Church Abuse: Old Apostolic Lutheran Church Case

ProPublica exposes the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church's handling of Clint Massie's sexual abuse case, Duluth. Leaders knew, victims told to forgive. Massie in prison. #ChurchAbuse

ProPublica and the Minnesota Celebrity Tribune located that some participants of the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church area in Duluth enabled Clint Massie, that pleaded guilty to sexually abusing young girls. Massie is presently in prison in Faribault, Minnesota.

John Hiivala, a representative for the Forest Park Old Apostolic Lutheran Church in Duluth, claimed that the church “has completely followed the legislation in the referenced case, and it’s a matter of legal document.”.

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We examined thousands of web pages of rap sheets, conducted more than a loads meetings with affirmed sufferers across the nation, assessed video and sound of cops meetings with Massie, sufferers and church leaders, and went to a solution at the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church in Duluth.

Church Leaders’ Knowledge of Abuse

Church leaders knew about the misuse: Leaders of Bruckelmyer’s church really did not report Massie to authorities though they recognized he ‘d sexually over used ladies for years and Bruckelmyer had been informed by police that reporting it was their obligation. It was a public knowledge in the parish: Mommies cautioned their children to stay away from Massie, victims stated. Church leaders likewise sent out Massie to a specialist that focused on sex offender therapy. In December 2024, Massie begged guilty to 4 felony matters of sexual conduct with a victim under the age of 13. In March, a judge sentenced him to 7 1/2 years behind bars.

ProPublica and the Minnesota Celebrity Tribune found that sufferers of misuse within an Old Apostolic Lutheran Church neighborhood in Duluth were informed to forgive and forget. Right here’s what to understand from our reporting.

Daryl Bruckelmyer, an OALC preacher, declined to comment or address a detailed list of concerns for this tale. Yet in a 2023 meeting with a St. Louis Area investigator, he recognized learning about Massie’s sexual abuse. He said as it was up to sufferers to report the crimes to authorities, a clear misreading of the law for mandated press reporters– educators, doctors and others who are required to report criminal activities versus kids.

Sufferers filed claims: Given that Massie’s sentencing, two of his supposed sufferers have actually submitted claims against him, their church in South Dakota and the OALC. They have actually retained the very same lawyer that represented several of the victims in the Jeffrey Epstein case.

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Missed chances to step in: District attorneys contended least one opportunity to step in yet wished educating church leaders about their tasks would certainly urge them to accept authorities. Our coverage located that church leaders did not report what they learned about Massie regardless of a state regulation requiring others and clergy to share the info with law enforcement. According to law enforcement notes, Bruckelmyer informed private investigators that they encourage misuse victims to visit police, however that they thought it was “on [targets] to do that.”.

Victims Told to Forgive

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Victims were told to forgive and forget: Church leaders held conferences where children were informed to forgive the male that sexually abused them and neglect the misuse. The meetings, defined by targets to the authorities and confirmed through our reporting, finished in one situation with a church leader allowing Massie to hug the victim.

The Old Apostolic Lutheran Church– which has no association with mainstream Lutheran denominations and is called the OALC– is an insular area with several old-world traditions. There is no official matter, however one academic research estimated 31,000 members worldwide since 2016, with the majority of in the United States.

In a letter composed from jail that was filed in court, Massie denied the misuse allegations in the legal actions. He did not react to speak with demands. The OALC, in a movement to dismiss both lawsuits, wrote that “while OALC-America is considerate and mindful to Plaintiff for the misuse Complainant affirms taken place by Massie, such empathy does not take away from the ordinary fact that this Court does not have personal jurisdiction over OALC-America.”.

Unpaid Preachers and Reporting Laws

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Church leaders understood concerning the misuse: Leaders of Bruckelmyer’s church didn’t report Massie to police though they understood he ‘d sexually mistreated women for years and Bruckelmyer had been told by authorities that reporting it was their duty. Church leaders additionally sent Massie to a therapist who specialized in sex wrongdoer treatment. Targets were told to fail to remember and forgive: Church leaders held conferences where youngsters were told to forgive the man who sexually abused them and forget the misuse. The meetings, defined by targets to the authorities and verified with our coverage, finished in one situation with a church leader allowing Massie to hug the sufferer. Our coverage found that church leaders did not report what they discovered concerning Massie regardless of a state legislation calling for clergy and others to share the information with legislation enforcement.

Kimberly Lowe, a lawyer and situation manager for the church, stated its preachers are overdue and therefore may not be lawfully needed to report sexual assault of kids. Asked if she thinks the preachers are mandated reporters under Minnesota law, Lowe would just say that the language of the statute is unclear.

A little however quickly expanding church: OALC is a conventional Christian revival activity that came to the U.S. with 19th-century inhabitants from Norway, Finland and Sweden. It is not connected with any type of mainstream Lutheran religions. The church is rapidly expanding, and its focus on huge households has created booms in areas like Washington state and Duluth.

Kyla Chamberlin affirmed that Clint Massie, a member of the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church, sexually abused her when she was a kid in South Dakota. Massie has actually rejected abusing her.
Leila Navidi/The Minnesota Celebrity Tribune