Young Girls Were Sexually Abused by a Church Member. They Were Told to Forgive and Forget.

In Minnesota, leaders of an Old Apostolic Lutheran Church community enabled a child abuser by telling his victims that once the sins were “washed away in the blood of reconciliation,” they could never speak of them again. By Jessica Lussenhop, ProPublica, and Andy Mannix, Minnesota Star Tribune. Originally published Nov. 20, 2025. Recorded by News Over Audio. Support our journalism by donating at propublica.org/donate.