Mormon Church Sued In Tribal Court Over Abuse of Student

AP reports on a lawsuit filed Tuesday against the Mormon Church in a Navajo Tribal Court. Plaintiff, identified only as LB, was part of the Mormon Church's Indian Student Placement Program which began in the 1940's and was designed to give educational opportunities to Native American children.  LB alleges that he was sexually molested three times in the 1980's by a Church bishop who lived across the street from the foster family with whom LB had been placed.  The suit seeks damages for failure to supervise participants in the program and for failing to report the abuse to authorities or to the victim's family.  The Church has contended that Tribal Courts lack jurisdiction over the lawsuit.