resolved or solved. I know somewhere down the road, you have been offeneded and hurt terribly. I know those who offended you will be held accountable. May happiness and the arms of God’s love surround you in your lives, and may the spirit of Christ penetrate your hearts.

  7. This is ridiculous…why would they sue the Mormon church for this? It has nothing to do with the religion. There are perverts in every religion. And the bishops who didn’t report to authorities didn’t do it because of the church, they probably didn’t because of their own judgement. The problem was the couple of PEOPLE in the church who made wrong decisions. But EVERY religion has those sickos. They should be suing the people themselves, and not the church. What about all the GOOD church goers out there who will have their religions name sullied out of no fault of their own. Go after the people, not their religion! Good grief.

  8. I dont know if anyone will ever read this. Myself and my two daughters were sexually abused by a two priesthood holders one who was also the Scout leader at the time.
    I was totally “brain washed” into believing that if I told my Bishop all would be taken care of. Not true, repeated abuse was endured, and I, was finally excommunicated. 24 Years later I have come forward and talked to two different Bishop’s (I am still excommunicated) both Bishops have “prayed and fasted” and told me that the men involved will pay for what they have done. Still none of these Bishops feel the need to report any of this or help me in any way!
    All I can say is that SATAN has the preiesthood too!!

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