Mormons tackle abuse

THE Mormon church is changing its guidelines for how local leaders handle sexual abuse reports and one-on-one meetings with youth, a week after a former prominent missionary leader was accused of sexually assaulting two women in the 1980s.

The changes announced Monday by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints direct lay leaders never to disregard a report of abuse, a more direct instruction than previous guidelines.

A key new rule allows children to bring a parent or adult with them during one-on-one interviews with local church leaders known as bishops. Parents were only allowed in a hallway or adjacent room under old rules. Youth can still go in alone if they choose.

Last year, a group of Mormons and ex-Mormons demanded an end to the one-onone interviews and a prohibition on all sexual questions.

Sam Young, a Mormon father from Houston who is leading the campaign, said on Tuesday the changes don’t go far enough. He said a parent or adult should be required for all meetings. He said sexual questions often become explicit and argued children should only be asked if they were obeying the faith’s law of chastity.

The group plans a protest march tomorrow in Salt Lake City to deliver 50,000 signatures to church headquarters.