Legislative & LegalLeigh Day: Zimbabwean survivors are still waiting for answers and accountability
The Makin Review, published in late 2024, exposed how John Smyth committed horrifying physical, sexual, psychological, and spiritual abuse against boys and young men over several decades.
A central finding of the independent review was that members of the Church of England were intimately aware of Smyth’s predatory behavior as early as 1982. Instead of reporting him to the proper authorities, church officials enabled his relocation to Zimbabwe and later South Africa, where he continued his campaign of abuse completely unchecked.
After these staggering revelations, the Makin Review formally recommended launching a dedicated investigation into Smyth's abuses in Zimbabwe. However, nearly two years later, a Church task force recently confirmed to the General Synod that this recommendation remains entirely unfulfilled and no such review has taken place.
The Church of England has maintained that any localized review must be led by officials in Zimbabwe, though they have offered funding. For Zimbabwean survivors, this lack of action directly contradicts the Church’s stated commitment to prioritizing victim wellbeing over institutional self-interest, leaving many feeling ignored as they continue waiting for truth, accountability, and justice.
AZCentral: Arizona Supreme Court ruling on religious confessions
In a highly consequential decision, the Arizona Supreme Court has strictly defined what qualifies as a legally protected religious confession. The ruling stems from a criminal case involving a Phoenix pastor who secretly had his conversation recorded by a co-pastor after admitting to inappropriate sexual conduct with a 13-year-old girl.
The pastor attempted to block the recording from being used as evidence during his criminal trial, invoking the state's clergy-penitent privilege. While an appeals court initially sided with him, the state Supreme Court reversed, ruling definitively that his statements were not shielded under Arizona law.
To clarify the application of clergy-penitent privilege for future cases, the Court established a definitive four-part test. It ruled that for a conversation to be protected, the individual must be seeking genuine spiritual forgiveness, absolution, consolation, or guidance.
In this specific case, the justices found that the pastor’s admissions were not motivated by a desire for spiritual absolution. Instead, the court determined his primary focus was on mitigating the practical consequences of his actions, protecting his reputation, and managing church administration. Because the conversation lacked a core spiritual intent, legal confidentiality did not apply.
The Guardian: Former Catholic bishop accused of hosting alcohol-fuelled parties to sexually abuse Aboriginal men found guilty
Christopher Alan Saunders, the former Catholic bishop of Broome, has been convicted in a Western Australian district court of 13 severe sex offenses against two young Aboriginal men.
The guilty verdict brings an end to a high-profile trial that exposed over a decade of predatory behavior. Prosecutors revealed that Saunders deliberately hosted alcohol-fueled gatherings at properties owned by the church to gain unfettered access to young, vulnerable Aboriginal men and boys.
The primary complainant testified that the grooming process began when he was just 16 years old. Over the next ten years, this manipulation escalated into serious sexual violence, culminating in a conviction for sexual penetration without consent, alongside a dozen additional charges of unlawful and indecent assault.
Saunders systematically exploited the massive power imbalance between his high-ranking clerical position and his marginalized victims. Although he was acquitted of several other charges due to insufficient evidence, his conviction stands as a massive landmark moment for survivor justice.
Having served as bishop from 1996 until the allegations forced him to step down in 2020, Saunders is now the highest-ranking Catholic official in Australia to ever be criminally convicted of sexual abuse.
Ongoing Focus
Indianapolis Recorder: Ending religious abuse: What it means to be a PIMO (Physically In, Mentally Out)
The author, a survivor of religious trauma and domestic abuse, explores the concept of being "PIMO"—Physically In, Mentally Out—within the context of high-control religious groups. She explains that this psychological state often emerges when individuals experience profound cognitive dissonance between their faith's teachings and the realities of their own safety.
During religious deconstruction, a person examines foundational beliefs, which often produces immense anguish as they question systems they were conditioned never to challenge. The author notes that many survivors navigate this painful phase by critically evaluating organizational rules that actively fail to protect them from harm.
Specifically referencing her background as a Jehovah's Witness, she criticizes church literature that permits divorce only under what the institution deems "extreme" physical abuse. Because her ex-husband's violence did not place her in the hospital, her church determined she lacked the right to leave the marriage, fundamentally jeopardizing her well-being.
Ultimately, the author found a middle ground by holding onto her core spiritual beliefs while practicing her faith safely at home. She emphasizes that while remaining PIMO works for her, others may need to walk away entirely, underscoring that healing requires highly individualized approaches.
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