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Floodlit: Shedding Light on Sexual Abuse

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By Mason
Sexual abuse within religion is not limited to one faith or one culture. It appears in churches, temples, synagogues, and mosques around the world. 

The same systems that promise moral direction and community can also aid abusers in hiding their wrongdoing. When power is concentrated in spiritual authority, questioning leaders can feel like questioning God. That fear keeps many victims silent for years.


Across history, investigations have revealed deep problems in multiple religious institutions. The Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Convention, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and others have faced reports of abuse and cover-ups.

The pattern is painfully consistent across the board. Allegations are dismissed, offenders are quietly moved, and victims are told to stay quiet for the sake of the church’s reputation. Each time the truth surfaces, it raises the same questions:

-How could this happen?
-Who allowed it to continue?

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is now facing similar scrutiny. Survivors and journalists have begun documenting how sexual abuse has been handled within Mormon communities and leadership structures. 

One project at the center of this effort is Floodlit.org, a public database that compiles survivor accounts, court filings, and verified news reports. Floodlit exists to make sure these stories are not buried again. It gathers evidence in one place, giving survivors a voice and helping others understand the scale of what has been hidden.

Floodlit is a volunteer-run website built to track sexual abuse cases linked to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The project serves as both a database and a record of survivor accounts, collecting information from court filings, verified media, and public records. Its purpose is to document what has often been hidden and to help survivors and researchers access credible information in one place.


Mission

Floodlit’s mission is to expose how abuse has been handled inside the LDS Church. The creators aim to document every case involving members, leaders, or church institutions accused of sexual crimes or of concealing them. The site exists to make sure these stories don’t disappear into sealed court documents or forgotten local reports. It encourages open access, accountability, and a space for survivors to be heard.

What the Site Offers

Case Database:
The searchable database lists individuals accused of abuse or misconduct. Each entry includes names, charges, locations, and links to verified sources like court filings or news coverage. This helps connect scattered information and shows the scale of the issue.

Survivor Stories:
Through survivors.floodlit.org, individuals can share their stories anonymously. These personal accounts bring human perspective to the data and allow others to see how widespread and damaging the problem has been.

Public Records Access:
Floodlit gives readers direct access to original court documents and filings. Removing paywalls and barriers allows independent verification by journalists, scholars, and the public.


Maps and Data:
An interactive map displays where reported incidents have occurred. It helps visualize how abuse and church responses have appeared across time and location.


Why It Exists

Floodlit was created to end silence. Many abuse cases within the LDS Church were previously handled quietly, leaving victims without a voice and communities without information. The site counters that silence with transparency, bringing together evidence that reveals patterns of neglect and concealment. It’s meant to protect future victims by ensuring that past ones are not forgotten.

Floodlit continues to grow as more survivors come forward and more records become public. It’s part of a wider effort by survivors and advocates to demand honesty and reform in religious institutions. By gathering facts, stories, and documents in one place, Floodlit helps turn what was once private pain into public truth.

Check Your Understanding

Test your understanding of how sexual abuse has been handled in religious institutions and why projects like Floodlit.org exist.

1. What is one major reason abuse continues within many religious institutions?




2. Which pattern is commonly seen across multiple religious institutions?




3. Which groups are mentioned as having faced investigations and reports of abuse?




4. What kind of resource is Floodlit.org?




5. What is the mission of Floodlit?




6. What does the Floodlit case database provide?




7. How does Floodlit support survivors directly?




8. Why was Floodlit created?




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