SUGAR LAND, Texas — A former Sugar Land bishop excommunicated for calling out Mormon church leaders is doing it again. Sam Young claims a church policy allows kids to be groomed by pedophiles.
A spokesperson for the church told KHOU 11 News they condemn abuse. However, church policy still permits bishops to interview kids 12- to 15-years-old behind closed doors. It is a spiritual conversation that includes one question about sex, the spokesperson said.
However, a list of questions too graphic to post online or show on television got former bishop Sam Young so upset his reaction earned him excommunication from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was a member for 65 years.
“People should be sent to jail for subjecting our kids to this type of thing,” Young said. “Any other church, they would fire the minister if they asked these questions.”
The Mormon church allows bishops to interview kids 12- to 15-years-old behind closed doors, a spokesperson for the church said. Most of the questions are spiritual. Do you read your bible? Do you pray?
In the last two years, though, Young collected hundreds of complaints, including some from his daughters claiming questions about sex went too far.
When Young demanded church policies change to involve parents in youth interviews, church leaders responded.
“(The Houston Stake President said) Sam, if you don’t shut your mouth, if you keep speaking about this in public we are going to have to take action and protect the good name of the church.”
A spokesperson for the church sent us a statement.
“In recent months, the church has taken important steps to improve these interactions and to strengthen the relationships between young people and their parents and leaders and will continue to do so.”
Their policy allows youth to invite a parent to one of those interviews. However, it’s not enough for Young. He wants doors opened on all interviews with kids. Young is risking his faith to make it happen.