Clergy Sex Abuse
South Dakota (2007)
Rev. Floyd Bacon died in 1997, but several have come forward with claims of sexual abuse against him, while the family has offerred a public apology.
Brick New Jersey (2007)
The Rev. Robert Slegel retired to North Carolina in 1993 and died in 2006. 21 men have come forward with a suit wirth 105 million dollars.
- 30 Million Dollar lawsuit filed in February, 2006
- The Brick lawsuit becomes a 95 million$ lawsuit in January, 2007
- Judge rules that 100 million$ lawsuit will proceed. August 19th, 2007
- St. Thomas Academy shuts its doors, 21 victims in total step forward seeking damages totaling 105 million$
Marshall Texas (2004)
Gerald Patrick Thomas was convicted and sentenced to 397 years for raping boys, ages 4 – 17. He was approved for ordination under the authority of Bishop Robert Rimbo’s candidacy committee in Michigan. He was ordained and then served in the North Texas – North Louisianna Synod under Bishop Kevin Kanouse, whose own relationship with another pastor convicted of lewd behavior in public was questioned during the trial. The total judgment against the Church was reported as 69 Million Dollars, though off the record, the ELCA has said they settled the judgment for roughly 45 Million$.