Latest news with #MormonChurch
RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
Mormon Church responds to allegations against American missionary accused of abusing Tongan boys
An 1835, first edition of the Mormon scripture, "Doctrine and Covenants", revelations from Mormon Church Founder Joseph Smith, is displayed at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Church History Library. Photo: AFP Content warning: This story discusses the sexual abuse of children. The Mormon Church claims it is unclear whether an American missionary - who allegedly sexually abused boys in Tonga - did so under their roof. William James Purdy was indicted by a federal grand jury in Utah on 16 July on charges related to the exploitation of 14 boys outside the United States. The United States Department of Justice said court documents revealed Purdy travelled to the Tongan capital, Nuku'alofa, in 2017 for a one-year mission with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The then 20-year-old allegedly preyed on multiple male victims during his year with the church before returning to the US. "Purdy returned to Tonga in late 2019 to teach at a school in Nuku'alofa, where, for years, he groomed and sexually abused numerous male students, some of whom lived with him," court documents showed. "Purdy allegedly provided gifts, including electronic decives and access to the internet, food, toys and money, in exchange for the performance of sexual acts." He is believed to have secretly recorded young boys in his bathroom at his various apartments in the capital. He was arrested by Tongan police in October 2022, after an eight-year-old school boy disclosed that Purdy sexually assaulted him during their tutoring sessions. However, he continued to offend after being released on bail from prison and in March 2023, with a trial looming, fled the country using a fake passport. Richard Hunter, the Mormon Church's spokesperson for the Pacific area, said the organisation was taking the allegations "very seriously". "It is unclear at this stage if he was involved in abuse as a missionary with us, my colleagues in Tonga were unaware of this until now," said Hunter, who is based in Auckland. However, he admitted that it was "absolutely possible" that offending did occur while he was working with children on his mission. "If our mission leaders in Tonga were aware of this, he would have been sent home immediately for breaking both the law and the commandments of God." "We feel very sad for those whose lives have been impacted so horrendously. I'm hoping there will be opportunities in Tonga for victims to receive love and support from our congregations. He said the church was co-operating with the police in Tonga and the US in all aspects of their pre-trial investigations. Homeland security investigations and diplomatic security service are investigating the case, with the help of Tongan police and the Tongan department of public prosecutions. The investigation has so far identified 14 victims throughout Tonga. "The defendant chose to travel abroad under the guise of good intentions and then sexually exploited and abused children who had been trusted to his care," said acting assistant attorney-general General Matthew Galeotti of the US justice department's criminal division. "When foreign authorities sought to hold him accountable, he fled back to the US. The US will not export child exploitation. The department is committed to securing justice for children exploited overseas when these heinous acts are committed by Americans." Galeotti said. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Philadelphia special agent in charge Edward Owens said Purdy's actions represented a "profound betrayal of trust and have caused immeasurable harm to the young lives he was supposed to protect and nurture." "Our global reach and partnerships are crucial in our relentless fight against child predators, ensuring that those who exploit and abuse children, no matter where they are, are brought to justice," Owens said. In Tonga In New Zealand
Express Tribune
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
From Idol to exile: David Archuleta's tell-all memoir exposes secrets, scars and salvation
David Archuleta is opening up like never before. The American Idol finalist has revealed the cover and details of his forthcoming memoir Devout: Losing My Faith to Find Myself, a deeply personal account of fame, faith, and the inner turmoil of living a double life. The book promises a searing exploration of Archuleta's transformation from a closeted Mormon teen to an openly queer artist unafraid to speak his truth. Archuleta, now 34, shot to fame as a teenager, charming millions with his boy-next-door image and angelic voice. But behind the scenes, he was struggling with intense pressure, not only from fame, but from a rigid religious upbringing that left him feeling ashamed of who he was. In Devout, he details the emotional cost of trying to meet the expectations of both the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a global fanbase. The memoir covers a range of harrowing experiences, including emotional abuse, control by his father during his early career, and even suicidal thoughts. Archuleta reveals he was engaged three times and called off each one while wrestling with his identity. His two-year missionary trip to South America, once thought to be a spiritual high point, is now described as a time of deep internal conflict. 'I tried everything not to be queer,' Archuleta said. 'Coming out wasn't a choice. It was survival.' After years of internal war, he made the difficult decision to leave the Mormon Church in 2022, a turning point that allowed him to embrace authenticity over doctrine. The memoir also includes behind-the-scenes moments from his time on Idol, a tour with Demi Lovato, and previously unseen photos chronicling his personal evolution. With its February 2026 release already gaining attention, Devout is set to ignite conversations around religion, identity, and the cost of silence.
Politico
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Mike Lee's church isn't happy with his posts
Mike Lee (R-Utah) set off a backlash in the wake of the murder of a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband, when he issued social media posts blaming the killings on 'Marxists' and suggesting that Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz had something to do with it. His mentions overflowed with calls for him to resign, and both Minnesota senators gave him an earful. Washington and X were not the only places that took notice. In Salt Lake City, senior leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of which Lee is perhaps the most prominent member currently serving in politics, were concerned about how the insensitive posts would reflect on the church itself — and they started to discuss how to respond. 'As extreme as the situation was, the issue at the center of the firestorm was nothing new,' writes Samuel Benson in this week's Friday Read. 'For two-and-a-half years, Lee has been sliding deeper and deeper into a hyper-online echo chamber.' For the first four months of this year, he posted about 100 times per day, or once every 15 minutes. Lee's social media presence has won him a major far-right online following. 'But for Lee's church, that bellicose online alter ego poses a problem,' Benson writes. 'Even as some Christian denominations have delved into Christian nationalism or partisan politics during the Trump era, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly referred to as the Mormon Church) has consistently called on members to do the opposite: to be 'peacemakers' in the civic square.' Read the story. 'This is like me dunking on my 8-year-old and his friends on the short hoops at school. They set themselves up for it with their MAGA base, and now the pedo chickens are coming home to roost.' Can you guess who said this about Republicans amid the ongoing backlash to the DOJ's Epstein memo? Scroll to the bottom for the answer.** Even Architecture Boards Are Weapons Now ... You probably haven't heard much about the National Capital Planning Commission, the panel that oversees urban planning in Washington. At a recent meeting, Capitol City columnist Michael Schaffer sat alone in the media section. But what he heard from the members, with whom President Donald Trump replaced former President Joe Biden's appointees on Wednesday, was markedly more dramatic that the wonkery of architecture nerds: They 'promptly took aim at one of Trump's political foes, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell,' Schaffer writes. 'Powell has resisted Trump's demands to lower interest rates. In response, Republicans have launched a campaign on social media and in Congress against the Fed chair, himself a first-term Trump nominee.' Now, in yet another marker of Trump's hold over D.C., even this small commission has transformed into a weapon to wield against his enemies. Not sure why you've been hearing the name 'Epstein' so much lately? Don't let your friends find out that you missed the DOJ memo saying that Epstein did in fact die by suicide, and that there was no evidence of an 'Epstein list' of clients. Just deploy a few talking points like these, and you won't look so out of the conspiracy loop. (From Associate Editor Dylon Jones) — Hint that you're a sharp observer of the intra-MAGA social media wars — and please, try not to sound like any of these are new names to you: 'Did you all see Laura Loomer coming after the AG? She posted that Kash Patel and Dan Bongino are all-caps 'LIVID' at Pam Bondi.' — Speaking of intra-MAGA disputes and the Bondi vs. Bongino tension, show off what an up-to-date news consumer you are, at least when it comes to palace intrigue: 'Interesting that Bongino took Friday off work, huh? Axios wrote that it was over him clashing with Bondi, and multiple outlets are saying he's thinking about quitting.' — Everyone should know the DOJ is facing backlash from parts of Trump's base, but you have details for both the Washington set and the hyper-online crowd: 'It was like a month ago when Judicial Watch lit up Patel and Bongino over the nothingburger on Epstein. And Tom Fitton's team ain't the only ones. Now, you can pull up basically any political talk-podcast, and you'll hear some backlash. Shulz and crew are pissed.' — Prove you're watching how the Democrats handle this, too: 'They've been grasping about for a message for months, but a lot of them seem to think this MAGA-vs.-MAGA moment could finally give them a rhetorical foothold, even if it means getting over the party's willies over touching 'conspiracy theories.' Electeds are hammering this on socials — AOC, Eric Swalwell, Brian Schatz, to name a few. And you know Democrats love to write letters; Jamie Raskin, Dan Goldman and Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee sent one to Bondi saying they can't help but wonder if 'the massive redaction efforts and the withholding of the files were intended to shield your boss from embarrassing revelations within those files.' Why Grok Became 'Mecha-Hitler' ... X users wondered what to expect when Elon Musk announced improvements to Grok, the platform's AI. They found out this week, when it praised Adolf Hitler, dubbed itself 'Mecha-Hitler' and associated Jewish surnames with 'anti-white hate.' Dylon Jones spoke with AI expert Gary Marcus about the episode, and what it suggests about the future of AI tech and policy. 'I think that what Musk ultimately wants to do is quite Orwellian,' Marcus said. 'I don't think we want a world where a few oligarchs can influence our beliefs very heavily, including in subtle ways by shaping what their social media sites do.' Kentucky Made Thomas Massie Trump-Proof ... Rep. Thomas Massie, the libertarian maverick representing Kentucky's 4th Congressional district, has done what others in his party have found impossible: repeatedly rebuked Trump, without paying a political price. Despite voting against the president at key moments — from keeping the government open back in March to opposing the 'big, beautiful bill' in May and recently decrying strikes on Iran as 'not Constitutional' — Massie has shrugged off Trump's threats to primary him. 'After all, Trump failed to oust him in 2020,' writes Alex Keeney. 'Whether Massie means to or not, his defiant stand for libertarian principles is offering a roadmap for other critics of the president to do something many believe is impossible: Turn some of his most ardent voters against his policies.' From the drafting table of editorial cartoonist Matt Wuerker. **Who Dissed? answer: That would be Democratic strategist Eddie Vale, speaking to The Hill. politicoweekend@
The Independent
08-07-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
BYU coach Kalani Sitake avoids comment on QB Jake Retzlaff's status amid transfer rumors
BYU coach Kalani Sitake declined to address the status of Jake Retzlaff on Tuesday amid reports that the quarterback is transferring after being accused of sexual assault in a civil lawsuit that was dismissed. Retzlaff reportedly plans to enter the transfer portal rather than face a suspension for violating the honor code at the university, which is run by the Mormon church. Retzlaff acknowledged a consensual sexual relationship in his defense against the lawsuit. 'I think it'll be inappropriate for me to make a statement on his situation first,' Sitake said at Big 12 football media days. 'I think that's his right. I think it's a private matter that he can speak for himself, and I'm going to give him the opportunity to do that.' Asked about how the team was reacting to losing the quarterback who started 13 games last season, Sitake spoke generally about competition among quarterbacks without acknowledging whether Retzlaff was still on the roster. Assuming Retzlaff is moving on, the Cougars will have a quarterback competition in preseason workouts. Stanford transfer Bear Bachmeier and McCae Hillstead, who previously was at Utah State, are considered the frontrunners. 'I think for me it's just allowing the guys to compete in the quarterback room we have,' Sitake said. 'The fortunate part for me is I have a coaching staff that was able to keep intact. And so there's always a knowledge of the offense for the guys that are there and then we have incoming talent that I think it'd be really special for us. So let's settle it on the field, let them compete and then I only know one way and I just play the best guys. That's how it works.' Retzlaff threw for 2,947 yards and 20 touchdowns with 12 interceptions as the Cougars contended for a spot in the Big 12 championship game before settling for an 11-2 finish that included an Alamo Bowl victory over Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter and Colorado.
RNZ News
02-07-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Flood-damaged school furious and frustrated with 'crazy' timing of ERO report
A primary school in Wairoa that was ruined in Cyclone Gabrielle and has been operating out of a temporary site is furious and frustrated with the Education Review Office (ERO) over the timing of its evaluation. Nuhaka School has flooded twice since February 2023, and while it waits for the entire school to be rebuilt, the more than 100 students have been taking their lessons at a nearby Mormon Church. The entire school had to be rebuilt after flooding twice in the past few years. Photo: Supplied Last week, as the school was packing up to move back to its new buildings, ERO conducted a review. ERO has admitted to RNZ that it got it wrong, and is apologising to Nuhaka School about the timing of its review. From the outside it looks like a regular church, but step through the doors and every room is crammed with school tables and chairs, whiteboards and stationary supplies. The floor is covered in colourful blue mats and among the boxes of sporting trophies and rows of school bags hanging on the wall, framed paintings of Jesus peer out. The Mormon church where children have been going to school. Photo: RNZ/Jimmy Ellingham As children help carry boxes out to the moving truck, Principal Raelene McFarlane tells RNZ how hard the past couple of years have been, and the struggle to get more resources. "This has just been a fight. It didn't need to be this hard. I didn't need to lose staff through burnout," she said. For most of the past 2.5 years, the students have been learning in makeshift classrooms - using the hall stage, offices, and meeting rooms to try and regain some sense of normalcy for the kids. "The crowding is huge. It got quite heartbreaking at times when we had kids who had to crawl under tables to get out to the loo and you know, and if they didn't make it that was really upsetting for them, it was upsetting for staff and whanau. "Without space you can't teach a quiet group, because the noise is just really compacted," said McFarlane. Nuhaka School principal Raelene McFarlane. Photo: RNZ / Nick Monro She said they were just weeks away from moving back into their newly rebuilt school site, when the Education Review Office, known as ERO, decided it was time to conduct a review. McFarlane begged them to delay it by 10 weeks, so they would be settled back in their school buildings, but told RNZ that ERO would only shift the review by three weeks, to the last few days of term when they were still in the church. "When I contacted them and said 'we are literally going to have boxes walking out the door, we can't even do a lesson for you, that's crazy'. We were just told that they'll be sensitive and that it was going ahead," she said. Wairoa mayor Craig Little Photo: RNZ / Nick Monro The local iwi and mayor also tried to get the ERO review moved, but mayor Craig Little said he was astonished when ERO went ahead with its inspection. "These kids have absolutely gone through hell and back. And so now they're moving finally, thank God for the Mormon church. They've been in there and they're moving back to their school. But it's really hard and would you believe let's chuck an ERO report the same time they're moving. "It's just crazy. I've been on school boards and the ERO report is the biggest thing that can disrupt your school ever. And you get one shot at it and everybody is under stress. ERO should be saying, 'hey, let's just sort of forget about that at the moment'," said Craig. Flooding at Nuhaka School from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023. Photo: Supplied Instead, ERO visited the school last week while it was still operating out of the church buildings. "At least come and see us in the right place - do the right compliance checks on the right buildings - that would make more sense to me. "We don't understand, we feel pretty much... we don't know if it's targeted," said McFarlane. ERO declined RNZ's request for an interview, but spokesperson Shelley Booysen told RNZ that where possible, they did their best to be flexible to meet the needs of schools. "In this case, the School Review team made the decision to go ahead with the review following a number of rescheduled dates. "In hindsight, the school's request for an extension during their move and until they are more settled into their new building was not unreasonable. We should have delayed the review. We got this one wrong and we sincerely apologise to the school and the community," she said. ERO said it wished Nuhaka School 'all the best' in their new school building. Flooding at Nuhaka School from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023. Photo: Supplied But Little worried the damage was already done. "Why would you do that to people? I'm getting calls from the parents, not only the school teachers, just saying 'hey, we're really worried about what's happening here'. "These teachers have been enough stress. Let's not put them under anymore," he said. Nuhaka School will reopen on 14 July for the first day of the new term. Nuhaka School students. Photo: RNZ / Nick Monro Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
