(ChurchLeaders) The Upper Midwest Diocese of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) has agreed to publish the results of an investigation it commissioned to examine allegations that ACNA leaders protected a sexual predator. Joanna Laurel, a survivor who has accused former lay leader Mark Rivera of raping her and sexually assaulting others, says this victory is a small one.
“I am exhausted,” said Laurel on Twitter. “I am angry, I am heartbroken, and I am grieving. I want to say the announcement @esaumccaulley links to here is a victory. In some ways it is. But it is a small victory won at far too great a cost.”
On June 26, Laurel posted an extensive Twitter thread documenting Rivera’s abuses and implicating multiple ACNA leaders, including Bishop Stewart Ruch III, in mishandling the allegations against Rivera. Ruch is Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Upper Midwest. After Laurel posted her thread, Rev. Dr. Esau McCaulley responded, tweeting, “A brief note to say that @Tish_H_Warren and I are aware of the sexual abuse allegations in our province and we are in communications with our Bishop about them. We stand with and support all victims of abuse.”