It’s no surprise-that LDS bishops and Christian clergy so often fail to report child sexual abuse.
For one, several state laws exempt people of the cloth — but not, say, secular psychotherapists — from reporting.
And, theologically, the clerical cover-up is quite in keeping with their favorite mantra for exemplary behavior:
“What would Jesus do?”
To which the answer always is, “Nothing.”
When Elizabeth Smart was being kidnapped and raped daily by self-proclaimed Mormon prophet Brian David Mitchell, what did Jesus do to stop it?
Nothing.
Likewise, when 6-year-old Sierra Newbold was being kidnapped, sexually abused and murdered, what did Jesus do to stop it?
Nothing.
Not a peep to awaken her parents sleeping nearby, before she was snatched away. Not a peep to the police.
Curiously, some people preach that the good Lord intervened to finger Sierra’s killer after she was already dead.
That’s dubious at best.
But what’s undeniable is that her abuse and murder continued.
According to Christianity and Mormonism, their all-knowing Lord knew all about it. Their all-powerful Lord easily could have stopped it.
But what did Jesus do?
He sat back and watched the live kiddie snuff porn instead.
And LDS Prophet Russell Nelson preaches that was the perfect thing for his perfect Lord to do. As does Pope Francis. And Salt Lake City’s new Presbyterian minister, Rev. Jamie White. Religion columnist Jana Riess. Elizabeth Smart, if she’s still Mormon. And essentially every believing Christian and Mormon, from fundamentalist to progressive. Laus Deo.
Such is your brain on religion.
That’s not “hate speech” — theists’ whining notwithstanding. It’s essential Christian/Mormon doctrine.
If you find Christian and Mormon theology loathsome, don’t blame me.
It’s not atheist organizations that are preaching “WWJD?” and officially idolizing His live kiddie snuff porn voyeurism. That’s the Christian/Mormon thing to do.
Gregory A. Clark, Salt Lake City
