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US | Young Girls Were Sexually Abused by a Church Member. They Were Told to Forgive and Forget. (www.propublica.org)
submitted 11 months ago by to c/globalnews@lemmy.zip
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Warning: This story contains graphic descriptions of sexual abuse.

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.

Archived version: https://archive.is/newest/https://www.propublica.org/article/sexual-abuse-old-apostolic-lutheran-church-minnesota

Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.

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484
Young Girls Were Sexually Abused by a Church Member. They Were Told to Forgive and Forget. (www.propublica.org)
submitted 11 months ago by to c/news@lemmy.world
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  • 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.
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Young Girls Were Sexually Abused by a Church Member. They Were Told to Forgive and Forget. (www.propublica.org)
submitted 11 months ago by to c/Independent_Media@lemmy.today
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Content warning.

spoiler

Over the course of about 20 years in two states, Massie had, according to court documents and by his own admission, sexually abused children within the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church, or OALC, community. He touched girls under blankets when their parents were present, in the backseat of a car with other passengers — even in the pews at church. His abuse was such an open secret among the tight-knit congregation that mothers warned their daughters to stay away from him.

Some former victims, as adults, confronted preachers, including Bruckelmyer, about what Massie had done to them. Church leaders told Massie to stay away from the congregation’s children, and they sent him to a therapist who specialized in sex offender treatment.

spoiler