My frequent visitors know that I was once a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the “Mormon” church. I became a Catholic in 2022 and formally left the Mormon faith by way of withdrawing my membership last year.
A recent newspaper article in a church-owned newspaper presents the Mormons as taking a tough stance against child abuse, whether physical or sexual. However, the church often welcomes child molesters. Such is the case in Albany, New York in the Albany 2nd Ward (parish), Albany New York Stake (diocese).
In that congregation, a man convicted of sodomizing two teenage boys was welcomed with open arms by everyone, many of whom had children that likely tickled the man’s fancy.
Currently led by Nikskayuna’s civil engineer Dan Bolke, the congregation, based on past performance, seems okay with a man like that in their hallways, just waiting to prey upon children when no one’s looking.
In the article, the church touts its supposed tough approach to child abuse. However, it’s my opinion that that is purely for show. As seen in this local congregation, there is a high tolerance for people who victimize children. I’ve seen it happen in Mormon congregation in several states, so it’s not just a one-off.
The article discusses the steps bishops (priests) and stake presidents (bishops) supposedly take when they become aware of abuse. The truth of the matter is that most of the time, things get swept under the carpet. Just look at the Albany 2nd Ward for proof.
Anyway, the article discusses when it’s appropriate to report abuse and in what fashion. It also discusses clergy privilege. Suppose a guy who touched a young girl inappropriately goes into his bishop’s office and confesses.
Well, to me, it should not be up for debate. The bishop should keep his mouth shut and tell no one. Same goes for Catholic priests. Sure, the bishop should remove the man from any volunteer position that puts him in authority over children, as long as he doesn’t go to the police. As we see in that ward in Albany, the name of the game is welcome anyone and everyone, even if he touches children.
That man, by the way, is a convicted felon who served hard prison time and who is a sex offender at the highest possible level. That is the sort of man they welcome. This goes on all over the country and probably the world. So don’t let the Mormons fool you.
Don’t misunderstand me here. I think touching a child in a sexual manner is repugnant and words can’t express how evil that person is. However, I have a policy of not getting involved.
I won’t say how long ago it was as the church’s headquarters still have my records, records that show a complete history of the wards and branches that I’ve been a member of, but many years ago, I was walking through an empty hall during sacrament meeting (Mass).
One of the classroom doors was closed, which was odd. I peeked in through the rectangular window that all classrooms have and saw one of the high priests touching a young girl sexually. I almost vomited right then and there.
I guess she saw me because she got a helpless look in her eyes. I shrugged and walked away. I never reported it to anyone, because it wasn’t my business. It happened behind closed doors after all, so I would have been interrupting his privacy. Plus a bro doesn’t do that to another bro, no matter how repulsive it is.
Also, I wasn’t going to put my freedom on the line by assaulting him in order to protect her. Not gonna happen, no matter who the child is.
I was never under any legal obligation to report the incident, as I have never been a mandated reporter, so I am blameless. Again, I am intentionally leaving out details that would allow the church or anyone else to narrow things down to one specific ward or branch.
My point is this: though what he did was disgusting, and though I would absolutely never do such a thing myself, I was not about to ruin another man’s life. It’s the bro code, basically. Or maybe bros before ho’s.
Now, if I were a Mormon bishop and someone confessed to me, I would tell him to shut his mouth and tell no one. We would then pretend the conversation never happened. That would be in harmony with clergy privilege law.
Anyway, my point is this: the Mormon church’s loud and proud claims in regards to how it protects children look good on paper, but in reality, at least based on two wards in my experience, those claims are, sadly, not what really happens.
I am a big fan of clergy privilege laws. As I said, I would never reveal what I’ve been told in the privacy of my office to anyone, especially not law enforcement.
Put it another way: I am a certified American Sign Language interpreter. I’ve interpreted for the deaf in sensitive situations, including Catholic Confessions and Mormon bishop confessions. I’ve heard things that would turn your hair white.
I interpreted once for a Mormon bishop and a member who confessed to things that this article references. It is my belief that, as an interpreter, I am shielded by the same disclosure laws that applies to any clergymen.
In other words, I could have and probably should have reported something, but I did not do so because that would violate sanctuary and other ethical codes. And I’ve slept like a baby!
The Mormons have a hotline for church leaders to get legal advice about how to handle things legally. I wouldn’t even bother picking up the phone.
You might say that because I didn’t report what that guy did to that little girl, she was likely a target of future abuse at the hands of the same guy. I could have prevented that, some may say.
Well, again, it wasn’t my story to tell and it wasn’t my problem. I did not hold a leadership position, so I wasn’t required to report anything to anyone.
Do I care if he did it to her again after I saw it knowing that I probably could have put an end to it?
Hell, no.
Clergy in general, of any denomination, are obligated to keep confessions secret, no matter the fallout.
So it is with Mormon bishops. Keeping quiet and then seeing further abuse is not their fault. The clergy privilege law must be adhered to, no matter the cost.
As for Bolke, how would he handle it if a guy, any guy in the ward, confessed to him that the confessor touched a child sexually? I can’t answer that, only he can.
But if he upholds the ward’s traditional response to child molesters, then the church has big problems in Albany and they are not in harmony with the church’s supposed response system. Clearly, church authorities at their world headquarters in Salt Lake City were not and are not aware of how this ward welcomes such people.
To me, the church went way too far, trying to create positive publicity by failing to mention their many, many failings. Failings, by the way, that the article conveniently forgets to mention. Funny how that works, especially when an article about the church is published by a newspaper that the church owns.
So, yes, let the Mormons have their good publicity through this newspaper article. Just know that what they say and what actually happens are not always the same thing, especially if you find yourself in Albany, New York.