NOM

We prepared the recording of Joseph L. Bishop while coordinating information between multiple sources, none of whom were the accuser and it was received with no restrictions of publication. We verified its authenticity and found it to be in line with our mission of “starting and expanding news reporting, public commentary, and criticism related to Mormonism” given Bishop’s blatant on tape admission to inappropriate behavior while in a leadership position within the Mormon Church.

I am distressed yet again, this time with MormonLeaks’ official statement on their decision to publish the audio recording of the conversation between Joseph L. Bishop and an anonymous woman who confronted him about his past abuses - without the woman’s consent.

[...]

It is not justice if it is pursued by violating the vulnerable.

This woman has the right to control her own narrative. She has the right to share what is disclosed and when. She should have been offered the opportunity to consent before the leak went live - and if her answer was no, it should never have been published.

In an interview earlier this week, she told The Salt Lake Tribune she did not release to MormonLeaks a copy of her recorded conversation. She had shared the recording with several people, she said, and someone gave it to MormonLeaks without her consent.

She said the release may have undermined settlement negotiations she was having with Mormon officials.

MormonLeaks released the recording on Monday without the permission of the woman, who told the Deseret News she was unhappy with the release, which she said created problems for her.

Not Buying It wrote: ↑Thu Mar 22, 2018 5:11 am But the story should never have been released without the victim’s permission, however much I like seeing the Church exposed.

Not Buying It wrote: ↑Thu Mar 22, 2018 5:11 am They are right. However important this story is in so many ways - it was her story. She was evidently pursuing a settlement, she has now lost some of her leverage, because what the Church really wanted was for the story to remain hidden, and now that it is out there they don’t have as much to gain by making a settlement.

I am not going to address it right now but I hope to in the near future. I believe that when the full story comes out, people will understand exactly what happened and why we did what we did.

For now the best I can tell you is to refer to our official statement on the matter which says that we received the tape without any restrictions on publication.

I understand why this opens us up to criticism at this time and, while I don't enjoy the criticism, I respect that people are asking legitimate questions.

Red Ryder wrote: ↑Thu Mar 22, 2018 5:30 pm The church will settle eventually. They always do.

Red Ryder wrote: ↑Thu Mar 22, 2018 5:30 pmThe church will settle eventually. They always do.

Reuben wrote: ↑Thu Mar 22, 2018 5:02 pm
Looks like you're right. She's suing the church now because settlement talks have broken down:

http://fox13now.com/2018/03/22/woman-wh ... ds-church/

Hagoth wrote: ↑Fri Mar 23, 2018 3:23 pm Makes me wonder how many cases like this there were that we have never heard because they were settled and non-disclosure agreements signed. This poor lady deserves to be well compensated, and at the same time, the church deserves to have these things shouted from the rooftops.

MormonLeaks wrote:Statement on Behalf of the Victim in Joseph L. Bishop Audio Recording

The following is statement written by the victim whose voice is heard in the audio recording of former Mission President, Joseph L. Bishop, admitting to inappropriate relations with women.

I’m the woman in the recording with Joseph L. Bishop. My identity will be revealed when I file the lawsuit.

First, although MormonLeaks did release my recording prior to my consent, Mr. McKnight and Mr. Dodge support my cause. It is my belief that they were concerned about ALL of the victims that may become forgotten if my story was silenced by a settlement and non-disclosure agreement. I cannot fault them for that. Having this story leaked has actually helped me. I was struggling with the settlement. Part of me wanted to take it and part of me didn’t. They made it easy for me. I didn’t have to choose. Some have stated that I am heroic and brave. I am neither of those things. I interviewed my rapist because I was pissed off. The church told me I wasn’t entitled to know what action, if any, had been taken in my reporting his raping me to several church leaders for 30 years. I was fed up. It was neither brave nor heroic.

Part of me wanted this to go away quietly and a bigger part of me wanted to scream from the top of the mountain what he did to me. Now I get to scream!

Even if the leak of the recording was prior to my consent, I do not agree that these men are re-victimizing me. I don’t think they would have released the recording without giving it serious thought and weighing the consequences heavily.

I look forward to sharing more of the story in the coming weeks.

MormonLeaks wrote: Some have stated that I am heroic and brave. I am neither of those things. I interviewed my rapist because I was pissed off. The church told me I wasn’t entitled to know what action, if any, had been taken in my reporting his raping me to several church leaders for 30 years. I was fed up. It was neither brave nor heroic.