Utah lawmakers cover a lot of ground in 45 days, and some of those bills exist because of tragedy. This week on State Street we’re discussing two bills aimed at protecting children. One has been coined “Om’s law” in response to the story of Om Moses Gandhi, who was shot and killed by his father during court-mandated, unsupervised family time. The other deals with religious clergy reporting child abuse. We spoke with a bishop from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about how he views both confession and a perceived duty to report abuse.
If you or someone you know needs help, call the Utah domestic violence link line at 1-800-897-LINK or text START to 88788.
Voices:
- Jared Zemp, a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bishop
- Leah Moses, domestic violence advocate and mother of Om Moses Gandhi
- Rep. Paul Cutler, R-Centreville
- Erin Jemison, director of public policy at the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition
- Rep. Anthony Loubet, R-Kearns
- Rep. Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City
Recommended Reading and Listening:
- In the wake of tragedy, Om’s Law aims to reform Utah’s family court system
- Mother calls for family court reform after tragic murder-suicide in Salt Lake City
- Rather than require clergy to report abuse, Utah could open the door to the option
- What a guv wants, what a guv needs
- Recordings show how the LDS Church protects itself from child sex abuse claims
- Arizona Supreme Court dismisses child sex abuse suit against the LDS Church
- Arizona Supreme Court upholds clergy privilege in Mormon help line abuse case
- Push to require clergy to report abuse stalls out in Utah Legislature
- Churches stand fast against attempts to rein in the clergy loophole in child sex abuse reporting
- Seven years of sex abuse: How Mormon officials let it happen
- The LDS Church's Playbook for Hiding Child Sexual Abuse
- The Power Of The Private Confessional
- Reporter Michael Rezendes shines 'spotlight' on the LDS church