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	Investigation in Finnish Lutheran Church Reveals Least 100 Cases of Suspected Sexual Abuse Helsingen Sanomat May 4, 2010 http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Investigation+in+Finnish+Lutheran+Church+reveals+least+100+cases+of+suspected+sexual+abuse/1135256553498 An investigation within the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church has revealed widespread sexual abuse, with children as the main targets of sexual predators. In recent weeks, the investigators working for Finland’s largest religious denomination have found more than 20 new suspected cases. The international scandal affecting the Catholic Church has focussed attention on sexual abuse within religious communities. Last week Lutheran Church leaders urged victims of the abuse to come forward with their stories. Child welfare expert Johanna Hurtig estimates that over the decades, there have been at least 100 victims of abuse over the decades, and dozens of abusers. “This is just the tip of the iceberg”, she says. The suspected abusers include a few ministers and other church employees. “Youth work is the area where the number is greatest”, says Martti Esko. In two of the older cases, the victims say that a bishop at the time had downplayed and covered up the matter. About ten lay preachers of the Conservative Laestadian movement are also suspected of abuse. During the past year six Laestadian men have been convicted of sexual misconduct. Some of the sentences have been lengthy - 8-12 years, suggesting that the crime involved was very serious - such as the rape of a child. One of the victims told her story to Helsingin Sanomat, saying that she had been abused for seven years. The subject will be dealt with in greater detail in our weekly section.
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