5 Takeaways From Our Investigation Into How Leaders of a Minnesota Church Community Enabled a Child Abuser – ProPublica

Report on Institutional Failures and Child Protection within the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church

Introduction

An investigation conducted by ProPublica and the Minnesota Star Tribune has uncovered significant institutional failures regarding child protection within the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church (OALC) community in northeastern Minnesota. The inquiry, centered on the case of Clint Massie who was convicted of sexually abusing young girls, reveals a systemic disregard for legal reporting obligations and the well-being of child victims. These findings have profound implications for several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning justice, gender equality, and health.

Key Investigation Findings

The investigation was based on criminal records, interviews with victims, police interview recordings, and direct observation of the OALC community. The primary findings are as follows:

1. Prior Knowledge of Abuse by Church Leadership: Evidence confirms that OALC leaders, including preacher Daryl Bruckelmyer, were aware of Clint Massie’s abuse of young girls for years prior to his conviction. Despite this knowledge and advisories from law enforcement about their legal duties, leaders failed to report the abuse to the authorities.
2. Systematic Suppression of Victim Voices: The church actively discouraged victims from speaking out. Reports indicate that meetings were held where child victims were instructed to forgive their abuser and forget the incidents, with the implication that speaking of the abuse would transfer the sin to them. This practice directly obstructs justice and exacerbates victim trauma.
3. Failure to Intervene and Misinterpretation of Law: Law enforcement authorities missed opportunities to intervene, opting instead to educate church leaders on their mandatory reporting duties. This approach proved ineffective. The church leadership maintained that reporting was the sole responsibility of the victims. Furthermore, legal counsel for the OALC has argued that its unpaid preachers may not qualify as mandated reporters under Minnesota law, a position that obfuscates their moral and potential legal responsibilities.
4. Civil Litigation Following Criminal Conviction: Subsequent to Massie’s sentencing to 7.5 years in prison, two alleged victims have initiated civil lawsuits against him and the OALC. The church has responded by filing a motion to dismiss the lawsuits, citing a lack of personal jurisdiction.

Institutional Context and Demographics

Church Structure and Beliefs

• The OALC is an insular, conservative Christian movement with origins in 19th-century Nordic settlement in the United States. It is not affiliated with mainstream Lutheran denominations.
• A core tenet of the church is forgiveness, which in this context has been used to silence victims of abuse.
• The church maintains a patriarchal leadership structure, with all positions of authority held exclusively by men.

Growth and Community

• The OALC is experiencing rapid growth, largely due to an emphasis on large families.
• Members are encouraged to live a modest life, abstaining from secular entertainment such as music, movies, and dancing.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The practices within the OALC directly contravene the principles of several key Sustainable Development Goals.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The church’s failure to protect children and report known abuse represents a severe institutional breakdown. This undermines SDG Target 16.2, which calls for an end to abuse, exploitation, and all forms of violence against children. By prioritizing institutional secrecy over child safety and obstructing justice, the OALC has failed in its duty to function as a just and strong institution.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

The institutional structure of the OALC, which excludes women from all leadership roles, is in direct opposition to SDG Target 5.5, aimed at ensuring women’s full participation and equal opportunities for leadership. The specific targeting of young girls for sexual abuse within this patriarchal context highlights a profound gender imbalance and vulnerability, underscoring the critical need to address gender-based violence as part of the broader goal of gender equality.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The psychological manipulation of child victims, by forcing them to “forgive and forget” and bear the burden of silence, inflicts severe and lasting trauma. This practice is detrimental to the mental health and well-being of survivors, directly conflicting with SDG Target 3.4, which seeks to promote mental health and well-being for all.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The article’s core focus is on criminal acts (child sexual abuse), the failure of an institution (the church) to protect children and report crimes, and the response of the justice system. It highlights a breakdown in the rule of law and access to justice for victims.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality: The article explicitly mentions the institutional structure of the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church (OALC), noting that “Only men hold leadership positions.” This points directly to issues of gender inequality and the exclusion of women from decision-making roles within a community institution.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: Child sexual abuse has profound and lasting negative impacts on the mental and physical well-being of victims. The article describes actions by church leaders, such as telling victims to “forgive and forget,” which actively undermine the mental health and recovery of those who were abused.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. The sexual abuse of children described in the article is a severe form of violence that this target aims to reduce.
   • Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children. This is the most directly relevant target, as the entire investigation centers on the sexual abuse of young girls within the church community.
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. The article details the church leaders’ failure to adhere to mandatory reporting laws, constituting a failure to uphold the rule of law. The victims’ subsequent lawsuits represent an attempt to gain access to justice.
2. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. The article’s statement that “Only men hold leadership positions” within the OALC directly contravenes this target by highlighting an institutional barrier to women’s participation in leadership.
3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. The trauma resulting from child abuse is a significant detriment to mental health. The church’s response, telling children “to forgive the man who sexually abused them and forget the abuse,” actively harms the well-being of victims and works against the promotion of mental health.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions):
   • Implied Indicator for Target 16.2: The number and prevalence of child sexual abuse cases within the community serve as a direct, albeit tragic, indicator. The article details multiple victims and a pattern of abuse by Clint Massie, suggesting a significant problem. The psychological aggression described, where victims were told “If they spoke of it, the sin would be theirs,” is a qualitative indicator related to Indicator 16.2.1 (Proportion of children who experienced psychological aggression).
   • Implied Indicator for Target 16.3: The article points to the failure of mandated reporters to inform law enforcement. The rate of reporting by clergy, as required by Minnesota state law, is a measurable indicator. The article states church leaders “didn’t report Massie to police though they knew he’d sexually abused girls for years,” indicating a 0% reporting rate from them. Furthermore, the filing of lawsuits by victims is an indicator of citizens using the justice system to seek redress.
2. For SDG 5 (Gender Equality):
   • Direct Indicator for Target 5.5: The article provides a clear, qualitative indicator related to Indicator 5.5.2 (Proportion of women in managerial positions). The statement that “Only men hold leadership positions” implies a 0% proportion of women in leadership roles within this specific institution, which can be measured and tracked.
3. For SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being):
   • Implied Indicator for Target 3.4: While the article does not provide statistics on mental health outcomes, it implies severe negative impacts. The institutional response of forcing victims to “forgive and forget” and hug their abuser is an indicator of practices that are detrimental to mental well-being. The victims’ need to file lawsuits to seek justice for the harm done is an indirect indicator of the profound and unaddressed psychological damage they suffered.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: propublica.org