A pastor who for many years worked in a congregation north of Stockholm has had his collar cut off. It was decided by the church’s responsibility committee after members of the congregation raised the alarm about rape against a woman, who also worked within the congregation for many years.
According to the woman’s police report, the pastor allegedly raped her on several occasions over a long period of time. This by having manipulated the woman and taken advantage of his position.
The police started a preliminary investigation, but the case was dropped by prosecutors.
– There was not enough evidence to proceed with the case, says prosecutor Erik Grönvall to TV4 Nyheterna.
Hanged out at church service
When the vulnerable woman alerted her employer about the abuse, she was ostracized by the congregation, according to anonymous sources with good access to the church. She later lost her job with “lack of work” as the reason for the dismissal.
The woman was also hanged by name at a church service attended by the public, for having “an inappropriate relationship” with the pastor.
“It has come to our attention that people in our management had an inappropriate relationship. You may hear rumours,” the successor pastor is said to have said during the service, mentioning both of their names.
The successor pastor also urged the woman not to tell other parishioners about what she was subjected to. This is shown in an email conversation that TV4 Nyheterna got a share of.
“I ask you not to tell your story to so many more in the congregation as it does not help the congregation in this situation,” writes the pastor to the vulnerable woman.
“smear campaign”
When TV4 Nyheterna contacts the accused pastor, he confirms that he has been suspended for three years. But he would not comment on the specific allegations against him.
He believes this is part of a “dirty campaign” against him.
– This is a slander campaign that is terrible. It’s simply filthy, says the pastor to TV4 Nyheterna.
He also states that he is no longer active, but later it appears that he is still working as a preacher at another congregation.
The church leader tells TV4 Nyheterna that the pastor “has been stripped of his ordination”, as there is no longer any trust in him. But he does not want to comment on the reason behind the decision.
“It is our policy not to comment on individual cases or go into details about specific decisions made by the responsibility committee,” the church writes in a written statement.
Internal investigation: “Clear shortcomings”
After the incident, the church has carried out an internal investigation which shows that the congregation failed in its handling after the woman raised the alarm. Among other things, when it comes to documentation of the event and decision-making. But also for having communicated “sensitive information” during the service to the public.
“Our review shows that the parish management’s actions have had clear shortcomings,” the investigation states.
But the assessment is also made that the handling did not damage trust in the management, and that it is important to achieve “a good ending”.
The church in question has also previously been in trouble when it became known that a pastor in the congregation had spoken inappropriately during a sermon.
TV4 Nyheterna has sought out the current pastor of the congregation who does not want to comment on the criticism directed at him in connection with the handling of the rape alarm.