In Minnesota, leaders of an Old Apostolic Lutheran Church community enabled a child abuser by telling his victims that once the sins were “washed away in the blood of reconciliation,” they could never speak of them again.
  • Protecting an Abuser: Leaders of a Minnesota church didn’t report a parishioner to police though they knew he’d sexually abused girls for years and had been told reporting it was their duty.
  • Forgive and Forget: Church leaders held meetings where children were told to forgive the man who sexually abused them and forget the abuse. If they spoke of it, the sin would be theirs.
  • Missed Opportunities: Prosecutors had at least one opportunity to intervene but hoped educating church leaders about their duties would encourage them to cooperate with authorities.
  • PrincessLeiasCat@sh.itjust.works
    15·
    4 hours ago

    One of the priests at the Catholic school/church I went to was a family friend.

    Years later it came out that he had been abusing an altar boy who was just 1 grade behind me. I’d see this kid all the time.

    When my mom told me he had been arrested and why, she said “But don’t tell anyone” - because he was “a friend”.

    I said bullshit - I’m telling everybody I see.

    He’s in prison forever now but that poor kid…and that’s just the one I know about.