In a revealing encounter, attorney Paul Rytting of Utah met with alleged abuse victims in Idaho.
According to AP News, this story uncovers the ways The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints managed claims of child sexual abuse involving a former bishop.
Utah attorney Paul Rytting, who oversees risk management for the Mormon church, commuted from Salt Lake City to Hailey, Idaho, in March 2017. His travel was to meet with Chelsea Goodrich and her mother, Lorraine, who brought forth disturbing claims against Chelsea's father, John Goodrich.
Chelsea, aged 31 during the discussion, reported childhood sexual abuse by her father, a one-time bishop within the church. Despite the severity of the allegations, John Goodrich had only been excommunicated after an admission about these acts to another church bishop, maintaining church confidentiality practices.
Prosecutors originally charged John but had to drop these charges when key testimony from Bishop Michael Miller was withheld, citing clergy-penitent privilege. The silence of the church, guided by legal strategists like Rytting, meant John Goodrich evaded further legal consequences and continued practicing dentistry in Idaho.
Secret recordings unveil discussions of a $300,000 settlement offered by Paul Rytting to Chelsea and her mother, pushing for their silence and the destruction of recorded evidence. This action forms part of a broader church policy to handle abuse cases quietly to prevent public and legal fallout.
Interestingly, Chelsea had approached Rytting through a mutual contact within the church, unaware that his primary role was defending the church against claims rather than assisting victims. John Goodrich's misconduct traces back further, including an incident of drugging a woman, leading to him pleading guilty to a related felony charge and receiving a light jail sentence and probation terms.
Lorraine Goodrich expressed disillusionment at the church’s and community’s lack of actionable response to her daughter's plight:
"How many people can know the truth and choose to pretend they don’t and leave others at risk of the same abuse and they know it and they just don’t care? I don’t understand that. I’ll never understand that."
Other church leaders were also recorded discussing the handling of the situation. Bishop Michael Miller, despite acknowledging the severity to church superiors, found himself hindered by concerns over legal repercussions should he speak out.
Paul Rytting was captured in recordings explicitly stating the church's monetary offer, highlighting a pattern of using financial settlements to handle potentially embarrassing disclosures.
Both the church and Paul Rytting have stressed that any crimes committed by John Goodrich were done individually, not in his capacity as a bishop. The church reaffirms its stance that any abuse is indefensible and has confirmed that John Goodrich remains excommunicated.
Chelsea, bound by an initial confidentiality agreement but later choosing to speak publicly, stated, "Right now, my main concern continues to be other children." Her courage in talking openly poses significant questions about church practices and victim support structures.
The case illustrates complex challenges in handling abuse within powerful religious organizations, balancing confidentiality with the need for transparency and safeguarding the vulnerable. The church maintains abuse is inexcusable, yet this case has exposed critical gaps in both church and legal responses to such serious allegations.
