A boy said he was molested repeatedly in the pews of his Tucson church, the Golden Dawn Tabernacle. The church's "cultish rules" kept him silent — until now.
Emily Hamer
Lee Enterprises Public Service Journalism Team
Jose Mora is pictured with other members of his church, the Golden Dawn Tabernacle. Mora has been accused of molesting multiple boys from the church. Faces of those other than Mora have been blocked at the request of the photo owner.
Courtesy of Golden Dawn Tabernacle Research Website
JoAnn Malena, left, and John Calvo, former members of the Golden Dawn Tabernacle, talk outside of Pima County Superior Court following a hearing regarding Pastor Isaac Noriega in Tucson, Ariz. on September 15, 2025. The hearing was about motions filed by Calvo that accuse the church of being a toxic environment and question the veracity of Noriega's health issues that caused him to miss his last court date.
Jonathan Santos, 23, said he was was sexually abused as a child by Jose Mora, a member of his former church, the Golden Dawn Tabernacle. He said he has dealt with depression for a long time, but coming forward with his story made him feel like a weight had lifted off him. He poses for a photo outside of his home in Tucson, Ariz. on May 12, 2025.
Douglas Taylor, lawyer for Pastor Isaac Noriega speaks to the judge during a hearing in Pima County Superior Court in Tucson, Ariz. on September 15, 2025. Noriega was not present.
An image shows the Golden Dawn Tabernacle at 301 E. Los Reales Rd. on Sunday, June 30, 2024. Twenty former church members have described the church as a "cult." Some say children in the church are repeatedly put in harms way while allegations of sexual abuse are ignored.
Douglas Taylor, lawyer for Pastor Isaac Noriega speaks to the judge during a hearing in Pima County Superior Court in Tucson, Ariz. on September 15, 2025. Noriega was not present.
JoAnn Malena, left, and John Calvo, former members of the Golden Dawn Tabernacle, talk outside of Pima County Superior Court following a hearing regarding Pastor Isaac Noriega in Tucson, Ariz. on September 15, 2025. The hearing was about motions filed by Calvo that accuse the church of being a toxic environment and question the veracity of Noriega's health issues that caused him to miss his last court date.
Jonathan Santos, 23, said he was was sexually abused as a child by Jose Mora, a member of his former church, the Golden Dawn Tabernacle. He said he has dealt with depression for a long time, but coming forward with his story made him feel like a weight had lifted off him. He poses for a photo outside of his home in Tucson, Ariz. on May 12, 2025.
Jose Mora is pictured with other members of his church, the Golden Dawn Tabernacle. Mora has been accused of molesting multiple boys from the church. Faces of those other than Mora have been blocked at the request of the photo owner.
Courtesy of Golden Dawn Tabernacle Research Website
An image shows the Golden Dawn Tabernacle at 301 E. Los Reales Rd. on Sunday, June 30, 2024. Twenty former church members have described the church as a "cult." Some say children in the church are repeatedly put in harms way while allegations of sexual abuse are ignored.
