Michael Adamson
Claims to fame: Church organist and caretaker, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, York, England; convicted child molester
Moral apex: Sexually abused four girls, between the ages of seven and 15, over a 16-year period (1966-82) — two of them in the boiler room of the church.
What’s worse: It took 26 years for the four victims to summon the courage to say anything about the abuse.
What’s even worse: The LDS elders knew about Adamson’s crimes since at least 1998: “Elders of the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints knew about organist and caretaker Michael John Adamson’s crimes a decade ago and allowed him to continue worshipping there after a three-week suspension, said Tina Dempster, prosecuting. … The church was a major part of his life, and he had had to prove himself with other church members after the suspension, a process that took three to four years. After police became involved [in 2008], he was again regularly interviewed by church members.” [The Press, UK, June 21, 2008]
Plea: Guilty to 11 counts of “indecent assault.”
Sentence: Six years.
Memorable quote:
“You have enjoyed your liberty and you have held onto your position of apparent respectability in the wider community and in your religious community.”— Judge Stephen Ashurst
who also called Adamson a “hypocrite”
just before pronouncing sentence
Suggested Book of Mormon reading for Mr. Adamson:
And notwithstanding this great abomination of the Lamanites, it doth not exceed that of our people in Moriantum. For behold, many of the daughters of the Lamanites have they taken prisoners; and after depriving them of that which was most dear and precious above all things, which is chastity and virtue—— Moroni 9:9
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