Mormon leaders accused of 'silencing and THREATENING' families who tried to expose sex offenders in their communities - as victims claim church 'covered up' an 'epidemic' of abuse

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12732145/mormon-church-silenced-families-sex-offenders.html

• Records obtained by DailyMail.com show church leaders failed to report an Idaho bishop to the police after he confessed to sexually abusing a minor

• Two members of his congregation claim they were threatened with disciplinary action after they tried to alert the rest of the community to the case

• A social worker in Minnesota claims he was stripped of his positions within the church after he spoke out about a sex offender who was given a senior role

• Have you experienced abuse within the Mormon church? Contact miles.dilworth@mailonline.com

Mormon families who tried to expose cases of sexual abuse within their communities have alleged they were 'silenced' and threatened with disciplinary action by church leaders, DailyMail.com can reveal.

In one instance, two Idaho members claim they were warned they could be punished after the pair alerted others in their congregation to the fact that their former bishop faced child sex abuse charges dating back 10 years.

In another case in Minnesota, a church member and social worker claims he was stripped of his positions within the church after he spoke out about a registered sex offender who had been placed in a leadership position.

Around a dozen victims have taken the brave decision to tell their stories of abuse within the church, exposing decades of alleged cover-ups.

Meanwhile, the Utah-based religion faces a bombshell lawsuit in which it is alleged to 'maintain a pattern and practice' of 'concealing' sexual abuse from the police in a bid to avoid costly legal action and protect its reputation.

Today, DailyMail.com can reveal police records suggest church leaders failed to report a bishop who had confessed to sexually abusing a minor.

The church allegedly allowed him to remain an 'active member of the church' months after they had been made aware of the allegations against him, the records show.

(continued)

CAPTION WITH PHOTO: EXCLUSIVE: Kolby Reddish (left, with wife) and Michael Benjamin claim the Mormon church tried to shut them down when they sought to expose cases of child sex abuse in their communities. Benjamin, a social worker, claims he was stripped of his positions within the church after he spoke out about a registered sex offender who had been placed in a leadership position. On both occasions, the dissidents felt compelled to raise the alarm after church leaders allegedly kept the abuse under wraps. It comes after DailyMail.com revealed that victims have accused Mormon leaders of hiding an 'epidemic' of sexual abuse that rivals scandals within the Catholic church.