Navajo Woman Sues Mormon Church Alleging Abuse

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Another member of the Navajo Nation is suing the Mormon Church, alleging she was sexually abused in a former church program.

The woman identified as B.N. in tribal court documents says she was sexually molested and raped multiple times while in foster care in Utah, from 1965 to 1972. She was among thousands of American Indians who participated in the church's Indian Student Placement Program. Two Navajo siblings sued The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in March outlining similar allegations.

Attorneys representing the three plaintiffs say church leaders failed to protect the children. A church spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a message left late Tuesday. The church has said it doesn't tolerate abuse of any kind. It also is challenging the jurisdiction of the tribal court.