Hidden Confessions of the Mormon Church
Digest
"The Global Story" podcast delves into a Reveal investigation exposing the Mormon Church's response to child sex abuse allegations. The investigation centers on the case of John Goodrich, a former bishop accused of abusing his daughter, Chelsea. The podcast explores the church's reliance on clergy-penitent privilege, a legal doctrine that protects the confidentiality of communications between a clergy member and a person seeking spiritual guidance. This privilege allows the church to keep details of John's confession secret, hindering investigations and potentially shielding perpetrators from justice. The podcast also examines the church's efforts to prevent bishops from sharing information with law enforcement, even in cases of child sex abuse. The investigation highlights the ongoing debate surrounding clergy-penitent privilege and its impact on child sex abuse cases. The podcast updates listeners on the progress of John Goodrich's case, including his indictment in Virginia on serious felony charges related to the alleged abuse of his daughter. This development represents a potential breakthrough in the case, as it could lead to a trial and potential conviction. The podcast emphasizes the significance of the clergy-penitent privilege loophole in mandatory reporting laws, which allows clergy members to avoid reporting child sex abuse allegations they learn about during confessions, potentially allowing perpetrators to continue abusing children.
Outlines
The Global Story: Investigating the Mormon Church's Handling of Child Sex Abuse
This episode of "The Global Story" podcast features a Reveal investigation into the Mormon Church's response to child sex abuse allegations, focusing on the case of John Goodrich, a former bishop accused of abusing his daughter, Chelsea.
Reveal: The Mormon Church's Secrecy and Child Sex Abuse
This chapter introduces the Reveal investigation into the Mormon Church's handling of child sex abuse allegations, focusing on the case of John Goodrich, a former bishop accused of abusing his daughter, Chelsea.
The Church's Response and Legal Exemptions
This chapter explores the Mormon Church's response to Chelsea's allegations, highlighting their reliance on clergy-penitent privilege and their efforts to keep details of John's confession secret.
Developments in the Goodrich Case and Clergy Penitent Privilege
This chapter updates listeners on the progress of John Goodrich's case, including his indictment in Virginia and the ongoing debate surrounding clergy-penitent privilege and its impact on child sex abuse cases.
Keywords
The Global Story
A podcast produced by the BBC World Service that provides in-depth coverage of international news stories.
Reveal
A podcast produced by the Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX that investigates important social and political issues.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Also known as the Mormon Church, a religious denomination founded in 1830 that emphasizes family, faith, and service.
Clergy-Penitent Privilege
A legal doctrine that protects the confidentiality of communications between a clergy member and a person seeking spiritual guidance.
John Goodrich
A former Mormon bishop accused of sexually abusing his daughter, Chelsea Goodrich.
Chelsea Goodrich
The daughter of John Goodrich, who bravely came forward with allegations of abuse and fought for justice.
Q&A
What is the main focus of "The Global Story" podcast?
"The Global Story" podcast provides in-depth coverage of one major international news story each weekday, featuring insights from BBC journalists.
What is the central issue explored in the Reveal investigation?
The Reveal investigation examines the Mormon Church's handling of child sex abuse allegations, specifically focusing on the case of John Goodrich, a former bishop accused of abusing his daughter.
How does the Mormon Church use clergy-penitent privilege to protect itself?
The Mormon Church uses clergy-penitent privilege to prevent bishops from sharing details of confessions with law enforcement, even in cases of child sex abuse, effectively shielding perpetrators from justice.
What are the key developments in the John Goodrich case since the initial Reveal investigation?
John Goodrich has been indicted in Virginia on serious felony charges related to the alleged abuse of his daughter, Chelsea. This development represents a potential breakthrough in the case, as it could lead to a trial and potential conviction.
What is the significance of the clergy-penitent privilege loophole in mandatory reporting laws?
The clergy-penitent privilege loophole allows clergy members to avoid reporting child sex abuse allegations they learn about during confessions, effectively putting the power in the hands of the perpetrator and potentially allowing them to continue abusing children.
Show Notes
Chelsea Goodrich and her mother, Lorraine, were locked in discussions with the director of the Mormon church’s risk management division, Paul Rytting. One of Rytting’s jobs is to protect the church from legal liability, including sexual abuse lawsuits.
The women had come to the meeting with one clear request: Would the church allow a local Idaho bishop who heard Chelsea’s father’s confession of abuse to testify against him at trial?
In this week’s episode, produced in collaboration with The Associated Press, secret audio recordings expose a legal playbook used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that keeps evidence of sex abuse out of reach of authorities.
AP reporters Michael Rezendes and Jason Dearen investigate what happened after a former Mormon bishop, John Goodrich, was accused of sexual abuse—and the family pressed Mormon church officials on whether they were going to make decisions that would help Chelsea or her father.
Rezendes and Dearen also sit down with guest host Michael Montgomery to discuss a major development in the Goodrich case since this investigation was released last year—and why states across the country continue to exempt clergy from mandatory reporting laws that are meant to protect children from abuse.
This is an update of an episode that originally aired in December 2023.
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