Paul Rytting, head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Risk Management Division, met with Chelsea and Lorraine Goodrich in 2017 to discuss sexual abuse allegations against former bishop John Goodrich. Despite expressing concern for John’s actions, Rytting followed a risk management playbook aimed at keeping abuse cases secret. The church discouraged a bishop from testifying, citing clergy-penitent privilege laws. Prosecutors dropped charges against John, leading to a plea deal on drug charges.
Despite ongoing financial and personal struggles, Chelsea and Lorraine accepted a settlement from the church, including a substantial monetary offer and a confidentiality agreement. Chelsea felt abandoned by her community and decided to speak out about her experiences. Rytting maintained that any damages from John’s actions would be his responsibility, not the church’s.
This case sheds light on the controversial practices used by the Mormon church to handle allegations of sexual abuse, including the use of non-disclosure agreements. Chelsea hopes that sharing her story will protect other children from potential harm by John Goodrich, who is still practicing dentistry. The church has acknowledged the abuse is inexcusable but maintains that John has not been readmitted to membership. Despite the settlement, Chelsea remains focused on preventing similar abuse in the future.
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