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MineralMan

(150,385 posts) Sun Nov 23, 2025, 10:25 AM Sunday

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 Sunday OP

Past the paywall UpInArms Sunday #1

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

I understand UpInArms Sunday #5

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

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

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

Thanks for that information. MineralMan Sunday #8

Kick dalton99a Sunday #2

Just another fucking cult. flvegan Sunday #9

Pretty much. MineralMan Sunday #10

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

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

Just disgusting, Old Crank Sunday #13

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

Pedo's are ForgedCrank Sunday #26

religion is where the REAL child grooming is Skittles Sunday #29

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

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

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

A church full of sickos BlueWaveNeverEnd Sunday #18

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

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

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

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

May all involved receive everything they deserve. niyad Sunday #22

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

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

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

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

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

for what? WhiskeyGrinder Sunday #35

Evil LoisB Sunday #27

Routine forgiveness becomes acceptance.... Norrrm Sunday #31

Western, authoritarian churches lend themselves multigraincracker Sunday #32

Churches. It's always churches. KentuckyWoman Sunday #33