Time for Transparency: The LDS Church Must Front Up to Sexual Abuse Allegations in Tonga
By Melino Maka – Political and Economic Commentator on Tonga and Pacific Issues, Chair of the Huelo Matamoana Trust
The recent arrest of former Mormon missionary William James Purdy in the United States for the alleged sexual abuse of at least 14 boys in Tonga has sent shockwaves through our region. The full weight of this case, reported by ABC Radio Australia, is not just a tragedy for the victims and their families — it is a stain on the silence that too often follows such violations when they are tied to powerful institutions.
Purdy, who first arrived in Tonga in 2017 as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), is now facing serious federal charges in the U.S. for the sexual exploitation of minors and transporting a minor for illicit sexual conduct. According to U.S. court documents, his alleged abuse spanned years — beginning while he served in a religious role, and continuing later when he worked as a teacher.
Let us be clear: This is not simply a legal matter, nor can it be brushed aside as the isolated actions of one man. This is a moral crisis that raises serious questions about institutional accountability, missionary oversight, and safeguarding practices, especially in vulnerable communities such as ours in the Pacific.
Despite the gravity of these allegations — and the traumatic reality faced by families, including a brave eight-year-old boy whose testimony brought the case to light — the LDS Church in Tonga has remained silent.
This silence is unacceptable.
Now is not the time for spin doctors or carefully-worded public relations statements drafted in Salt Lake City. Now is the time for the Church to show leadership — real leadership rooted in humility, compassion, and accountability.
The Church must front-foot this crisis and speak directly to the families, the victims, and the Tongan people. It must acknowledge the pain, explain what it knew and when, and most importantly, demonstrate what concrete actions it is taking to ensure this never happens again — not in Tonga, not in the Pacific, not anywhere.
There is a pressing need for the LDS Church to publicly support the ongoing investigations, to cooperate fully with Tongan and U.S. authorities, and to offer meaningful support — not just spiritual platitudes — to the victims and their families. This includes counselling services, legal support, and public transparency.
This case also raises deeper structural concerns. Why was Purdy, after being arrested in 2022, able to obtain a false passport and flee Tonga to Fiji before returning to the U.S.? How can a person accused of such crimes, with his passport already confiscated, escape through such gaping loopholes? These are failures that must be investigated, both in our systems and in the organisations — religious or otherwise — that operate in our communities.
Tonga is a deeply spiritual country, and our people are known for our respect and hospitality. But that trust must never be taken for granted — and never abused. Religious institutions must be held to the highest standard, especially when they position themselves as moral leaders and are granted access to our most vulnerable — our children.
This is not about anti-religious sentiment or scapegoating missionaries. It’s about protecting Pacific families and upholding justice.
The Church still has an opportunity to do the right thing — but that window is closing. With every day of silence, trust is eroded further. The damage is already done. The question is whether the Church is prepared to be part of the healing — or part of the cover-up.
Pacific peoples are watching. Victims are watching. And so is the next generation, whose safety depends on what we do now.
