An investigation by ProPublica and the Minnesota Star Tribune has documented a pattern of child sexual abuse spanning multiple generations within the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church, a denomination with congregations across North America. The yearlong investigation found that in some cases, children who were victims of sexual misconduct went on to repeat the behavior as minors, creating an intergenerational cycle of abuse.

The news organizations interviewed 20 former members who said they were sexually abused, along with parents of child victims. Reporters also examined police and court records. In many interviews, a common theme emerged: Children raised in the faith who were victims of sexual misconduct went on to repeat the behavior with their peers.

Two sisters identified only as Lynn and Katherine told reporters they were victims of sexual abuse by family members when they were young children. Both women said they later engaged in similar behavior with other minors before leaving the church approximately 20 years ago. The women said they have sought therapy to address their trauma and are raising their children outside the faith.

According to the investigation, some child victims were encouraged by church members to forgive their abusers rather than report abuse to authorities. Former members told reporters that church leaders who were informed of alleged abuse sometimes did not report it to law enforcement, a practice they attributed in part to religious doctrine about forgiveness and repentance.

What the Right Is Saying

Conservative groups and religious liberty advocates have raised concerns about government overreach into faith communities, arguing that existing laws already require reporting abuse when it becomes known. Some defenders of religious institutions say the focus should be on addressing individual criminal behavior rather than targeting churches as institutions.

The Family Research Council, a conservative Christian advocacy organization, said in a statement that 'abhorrent criminal conduct by individuals must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.' The group noted that its members 'vehemently condemn any form of child abuse' while cautioning against policies that could be used to target religious minorities or interfere with religious practice.

Representative Mike Kelly, a Pennsylvania Republican who serves on the House Judiciary Committee, said he supports law enforcement investigations into specific criminal allegations. However, Kelly expressed concern about what he called 'a pattern of federal overreach into religious organizations.' 'We must be careful not to create a climate where the government can swoop in and dictate how churches operate based on unverified accusations,' Kelly wrote.

What the Left Is Saying

Child protection advocates and progressive legislators have long argued that institutional cover-ups enable cycles of abuse to continue unchecked for generations. The investigation comes as Congress has considered legislation requiring religious organizations to report suspected child abuse to authorities, similar to mandatory reporting requirements already in place for schools and healthcare providers.

Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat who has championed child protection legislation, said the findings underscore the need for federal intervention when institutions fail to protect children. 'When communities normalize abuse through silence or spiritual framing of forgiveness, victims suffer twice — once from the assault itself, and again when their trauma is minimized,' Blumenthal wrote in a statement shared with reporters.

The Children's Defense Fund issued a statement calling for mandatory reporting laws that apply equally to religious institutions as they do to other organizations. 'No institution, regardless of its theological beliefs, should be permitted to shield perpetrators from accountability,' the organization said. The group noted that research consistently shows cycles of abuse are more likely to continue when communities fail to report incidents and offenders face no legal consequences.

What the Numbers Show

The investigation found at least 20 former members willing to describe alleged sexual abuse they experienced or witnessed within Old Apostolic Lutheran Church communities across multiple states, including Washington, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Police and court records reviewed by reporters documented some incidents, though many allegations appear never to have been reported to law enforcement.

According to data from the National Child Abuse Neglect Data System, approximately 3.6 million child abuse referrals are made annually in the United States, with roughly 2,000 children dying from abuse and neglect each year. Research published in the journal Trauma, Violence, & Abuse found that children who experience sexual abuse are at significantly elevated risk of perpetrating similar behavior, though experts emphasize this is not inevitable and depends heavily on intervention and support.

The Old Apostolic Lutheran Church does not publish membership figures. The denomination's website describes its roots in Scandinavian immigrant religious traditions dating to the 19th century. Congregations operate primarily in rural areas of the upper Midwest and Pacific Northwest, with some members living in Canada.

The Bottom Line

The investigation raises questions about whether religious doctrines emphasizing forgiveness without accountability may have contributed to an environment where abuse could continue across generations. Church officials did not respond to requests for comment on the specific allegations or on their reporting practices.

Lynn and Katherine told reporters they left the church seeking to break a cycle that shaped their family for generations. Both women said they are raising their children outside the faith, hoping to protect them from repeating patterns of abuse. 'I can't have my girls thinking that this kind of behavior is OK,' Lynn said.

What happens next will likely depend on whether law enforcement agencies pursue investigations based on the documented allegations and whether state legislatures consider expanding mandatory reporting requirements to religious organizations. The investigation is ongoing according to ProPublica, which said it continues to receive accounts from former members.