While I was at college I felt extreme guilt for masturbation. Because of the LDS culture, I was raised to believe I had to confess my sins to the bishop. I went to my bishop and confessed that I had been masturbating. It was also expected to give detail, so I even included details of some of my habits, including the use of pornography. I felt absolutely awful.
After 30 minutes or so of my meeting with the bishop, I started to head home. But the guilt ate away at me and I realized I hadn’t told him everything. Sobbing and fearing excommunication for my actions, I drove back and confessed that I had watched gay pornography as well. I felt so incredibly ashamed and disgusting for participating in gay actions.
I didn’t know it at the time, but I was homosexual. The church kept me so sexually repressed and ashamed that it took me awhile to learn that about myself. After I confessed to the bishop about the gay pornography, the bishop asked me if I had tried anything sexual with animals. It hurt me to even hear him suggest that I might have. Of course I hadn’t.
This story is only one part of the terrible bishop interviews. For several years I met with older men, alone, and discussed my sexual habits in detail, feeling dirty for all my choices. Enough is enough. Children should not be exposed to this, let alone in such an organized fashion. We need to keep our kids safe and unashamed for their sexuality. A healthy understanding of sexuality needs to be taught. Put an end to these interviews so we can avoid years and years of shame like I experienced.