SAD SONGS
Music does give comfort: Your story "Facing the Music" was truly inspiring. I wept as I read it (Kholood Eid, September 15).
If you've ever had a relative lingering on his or her deathbed, you know how deeply depressed everybody is. Sometimes, the family is even more depressed than the person dying.
Music does indeed give comfort. Kellie Walker and her Voices Lifted truly are angels from God sent to help both the dying and their loved ones.
Stephanie Hightower, Phoenix
BROCK HARD
Sure we would, if the shoe fit: I cannot believe that you would allow a picture of the Book of Mormon to be used like this ("Brocked Up," James King, September 8).
Would you allow a picture of the Bible to be used like that? Very disrespectful to the Mormon Church, and I suspect you will lose a lot of readers over this one.
Susan Southard, Surprise
Put the church elders in jail: The LDS church, the parents, and especially the Brocks are neck-deep in blame for this abuse.
Fulton Brock is another Joe Arpaio-loving public official with no scruples and no decency, and he should be forced to resign based on this article. In fact, he should go to jail for his role in this.
An interesting side note is how the boy came to take advantage of the situation (look at all the expensive presents he got; even his clueless parents thought he was exploiting Susan Brock in the end).
Yet the cover-up by the church and Fulton Brock are so reprehensible. From the jail tapes quoted in the article, it's clear that Fulton only wanted to keep his wife out of jail at any cost.
Why he gave a damn about the slutty cow at that point speaks to his stupidity. How can he even appear in public anymore? He's nothing but a joke now that this has come out.
The church elders who covered this up should go to jail [along with Fulton Brock].
John Lewis, Mesa
In that case, it is lacking, Chad: The portion of the LDS Handbook of Instructions quoted in the article actually has nothing to do with the circumstances of this case.
That portion simply says that Church [of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] leaders shouldn't inject themselves, in their roles as church leaders, into civil or criminal legal proceedings to which the church isn't a party (such as serving as a character witness at Susan Brock's sentencing).
It says absolutely nothing about church policy on handling cases of suspected abuse.
Chad Snow, Peoria
Our smut-filled rag belongs in the gutter: Why on Earth would New Times bring this [sex scandal] up? You complain about other people grandstanding. All you are doing is hurting the victims.
As a member of the LDS faith, I find your lack of respect appalling. Your smut-filled rag belongs in the gutter. From now on, any establishment I see with your [paper out front], I will stay away.
Benjamin Fisk, city unavailable
And nothing happens: Why haven't Fulton Brock, the high school personnel, the LDS bishops, the LDS stake president, and any other adult person who knew about this — including the parents of the victim — not been prosecuted as accessories to child abuse?
Granted, James King doesn't spell it out as bluntly as I'm doing here, but that's the question. And, yeah, if you go and look at the Arizona law on the subject, every one of these groups is a mandated reporter.
It's really amazing to me how the LDS Church can come positively unglued over the possibility of gays and lesbians getting married, but when it comes to child abuse — something we know damages children and young people — nothing happens. Nothing.
Name withheld
How much a victim was he?: The Mormon Church is some fucked-up shit. But so is your paper for releasing the name of a child who was a sex-abuse victim!
Jessica Ranch, city unavailable
Joe is everywhere: How about this little tidbit:
County Supervisor Brock abused his powerful position within the community to obtain favors from Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio to ensure that certain conversations he'd had with his jailed wife as she prepared for a potential trial were not recorded by detention officers.
Right-wing hero Sheriff Arpaio [at it again].
Jack Lean, city unavailable
Fulton is beyond redemption: James King, you deserve a Pulitzer Prize for the excellent reportorial skills that exposed the murky depths of this shocking story and informed your readers about the criminal misconduct of those who hold themselves out as pillars of society.
Fulton Brock should attempt to save some measure of dignity and conscience by resigning from office. Joe Arpaio is beyond redemption, conscience, or forgiveness.
Hob Stuart, city unavailable
Polygamy: And the difference between the LDS and the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [in Colorado City] is?
Charlie Oscar, city unavailable
No one else is telling this story: Notice that no other reputable news organization names victims or their families [in sex-abuse cases] because only New Times lacks ethics.
And you can't blame that on anyone but James King, his editor, and the paper's owner. No matter what the crime, the victims deserve better — and at the very least, some privacy to heal from such a horrific and painful ordeal.
Name withheld
Hilarious? More like sad: It's hilarious that all these Mormons are shedding crocodile tears over the callous printing of the sordid details of this sex scandal and how it must hurt the victims.
Guess what? The pervs aren't the ones writing for New Times; they're the ones in your church leading you in prayer and suborning the sexual abuse of children.
The real humiliation already has happened to the victims.
You Mormons are the ones butt-hurt now because the facts of this disgusting affair humiliate you and your church. As well they should.
Name withheld
An anonymous voice of reason: There is no law against releasing the name of sex-abuse victims. It is merely a courtesy the press sometimes gives to such people.
In this case, the kid [now 18] deserved to be named. He reveled in his relationship with this woman and her daughter. Where were his parents in this?
Name withheld
