Child AbuseOregon judge: LDS Church had no legal duty to protect teen from rape by adoptive father
A federal judge ruled September 8 that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had no legal duty under Oregon negligence law to protect a 15-year-old girl from her adoptive father, who was later convicted of raping her. The lawsuit alleges church leaders were informed of the abuse, which continued for two years. U.S. District Judge Michael J. McShane dismissed the negligence claims. The case raises ongoing legal questions about religious institutions' responsibilities when they learn of abuse within their congregations. FLOODLIT, a database tracking religious abuse cases built from court records, reports the case details.
September 16, 2026 at 10:02 PM MT · via FLOODLIT