Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — The woman who said the president of the LDS Church's Missionary Training Center raped her while she was a missionary there in 1984 filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday night.
McKenna Denson, 55, of Pueblo, Colorado, filed suit in U.S. District Court against Joseph L. Bishop, 85, of Chandler, Arizona, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for sexual assault and battery, negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress, fraud, fraudulent nondisclosure and fraudulent concealment.
The suit asks for a jury trial seeking damages for loss of earnings and to pay for medical and legal expenses. It also asks that a jury direct the church to change its policies.
Denson has decided to identify herself and will hold a press conference about the lawsuit Thursday morning, said her attorney, Craig Vernon.
The suit alleges that the church knew Bishop had engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior toward women before he was called as the MTC president, then did not report Denson's rape allegation to authorities or take ecclesiastical action against him.
Church spokesman Eric Hawkins declined to comment on Wednesday night pointing to previous statements.
