Ex-Mormon Bishop Arrested on Charges of Sexually Abusing His Daughter

In 1999, John Goodrich, an Idaho dentist and Mormon bishop, allegedly sexually abused his teenage daughter Chelsea during a school field trip to the East Coast, where they stayed in Williamsburg, Virginia. The abuse, which Chelsea later claimed began when she was at least 9, has now led to his arrest in Virginia after a grand jury indictment on multiple felony charges, including forcible rape and aggravated sexual battery by a parent of a child.

Chelsea and her mother, Lorraine, reported the allegations to Idaho police in 2016, but the charges were dropped after a key witness—a Mormon bishop to whom Goodrich had confessed—refused to testify. The church excommunicated Goodrich, but the case remained unresolved until recent revelations about the church’s legal strategies to conceal abuse claims.

Investigative reports by The Associated Press and Reveal revealed how the Mormon church used a legal playbook to protect Goodrich, including invoking Idaho’s clergy-penitent privilege to shield confidential confessions from disclosure. The church’s risk management division, led by attorney Paul Rytting, also offered Chelsea and her mother $300,000 in exchange for a confidentiality agreement and the destruction of their recordings.

Audio recordings obtained by The Associated Press show Rytting discouraging the bishop who received Goodrich’s confession from testifying, despite expressing concern over the “significant sexual transgression.” These recordings provide an unprecedented look at the mechanisms the Mormon church employs to suppress child sexual abuse cases, raising questions about accountability and transparency.

Following the exposure of these practices, a Utah bill was passed to provide legal protections for clergy who report child abuse based on information from a confession, similar to protections for mandatory reporters. However, the law does not require clergy to testify, highlighting ongoing challenges in balancing religious freedom with the need for justice.

Chelsea Goodrich, now in her 30s, expressed hope that the Virginia case would bring justice for her childhood abuse, noting that it appears to be the first time her allegations have been taken seriously. Her statement underscores the importance of protecting victims and ensuring that abuse is not overlooked, as Proverbs 31:8-9 reminds us to speak up for those who cannot defend themselves.

The church has stated that the abuse of a child is inexcusable and that it dedicates “tremendous resources” to preventing and reporting abuse. However, the case of John Goodrich raises concerns about the effectiveness of these measures and the need for greater accountability, as Ephesians 5:11 calls for exposing the deeds of the dark side of human nature.

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Source record preserved at time of reporting.