Amersfoort church: No cover up in 1986 sexual abuse case

Although two pastors at the Reformed Church in Amersfoort Oost kept sexual abuse by a church member in 1986 quiet, there was definitely not a cover up, the church concluded in an investigation. The investigation revealed that the then pastor and his successor were only aware of two cases of sexual abuse of young boys by church member Piet Hein W. from Hoevelaken, AD reports.

The now deceased W.'s abuse was revealed in October last year, when the church was praying for the terminally ill man. A church member wrote a letter about W.'s "dark side", revealing that he sexually abused young boys. The Reformed Church quickly determined that the allegations may be true and launched an investigation. The investigation committee consisted of investigators, psychologists, a lawyer and a theologian.

The investigation revealed 16 people who may have been sexually abused by W. when they were young boys. Six of them could not be reached. Two did not want to talk about it. Five said that they do not feel that they were victimized. And the final three confirmed that they were. Victim assistance was offered to them.

Although the investigation did not determine the exact scale of te abuse, it concluded that it "seems less than expected". The investigation did not reveal a deliberate cover up. The two former pastors were only aware of two cases of abuse and the victims and perpetrator were offered pastoral support. The pastors considered the case closed at that, because no police reports were ever filed and they heard no further complaints about W.