LDS Stake President Covers Up Abuse & Becomes Area Authority Seventy - Rebecca Gooden | Ep. 2163

What happens when a trusted Mormon leader learns about child sexual abuse –and choses not to report it?

In this powerful and heartbreaking episode, Rebecca Gooden and her son Matthew share their family’s story of abuse, betrayal, and institutional failure within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Years after discovering that her husband, Shawn Gooden, had sexually abused two of her younger brothers, Rebecca found herself confronting a devastating reality: church leaders had known about the abuse and failed to act. Despite allegations involving child sexual abuse, Shawn continued to receive leadership callings, serving in bishoprics, high councils, and eventually as a bishop and stake presidency counselor.

The story becomes even more troubling when Pennsylvania Stake President Rhett Hintze learned of the abuse in 2020. As a mandatory reporter under Pennsylvania law, Hintze was later charged with failure to report child abuse. Although the charges were ultimately dropped, many questions remain about how church leaders handled the case, why victims received little to no support, and why Hintze was later promoted to an Area Seventy.

Throughout this interview Rebecca and Matthew discuss Shawn Gooden’s abuse and eventual excommunication, the impact of abuse on victims and families, mandatory reporting laws and clergy responsibilities, how the Church handles abuse allegations, the doctrine of discernment, and institutional cover-ups. They also discuss why they ultimately stepped away from the Mormon church and Rebecca shares how she has now moved closer to healing, self-discovering (now calling herself Eloise), and greater empowerment.

This episode explores difficult but important questions about accountability, victim protection, and whether religious institutions truly prioritize the vulnerable when abuse is reported.

If you or someone you know has experienced abuse, we encourage you to contact local authorities, licensed therapists, and survivor support organizations.

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