Navajo Woman Sues Mormon Church Alleging Abuse

Newschannel 10
May 30, 2016

http://www.newschannel10.com/story/32107382/the-latest-navajo-woman-sues-mormon-church-alleging-abuse

The Latest on sexual abuse lawsuits filed against the Mormon Church (all times local):

5:45 p.m.

Another member of the Navajo Nation is suing the Mormon Church, alleging she was sexually abused in a former church program.

The woman identified as B.N. in tribal court documents says she was sexually molested and raped multiple times while in foster care in Utah, from 1965 to 1972. She was among thousands of American Indians who participated in the church's Indian Student Placement Program.

Two Navajo siblings sued The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in March outlining similar allegations. Attorneys representing the three plaintiffs say church leaders failed to protect the children.

A church spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a message left late Tuesday.

The church has said it doesn't tolerate abuse of any kind. It also is challenging the jurisdiction of the tribal court.

5 p.m.

The Mormon Church says two Navajos who alleged they were sexually abused in a former church program wrongly placed their lawsuit in Navajo Nation court.

Attorneys for the church wrote in a federal court documents Tuesday that the tribal court lacks jurisdiction because none of the alleged conduct took place on the reservation.

The Navajo siblings sued The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in March. Their lawsuit contends they were sexually abused while living with families in Utah who fostered children through the church's Indian Student Placement Program.

The siblings' attorney, Billy Keeler, has said the Navajo Nation is the proper jurisdiction because decisions on placement of the siblings were made on the reservation.

The church says that's insufficient to allow the tribal court to hear the case.