Danish church shut down after allegations of sexual abuse

By Ray W
CPH Post
May 23, 2016

http://cphpost.dk/news/danish-church-shut-down-after-allegations-of-sexual-abuse.html

A Jutland church has closed due to abuse allegations Photo by Abeer Khan

A free church in Jutland has been closed after several children and young people said at a meeting that they had been abused by a priest.

The attacks are alleged to have taken place from 2006 to 2011.

“We are in shock,” the church leader told Metroxpress. “It is difficult to understand that so much has been going on that we were not aware of.”

Investigation continuing
After the allegations were revealed, the leader of the church said that he decided to close the church on April 27.

The name of the church or priest are being withheld while police investigate whether or not the allegations are true.

Superintendent Ole Henriksen from the Mid and West Jutland Police confirmed that the police have questioned several people.

Not the first time
Allegations were made against the priest in 2012, but the case was dropped due to a lack of evidence. American police are also said to be investigating the Danish priest.

A ‘free church’ is an independent church that is separate from the state church.