Minnesota Senator Advocates Stronger Child Abuse Reporting Laws

A Minnesota senator is pushing for stricter state laws to hold adults accountable for not reporting suspected child abuse. This follows an investigation revealing that a church in Duluth protected a child sex predator. Senator Erin Maye Quade, representing suburban Minneapolis, emphasized the importance of reporting when someone has concrete evidence of child abuse.

Maye Quade mentioned, “If you know an adult is committing child sexual abuse, you need to report that.” She advocates for stricter penalties for those who fail to report. The report identified that leaders in Duluth’s Old Apostolic Lutheran Church knew for years about Clint Massie, a church member accused of abusing young girls. Instead of involving the police, church leaders pressured victims to forgive Massie in private meetings.

In one incident, preacher Daryl Bruckelmyer mediated a meeting between Massie and a victim in Bruckelmyer’s office, where the child was coerced into forgiving Massie.

Massie later pleaded guilty to multiple felony counts of criminal sexual conduct and received a 7.5-year prison sentence. Despite this, church leaders, bound by mandatory reporting laws, faced no charges for failing to report. Under Minnesota law, mandatory reporters like clergy and teachers face misdemeanor charges for not reporting abuse within three years.

Despite public awareness of this statute, convictions are rare. An investigation over 15 years showed only six out of 28 charged individuals faced conviction, usually resulting in minor penalties like probation or fines as low as $85.

The Minnesota Supreme Court has restricted lawsuits against adults or institutions that remain silent on abuse. Justice Paul Anderson stated that it is up to the legislature to determine whether civil liability is appropriate. The lack of potential damage claims weakens the incentive structures that often drive compliance.

Maye Quade is researching legislative changes to address these gaps, recognizing the courage of victims sharing their stories. Prosecutors in Dulth reported that church members’ non-cooperation delayed charges against Massie. Despite mandatory reporting laws, none of the preachers faced charges.

Kimberly Lowe, a church lawyer, questioned whether unpaid preachers qualify under the law’s definition of “clergy employees.” Prosecutors preferred educating church leaders about their reporting duties over pursuing charges. Robert Small, representing Minnesota prosecutors, noted the difficulty in proving a reporter’s knowledge of abuse under current law. Consistent minor penalties weaken the statute’s effectiveness.

Nationally, the mandatory-reporting framework has evolved since the 1960s, embedding obligations across various sectors and requiring training for roles like teachers and doctors. However, Minnesota has lagged due to absent civil suit opportunities, a fact highlighted by prominent clergy-abuse attorney Jeff Anderson. He criticized the current framework as a “tool nobody uses.”