I’ve been wanting to share with you my experience with the baptismal interview I had at the age of 10. I was currently being sexually abused by a close family member. The Bishop worthiness interview is something I’ll never forget. When he asked me if I was having sex with family members, I froze.
I was a 10 year old, scared little girl who was brainwashed to never tell anyone my secret. I kept thinking god had told the bishop that I was being abused and that god must be so mad at me for being molested (cause I believed at the time that it was my fault). I was too afraid to admit it so I quietly said the word “no.”
From that day I felt like a dirty, disgusting, lying human being anytime I was at the church because god knew and i had lied. I felt this especially after being baptized when I was molested many more times.
These Bishops are not trained in how to spot a child who may be being abused and they are not trained if I had told the truth. These questions can really do damage to kids who are being abused. To this day I can’t believe in a god. If I try to believe in a god all the feeling of unworthiness come flooding back.
Thank you so much for what you’re doing. You’re standing up for scared little girls and boys who just may be being abused at the time.