Although denial about sexual abuse in the Church operates on many levels, one of the most difficult aspects of the dynamic for most active Latter-day Saints to believe is that an ecclesiastical leader will fail to respond appropriately when he receives a report of child sexual abuse. President Hinckley appeared to take this position when Mike Wallace asked his response to the statement: "The sociologists tell us, at the root of the problem is the fact that men in effect in your church have authority over women, so that your clergymen tend to sympathize with the men, the abusers, instead of the abused." President Hinckley countered, "That's one person's opinion. I don't think there's any substance to it. Now, there'll be a blip here, a blip there, a mistake here, a mistake there. But by and large the welfare of women and children is as seriously considered as is the welfare of the men, in this church, if not more so."1(See Chapter 3 for a discussion of this point.)

Although reliable generalizable data does not exist to confirm or deny his claim, this chapter provides anecdotal information to indicate that some bishops and stake presidents disbelieve and even punish victims, cover up for perpetrators, and, in extreme cases, harass and intimidate victims to prevent disclosures that they feel are embarrassing to the Church.

You can find a very well-researched, lengthy, discussion of the whole issue of child sexual abuse in the main-stream LDS church here.

I searched, via Google, for "child sexual abuse" (including the quotes) and these names: Buddist, Zen, Southern Baptist, Girl Scouts, Campfire, Boy Scouts, Methodist, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Wicca.

In every search I found records of arrests and charges. I also realize that there are always some who will make false charges for whatever reason.

Child sexual abuse is no more a sex crime -- that is, a crime committed for sexual "relief" (if it were that masturbation and/or nocturnal emission is easily available) -- than rape is. It is a betrayal by someone in authority, an abuse of trust and power.

There is no punishment I can think of that is adequate.
Frankly, I cannot