LDS Church Bishop Bruce Christensen pleaded not guilty Friday to accusations he failed to report an incident of child sexual abuse, and his attorney said he plans to challenge the statute that "forces clergy to snitch on their parishioners."
Christensen, 60, served as bishop of the Salt Lake 21st Ward, when last year a member of his congregation allegedly told him her estranged husband engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior with their 13-month-old daughter.
Christensen was charged with one count of failure to report a class B misdemeanor. Utah law requires a person with knowledge of child sexual abuse to report the incident. Clergy are exempt from the statute only if their knowledge of the alleged abuse comes from the perpetrator's confession.
Defense attorney Bradley P. Rich called the statute "bogus" and "vague" and said he plans to challenge its constitutionality.
"It is an important issue, whether members of the clergy should be required to snitch off or report on their parishioners," Rich said, "and whether clergy are required to stand as judges before the law."
Christensen is the second LDS bishop charged this year with failing to report incidents of sexual abuse. David Maxwell also was accused of class B misdemeanor failure to report, after a 15-year-old female parishioner allegedly told him last year she had been sexually assaulted by a younger male teen.
Prosecutors since have reduced the allegations, charging Maxwell with a city ordinance infraction, Sandy Police Sgt. Kevin Thacker said Friday. The infraction is punishable by a $750 fine, but no jail time.
The LDS Church public affairs department confirmed Friday both men continue to serve as bishops of their respective congregations. Though church spokespersons declined further comment, Rich said, "we anticipate they support us fully."
LDS bishops — lay clergymen — are provided with printed and video training guides addressing appropriate ways to respond to sexual abuse cases. In addition, bishops also have access to a 24-hour, toll-free hotline staffed by social service workers, and legal advice is available around the clock.
If convicted, Christensen faces up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. He was accompanied to his Friday morning arraignment by his wife and son, and left 3rd District Court without comment. His next court appearance is scheduled Sept. 14.
Thacker said Maxwell's scheduled bench trial has been postponed to allow time to argue defense motions to dismiss the case. No new court date has been set.
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