How The Mormon Church Protects Child Abusers [Mormonism Live 169]

How The Mormon Church Protects Child Abusers [Mormonism Live 169]

Join RFM and Bill Reel on this compelling episode of Mormonism LIVE as they delve into a critical and sensitive topic – "How The Mormon Church Protects Child Abusers." Our special guest, non-Mormon lawyer Tim Kosnoff, shares his firsthand experiences dealing with Kirton & McConkie and other legal representation of the LDS Church, shedding light on their practices that may seem counterintuitive when it comes to protecting victims.

🔍 In this episode:
▶️ Tim Kosnoff's Eye-Opening Insights: Tim, a seasoned lawyer, provides a unique perspective on the actions of Kirton & McConkie, revealing instances where their decisions seem to prioritize protecting the Church and abusers over the well-being of victims.

▶️ Unpacking Legal Strategies: Dive deep into the legal intricacies as Tim breaks down specific cases and instances where the actions of Kirton & McConkie may raise eyebrows, suggesting a pattern of behavior that goes against the interests of survivors.

▶️ Protecting the Institution or the Victims? Explore the dissonance between the purported goal of protecting victims and the observed practices that might be shielding abusers. Tim shares anecdotes and experiences that paint a vivid picture of the challenges survivors face within the Mormon Church's legal framework.

👥 Our Guest - Tim Kosnoff:
Tim Kosnoff co-represents 17,000 clients in the Boy Scouts of America Chapter 11 bankruptcy. He has practiced law for forty years as a prosecutor, defense attorney and as a lawyer representing victims of child sexual abuse. He has extensive experience handling complex civil child sexual abuse litigation throughout the United States and Canada. He has handled thousands of complex child sexual abuse cases against religious and secular organizations including the Boy Scouts of America, the Mormon Church, the Catholic Church and a wide spectrum of other organizations. Tim has recovered more than $500 million dollars in settlements and jury verdicts.

Chapters
00:13:45 Kirton McConkie’s dirtiest tricks
00:20:00 SLC Press Conference
00:24:00 Why does the Church fight so hard for abusers?
00:27:30 Reputational damage
00:33:00 Church will defend child abuser but excommunicate critics
00:38:00 Helpline Protocol
00:42:00 Church’s website
00:44:30 Michael Jensen case
00:47:30 How KM “counsels”
00:52:00 Sending a key witness on a mission
00:54:00 Intentional….?
01:00:30 Tim warns members will lose faith, family & community
01:07:00 Abusing the system
01:26:00 Twist into pretzel to avoid reporting
01:28:15 Corporate Corruption
01:55:00 Magnet for pedophiles
02:08:00 Calls


📢 Join the Conversation:
We encourage respectful and thoughtful discussions in the live chat as we navigate this complex and crucial topic. Share your thoughts, questions, and perspectives, and let's engage in a meaningful conversation about accountability, justice, and the role of institutions in protecting vulnerable individuals.

🚨 Disclaimer:
This episode aims to foster awareness and open dialogue on a serious subject. Viewer discretion is advised as we discuss sensitive content related to child abuse within the context of the Mormon Church.

🔗 Important Links:


🕒 Set a reminder, mark your calendars, and join us for a thought-provoking and informative episode that seeks to shine a light on the complexities surrounding child abuse within the Mormon Church. Let's stand together in advocating for justice and compassion for survivors. #MormonismLIVE #ChildAbuseAwareness #TimKosnoff #KirtonMcConkie #SurvivorSupport

[brooklynparkse]

I can’t overemphasize how important Tim’s Mormon Stories episode was to my deconversion. Hearing all the horrible tactics he’d witnessed convinced me it was time to learn everything I knew I was ignorant of. Thank you for your work, Tim!

[theflamingbison]

Wonderful guest! Would love to see him back to talk about that court cases from start to finish. Great show this week!

[slidin]

Is he aware of the Glenn L Pace Document?
One thread in so many cases is the temple ! Why is it so widespread?

[TheSaintelias]

What Tim didn’t realize is he was going after a corporation not just a church.

[bodytrainercrane]

Excellent episode. I could feel Tim's bitterness, anger and some hope and I am amazed by the career he has had so far. I think most Mormons are so fearful and just don't want to rock the boat but this boat needs ROCKING!!!

[ksparks]

Great show. Thanks to Tim Kosnoff for your work. My kids quit attending church when a friend who worked in the nursery told me that the bishop refused to investigate a dad’s suspicious behavior in the nursery.

[Grandma_HoneyVA]

As a survivor of familial sexual abuse in the LDS church, and knowing the amount of other victims, I’m curious about the rate of abuse in the church vs. outside of the church.

[akathecatlady]

What a great interview! Mr. Kosnoff is a great interview. I'd love to hear more about the work he and others are doing. You are doing such incredible work exposing the church's abuses. Thank you for the hard work. Please keep going!

[KNosk]

It's horrifying enough how the hotline confuses and obfuscates mandatory reporting laws in US jurisdictions. I noticed on the brochure that the number is for Canadian bishops as well. I live in Alberta. Probably the highest Mormon population in the country. All adults with reasonable suspicion of child abuse are required to report to authorities here. It's disgusting and heartwrenching to think of how many bishops were likely advised to break the law here.

[Jcrew]

It’s appalling how the LDS Church abuses their members.

[sandee-zntq]

Love it when Tim Kosnoff & others are instrumental in uncovering, reporting, enlightening & shaming Church enabled abusers!!

[patriciafinn]

It is stomach turming to know this is the practice of the church....no excuse

[lyndatracy]

This is your best Mormonism Live episode! Please have Tim Kosnoff on again!

[Trudy]

What an amazing man Tim is, so glad that victims have had you on their side. It is so disgusting what the church do and they want us to believe that they are ‘honest, true and benevolent’ total BS!! My Ex husband abused my daughters and sisters. He was disfellowshipped and I was assured there would be a flag on his membership records. Two years later he was called on to a bishopric in a new area. I threatened to go public and he was released. He continued to move wards and even showed up I’m my sisters ward, I’m sure deliberately. I was told by the church that they didn’t know how to handle it correctly as it was an issue that they rarely have. The church make all of their leadership liars. Thank you Bill and RFM for bringing us the truth

[swaneespeedramsey]

Fantastic episode. Speaking reasonable, kind and truthful words. Go slow and relish the words spoken.

[Skooter]

This story would make a great movie. Needs to be sent to Hollywood screen writers.

[edbutzwiggle]

🤯🤯 Jesus will be turning lots of tables over when he comes back. They will be in for a rude awakening when they realize one of the tables was theres. 🙏🙏
The dishonesty and Conniving is disgusting!!

[debbieshrubb]

Thanks to Tim for helping me to understand the church's modus operandi so that I can help people realise how unsafe the LDS church is for families with children.

[slvrsrfr]

Child sexual abuse is normalized within the church. I mean if Brigham Young, Joseph Smith, and many other prophets were allowed to get away with it? Man's law is beneath God's law, Then It's not really a sin as long as you hold a temple recommend and are a Priesthood holder.

[CustomPortraitArtist]

My x husband sexually abused our kids . Two of my kids, now adults, have clear memories of the abuse for years. I reported to my bishop at the time with my mom and second x husband. I'm definite he never reported the abuse - this was in 2001. My x after I reported threatened our kids and terrorized them, especially our 4 year old daughter. The same bishop after knowing the extent of the abuse still allowed my x to baptize and bless our oldest son, who was sexually abused by his dad. My kids have suffered greatly because of the lack of our bishop not reporting. Their dad continued to abuse them for a few years after I reported to the bishop. Their lives have been riddled with suicide attempts, emotional trauma, relationship issues, lack of self respect and belief, and more.... If the bishop would have reported it would have helped when I reported. I was told that since the 3 of us that reported to the bishop were not all priesthood holders (2 women and 1 man) that we were not taken as serious. I believe the bishop not reporting would have had DCFS take the case more seriously... His not reporting left my children to be abused and now struggling with adulthood.