♪♪ >> COMING UP, -- THE SUPREME COURT'S MOMENTOUS DECISIONS THIS WEEK.

ALSO, DEBORAH POTTER ON MORMONS LEAVING THEIR CHURCH.

SOME SAY THEY NO LONGER BELIEVE THE CHURCH HISTORY THEY WERE TAUGHT.

PLUS, KIM LAWTON LOOKS AT THE MORAL INJURIES SUFFERED BY MANY RETURNING SERVICE MEMBERS, AND EFFORTS TO HELP THEM HEAL.

>> I THINK WE HAVE A SCARED OBLIGATION TO OUR CITIZEN SOLCUSTOMIZED, INDIVIDUAL, AND GROUP PRODUCTS.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE YOUR RETIREMENT COMPANY >> WELCOME.

I'M BOB ABERNETHY.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US THIS WEEK AS THE SUPREME COURT NEARS THE END OF ITS TERM, HANDING DOWN MAJOR VICTORIES FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AND OBAMACARE.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THIS COMING UP.

IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, MOURNERS PAID RESPECTS TO THE NINE BLACK WORSHIPPERS WHO WERE GUNNED DOWN BY A WHITE SUPREMACIST INSIDE THE HISTORIC EMANUEL AME CHURCH LAST WEEK.

A RACIALLY DIVERSE GATHERING OF THOUSANDS FORMED A CHAIN ACROSS THE RAVENEL BRIDGE IN A DISPLAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE VICTIMS.

SPECIAL REMEMBRANCES WERE HELD IN HONOR OF SLAIN REVEREND CLEMENTA PINCKNEY, THE CHURCH'S PASTOR AND A SOUTH CAROLINA STATE SENATOR.

PRESIDENT OBAMA TRAVELED TO CHARLESTON TO DELIVER THE EULOGY FOR PINCKNEY, WHOM HE KNEW PERSONALLY.

MEANWHILE, IN SOUTH CAROLINA'S CAPITOL, COLUMBIA, CLERGY AND POLITICAL LEADERS HELD A RALLY CALLING FOR THE CONFEDERATE FLAG TO BE REMOVED FROM STATE HOUSE GROUNDS.

THE CHARLESTON SHOOTING HAS IGNITED A NATIONWIDE DEBATE OVER THE CONFEDERATE FLAG, WITH A GROWING CHORUS CALLING FOR ITS REMOVAL FROM PUBLIC SPACES.

PROTESTERS POINTED OUT THAT THE ACCUSED GUNMAN DYLANN ROOF HAD POSED WITH THE FLAG IN ONLINE PHOTOS.

THEY SAID THE FLAG SHOULD BE TAKEN DOWN OUT OF RESPECT FOR HIS VICTIMS.

SOUTH CAROLINA LAWMAKERS SAID THEY WOULD DEBATE REMOVING THE FLAG LATER THIS SUMMER.

LAST WEEKEND IN BALTIMORE, A COALITION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES AND POLICE UNITED IN A PRAYER RALLY FOR PEACE.

BALTIMORE HAS SEEN A SURGE IN VIOLENT CRIME SINCE RIOTING SWEPT PARTS OF THE CITY IN LATE APRIL.

BISHOP HARRY JACKSON SAID RACIALLY CHARGED EVENTS IN CHARLESTON, BALTIMORE, AND ELSEWHERE HAVE DRAWN NATIONAL CONCERN TO THE ISSUES FACING BLACK COMMUNITIES.

>> I THINK THE OUTPOURING OF GRACE, FORGIVENESS IN SOUTH CAROLINA SHOWS THAT THE WHOLE AMERICAN FAMILY CARES ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN TROUBLED URBAN AREAS.

>> NOW THE SUPREME COURT'S HISTORIC DECISIONS.

LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT TIM O'BRIEN IS HERE.

>> BOB, WE HAD SOME VERY BIG ONES THIS WEEK INCLUDING THE PROVERBIAL BLOCKBUSTER ON FRIDAY, THE SUPREME COURT UPHOLDING SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.

ESSENTIALLY SAYING ALL STATES MUST ALLOW SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AND RECOGNIZE THOSE MARRIAGES PERFORMED IN OTHER STATES.

THE DECISION WAS WRITTEN BY JUSTICE ANTHONY KENNEDY, AND HE RELIES A LOT ON THE LIBERTY CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION WHICH SAYS THAT NO PERSON SHOULD BE DENIED LIBERTY WITHOUT DUE PROCESS OF LAW.

KENNEDY ESSENTIALLY SAYING THAT IF LIBERTY DOESN'T INCLUDE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHO YOUR LIFELONG PARTNER IS GOING TO BE, AND HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP RECOGNIZED AS A MARRIAGE, THEN WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

UH, IT'S A HUGE DECISION.

THIS DECISION IS FOR GAYS AND LESBIANS WHAT BROWN VERSUS BOARD OF EDUCATION WAS FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

IT WAS NOT UNANIMOUS.

CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS AND THREE OTHERS DISSENTED, ROBERTS SAYING, "LOOK, IF YOU FAVOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, GO AHEAD AND CELEBRATE THIS GREAT VICTORY, CELEBRATE THIS DECISION.

BUT DON'T CELEBRATE THE CONSTITUTION, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CONSTITUTION."

>> TIM, SUPPOSE, IMAGINE A CHURCH OR PASTOR OR JUST ANY PERSON OF FAITH WHO OBJECTS TO GAY MARRIAGE.

WHERE ARE THEY LEFT TO?

>> IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION.

THE COURT DID ADDRESS THAT IN THE OPINION.

IT SAYS YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OPPOSE IT.

PASTORS DON'T HAVE TO PERFORM SAME-SEX MARRIAGES.

CHURCHES DON'T.

THE DECISION IS DIRECTED AT THE STATE.

IT'S THE STATE THAT MUST RECOGNIZE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.

>> AND RECOGNIZE MEANS?

>> THEY MUST ALLOW IT AND THEY MUST RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THOSE MARRIAGES, SAME-SEX MARRIAGES PERFORMED IN OTHER STATES.

>> YEAH.

EARLIER THERE WAS ANOTHER BIG CASE, THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

>> OBAMACARE.

THE SUPREME COURT UPHELD THAT.

ANOTHER VERY CONTROVERSIAL RULING.

THAT LAW HAD A PROVISION THAT SAID ALL THE SUBSIDIES, OBAMACARE SUBSIDIES MUST BE FUNNELED THROUGH EXCHANGES BY THE STATE, AND MOST STATES DON'T HAVE THOSE EXCHANGES.

THERE WAS A REAL CHALLENGE THERE THAT THAT WOULD UNDERMINE, THE WHOLE LAW WOULD UNRAVEL.

AND THE SUPREME COURT SAID, "LOOKING AT THIS STATUTE IN ITS ENTIRETY, WELL THAT SPECIFIC LINE IS VERY CLEAR.

THE STATUTE IN ITS ENTIRETY HAS AMBIGUITIES LEFT AND RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO INTERPRET IT IN A WAY THAT WE THINK CONGRESS INTENDED.

AND CONGRESS INTENDED FOR THIS TO ALLOW THESE SUBSIDIES TO GO FORWARD."

>> YEAH.

AND QUICKLY, TIM, OTHER THINGS COMING ALONG?

>> THERE'S MORE TO COME, AN IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL CASE AND A MAJOR DEATH PENALTY CASE ON LETHAL INJECTIONS, ALL DUE ON MONDAY.

>> TIM O'BRIEN, MANY THANKS.

>> PLEASURE.

>> POPE FRANCIS MADE A BUSY TWO-DAY VISIT TO THE CITY OF TURIN IN NORTHERN ITALY THIS WEEK.

HE PRAYED BEFORE THE FAMED SHROUD OF TURIN, HELD BY SOME TO BE CHRIST'S BURIAL CLOTH.

HE ALSO CELEBRATED A MASS BEFORE AN A GATHERING OF AN ESTIMATED 100,000 PEOPLE.

ON THE FINAL DAY OF HIS TRIP HE BECAME THE FIRST POPE TO VISIT A WALDENSIAN CHURCH, AN EVANGELICAL GROUP THAT WAS EXCOMMUNICATED BY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE 12TH CENTURY.

HE APOLOGIZED FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH'S PAST PERSECUTION OF THE WALDENSIANS.

>> POPE FRANCIS'S ENCYCLICAL ON CLIMATE CHANGE, LAST WEEK, PROMPTED NEARLY A HUNDRED PROMINENT U.S. CATHOLIC AND EVANGELICAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO SIGN A LETTER OF SUPPORT.

THEY SAID ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO DEAL WITH MAN-MADE CLIMATE CHANGE.

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS, THE MORMONS, IS WELL-KNOWN FOR ITS VAST GENEALOGICAL ARCHIVES.

THIS WEEK THE CHURCH ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL HELP INDEX MORE THAN A MILLION HANDWRITTEN RECORDS OF FOUR MILLION FORMER SLAVES AND THEIR FAMILIES, SO THEY CAN BE SEARCHED ONLINE.

>> WE HAVE A STORY TODAY ABOUT PEOPLE WHO CALL THEMSELVES "POST-MORMONS" MANY OF THEM YOUNG PEOPLE -- WHO HAVE LEFT THE CHURCH.

ONE REASON, SOME SAY, IS THAT THEY NO LONGER BELIEVE IN THE ACCURACY OF SOME OF THE CHURCH HISTORY THEY LEARNED AS CHILDREN.

OVER THE PAST YEAR, CHURCH OFFICIALS HAVE COMMISSIONED STRAIGHTFORWARD ESSAYS ABOUT MANY OF THESE TEACHINGS AND POSTED THEM ON THE CHURCH'S WEBSITE.

BUT THE RESPONSES HAVE BEEN MIXED, AS DEBORAH POTTER REPORTS.

>> ON A SUNDAY MORNING IN SALT LAKE CITY, AS FAITHFUL MORMONS ARRIVE FOR CHURCH SERVICES, SELF-DESCRIBED POST-MORMONS CROWD A LOCAL COFFEE SHOP.

>> I STILL GOT MOST OF MY FAMILY IN THE CHURCH.

>> BORN AND RAISED IN THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS, THESE MEN AND WOMEN ARE AMONG TENS OF THOUSANDS WHO HAVE TURNED AWAY FROM MORMONISM AND ARE LEARNING TO NAVIGATE A SOMETIMES CONFUSING NEW WORLD.

>> WHEN YOU GO OUT OF THE CHURCH AND TRY TO HAVE ADULT RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE, IT'S JUST SO INTERESTING BECAUSE ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'RE JUST KIND OF A MORON.

RIGHT?

AND STUPID THINGS, LIKE ORDERING COFFEE, IT TOOK ME THE LONGEST TIME, I JUST STARED AT THE COFFEE BOARD AND THEN I FELT STUPID, I DIDN'T WANT TO ASK THE BARISTA, WHAT IS COFFEE?

>> BECAUSE MORMONS ARE BANNED FROM DRINKING COFFEE AND TEA, THE GROUP'S CHOICE OF A WEEKLY MEETING PLACE MARKS A CLEAR BREAK WITH THEIR PAST.

BUT IT'S MORE THAN JUST SYMBOLIC.

>> IT ALSO MAKES IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEFT, BUT THEIR FAMILIES DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'VE LEFT.

THEY KNOW THAT IF THEY GO TO A COFFEE SHOP, IT'S VERY UNLIKELY THAT WORD IS GOING TO GET BACK TO THEIR FAMILY.

>> LIKE MANY YOUNG MORMON MEN, EDWARD HOEFER SERVED HIS CHURCH AS A MISSIONARY.

BUT IN HIS LATE 20S, HE STARTED TO DOUBT WHAT HE'D BEEN TAUGHT.

>> EVENTUALLY I DECIDED, OKAY, WELL, LET'S EXAMINE SOME OF THESE DOUBTS.

LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS OBJECTIVELY.

AND AS SOON AS I STARTED DOING THAT, THINGS UNRAVELED VERY QUICKLY AND I REALIZED I COULDN'T BELIEVE ANYMORE.

>> THE CHURCH TEACHES NOT ONLY THE BIBLE, LIKE OTHER CHRISTIAN FAITHS, BUT ALSO ITS OWN SCRIPTURES.

THE BOOK OF MORMON, IT SAYS, WAS REVEALED TO THE CHURCH'S FOUNDER JOSEPH SMITH WHEN GOD AND JESUS CHRIST APPEARED TO HIM IN UPSTATE NEW YORK IN 1820.

ACCORDING TO MORMON TEACHING, SMITH ALSO TRANSLATED ANOTHER TEXT, THE BOOK OF ABRAHAM, FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHET'S OWN WRITINGS ON AN EGYPTIAN PAPYRUS.

BUT SCHOLARS SAY THE SURVIVING FRAGMENTS ARE FROM AN ORDINARY FUNERARY SCROLL, AND IN THE AGE OF GOOGLE, THAT INFORMATION IS EASY FOR QUESTIONING MORMONS TO FIND.

>> IT WAS AN OLD PAPYRUS, NOT NEARLY AS OLD AS THEY SAID IT WAS, IT WASN'T WRITTEN BY ABRAHAM, IT WASN'T EVEN ABOUT ABRAHAM.

AND SO THAT SORT OF KNOCKED ME UPSIDE THE HEAD.

I REALLY HAD TO REEVALUATE EVERYTHING AT THAT POINT.

IT WAS SHOCKING TO ME BUT I DID.

>> ANOTHER SHOCK, FOR MANY MORMONS, WAS LEARNING THAT JOSEPH SMITH TOOK AS MANY AS 40 WIVES, SOME OF WHOM WERE MARRIED TO OTHER MEN AND DIDN'T ALWAYS TELL HIS FIRST WIFE, EMMA.

ONE OF THE NEW WIVES WAS JUST 14.

>> JOSEPH SMITH BEING A POLYGAMIST, BACK IN THE 1980'S WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER IN THE CHURCH THAT WOULD HAVE TOTALLY GOTTEN YOU KICKED OUT.

THAT WAS TOTAL HERESY.

>> YOU FEEL THIS SENSE OF BETRAYAL.

HOW COULD THE CHURCH NOT HAVE TOLD ME THIS WHEN SO MANY OF THESE FACTS AND DETAILS WERE OUT THERE?

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S HISTORIANS WHO HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT THIS NOW FOR YEARS.

THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF NEW FACTUAL INFORMATION THAT'S COME OUT.

>> ALISON UDALL MARRIED A RETURNED MISSIONARY IN A MORMON TEMPLE AND RAISED FOUR CHILDREN IN THE FAITH BEFORE QUITTING THE CHURCH IN HER MID 40S.

>> EVEN THOUGH I KNOW IT WAS RIGHT AND I WAS READY, IT WAS ALSO VERY EMOTIONAL GRIEVING KIND OF PROCESS FOR ME TO LET GO AND REALIZE IT WAS TIME.

>> HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?

>> I FEEL GREAT.

I FEEL A HUGE SENSE OF RELIEF.

>> IT'S HARD TO KNOW HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE LEFT.

THE CHURCH ONLY TRACKS THOSE WHO FORMALLY WITHDRAW AND OFFICIALS SAY THAT NUMBER IS SHRINKING.

BUT BY SOME ESTIMATES, FIFTY THOUSAND MEMBERS OR MORE DROP OUT EVERY YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES ALONE.

>> THERE IS A SENSE THAT MOST PEOPLE KNOW SOMEONE IN THEIR OWN FAMILIES OR THEIR CONGREGATIONS WHO ARE YOU KNOW, EITHER LEAVING THE FAITH OR HAVING SERIOUS QUESTIONS OR DOUBTS OR GOING THROUGH A FAITH CRISIS.

>> CHURCH LEADERS INSIST THERE'S NO CRISIS IN THE FAITH BUT THEY ARE TAKING THE DEFECTIONS SERIOUSLY.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE CHURCH ITSELF HAS GONE PUBLIC WITH SOME OF ITS MOST CONTENTIOUS HISTORY QUIETLY POSTING A SERIES OF ESSAYS ON ITS OFFICIAL WEBSITE.

>> USERS HAVE TO LOOK OR SEARCH FOR THE ESSAYS THEY'RE LISTED AS "GOSPEL TOPICS."

ONE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT EARLY MORMONS WERE NOT JUST VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE BUT ALSO PERPETRATORS, WHICH THE CHURCH INITIALLY DENIED.

OTHER ESSAYS EXPLAIN HOW CHURCH PRACTICE HAS CHANGED, FROM PROMOTING POLYGAMY TO FORBIDDING IT, AND FROM BANNING BLACKS IN THE PRIESTHOOD TO ACCEPTING THEM IN 1978.

>> SCHOLAR AND FAITHFUL MORMON PAUL REEVE HELPED WRITE THE ESSAY ON RACE.

>> THESE ARE PRETTY DRAMATIC CHANGES FOR MORMONISM, BUT MORMONS MAKE SENSE OF THEM ALL WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF CONTINUING REVELATION.

THAT THE LEADER OF MORMONISM CAN RECEIVE REVELATION FROM GOD AND CHANGE THINGS FROM HOW THEY'VE BEEN DONE IN THE PAST.

>> THE WAY I LOOK AT IT IS HISTORY IS HISTORY AND HISTORY IS MADE UP OF ORDINARY PEOPLE.

AND THE HISTORY OF THIS CHURCH IS MADE UP OF ORDINARY PEOPLE WHO DID EXTRAORDINARY THINGS BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH IN GOD AND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO FOLLOW HIM.

>> ELDER MARCUS NASH, A TOP LEADER OF THE CHURCH, HAS SHEPHERDED THE ESSAY PROJECT, WHICH HE SAYS HAS DRAWN HIM CLOSER TO GOD.

>> WE WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY OF THIS CHURCH.

THAT'S WHY THESE ESSAYS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN.

AND AS THEY ARE WRITTEN IN A TRANSPARENT AND HONEST WAY, I'M CONFIDENT PEOPLE WILL HAVE THE SAME KIND OF EXPERIENCE I'VE HAD, THAT YOUR FAITH WILL DEEPEN AND YOU'LL GROW IN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW GOD WORKS WITH ORDINARY PEOPLE.

>> FOR LAURA HARRIS HALES, LEARNING HISTORY SHE'D NEVER BEEN TAUGHT LED HER TO CO-WRITE A BOOK ON JOSEPH SMITH'S POLYGAMY.

BUT MOST BELIEVING MORMONS DON'T DIG THAT DEEPLY.

>> I THINK IT'S NECESSARY TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT THERE TO, WE CALL IT, INOCULATE PEOPLE SO THAT THEY WON'T BE SHOCKED WHEN THEY HEAR THESE THINGS.

IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO PROCESS THIS INFORMATION.

IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT INFORMATION.

I THINK THE DIFFERENCE FOR ME IS THAT MY TESTIMONY WAS STRONG AND IT WAS SOMETHING I WANTED TO HOLD ON TO.

>> THE AVERAGE LATTER DAY SAINT GETS HIS OR HER VERSION OF LDS HISTORY FROM SUNDAY SCHOOL.

THAT'S JUST THE BOTTOM-LINE FACT.

AND UNTIL THIS INFORMATION YOU KNOW TRICKLES DOWN TO THE SUNDAY SCHOOL LEVEL, THE SEMINARY LEVEL, THE INSTITUTE LEVEL, THE BYU RELIGION DEPARTMENT LEVEL, THEN IT'S NOT GOING TO REACH THE AVERAGE LATTER DAY SAINT IN THE PEW.

>> CHURCH OFFICIALS SAY THEY'RE WORKING ON SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT THE ESSAYS.

THEY'RE ALSO PREPARING ONE MORE ON THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN MORMONISM, BUT NO ONE EXPECTS IT TO MARK THE END OF THE ALL-MALE PRIESTHOOD.

SOME POST-MORMONS WELCOME THE CHURCH'S EFFORT TO EXPLAIN ITSELF.

OTHERS DISMISS IT AS DAMAGE CONTROL THAT COULD BACKFIRE.

>> WHEN YOU'RE DOUBTING AND QUESTIONING ABOUT ONE THING AND THEN YOU GO TO THESE ESSAYS FOR HELP, THEY TALK ABOUT A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER ISSUES THAT YOU HAVEN'T EVEN HEARD ABOUT.

SOME PEOPLE WILL ACCEPT THE ESSAYS AND WILL LOOK AT THEM AND BE COMFORTED, BUT I THINK OTHER PEOPLE WILL JUST IT'LL JUST ACCELERATE THEIR PROCESS.

>> LEAVING IS NOT EASY, THOUGH.

BEING MORMON IS A WAY OF LIFE AS MUCH AS IT IS A RELIGION AND A CENTRAL TENET OF THE FAITH IS THAT FAMILIES ARE ETERNAL.

MANY WHO WALK AWAY FEEL CUT OFF FROM RELATIVES WHO STAY.

>> THERE'S A REAL SENSE OF DEMONIZATION OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT IN THE CHURCH, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO LEAVE THE CHURCH.

>> THE MESSAGES THAT I'M HEARING FROM SOME OF THE LEADERSHIP ARE THAT YOU KNOW YOU SHOULD LOVE THEM, NOT ASSUME THAT THIS IS SIMPLY A RESULT OF THEIR SINNING AND THE QUESTIONS ARE YOU KNOW AN ASPECT OR AN OUTGROWTH OF DT U$AT, BUT THEY ARE JUST HAVING LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS.

IF PEOPLE AT THE CONGREGATION LEVEL CAN ADOPT THOSE KIND OF ATTITUDES, I THINK IT WILL MAKE THESE KIND OF ISSUES AT LEAST MORE MANAGEABLE.

>> FOR NOW, MANY POST-MORMONS HAVE FORMED A NEW COMMUNITY WITH OTHERS WHO HAVE LEFT THE CHURCH BEHIND.

ACCORDING TO A NATIONAL SURVEY, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO HAVE WALKED AWAY HAVE NOT FOUND ANOTHER FAITH.

FOR "RELIGION AND ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY," I'M DEBORAH POTTER IN SALT LAKE CITY.

AS THE US DEBATES SENDING MORE TROOPS TO IRAQ TO FIGHT ISIS, MORE THAN TWO-AND-A-HALF MILLION SERVICE MEMBERS HAVE ALREADY RETURNED FROM TOURS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN THE LARGEST NUMBER SINCE THE VIETNAM WAR.

MANY OF THEM SUFFER FROM WHAT IS KNOWN AS MORAL WOUNDS, A COMPLEX SET OF EMOTIONAL INJURIES THAT ARE OFTEN SEPARATE FROM POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS.

KIM LAWTON HAS MORE ON THOSE MORAL INJURIES, AND HOW THE NATION CAN HELP SERVICE MEMBERS HEAL.

>> FORMER MARINE EDUARDO "LALO" PANYAGUA SERVED IN IRAQ AND THE 2010 TROOP SURGE IN AFGHANISTAN.

COMING HOME AFTER COMBAT WAS A TOUGH TRANSITION BOTH FOR HIM, AND FOR HIS WIFE, DONNA HERNANDEZ.

LALO HAD SUFFERED PHYSICAL INJURIES, BUT HE CAME TO REALIZE THERE WERE OTHER, LESS TANGIBLE WOUNDS AS WELL.

>> AS A MARINE, YOU ARE TAUGHT TO BE TOUGH AND NOT LET SMALL THINGS BOTHER YOU.

TO ME, ALL THE MENTAL ISSUES, THE NIGHTMARES, THE CONFUSION, IT WAS SMALL BECAUSE I WASN'T IN DANGER.

I WASN'T BEING ATTACKED OR IN AN AMBUSH, SO IT WASN'T A PROBLEM FOR ME.

HOWEVER, IT WAS AFFECTING MY LIFE LITTLE BY LITTLE, AND IT WAS AFFECTING MY LOVED ONES AS WELL.

>> LALO WAS EVENTUALLY DIAGNOSED WITH SEVERE POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS.

BUT SOMETHING ELSE WAS ALSO IDENTIFIED -- MORAL INJURY.

>> MORAL INJURIES HAVE TO DO WITH FEELINGS OF GUILT, SHAME, ANGER TOWARD OTHERS, THAT'S MORAL.

LIKE RESENTMENT OR INDIGNATION.

AND THEY'RE INCURRED FROM ALL SORTS OF THINGS, BUT IN WAR, THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF OCCASIONS FOR THESE WOUNDS TO FESTER.

>> NANCY SHERMAN IS PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY AND ONE OF THE NATION'S TOP SCHOLARS IN THE FIELD OF MORAL INJURY.

IN HER NEW BOOK, AFTERWAR, SHERMAN EXPLORES HOW VETERANS LIKE LALO ARE SUFFERING FROM MORAL INJURIES.

SHE SAYS THE ENTIRE NATION HAS A MORAL DUTY TO HELP THEM HEAL.

>> I THINK WE HAVE A SACRED OBLIGATION TO OUR CITIZEN SOLDIERS.

THIS IS NOT A MILITIA.

THIS IS US.

IT'S MORALLY URGENT JUST AS WE SEND CITIZEN SOLDIERS TO WAR THAT WE BRING CITIZEN SOLDIERS HOME.

AND HOMECOMINGS ARE REALLY ABOUT COMING HOME.

FIGURING OUT WAYS TO HELP TROOPS INTEGRATE AND TRANSITION.

>> LALO AND DONNA WERE HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS.

THEY GREW UP IN SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES AND SAY THEY WANTED TO FIND A WAY OUT OF THE BARRIOS.

FOR LALO, THAT WAS THE MARINES.

>> IT JUST DREW ME, THE BROTHERHOOD, THE CAMARADERIE, DOING SOMETHING GREAT.

>> HIS PARENTS GAVE HIM PERMISSION TO ENLIST WHEN HE WAS 17 AND A HALF.

IN 2008, AT THE AGE OF 19, LALO WAS DEPLOYED TO IRAQ.

WHEN HE RETURNED, DONNA WAS AT GEORGETOWN, STUDYING FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

BEFORE LALO'S NEXT TOUR, THE TWO SECRETLY ELOPED.

DONNA WAS 18, LALO 20.

>> WE JUST ELOPED AND THE NEXT DAY I HAD TO WRITE AN ESSAY AND HE HAD TO GO BACK TO CAMP LEJEUNE AND A COUPLE WEEKS LATER HE DEPLOYED.

>> ON HIS 21ST BIRTHDAY, LALO FOUND HIMSELF ON A BATTLEFIELD IN AFGHANISTAN, IN CHARGE OF A UNIT OF 35 MARINES, OR AS HE CALLED THEM, "HIS BABY BIRDS."

THE FIGHTING WAS MORE INTENSE THAN WHAT HE HAD FACED IN IRAQ.

THREE OF HIS BABY BIRDS WERE KILLED, TWO OF THEM IN IED EXPLOSIONS.

>> YOU NEVER LEAVE A FALLEN COMRADE BEHIND.

YOU BRING YOUR BUDDIES HOME.

IF YOU'RE A PHILOSOPHER, YOU SAY THESE ARE ASPIRATIONS.

BUT IF YOU'RE A YOUNG PERSON WHO HAS THAT RESPONSIBILITY ON THEIR SHOULDERS, THAT'S NOT HOW YOU VIEW IT.

YOU VIEW IT AS PERFECT DUTY.

ALL OR NOTHING.

>> AFTER HE RETURNED FROM AFGHANISTAN, LALO SAYS THE MEMORIES BEGAN CATCHING UP WITH HIM.

>> AT FIRST I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

I WAS DRINKING EVERY WEEK, CONSTANTLY, TRYING TO JUST RELAX, TRYING TO BE ALONE.

I WASN'T AS SOCIAL AS I USED TO BE.

AS MY WIFE WOULD SAY I WAS A '‘‘SOCIAL BUTTERFLY.'

HOWEVER, I WENT VERY INTERNAL.

I'D STAY, MY HOUSE WAS MY FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE.

>> HE'D GO MONTHS WITHOUT SMILING.

HE WOULDN'T GO OUTSIDE.

WE COULDN'T GO WATCH A MOVIE BECAUSE HE'D GET ANXIETY ATTACKS BECAUSE OF THE DARK ROOM, BECAUSE OF ALL THE PEOPLE SURROUNDING HIM.

IT REALLY HURT BECAUSE IT FELT LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE DIDN'T KNOW THE PERSON I KNEW.

>> THEN ONE NIGHT, THINGS REACHED A CRISIS POINT.

>> I TOSSED HER HALFWAY ACROSS THE ROOM IN A NIGHTMARE IN SLEEP AND WHEN I WOKE UP MY WIFE WAS CRYING ON THE FLOOR.

I'M ASKING HER WHAT'S GOING ON AND SHE TELLS ME "YOU DON'T REMEMBER?"

AND I'M LIKE, "NO."

SHE WAS LIKE "I TRIED TO HUG YOU AND YOU GRABBED ME AND YOU SENT ME FLYING HALFWAY ACROSS THE ROOM.

I'VE BEEN ON THE FLOOR FOR THE LAST FOUR HOURS CRYING."

AND THAT'S WHEN IT WAS A WAKE-UP CALL FOR ME.

>> LALO WENT TO SEE A CHAPLAIN WHO ASKED IF HE HAD BEEN TO A THERAPIST.

>> I WAS LIKE "NO, NEVER.

WHY?

I'M OKAY.

I DON'T NEED TO GO SEE THE WIZARD."

THAT'S WHAT WE CALLED THE THERAPIST.

THERE WAS I BELIEVE A STIGMA OF IF YOU AREN'T RIGHT IN THE HEAD, YOU HAVE TO GO SEE THE WIZARD.

AND IF YOU HAVE TO GO SEE THE WIZARD, YOUR MILITARY CAREER'S OVER.

>> AFTER LOTS OF CONVINCING FROM DONNA, LALO BEGAN INTENSE THERAPY.

HE GOT MAX, A SERVICE DOG SPECIALLY-TRAINED TO HELP VETS WITH POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS SYMPTOMS.

AND THROUGH DONNA'S GEORGETOWN CONNECTIONS, HE MET NANCY SHERMAN, WHO HELPED HIM SEE THAT HE HAD MORAL WOUNDS.

>> YOU HOLD YOURSELF STRICTLY LIABLE THOUGH YOU'RE NOT REALLY CULPABLE.

AND YOU BEAT YOURSELF UP.

AND YOU FEEL THE SHAME OF FALLING SHORT OF YOUR LOFTY MILITARY IDEALS.

>> TALKING TO NANCY AND HER USING THAT "MORAL INJURY" PHRASE, IT REALLY MAKES ME THINK.

I'M LIKE THERE ARE THINGS THAT HAPPENED, THINGS THAT I FEEL GUILTY ABOUT THAT AFFECT ME.

IT'S NOT JUST THE FLASHBACKS THAT GIVE ME NIGHTMARES, BUT THE THOUGHTS OF FEELING GUILTY FOR SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED OR FOR BEING ALIVE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY PAINFUL.

IT HURTS.

>> GIVING THINGS A NAME LEGITIMIZES WHAT YOU'RE FEELING AND IT ALSO HELPS YOU TO KIND OF EXPLORE -- "OH I'M NOT JUST THINKING ABOUT THESE EXPLOSIONS OR TORN BODY PARTS.

I'M ACTUALLY THINKING ABOUT MY RESPONSIBILITY OR SOMEONE ELSE'S RESPONSIBILITY."

WAR IS ALL ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY AND THAT'S THE MORAL PIECE.

>> SHERMAN SAYS ACKNOWLEDGING THOSE FEELINGS AS MORAL WOUNDS IS THE FIRST STEP IN A VERY LONG HEALING PROCESS.

>>YOU NEVER FULLY LOSE THE HURT, THE FEEL, BUT YOU OWN IT IN A WAY.

AND YOU DON'T, IN THE BEST-CASE SCENARIO, YOU DON'T CONTINUE TO BE TRAUMATIZED BY IT.

>> SHE SAYS ANOTHER IMPORTANT STEP IS FOR SERVICE MEMBERS TO REGAIN HOPE, IN THEMSELVES AND OTHERS.

>> TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A SENSE OF GOODNESS ABOUT YOURSELF, EMPATHIZE WITH THE GOOD PART OF YOU, THAT'S BIG.

THAT'S HUGE.

AND SO THOSE AND IT OFTEN TAKES PLACE NOT JUST WITH YOURSELF, BUT INTERACTIVELY WITH OTHER PEOPLE, INTERPERSONALLY.

>> THIS CAN BEGIN IN THE FAMILY.

SHERMAN CALLS DONNA "LALO'S ANGEL."

>> SHE HAS HOPE IN HIM.

SHE HAS TRUST IN HIM.

SHE KNOWS WHAT HE WAS LIKE BEFORE HE WAS RATTLED BY WAR AND SHE SLOWLY REMINDS HIM OF WHAT HE WAS LIKE SO HE CAN HOLD ONTO THAT FAINT IMAGE OF HIS GOOD SELF.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE SAD PARTS OF THE STORY IS THAT A LOT OF THE TIME WHEN THE SERVICE MEMBERS ARE GOING THROUGH THESE SITUATIONS THEIR FAMILIES ALSO GOING THROUGH THE SITUATION.

>> SHERMAN BELIEVES ALL AMERICANS CAN PLAY A ROLE IN RECOVERY BY WORKING TOWARD BREAKING DOWN MILITARY-CIVILIAN BARRIERS AND BUILDING ONGOING RELATIONSHIPS.

>> SOMETIMES THE "THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE" JUST ISN'T ENOUGH OR IT DOESN'T GO BEYOND THAT.

BE WILLING TO SLOWLY GET TO KNOW SERVICE MEMBERS.

>> NOW HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE MARINES, THIS YEAR, LALO ATTENDED GATEWAY COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN NEW HAVEN, WHERE THERE IS A SPECIAL "VETERANS OASIS" CENTER WHICH TRIES TO HELP RETURNING SERVICE MEMBERS TRANSITION TO A SCHOOL SETTING.

IT'S RUN BY FORMER MARINE RICK PALINKO.

>> IT GIVES THEM A SENSE OF BELONGING, A SENSE OF COMFORT AND SECURITY.

>> DONNA HAS JUST EARNED HER MASTER'S DEGREE FROM YALE'S JACKSON INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL AFFAIRS AND IS PREPARING TO TAKE ON AN INTERNATIONAL POSTING WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

>> NOW IT'S KIND OF MY CHANCE TO SERVE THE U.S. NOW THAT HE'S BEEN DONE WITH HIS SERVICE.

>> WHEREVER THEY END UP, LALO HOPES TO EARN HIS BACHELOR'S DEGREE.

>> I WANT TO REINTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY.

I WANT TO BE SOMEBODY THAT CAN GIVE BACK TO THIS GREAT NATION.

>> AND TOGETHER, THEY WANT TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS AMONG OTHER VETS AND THEIR FAMILIES ABOUT THE REALITIES OF MORAL INJURY AND THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO DEAL WITH IT.

>> YOU NEVER REALLY FULLY RECOVER, YOU NEVER FULLY HEAL, BUT EVERYDAY I'M HEALING MORE AND MORE, AND HAVING HER BY MY SIDE, HAVING HER KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND BEING SO SUPPORTIVE, IT'S BEEN GREAT TOWARD THE HEALING FACTOR.

>> I'M KIM LAWTON IN NEW HAVEN.

>> FINALLY, ON OUR CALENDAR THIS WEEK, MANY MUSLIMS AROUND THE WORLD CONTINUE THEIR MONTH-LONG OBSERVANCE OF RAMADAN BY FASTING FROM DAWN TO SUNSET.

AT THE WHITE HOUSE, PRESIDENT OBAMA HOSTED MUSLIM LEADERS FOR AN IFTAR DINNER, THE EVENING MEAL THAT BREAKS THE DAILY RAMADAN FAST.

>> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR NOW.

I'M BOB ABERNETHY.

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AS WE LEAVE YOU, SCENES FROM THE FUNERAL SERVICE FOR REVEREND CLEMENTA PINCKNEY IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

♪♪ THAT IS WHY WE'RE YOUR RETIREMENT COMPANY.