Deseret News | Idaho man files sex abuse lawsuit against Scouts, LDS Church

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Idaho man files sex abuse lawsuit against Scouts, LDS Church

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Just some re tuneing. | 8:59 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

I am not a super die hard scouter, but I am an Eagle Scout and proud of it. My father in law is a die hard scouter though. He sits on several boards for scouting, including the Eagle board. He is very tough on scouts. He makes sure they earn their Eagle and not just get it. He has refused many young men for various reasons, not enough work on their project or they were caught shop lifting. We just need to retune the program, make it worth while again. Raise the bar in scouting just like we did the missionary program. Teach young men what scouting is all about and not just earn some awards and be done with it. Raise the bar for leaders to. Teach them to teach the boys and not just sign off merit badges and take them camping. I would hate to see the scouting program go away. I love it and can't wait for my sons to participate in it.

What is Clark Up to | 9:02 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

One reason this was filed in Oregon and not Idaho: $$. Better tort laws for the victim. Tragic event if true, but let's not lose sight of the motives of the plaintiff and his attorney.

Sue the government | 9:08 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

I don't understand how the Boy Scouts or a Church or any organization can be sued because a member is involved in illegal activity. I could understand it if the organization encouraged the illegal behavior but it's clear that the Boy Scouts and the LDS Church do not encourage molesting or other sexual misconduct. In fact, it's clear that they teach the opposite. If there is an individual or organization who did or does encourage it, sue the individual. You might as well sue the U.S. government for not doing enough to stop one of its citizens illegal behavior. You can't hold an organization accountable for every action that every member takes when it's clear that the organization does not condone that behavior.

It's ridiculous. If this line of reasoning works, I see no reason why you can't apply the same logic and sue the government every time a citizen misbehaves and he/she isn't immediately punished.

Comments continue below

The facts | 9:14 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

The rank of Eagle Scout is still important. Those of you who are stuck inside of Utah and never get out may not realize this. The problem is that many scout troops in Utah or any where else can be Eagle factories. I was a leader in the late 80s' and was witness to a 14 year old boy receiving his Eagle. I knew him after he achieved this rank and while camping found out he could not even tie a square knot. The scouts and the chruch do go hand in hand; however, it is not an Eagle factory nor is it and Elder factory. This slimeball lawyer is definately looking for money. As one who has experienced abuse during my young years, I know money will not make the memories go away.

Church member | 9:13 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

The Boy Scout program is a good program, and can positively impact the lives of young men,but it should be a separate entity outside the Church. I have to question why the Church includes it as a Church program for YM, when it doesn't have an equivalent program for the Young Women. Our YW are entitled to the same opportunities as the YM.

Child abuse is an outrage, any time, anywhere. I do think the Church and the BSA are doing more now than they did in the past to prevent it, and are not as likely to "sweep it under the rug" as in the past.

ID Jazz | 9:16 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

I am always discouraged with people and there acts when I read stories of abuse in any form. But I guess I will always question the honesty of an accuser who waits 30+ years to file a complaint and the amount of money to cover said abuse. I am not doubting that it may have occurred but how much money does it take to heal wounds. I guess 5 Million. Coming out 30+ years later it is going to be hard for him to prove that people turned the backs to it also. People move and memories of things 30+ years are hard to remember. This will be a hard case for the Accuser to prove for those reasons. It seems to help the Lawyer more than anybody so he can draw clients from the woodwork.

Hopefully it works out the way it supposed to.

Canuck | 9:37 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

To:BSA???, Chad, and others:
There is no downside to the Scouting Movement! Only bad Scout leaders and poor execution of the program because of poor training or whatever. I have been to the last four world jamborees with great kids. I was in England this past summer at the world jamboree with two of my daughters. I have four sons in Scouting and helped them get their Chief Scout award (equivalent to Eagle) and then their Queen Venturer award. I am a bishop and we have a great scouting program. We have had a few cases here of Child Abuse in our stake over the years, by prominent Church Leaders, but never one by Scout Leaders to my knowledge. Talk about negative publicity. In fact I have had more problems with the Stake YM's and YM's joint camps than with our Scout camping program. Does that mean we should scrap the Church?...I don't think so.

Don't need to be an eagle | 9:38 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

Yhe LDS church and BSA should part ways for lots of reasons.

One reason not mentioned is that since people are asked to "volunteer" in scouts, many are not very commited to the program. When I was a boy and now with my son, there is very little continuity of leadership.

After the third "leader" in 6 months, you just want to say; "Lets just go camping and do the same stuff as a family and forget about the aggravation of an undependable program. And yes I have served in scouts myself and gone to leadership training.

scouter mom | 9:34 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

does money really make everything all better? no. I can't believe you are putting a price on your child's happiness. Money does not cure abuse, nor does it make it go away.

Eagle Scout | 9:38 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

I loved scouting as a boy and I have two sons in cub scouts, but after spending years working with young men in the church I feel the Duty to God program is far superior to scouting. We moved into a new ward recently and I'm not sure the leaders even know what the Duty to God program is. Sure the boys in the ward know how to tie a sheet bend, boondoggle and cook an egg in an orange peel, but what does that have to do with getting ready for a mission?

I don't mind keeping the scouting program, but it should optional and take a back seat to Duty to God.

How is it BSA's fault? | 9:41 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

BSA teaches youth protection. BSA offers training. BSA mandates two-deep leadership. A rogue leader goes against all this and commits a crime. And it's BSA's fault? And they should pay millions? What a deal! What else can BSA reasonably do to ensure this never happens again, beyond what they are doing? Disband? Throw in the towel? What secular organization even ATTEMPTS to train young men to do their duty to God and Country and to help other people at all times etc.? Shall we leave it up to the ACLU?

Riley | 9:44 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

I can't think of a better youth program on earth than scouting when joined with the aaraonic priesthood, and will be proud to have boys in the program when they are of age. Think about it, we are teaching young men the importantance of being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent; of doing their duty to God and their country, rendering service, and doing good at all times. There will always be bad apples in every barrel, but my money says there are no more instances of abuse in BSA or the church than in any other organization...these two orgs just happen to have deep pockets. I say this not to excuse in the least systemic lapses that make it easier for abusers to perpetrate their acts, these should be fixed immediately, but rather to urge us not to throw out the baby with the bathwater here. The scouting organization teaches timeless principles of good character...is this not praiseworthy and of good report?

Follow the Rules | 9:50 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

It all comes down to following the rules and regulations as outlined by the Church and BSA. Rules can and do change over the years as the need for such changes come to light. Right after my mission I was a Varsity Scout Leader. My little brother was in the troup and I wasn't allowed to share a tent with him because of the rules. While that seems a little overboard, if we follow the rules we will be on safe ground.

I disagree that the Church should part ways with the BSA. I learned many, many things in Scouts...in Utah no less... that I still use today. My wife quite often asks where I learned to do something and often my answer is scouts.

This situation needs to be taken seriously, but let's not throw out the system for a few bad apples.

JazzyVandal | 9:49 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

I'm saddened to hear all these abuse cases with the Boy Scouts/LDS Church.

I'm from the Idaho Falls area, and remember when the scout sex abuse story hit the papers. It is a sad story what that scout leader did to those kids. Do you have any idea how much these kids suffered?

I'm ashamed of those who defend the scouts and the LDS church at all costs, even if abuse is involved. What if it was your own child? What would you do?

Background checks must be done on all leaders.

RE: LDS | 9:58 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

To LDS and any others who are defending the actions of Mr. Doe:

As someone who was also abused as a kid, the thing I regret most about it is not reporting it. Regardless of the outcome, the responsibility to report it belongs to the abused. If you don't say anything, nobody can help. If you report it and nothing gets done, then I can understand filing a lawsuit. But to file one after 40 years because your life hasn't turned out the way you hoped is childish. No amount of money is going to make you a better person or provide you comfort for a terrible thing in the past. You should have reported it at the time.

Morton D. Stinkley | 10:02 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

There sure seems to be a lot of this going on in the LDS church for some reason.

If the point | 10:09 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

of the loss suit was to affect change, what's the change being sought? Yes, back in the '60's the church had bad policies in place. This ain't the '60's. Sound policies are in place and constantly admonished to be strictly followed. So then, what is the point of the $5,000,000.00 price tag? So the money grubbing sophistrating lawyer can buy a new boat, a "cabin" in the mountains, and a vacation home in Italy.

If he was abused, go after the abuser. I am sick and tired of civil lawsuits being awarded where abuse has never even been proved in a court of law. Look, I have simpathy for the victims, and more than likely this guy was abused. But to sue for $5,000,000.00 over forty years after the fact as a way to get rich ends my patience.

Whoa ... Heartless Mormons | 10:10 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

Why do so many of you making comments hate a man who is coming to grips with the trauma of abuse? And why do you Blame the lawyer who hates Mormons? No self respecting man ever wants to admit he was the victim of another man. It takes tome for that stuff to come to the top!

Scouting today is careful and agrressive. In the 1960's, scouting was a haven for men who abused boys. And that extends to the church troops as well.

I was a teenager in the same ward as this man at the same time, and I knew the predator (Larren Arnold) referred to in this story. I didn't know he was no longer on the sex offender list in Idaho. He's a dangerous and abusive man ...No young man between 10 and 14 is safe with him!

Lots of boys (now men) in that ward carry scars around of scout outings gone bad. Several struggled to stay active. Many have failed marriages and troubled lives. Just bringing this case to light and shouting Larren's sins from the pages of the newspaper is great, even if the suit goes no where.

easy solution | 10:10 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

No more church sponsored scout troops. As a young man growing up in the LDS church you are always compelled to participate in scouting under the assumption that it will build character. Guess what? Having your mommy do an Eagle Scout project for you dosen't build any character. Spending one night a week learning to weave baskets dosen't build character. Spending a week each summer lighting your flatulence on fire dosen't build character. I read these stories in the paper and I always wonder if the victim went to his parents or gaurdian and said, "I don't want to go to scouts any more." If he was too timid to share his reason, you can bet that his parents as well as his religious leaders compelled him to go back. It would be nice if as a church (I'm active LDS), we could build charcter by teaching of Christ and his principles, rather than relying on an out-dated secular program to do that.

As a side note, I will bet that as a rebellious non-scouter, I can tie more knots, have more practical skills, and have exhibited more citizenship than 90% of suburban LDS eagle scouts.

Barry | 10:12 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

I am astounded that the D-News didn't print Mr. Doe's real name, but printed the name of the accused. That's real irony.

BostonTerry | 10:20 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

Having lived at the Epicenter of the Catholic abuse scandle, and also lived around SLC for decades I can assure you the LDS situation is nothing compared to the Catholic. Someone mentioned above that in the 60's the idea was to reform the sinner. Not in the Catholic church. Pedophiles used the status of the church and the unsupervised lifestyle to bring in their brothers. Read the story about the Alaskan towns as well as Boston The close connections between unmarried priests left an environment ripe for this wholesale abuse of Children. Cardinal Bernard Law wrote letters ofrecommends so some of the more virulent abusers could be transferred out of state, often to California, and they were never sent to therapy or counseling. These records came out after Cardinal Law escaped to the Vatican when it was clear he was going to be indicted by the slow acting attorney general in Massachusettes. While the LDS church will have sporatic incidents of abuse, pedophiles are excellent chameleons and often use Churches as a beard. I doubt you'll see the mass abuse like that of the paid, unmarried clergy. I am not LDS or Catholic for what its worth.

Jay B. | 10:33 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

Naive Mormons. Citizens are not official representatives of the US Government.

A Young Men's leader is an official representative of the LDS Church as well as an official representative of the BSA. Their status as official representatives of these organizations is documented with legally-binding documents. These organizations are legally responsible and liable for the oversight of their legal representatives. If these representatives commit a crime under color of office, then these organizations are responsible, accountable, and liable.

I not only hope this lawsuit is very successful, I hope many more come to court and are successful to finally send a message to the LDS Church and the BSA that their programs have been seriously flawed; that the leadership of both organizations have been negligent in providing oversight and guidance; that THEY are the organizations that are unethical be taking HUGE sums of people's money (Tithing and Friends of Scouting donations) and providing incompetent, poorly operated programs.

The shameful thing is not that Tithing money will be wasted on these lawsuits; the shameful thing is that Tithing money and FOS money is taken from people in the first place without proper oversight and quality of programs.

No Ambulance Chasers! | 11:03 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

The INDIVIDUALS involved should be investigated and prosecuted vigorously if warranted, but vindictively going after the charitable offerings of Catholic, Mormon or any other church does not solve the problem.

Rather, it shows that the lawyer and the alleged victim are just looking for a payout.

Sue for changes in reporting laws. Work for stiffer penalties, jail terms, restrictions and monitoring of predators, but trying to line your personal wallet with the tithes of faithful churchgoers is repugnant and a very sour statement regarding the character of society.

Ambulance Chasing is almost as bad of a plague on society as is child or sexual abuse. Stop Ambulance Chasing now!

Scouter in CO | 11:05 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

Some valid points are made here. Some leaders allowed things to happen and did nothing. Now, the pendulum has swung the other way and we have overly-paranoid folks who want to point the finger at every percieved "what -if". The Church and BSA aren't going to part ways, they have REPEATEDLY said so. Duty to God complements BSA, it doesn't replace it. If you have doubts about the program, get involved. If you have a son of Scout age, get involved. If you don't have a son of Scout age, get involved. If you want to belly-ache about BSA, go somewhere else, cause the Church ain't listenin'. It was adopted for a very good reason, it's still valid today. The YW program has its purpose, BSA meets the needs of the YM and they are DIFFERENT! YW have the camp program and other things to reinforce the things they need to learn. We have BSA to help us with the YM.

Oh, and yes, I do bleed BSA green thank you very much.

Church Member | 11:10 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

I was abused when I was a child by members of the church. I don't hold the church or the scouts accountable. I have moved on with my life and have forgiven others. It has not been easy, because you live with a lot of guilt. We need to have more forgiveness in this country. That is what Christ would do.There is to much hatred.

Eagle | 11:11 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

I'm an LDS Eagle scout, and proud of it. I think scouting can do a lot of good.

However, I remember the quote: All that is necessary for the
forces of evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.

If a church or scout leader sees abuse occurring, and does nothing, they are equally responsible for the harm that occurs to the child. There is no layer of hell deep enough for someone who knows about child abuse, and stays quiet, for whatever misguided reason.

And, for those people who just don't get it: a leader in an organization (business, church, whatever) is considered an agent of that organization. They act on its behalf. Any manager in a big corporation has been trained on this legal principle. Legally, if an agent for the church knows about the abuse, the church is considered to know about it. And that's why they can be sued.

Anonymous | 11:13 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

My boy was sexually abused at a Junior Jazz basketball game while he went to the bathroom alone. I no longer let him opr my other children go alone. What a sad world we live in. Does that mean I can sue the Jazz, The school where the game was played, and the county. NO. I was mad as &*&( but It is not the organizations that are to blame. It is the idiot that does it. I will agree that if the Church new about the molestations and kept him in the position anyway, then there is a problem. But only if they can prove that point.

Mom of 3 scouts | 11:08 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

I have served in cub scouts and it is an excellent program. My husband has served many times as a leader in scouts, but he never earned his eagle because of an incident while at scout camp as a youth with the pedophile that was his scout leader. My husband quit scouts immediately after this man staged a late-night encounter that my husband resisted and thankfully avoided. We have a hard and fast rule that our sons will not attend any overnight scouting activities without their father. From what I have heard from those who work in counseling, part of the problem is those who are pedophiles, but there are also boys preying on other boys, anything from exposure to pornography to molestation. Parents have a right to be overprotective to prevent abuse. We will keep our sons active in the scouting program but remain vigilant.

Canteen Boy | 11:23 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

There are sick people in all organizations. Clearly this reaks of "deep pocket" syndrome. I've got two boys in the program today, and I have been an 11yr old leader for the past 3 years.

Scouting teaches us some fantastic principles, and unfortunately, morons that would abuse kids ruin that for the majority of hard working, upstanding, volunteers.

Jake | 11:42 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

The best comment of all the above was that of "vern".

Ernest T. Bass | 11:42 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

Time to send the Danites after that Portland attorney who keeps filing these suits.

WHAT??? | 12:00 p.m. Feb. 22, 2008

Hey, guys! Letï¿½s all condemn the molestation victim here, and forgive our illegal aliens of their trespasses!

A peculiar people, indeed!

RE: Anonymous member in UT | 12:02 p.m. Feb. 22, 2008

What you went through is horrible. But to say that the church is responsible, or the bsa is, is sick and wrong. Just because you were victimized doesn't give you the right to turn around and victimize millions of other people, looking for money to "teach the church a lesson." I reported abuse by my own father to my bishop who turned around and called me a liar. It was the bishop who was wrong, not the church. I'm still working on fixing what the abuse screwed up in my life. But 30 years of fixing is my personal trial, not an excuse to go after the church for money.

I know what it's like | 12:19 p.m. Feb. 22, 2008

I too, was molested by a Priesthood leader. It was a less than 5 minute event, but the thing that made it so unbearable, were all the following Church lessons that accused ME of being the sinner. All the years of guilt for something that was never really my fault in the first place, yet I was made to feel like I was at least "partly" responsible.

That's the mean-spirited message that I hope the Church will continue to change. Does anyone think a lawsuit might help?

To: Don't need to be Eagle | 12:31 p.m. Feb. 22, 2008

If your leaders aren't performing, hold them to account. Get involved on the Troop Committee that you are supposed to be on if you have sons in the Troop. Insist on a quality program, don't settle for anything less. You are a parent, you have the right and obligation to be involved. Let them learn those outdoor skills, experience adversity and build character. That is mission prep, my friend. Scouting teaches those things to prepare a young man for the challenges of life. Remember Zion's Camp? We all get one, at one time or another. It's how we deal with challenges that defines us. BSA trains boys to do just that. Remember the statement that Scout Leaders are to be tenured, spelled "ten-yeared", it's the Church's position to keep leaders in place to prevent the merry-go-round that seems to happen with leaders.

GungaDin | 12:33 p.m. Feb. 22, 2008

In our stake a professional background check is REQUIRED for ALL scout positions. I'm sure this is something that is supposed to be happening in all U.S. wards.

John | 12:58 p.m. Feb. 22, 2008

1. What ever happened to, "If it helps just one person..."? Well, Scouting, like anything else doesn't help everyone, but it helps many. Especially those whose parents care enough about their sons to turn off "American Idol" and support them.

2. Whatever happened to the concept of personal responsibility? That is the part I detest about these lawsuits. The names of the people actually responsible are added to lawsuits as a sham - it is the institutions (and THEIR MONEY) only that matter. Because of our loss in understanding the concept of personal responsibility, all the innocent participants in businesses, in the LDS Church, in the Catholic Church, etc - normal contributers like you and me - we pay - we who are not guilty of anything. When did it become OK to inflict retribution on the innocent 99.5% who belong to and contribute to an institution because another member or even leader did something wrong? That's the problem right there. If those and only those responsible were sued we'd see an end to the Kelly Clarks out there.

3. We cannot let the Kelly Clarks diminish our feelings for the victims. They do walk a terrible path.

Crazy | 1:06 p.m. Feb. 22, 2008

Lot's of people responsible here. Why didn't the kid report it immediately? Why did he continue to attend scouts or church in this situation? Where were the parents? Who is the perpetrator? I work for the governement so if I molest someone, should the victim be "entitled" to sue the government for millions of dollars? A volunteer that commits this sort of crime is responsible, not the organization. 40+ years later??? This is ridiculous and will not result in anything good. The BSA, LDS church, and other organizations are working very hard to eliminate abuse from occurring. Another frivolous lawsuit will not change or speed up that course to improve things, it's already going forward, full steam ahead. These kind of lawyers and "victims" aren't good for society and do much more damage than good.

John | 1:09 p.m. Feb. 22, 2008

Well, at least no one was hurt.

I agree anonymous mormon in utah | 1:18 p.m. Feb. 22, 2008

I support your stance on wanting lost years back. (though whether the church is fiscally responsible or not, I know God will make it up to us one way or another). I, too, feel insulted that people presume to "defend something they know nothing about."

It's fine if they don't understand how it takes so much time to finally face what happened. Or how much therapy costs to learn how to develop affective coping skills to deal with past trauma and current life. Or the time it takes to get the courage to defy the threats/coercion used on you as a child, when you believed them. If it hasn't happened to you, please accept that you, fortunately, don't understand it, and leave room for us to go through our healing process at the speed we're capable of.
My dad was abused as a scout for years, as were all the boys in his troup (they are all now inactive). He subsequently abused my sister and I. I don't want millions in recompense. I am satisfied and grateful that fast offerings pay for my counseling. I wish it was my dad paying, but I'm not ready to face him yet.

kf | 1:46 p.m. Feb. 22, 2008

I agree with many of the comments made on this article. I have worked in scouts for many years and if the program is run like is supposed to be run with two deep leadership the abuse doesn't happen. I agree that in many wards the scouting program is not run very well and the boys do not benefit from it at all, but I have seen the value of scouting in many boys lives and would hate to see it abolished. I think the program is good but sometimes the leaders are not. I feel bad for this boy and any boys who have to suffer from abuse. Run the program the way it is intended and get rid of the problems.

Joy | 1:45 p.m. Feb. 22, 2008

Neither BSA nor the LDS Church should be held accountable for the actions of those who use their
will to abuse another. He who abuses a child is worthy of destruction. But that will come in time of
due justice at the hand of the Lord.There are psychiatrists who introduce base thoughts into a
person's head trying to find a 'cause' for their
patients decline. Many have ruined perfectly decent
loving families by their suggestions. They too will
be held accountable, as will Mr. Kelly, if this is
all for monetary value.
The Church has always kept close watch and offered
valuable counseling & help where it could. Be careful that you have all the facts before you offer
an accusation...you hold other's lives & livelihood
in your hands. Once spoken, it can never be withdrawn...and oh, the inexpressible horror your
word renders. Abuse, should always be reported to
the police and church leaders. If anyone knew that
this gentleman had been abused and didn't report it...the inexpressible guilt that must be theirs!
As a parent of children I pray daily that they will
be kept safe and make wise choices & decisions.
Is this not sign of the times?!

Hawaii | 2:04 p.m. Feb. 22, 2008

I was molested by hippies in the 60's, beat up by Hawaiians, and tormented by the Japanese cliques in my school. I have never gotten a penny, or an entitlement. All people (mormon, japanese, hippies, white, black) make mistakes. We can grow from our bad experiences. I love Hawaiians, appreicate the Japanese culture, and still laugh at the movie reels of hippies. When are people going to grow - instead of stagnate?

Mom of Scouters | 2:05 p.m. Feb. 22, 2008

Forty one years ago...if the abuse happened it was disgusting and the perpetrator should be punished. Why did the victim allow this to happen for three years, through the ages of 12 to 15 without reporting it to anyone? No parents? No other leaders? No school counselor? No bishop? No friends? No neighbors? Scout leaders normally change every two years as the scouter moves up in age. Why did this boy stay with this leader?

Sounds like a bottom feeding lawyer is involved in this accusation.

Whatever the outcome, blame the individual responsible for the abuse not the LDS church or the scouting program. Both try and in most cases do make great men out of boys.

I've had three(now grown) sons go through a wonderful scouting experience in Utah. Two are heavily involved in training boy scouts to be future leaders of America at the current time. I'm responsible for the moral and religious training of two of my grandsons. They have been involved in scouting for seven years with the most outstanding young men leaders I have ever met. One just earned his Eagle award. Don't tell me it's a meaningless award outside of Utah!!

Reality Bites | 2:13 p.m. Feb. 22, 2008

If this was some other church than LDS, such as the Catholic or Baptist church you all would be screaming "off with their heads".
If this was a girl that was sexually violated instead of a boy, you also would be screaming for castrating the perpetrator.
You hypocrites have no idea of what struggles this man has likely suffered over the years because of being abused as a child.
It often takes victims years to build up the courage to speak about their abuse, especially when it involves authority figures, especially "spiritual" leaders.
You have no idea how hard it likely is to find an attorney willing to take on a case like this.
Thank God there is one and if it takes a "sleazy" attorney to do it, more shame on all the "holy" attorneys who won't.
No amount of money will restore what was taken from him or remedy the emotional damage suffered in the years since.
He deserves every penny he can get.
The blatant lack of compassion and opposition for justice for this man puts you all in the same category as the pervert who abused him.
Shame on you all.

anonymous | 2:22 p.m. Feb. 22, 2008

When I was a boy scout in the early 80's we had a scout master that was caught chasing some of the scouts around in shower at the swimming pool. Luckly I missed that day. Those scouts were my good friends and even though they say he never touched any of them he was released immediatly. The Church is right to have a zero tolerance policy and it is not new. From my experience the church would never allow anyone expected to have these kinds of problems to have anything to do with the youth. If these alligations are true then I feel very sorry for the victim. However, What is to be gained at this point besides lining some pockets. How do you go furhter as an institution than zero tolerance? I asked my father if he thinks the Church used to be more tolerant of this type of behavior. He comment was that if anything it is the opposite. Back then society would have strung him up. Now every perversion is forced down our throats to the point of desensitization. I am surprised we haven't labeled as pedophilaphobes. Just give it time we will be.

John | 2:45 p.m. Feb. 22, 2008

More on victims: I do feel for victims of what must a terrible situation. But my daughter, who watched a documentary on Holocaust survivors yesterday in her history class, said that she was surprised that so many of them went on to have normal families, marriages, jobs, etc - normal lives - such that no one would have known what they had been through if they didn't tell their story, and we know what they endured and witnessed. So why do all the victims today suffer so terribly that they are emotionally devastated, traumatized, unable to do anything but sit at home and cry, dwell on their inner child and of course sue for several million dollars? Yes, I feel for them, but what is so different today?

Are we creating a wimpy, self-centered, entitled, pandering culture that will one day cry and scream itself to starvation because there is no one left who can support himself?

Just goes to show you | 2:49 p.m. Feb. 22, 2008

For years the Boy Scouts have turned their prejudice against people who say they're gay. Those folks aren't the problem. It's the people who make the loudest noises about being "normal".

To Reality Bites | 2:56 p.m. Feb. 22, 2008

You're wrong. You are the one who has a bigoted response. As Hawaii stated, all race, religions, and people make mistakes. But sometimes growth comes from learning not from the pocketbook. Forgiveness in all of its forms is a very powerful tool, no matter how long or how hard. Truly!

SDS | 2:57 p.m. Feb. 22, 2008

Any type of abuse is terrible and harmful. But to wait 40 years to finally file a law siut???? Why not sue the government for selling the land where the abuse took place? Why not sue any other adults that were there as well? Sue as many people as you can to get another $25-30 million in this RIDICULOUS, GREEDY LAWSUIT. GET REAL!!!

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