A senator in Minnesota is advocating for stricter state laws to hold adults accountable for not reporting suspected child abuse. This initiative follows an investigation revealing a Duluth church’s protection of a child sex predator.
Sen. Erin Maye Quade, representing the suburbs of Minneapolis, is concentrating on instances where adults knowingly remain silent about child abuse. She emphasized the importance of reporting known cases of child sexual abuse and suggested increasing penalties for those who fail to act.
The investigation by the Minnesota Star Tribune and ProPublica exposed that leaders at Duluth’s Old Apostolic Lutheran Church were aware of allegations against Clint Massie. Massie had allegedly abused young girls in the congregation, but instead of informing the authorities, church leaders persuaded victims to forgive him and remain silent.
One disturbing case involved preacher Daryl Bruckelmyer organizing a session between Massie and a young victim in his office. According to later reports, Massie had been abusing the girl since kindergarten. Massie, now 50, confessed in court to multiple felony charges related to abusing young girls. He received a 7.5-year prison sentence in March.
Though Bruckelmyer declined to comment, a church representative claimed the preachers acted within legal boundaries. Bruckelmyer told law enforcement the church motivated victims to report to the police but ultimately left the choice to them.
Minnesota law requires mandatory reporters, such as clergy and teachers, to report maltreatment of children within the past three years or face misdemeanor charges. However, enforcement has proven ineffective. From 28 cases filed over 15 years, only six resulted in convictions, typically involving minor penalties like probation or fines.
Individuals and groups remaining silent face little legal pressure due to weak enforcement of these laws. The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that the judiciary cannot establish a right to sue for violations when laws are poorly enforced, leaving such legislative changes to the state legislature.
Sen. Maye Quade acknowledges gaps in existing laws and is urging the legislature to explore remedies. She emphasized the necessity to respond to victim-survivors who are courageously sharing their experiences.
In St. Louis County, prosecutors faced challenges due to the church community’s lack of cooperation, delaying charges against Massie. Despite clergy’s status as mandatory reporters, no charges were filed for failing to report abuse. There was debate over whether unpaid clergy are bound by mandatory reporting laws, which typically apply to paid clergy employees.
Robert Small of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association highlighted difficulties in prosecuting failures to report, given the need to prove knowledge or suspicion of abuse. Moreover, mandatory reporters are often key witnesses, creating a dilemma for prosecutors.
Nationwide, mandatory-reporting laws date back to the 1960s, with states implementing their own versions in response to federal guidelines established in the 1970s. States like Washington allow victims to sue for continued harm due to unreported abuse, encouraging institutions to improve training and reporting.
Jeff Anderson, a prominent clergy-abuse attorney, criticized Minnesota’s laws as ineffective due to the lack of civil accountability. He noted that other states have seen substantial changes due to high-profile lawsuits against organizations like the Boy Scouts and the Catholic Church for insufficient training and response to abuse cases.