My abuser was not excommunicated #lds #mormon #sterlingvanwagenen

The Omission of Excommunication: Sterling Van Wagenen's Protected Status

When heinous acts go unpunished by those tasked with upholding moral standards, it raises profound questions about the integrity of leadership. The case of Sterling Van Wagenen, a co-founder of the Sundance Film Festival and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), exemplifies this troubling disconnect. Despite admitting to abusing a vulnerable individual, Van Wagenen was never excommunicated. This highlights a painful reality within the LDS Church: whistleblowers face harsher punishments than confessed abusers. How does this bode for the Church's purported discernment?

Context on Van Wagenen and Church Procedures

Sterling Van Wagenen's case is a poignant example of alleged moral failings existing within the LDS Church’s disciplinary procedures. Historically, the Church maintains a strict moral code, and excommunication is often the consequence for members who commit grave sins or question church authority. Yet, astonishingly, Van Wagenen, the abuser, remained unscathed by the Church's most severe punishment.

This hypocrisy calls into question the Church's discernment, which members often trust implicitly. The expectation is that ecclesiastical leaders possess a heightened spiritual insight, enabling them to discern truth from falsehood and administer justice effectively.

Assessing the Claims and the Church's Response