Children in Old Apostolic Lutheran Church Allegedly Abused by Family Members, Then Abused Others

Children in this church were sexually abused. Then they began abusing other kids. Some continued as adults.

The story of Lynn and Katherine, two sisters who grew up in a large family that moved frequently between Washington state and South Dakota, reveals a disturbing pattern of abuse that began in childhood and continued into adulthood. Lynn recalled being in diapers when the abuse started, with two older sisters witnessing her brother touch her. The sisters reported the incident to their mother, but the abuse persisted until the brother was 16 and Lynn was 10. Years later, the sisters explained their brother’s behavior by claiming he had been sexually abused by a neighbor.

Katherine, the family’s second-youngest child, said she was about 2 when she began experiencing abuse from a different brother. He, too, had been abused by an older cousin, according to Katherine’s account. The cycle of abuse continued as the sisters themselves began to repeat the pattern. Lynn, now 55, said she took her younger brother behind a shed at age 10 and pulled his pants down. She has blocked out the memory of what followed but remembers him running away. Katherine, now 43, recalls abusing a nephew when she was 5, though she cannot recall the details of the incident.

The sisters left the church 20 years ago, seeking to escape the community that had shaped their family for generations. They have pursued therapy to address the trauma they endured and have chosen to raise their children outside the faith, hoping to break the cycle of abuse. “I can’t have my girls thinking that this kind of behavior is OK,” Lynn said, reflecting on the need to protect future generations from repeating the same mistakes.

ProPublica and the Minnesota Star Tribune have investigated child sexual abuse in the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church over the past year. Reporters interviewed 20 former members who claimed they were sexually abused, along with parents of child victims, and examined police and court records. These accounts collectively describe a culture where abuse was normalized and often ignored or excused.

The church, which has a long history in the United States, has faced scrutiny over its handling of abuse cases. Many victims and their families have reported a lack of accountability and a failure to protect children within the community. The pattern of abuse, where perpetrators often became abusers themselves, raises serious concerns about the church’s governance and its response to reports of misconduct.

The case of Lynn and Katherine highlights the need for transparency, accountability, and a commitment to protecting minors. As Proverbs 31:8-9 reminds us, we are called to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. The church must take responsibility for its role in enabling such cycles of harm and work to restore trust through meaningful reform and care for victims.

Source: Read the original report