Not many religions are as shrouded in secrecy as the Church

of Latter Day Saints (LDS) and its progeny. This secrecy cultivates a culture

that is ripe for abuse to occur. Attorney Peter Janci of Crew Janci LLP represents sexual abuse

survivors including those abused by LDS and FDLS clergy and rejoins us for this

episode of the podcast to discuss how the abuse occurs and how we can combat

it.

Sexual violence cases involving LDS churches and others

associated with Mormonism tend to be discussed less often than similar cases

against Catholic churches because these crimes are reported less often. The

extent of abuse that occurs is significant, however. Victims of abuse are

deterred from reporting sexual crimes due to the insular structure of LDS

churches and those related as well as the fact that these churches are often

based in states where court statutes stop victims from being able to take legal

action.

Tune in to learn more about the history of sexual violence

in LDS churches and how abuse is often hidden.

Listen as Renee Stapp, Director of the NCVC VAST Center, recounts her experience working directly on the Dr. Stanley Weber case. This is a continuing discussion on current cases against the federal government for abuse of Native American children told from the unique perspective of an advocate who was there in real time.

Attorney Jeff Fritz discusses a case involving school abuse in New Jersey. The case revolves around a seventh-grade student, Jane Doe, who was groomed and abused by her history teacher, Don Walker. The abuse continued into high school, and Walker even convinced Jane Doe to live with him for a period of time. The case highlights the importance of reporting abuse to Child Protective Services and the challenges victims face in coming forward. The statute of limitations for criminal charges had expired, but Jane Doe filed a civil lawsuit within the two-year window provided by New Jersey law. In this conversation, attorney Jeff Fritz discusses a case involving a survivor of sexual abuse by a teacher in the Camden City School District. He explains the dynamics of the abuse, the reasons why victims often stay in contact with their abusers, and the psychological impact on the survivor. The conversation also covers the lawsuit filed against the school district, the verdict, and the ongoing efforts to hold the district accountable.