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Multiple women sue Christian organization for alleged abuse, coverup: 'A source of anxiety and depression'
https://www.foxnews.com/us/multiple-women-sue-christian-organization-alleged-abuse-coverup-source-anxiety-depression
'Rigid demands' from the church were allegedly 'a source of anxiety and depression for many members'
Five women in California have filed a lawsuit alleging that a nondenominational Christian organization covered up instances of child sexual abuse and exerted financial pressure on members to the extent that some took their own lives.
The lawsuit filed late last month names the five plaintiffs as sisters Darleen Diaz, 33, and Bernice Perez, 31. Ashley Ruiz, 31, Salud Gonzelez, 30, and Elena Peltola, 23, are also named.
The women allege that the International Churches of Christ (ICOC) and affiliated organizations — which include Hope Worldwide, Mercy Worldwide, the International Christian Church and the City of Angels International Christian Church — "indoctrinated" them and isolated them while exploiting them sexually and manipulating them through a strict belief system, according to Rolling Stone.
The lawsuit also names leaders Kip McKean, the founder of the church, and the estate of the late Charles "Chuck" Lucas as defendants. The women allege that church leaders established a system of exploitation that extracts whatever it can from members.
The lawsuit further claims that church members were pressured to fund special mission trips twice per year and tithe 10% of their income to the church to the point that some were driven to depression and suicide.
"If the tithing budget was not satisfied, leaders or 'disciplers' were forced to contribute the financial shortfall themselves, or members were required to locate the offending member who failed to tithe and sit on their porch until they arrived home in an attempt to obtain their tithe funds before Sunday evening was over," according to the lawsuit.
"The pressure to comply with the church's rigid demands was a source of anxiety and depression for many members," according to the suit. "So much so that several ex-members committed suicide."
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