LDS Church Abuse Lawsuits in 2025 and 2026
Dozens of survivors have sued the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in federal court, alleging that their abuse was made possible by a nationwide church policy or practice of concealing sexual abuse. In early 2025, some plaintiffs asked for these cases to be combined into a single multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 3150).
On April 3, 2025, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation denied that request. At the time there were 41 cases in nine federal districts, plus ten related cases, and all but five were in California. The panel found the cases too varied, spanning decades, different abusers and different church practices, to benefit from being centralized. Each case therefore continues in the court where it was filed, with lawyers coordinating informally.
For survivors, this means there is no single class action or MDL to join. A claim against the LDS Church is brought as an individual lawsuit, and the deadline depends on the state where the abuse happened.
Bishop Worthiness Interviews
Bishop worthiness interviews — often conducted with minors without parental presence — have been the subject of abuse allegations in numerous LDS congregations. These one-on-one settings created significant vulnerability, and claims can be brought against both the interviewing bishop and the institutional Church.
The LDS Help Line
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints operated a Help Line through which bishops reported abuse allegations. Critics have argued that this system prioritised institutional protection over survivor welfare and may have delayed or prevented reports to civil authorities. This has been the basis of several civil claims.
Mission President and Youth Programme Abuse
Abuse by mission presidents, stake leaders, and youth programme workers has also been the subject of civil claims against the LDS Church. The Church's hierarchical structure means institutional liability can extend to multiple levels of the organisation.