Sexual Abuse and Religion

Through our legal work, our attorneys have seen patterns of ministers, lay leaders or affiliated religious staff members targeting children, teenagers or vulnerable adults for sexual abuse under the guise of providing spiritual guidance. This type of sexual abuse is insidious and can occur in spaces where religious authority, trust, secrecy, and moral influence are deeply embedded, such as:

• Churches
• Faith-based schools
• Seminaries
• Spiritual retreats
• Youth groups

While individual acts of abuse are horrific in their own right, many survivor stories reveal a broader pattern: systemic abuse. Systemic abuse occurs when religious organizations have prior knowledge of abusive behavior yet choose to protect the institution rather than intervene and prevent this abuse from being perpetuated on unsuspecting others. Rather than report allegations to law enforcement, some organizations have tried to silence victims by:

• Conducting secretive internal investigations
• Payment of nominal settlements
• Reassigning accused individuals
• Using nondisclosure agreements

How secrecy and power dynamics enable abuse

In these environments, survivors may face intense pressure to remain silent about clergy sexual abuse. Clergy and religious leaders are often viewed as spiritual guides. This imbalance of power makes it extremely difficult for victims (especially children) to understand or report abuse. Survivors can experience guilt, confusion, shame and fear of spiritual or social repercussions.

Some institutions maintain doctrines or policies that create barriers to justice. For example, mandatory church-based dispute resolution, confidentiality agreements, or male-only leadership structures may further insulate abusers and deny survivors a meaningful path to healing or accountability.

In recent decades, multiple religious organizations have come under scrutiny for their mishandling of sexual abuse allegations.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) has faced growing criticism and legal action related to its handling of child and adult sexual abuse reports. Lawsuits filed by survivors allege that church leaders discouraged victims from contacting police and instead routed complaints through internal ecclesiastical channels. In some cases, the church’s “help line” for bishops has been accused of serving more as a legal defense mechanism than a victim-support system.

Survivors have described being pressured into silence, reassured that “the matter would be handled,” only to find that their abuser remained in a position of trust. Others allege retaliation or spiritual manipulation when they speak out.

The Catholic Church

The Catholic Church remains one of the most visible examples of institutional clergy abuse. Investigations worldwide have uncovered thousands of credibly accused priests, some of whom were moved between dioceses without consequence. A 2004 report found that nearly 4% of U.S. Catholic clergy faced credible allegations of child sexual abuse.

Motley Rice has represented survivors in multiple cases against dioceses and religious orders, helping to expose internal documents in court and challenge the secrecy that has long protected abusers.

Protestant denominations

Protestant denominations have also been accused of enabling abuse. Unlike hierarchical churches, many protestant groups operate independently, which can make coordination on abuse prevention and accountability difficult.

A 2022 report from the Southern Baptist Convention found that church leaders had kept a secret list of ministers accused of sexual abuse but didn’t take meaningful action to prevent further harm for years. The report described a pattern of minimizing abuse claims, resisting reforms and intimidating survivors and advocates.

Other religious groups

Smaller religious communities have come under fire for requiring abuse to be confirmed by multiple witnesses, including the Jehovah’s Witnesses community. Critics argue this policy allows abuse to go unpunished. Internal judicial committees, disfellowshipping practices and discouragement of legal action have led to claims that these groups prioritize institutional image over child protection.

Decades of research and legal investigation have revealed the widespread nature of clergy sexual abuse in religious institutions. While underreporting remains a serious problem, publicly available data helps illustrate the issue’s scope.

• Prevalence in the Catholic Church: A study found that 4% of U.S. Catholic clergy had been credibly accused of clerical abuse of minors between 1950 and 2002.
• Delayed disclosure: Research indicates that survivors of childhood sexual abuse often delay disclosure until adulthood, with the average age of disclosure being 52 and many never disclosing at all.
• Mental health impact: Survivors of religious sexual abuse are more likely to suffer from complex PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance use disorders and suicidal ideation.
• Institutional accountability gaps: More than half of U.S. Catholic dioceses have not publicly released a list of credibly accused priests, limiting transparency for survivors and communities.

Motley Rice has represented clients in lawsuits involving clergy abuse within the Catholic Church, helping survivors seek justice through civil litigation. As part of our work, we’ve pushed for:

• Confidential settlements that help survivors find resolution and healing
• Disclosure of internal church records that reveal patterns of abuse and institutional cover-ups
• Reform commitments, including stronger child protection policies in affected institutions
• Support for lookback window legislation, which gives survivors a renewed opportunity to take legal action

Motley Rice attorneys have also investigated whether schools, churches and other organizations, such as the Boy Scouts, knew about abuse happening in their systems and failed to notify authorities. In past cases, Motley Rice helped survivors reach confidential settlements and pushed for the adoption of improved child protection protocols at the institutional level.

Recently, claims of sexual abuse by religious leaders in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) have become public, and some victims are pursuing legal action. Survivors have alleged that church leadership failed to prevent abuse or respond appropriately to reports. In many cases, internal policies were allegedly used to avoid external scrutiny, while abusers continued to hold positions of power.

Ongoing investigations focus on:

• Leadership failures, including allegations that bishops and other church leaders failed to notify law enforcement or protect potential victims
• Internal reporting channels that may have prioritized legal risk management over survivor support
• Use of lookback window legislation, which may allow some abuse survivors who were previously time-barred to pursue civil action
• Church knowledge of the risk posed by certain individuals

If you experienced abuse linked to LDS, a sexual abuse lawyer at Motley Rice can speak with you about your situation confidentially.

Survivors should consider contacting a sexual abuse lawyer as soon as they’re ready to explore legal options. This applies whether the abuse occurred in childhood or adulthood. Survivors who have previously reported the abuse may also bring claims.

Key moments to consider reaching out include:

• When new state legislation opens a lookback window
• After learning that others have filed similar lawsuits involving the same institution
• When internal reporting to the religious organization has failed or been ignored
• If emotional or psychological harm from past abuse has resurfaced and you can connect these harms to the abuse you suffered

An experienced lawyer can help you navigate the next steps in seeking accountability and justice.

Motley Rice has a history of representing survivors in institutional sexual abuse cases, including high-profile litigation involving the Catholic Church, Boy Scouts of America, and other youth-serving and faith-based organizations. Our attorneys have helped expose decades of abuse and hold powerful institutions accountable.

We work closely with survivors to build strong claims grounded in compassion, legal strategy and a deep understanding of trauma. Every survivor’s story matters, and every case is handled with the care and discretion it deserves.

Read more about our sexual abuse litigation experience.