Church and Pastor Named in Sex Abuse Lawsuit

As reported on September 30, 2010 by KCCI 8 in Des Moines, Iowa, St. John's Lutheran Church, and their former associate pastor, Duane Martinson, are the target of a new lawsuit alleging sexual abuse that took place over 25 years ago.

The Des Moines church is accused of knowingly turning a blind eye to many warning signals about their former pastor abusing teenage boys. 

Martinson pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit sex 25 years ago.

While working as an associate pastor at St. John's, Martinson was accused of abusing up to seven teenage boys.

Joseph Galligan, the accuser's attorney said, "Duane Martinson, a year prior to this abuse beginning, was accused in his church up in Minneapolis of sexually abusing children, plenty of red flags. There was an investigation that as commonly happened back in the 80's, it was handled within the church and of course we have no way of knowing how it was handled."

Galligan asserted that a civil lawsuit filed by one of the accusers claimed that the church knew, or should have known, about the previous charges lodged against Martinson.  He also said that though police investigated, no criminal charges were made.

In this new case the abuse didn't occur at church, per Galligan, but at the pastor's home in West Des Moines as well as during a church outgoing event.

The victim, who had repressed the memory of the abuse until now, remains unidentified per his request.

Galligan said that his client has children that are almost the same age as he was when Martinson abused him.

Bill Lahay, a former victim of church abuse, said that repressed memories can resurface years after abuse of this kind and that it's actually fairly common. "Most people don't have much of a grasp of the consequences of the abuse until they're 40."

Lahay also said that in similar cases clergy personnel have knowledge of the abuse transpiring in their churches, "They usually knew or had some or something where they should have been more diligent about this before they placed an abuser in contact with minors or children."

When Martinson was charged with abuse in 1985, he resigned from St. John's church. 

In a prepared statement, Pastor Rachel Mithelman said that the church has acknowledged the lawsuit but has not yet had the opportunity to retrieve records for the allegations lodged over 25 years ago.  In the meantime, the church is taking the lawsuit seriously and promises to investigate all of the allegations.

Martinson is currently the president of a laundry supply company in Minnesota.

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