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MineralMan

(150,392 posts) Sun Nov 23, 2025, 10:25 AM Nov 23

Duluth, MN Church Shaken by Long-Time Child Sexual Abuse Story [View all]

This morning's Minneapolis Star Tribune had a four-full-page story about a horrific child abuse case that took place in an Old Apostolic Lutheran Church in Duluth, MN. The most shocking part of the story is that the perpetrator of the abuse had been doing it for years, with the church and its congregation forgiving him again and again because "Jesus said to forgive."

A lot of investigative reporting went into the story, which, as usual, is hidden from public view due to the story being behind a paywall. ProPublica, however, did a lengthy report on the story. A link to it is below:

https://www.propublica.org/article/sexual-abuse-old-apostolic-lutheran-church-minnesota

A warning: This story is beyond shocking and might trigger some people who read it. So, get the story if you are able to read it without an excess of distress.

35 replies

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Duluth, MN Church Shaken by Long-Time Child Sexual Abuse Story [View all] MineralMan Nov 23 OP

Past the paywall UpInArms Nov 23 #1

It was in today's Sunday paper. MineralMan Nov 23 #3

I understand UpInArms Nov 23 #5

The ProPublica story and the big four-page story in the Strib are the same. WhiskeyGrinder Nov 23 #4

Yes. One, though, is behind a paywall. MineralMan Nov 23 #6

ProPublica often collaborates with local news sources to help expand coverage, and that's what they did here. WhiskeyGrinder Nov 23 #7

Thanks for that information. MineralMan Nov 23 #8

Kick dalton99a Nov 23 #2

Just another fucking cult. flvegan Nov 23 #9

Pretty much. MineralMan Nov 23 #10

Stories like this come nearly daily. News of the Cults. NotHardly Nov 23 #11

Yes. They're rare, though, in major metro area news outlets. MineralMan Nov 23 #12

Just disgusting, Old Crank Nov 23 #13

I don't know the numbers, frankly. MineralMan Nov 23 #15

Pedo's are ForgedCrank Nov 23 #26

religion is where the REAL child grooming is Skittles Nov 23 #29

This story reminds me of the huge expose MPR did on the systemic abuse going on in Grand Marais awhile back. WhiskeyGrinder Nov 23 #14

Yes. Such stories are far from being rare, I'm afraid. MineralMan Nov 23 #16

Im glad the vitims have a good lawyer, sue that sick church out of existence BlueWaveNeverEnd Nov 23 #17

A church full of sickos BlueWaveNeverEnd Nov 23 #18

Thank goodness for the victims that came forward and Sgt. Adam Kleffman. chowder66 Nov 23 #19

Apparently, that church thinks Jesus said, "Suffer, little children..." MineralMan Nov 23 #20

Thank you for quoting that. I wanted to scream in rage when it was posted niyad Nov 23 #21

Yeah, that's how it hit me too. The main preacher in the interview w/ investigators strikes me as chowder66 Nov 23 #23

May all involved receive everything they deserve. niyad Nov 23 #22

This Church is Duluth Township, Far Northeastern Edge of St. Louis County. waterwatcher123 Nov 23 #24

They own multiple construction businesses, both residential and commercial, as well as all sorts of shell companies/ WhiskeyGrinder Nov 23 #25

Your are right about the direction (my mistake). waterwatcher123 Nov 23 #28

The companies change regularly as they declare bankruptcy and then start up again with difference names. WhiskeyGrinder Nov 23 #30

Thanks - I will have to check the Secretary of State's site to see if this company is legally incorporated/dissolved. waterwatcher123 Nov 23 #34

for what? WhiskeyGrinder Nov 23 #35

Evil LoisB Nov 23 #27

Routine forgiveness becomes acceptance.... Norrrm Nov 23 #31

Western, authoritarian churches lend themselves multigraincracker Nov 23 #32

Churches. It's always churches. KentuckyWoman Nov 23 #33