Saturday, June 13, 2009

LDS Bishop arrested for sexual assault

Keith Gillins is a 61 year-old high school teach, coach, and Mormon religious leader. He stands accused of having sex with a 17-year-old student.

"He is well-known. He's done a lot of good. He's a good man, and it is upsetting to the community and the parents and the students and everybody. It's upsetting to everybody," said Millard County Sheriff Robert Dekker.

Charging documents state the crimes occurred in November of last year, but investigators are looking at the possibility of other encounters.

I don’t get many cases of Mormon sexual abuse. I’m not sure why. It could be my news filter does not catch them, or it could be the lay priesthood does not breed as many pedophiles. I plan to look deeper. Does anyone have any advice?

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Personal Failure · 832 weeks ago

There are many, many rapes in the LDS community. Victims, however, are instructed to go to their . . . wait for it . . . Bishop instead of the police.

You don't hear about rapes in the LDS community not because they don't happen, but because they are never reported.
1 reply · active 832 weeks ago
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Mojoey 107p · 832 weeks ago

It is as I suspected. Bummer. I wonder how to fix it.
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Jared · 832 weeks ago

I'm an active mormon, whose father was in a bishopric, and my understanding is that clergy are not supplemental to the legal process in cases when laws have been broken (rape, incest, molestation, etc.)

Clergy are required by the church to help the victim report the crime so that justice can be served legallly (through established legal practices) and spiritually (through church disciplinary processes).

Like in any community, religious or otherwise, these tragedies happen. No one, regardless of religious background can completely escape those problems, nor do we claim to.

In response to your question, my opinion is that you hear less about these cases from Mormons because they aren't required to take celibacy vows like in some religions. Most clergy are married (it's rare to find any single clergy) and have healthy outlets for their sexual feelings within their marriage.
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Danny · 832 weeks ago

I have very seldom heard of LDS rapes, at least not as often as I hear of them outside of Utah. How about some evidence from those who are saying they are common. Talk is cheap and unsubstianted claims are easily made. I iived in Utah for 25 years, and this is the first time I have heard of a Bishops involved in such an incident. Such an event would be big news, so why did I not hear such incidents in the past?
1 reply · active 832 weeks ago
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Mojoey 107p · 832 weeks ago

Danny - I hate to break it to you, but bad people are everplace. Even
in the Les.
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Buffy 83p · 832 weeks ago

The LDS church is rife with sex crimes. Sadly the culture is so insular and the women are trained to be submissive, so they go largely unreported.
2 replies · active 828 weeks ago
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prisilla · 828 weeks ago

Oh please...... how about everyone is responsible for their own actions... it doesn't matter what religion you are. This isn't a reflection on a religion, it's a reflection on someone who made a horrible choice and now they will face the consequences.... give it up trying to blame a religion.
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Mojoey 107p · 828 weeks ago

You miss my point. I make these posts because religious people make the argument that their religion make the moral while my lack of religion makes me immoral. I agree with you. It is a matter of personal choice. Choose to be bad, and you are.
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Climatewiz · 797 weeks ago

LDS Bishops and other ecclesiastical leaders in the faith are required to immediately report abuse, rape and incest directly to the civil authorities. Mercy cannot and does not rob justice in the LDS faith.

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