Episode 4: The Helpline

Can the Mormon church be reformed? Murray meets campaigners inside and outside of the church who are pushing to change the way it handles sexual abusers. He asks: should the law be changed in New Zealand to force the church to do the right thing?    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Murray calls New Zealand’s Mormon Abuse Helpline – and guess who picks up? He then heads to Northland to meet a Mormon couple who made a very different kind of call. They blew the whistle on a prolific sex abuser in their midst – only to find that others in their congregation would prefer to keep on protecting him.  Sexual assault support services:If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7: Call 0800 044 334Text 4334Email [email protected] more information visit safetotalk.nz If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it's not your fault.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warning: This episode contains content related to child sex abuse. Listen with care.  The seizure of a video from a New Zealand paedophile sparks a dizzying chain of events in faraway Arizona: an arrest, a suicide – and revelations that a serial child rapist had confessed to his Mormon bishop, and the church had used its “Abuse Helpline” to cover it up. Family violence: If you’re in danger now phone the police on 111 or ask neighbours or friends to ring for you. Where to go for help or more information: Shine, free national helpline 9am- 11pm every day - 0508 744 633 www.2shine.org.nz Women’s Refuge: Free national crisis line operates 24/7 - 0800 refuge or 0800 733 843 www.womensrefuge.org.nz Shakti: Providing specialist cultural services for African, Asian and middle eastern women and their children. Crisis line 24/7 0800 742 584 It’s Not Ok: Information line 0800 456 450 www.areyouok.org.nz See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Murray hears tale after tale of abuse within Mormon congregations and at the centre of every story, there’s a “bishop”. Who are these men? Why are they so involved in members’ lives? And do their actions help the church keep crimes secret? Family violence: If you’re in danger now phone the police on 111 or ask neighbours or friends to ring for you. Where to go for help or more information: Shine, free national helpline 9am- 11pm every day - 0508 744 633 www.2shine.org.nz Women’s Refuge: Free national crisis line operates 24/7 - 0800 refuge or 0800 733 843 www.womensrefuge.org.nz\ Shakti: Providing specialist cultural services for African, Asian and middle eastern women and their children. Crisis line 24/7 0800 742 584 It’s Not Ok: Information line 0800 456 450 www.areyouok.org.nz Sexual assault support services:If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7: Call 0800 044 334Text 4334Email [email protected] more information visit safetotalk.nz If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it's not your fault.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fanatical “priesthood holder” pressures young Mormon Caroline into marriage and motherhood. When the relationship descends into extreme abuse, Caroline is rescued by a church leader, but others up the ranks are not so supportive. Whose side are they really on?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do Mormons actually believe? And how did this mega-wealthy American church gain such a foothold in New Zealand? (Please note: this is an optional episode for history lovers, so you can safely skip it without losing the thread.)  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When journalist Murray Jones investigates the vast wealth of the Mormon church in New Zealand, an intriguing Facebook post alerts him to a scandal that’s much bigger, and much, much darker.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heaven's Helpline begins on October 17th wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.