OAKLAND, CA, May 26, 2026 – SNAP decries the abuse of four male survivors by a former Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bishop charged with multiple counts of child sexual assault.

Michael Morris, 76, is charged with 18 felony counts of non-forcible sexual assault involving multiple children between 1991 and 2001 when he served as a bishop in Livermore and supervised a church-affiliated boys’ youth group.

“This story sounds too familiar.  An untrained man is given a position of authority over a congregation and has the opportunity to groom and abuse minors.” said Judy Larson, SNAP’s Board Secretary, who is herself a former member of the Mormon Church. “The cognitive dissonance of finding out their Bishop is a predator is more than many Mormons can believe.”

Larson explained that Mormon Bishops routinely interview young people alone and behind closed doors, which can allow a predator to groom or abuse children. They may ask them sexually explicit questions in order to determine their “worthiness,” she said.

This case involves deeply troubling allegations of abuse of trust and authority involving children, said Alameda County District Attorney, Ursula Jones Dickson, in a statement last week.

“Our office remains committed to pursuing justice for survivors of sexual abuse, regardless of how much time has passed, whenever the law permits prosecution,” she said.

To report clergy abuse in California, email ClergyAbuse@doj.ca.gov