Criminal Justice

Forgive and Forget

How a Church Enabled Child Sex Abusers

Instead of reporting child sexual abuse allegations to police, the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church encouraged victims to forgive their abusers and forget the abuse.

Impact of Our Reporting

Lawmaker Calls for Stronger Mandatory Reporting Rules Following Our Investigation Into Church Abuse Case

by Andy Mannix, Minnesota Star Tribune, and Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, photography by Leila Navidi, Minnesota Star Tribune

December 23, 2025, 5:30 am EST

4 stories published since 2025

What a Recorded Interview Between Police and Preachers Reveals About How a Minnesota Church Handled Sexual Abuse

by Jessica Lussenhop

December 5, 2025, 5:30 am EST
5 Takeaways From Our Investigation Into How Leaders of a Minnesota Church Community Enabled a Child Abuser

by Jessica Lussenhop, ProPublica, and Andy Mannix, Minnesota Star Tribune

November 23, 2025, 6:00 am EST
Young Girls Were Sexually Abused by a Church Member. They Were Told to Forgive and Forget.

by Jessica Lussenhop, ProPublica, and Andy Mannix, Minnesota Star Tribune, photography by Leila Navidi, Minnesota Star Tribune

November 20, 2025, 6:00 am EST