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This week’s story opens in Hailey, Idaho, with Chelsea Goodrich locked in discussions with the director of the Mormon church’s risk management division.
Chelsea accused her father, former Mormon bishop John Goodrich, of childhood sexual abuse. After she confronted him, he made a religious confession to a local bishop. Chelsea and her mother had one clear request for church leadership: Would they allow the bishop who heard John’s confession to testify at his criminal trial?
Audio recordings of the meeting and others show how the church’s risk management director would discourage the bishop from testifying, citing an Idaho law that exempts clergy from having to divulge information about child sex abuse that is gleaned in a confession.
In collaboration with The Associated Press, we share secret audio recordings that expose a legal playbook used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that keeps evidence of sex abuse out of reach of authorities.
AP reporters Michael Rezendes and Jason Dearen also sit down with guest host Michael Montgomery to discuss why states across the country exempt clergy from mandatory reporting laws that are meant to protect children from abuse.
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