There’s a petition challenging the way Mormon bishops discuss sexuality with young men and women. Intimate questions come up in interviews conducted one-on-one by adult men. We’ll look at the potential risks, and the pros and cons of untrained clergy.
Wednesday, we’re talking about a petition that’s making a stir in some Mormon circles. Sam Young is a former LDS bishop, but he’s worried about the way lay clergy discuss sexuality with Mormon youth. It can come up in interviews that determine a young man or woman’s temple worthiness, but they’re conducted one-on-one by adult men, behind closed doors. So, we’re asking about the potential risks in these encounters, and about the limitations and strengths of untrained religious leaders.
Guests:
- Sam Young, Organizer of the petition Protect the Children: Stop Sexually Oriented Interviews of Mormon Youth
- Kristin Hodson, MSW, LCSW, is an ASSECT certified sex therapist and Founder and Executive Director of The Healing Group in Salt Lake City. That's a counseling service focused on maternal health, sexuality, and couple's counseling. She's also co-author of the book Real Intimacy: A Couple's Guide to Healthy Genuine Sexuality [Indie bookstores|Amazon], which has an LDS focus.
- Patrick Mason is the Howard W Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies at Claremont Graduate University. His latest book is called What is Mormonism? A Student's Introduction [Indie bookstores|Amazon].
