By Peggy Fletcher Stack (AP)

July 13, 2007

Oregon justices rule in ‘home teacher’ sex abuse suit

An Oregon Supreme Court ruling ordering the LDS Church to release detailed financial information to an alleged abuse victim could have wide-ranging implications for the church, which has not disclosed its assets publicly since 1959. (more…)

From Salt Lake Tribune
July 12, 2007

Portland, Oregon
The Oregon Supreme Court rejected an effort by the Mormon church to withhold financial information from the lawyers for a man who claims a "home teacher" frequently molested him about 20 years ago.

Despite the legal defeat, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints did not immediately release the detailed financial information about its net worth, The Oregonian newspaper reported. (more…)

Home teacher has denied allegations of 1980s incidents

Associated Press from Deseretnews.com

PORTLAND, Ore. — A $45 million sex-abuse lawsuit against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be mediated by a judge in an effort to reach a settlement instead of going to trial, attorneys said Thursday.

Kelly Clark, a Portland lawyer whose client is suing the LDS Church, said the mediation is set for August 9 and 10.

(more…)

Christian News Northwest
July 2007

Protecting the innocent
By JOHN FORTMEYER

Plaintiff alleges sex abuse during his stay there in the 1970s

A Salem man has filed a $5 million lawsuit against the Children’s Farm Home and its parent Trillium Family Services, claiming he was sexually abused as a child there in the late 1970s.

It happens. Even once is too often, but tragically, it happens - and all too frequently. It most certainly breaks the heart of God.

And the staff of this newspaper dreads anytime it must be reported on these pages.

But the days of ignoring that sexual abuse of youths can take place in churches, ministries and Christian schools is over. In the past few years, the number of reports of abuse - whether from recent times or surfacing after many years or even decades - seems to have multiplied greatly.

(more…)