Mormon Bishop Charged with Sex Abuse
A former LDS Bishop, Timothy O’Sean McCleve, in Harrisville, Utah, has been charged with three counts of forcible sex abuse, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. Apparently, McCleve used his position of trust in the community–Mormon bishop!–to gain the trust of these three young girls. Of course, the fact he was NO LONGER the bishop when the actual sexual abuse took place is something that is being shouted from the rooftops here.
If–as Mormons have always claimed–callings come from God, why did God not know in advance what this bishop was going to do? He never would have been so readily accepted in this community–and by these girls–had they not been encouraged by their parents to trust the man. Why didn’t God know that McCleve was a pervert and pedophile?
Apparently, the three young girls told their parents about the abuse after another Mormon male, a first grade teacher in Riverton, Frank Hall, was arrested for the abuse of a child. (Apparently, many more have stepped up to claim Hall abused them.)
Patriarchy and the “absolute” nature of Mormonism–a complete trust in male priesthood leaders can have heartwrenching consequences–create an environment in which this kind of abuse thrives. My heart goes out to the young victims.
March 30th, 2007 at 11:38 am
I have a cousin that was raped by her boyfriend at the time. He was about to go on a mission too. I bet his patriarchal blessing didn’t mention he would be serving prison time not a mission…
March 30th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
I grew up with a girl whom later in life came out and said her dad abused her while she was growing up, he too was a bishop. Sex abuse, sad to say happens everywhere, to people of all backgrounds, but I think the church has kept most of it quiet, or what they were aware of anyway.
April 26th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
must have been a cathloic priest too
November 11th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
When I was 15, the bishop who is my sisters’ father -in-law attempted abuse, and so did her husband. That was 40 years ago. I was told when I told my mother and father that it was all my fault. “I made him do it.” No support from parents. They didn’t want to destroy their “standing” in the church because I was a trouble maker. They told my sister and she lectured me on how I should forgive him. I had my self excommunicated as soon as I possibly could, and made my own life without Mormons.
November 11th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
If the allegations are true, they need to hang this guy by his testicles.
God allows unjust persons to commit all sorts of heinous acts. Look at Hilter and the holocaust. Couldn’t God have prevented that? I think he COULD have. The fact that He didn’t doesn’t mean He doesn’t care or doesn’t exist. The atonement (infinite and eternal as it is) is capable of healing the wounds suffered by the innocent.
Anybody who knows anything about partriarchal blessing knows that the pronounced blessings are predicated on righteousness. It’s not a crystal ball of the future. Mormons do NOT believe in predestination.
Kindest Regards,
Todd