LELB evaluates allegations of sexual violence against pastor Eimans
The Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church has begun evaluating allegations of sexual violence against pastor Roland Eimans, but without a specified deadline. Two women claim to have experienced sexual abuse in childhood.
LELB evaluates allegations against pastor Eimans without deadline
The Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church (LELB) has begun evaluating allegations of sexual violence against pastor Roland Eimans, but has not set a specific deadline for this process. LELB Supreme Council press secretary Guntis Bukalders told the LETA news agency, as cited by Apollo.
Two women told the Delfi portal that they experienced sexual abuse in childhood and adolescence from Lutheran clergyman Eimans, who was born in 1968. The pastor in turn stated in writing that he "has exploited and seduced no one", and did not substantively answer other questions.
Church consults with lawyers
Bukalders explained that in the coming period, meetings and conversations are planned with congregations where Eimans has served or currently serves. Eimans has not left the church and has confirmed his willingness to cooperate in the evaluation process.
"We are currently consulting with lawyers and plan to consult also with representatives of other churches about the practice of evaluating such situations and possible courses of action," said Bukalders. The church is also ready to hear from individuals who have publicly made allegations against Eimans.
The LELB representative noted that substantial clarity about the further process and possible decisions could emerge in the coming months, though it is too early to name a specific deadline at present.
LELB: zero tolerance and independent commission
During the period for which Eimans is being accused, he was a pastor of the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church (LELB). LELB Public Relations Commission chairman Kaspars Upītis told the LETA news agency that the church recognises such possible actions not only as illegal, but also as morally condemned before God without a statute of limitations.
Upītis stated that the LELB leadership expresses regret for what has occurred and for the harm done to the women mentioned in the article and possible other victims — if the described facts correspond to the truth. He emphasised that the LELB has zero tolerance and will have zero tolerance for any form of sexual violence, harassment, and abuse of power.
In the coming period, an independent commission is planned to be established to evaluate the possible nature of the offence and its conformity with the regulations and moral standards of clerical service. Upītis noted that independent clarification of circumstances may be necessary even if law-enforcement authorities refuse to initiate criminal proceedings because of a statute of limitations.
Email went unnoticed
In a previous LELB statement, it was noted that the first information regarding Eimans came to the church leadership a year ago. LELB Archbishop Rinalds Grants told the LETA news agency that the message from a potential victim was sent not to an official address, but to the then archbishop Jānis Vanags's personal email, which he rarely checks — and therefore it was not noticed.
The described events occurred in the early 2000s, when the women were minors and involved in parish life in Baldone. According to their claims, Eimans gradually built a relationship of trust and later engaged them in sexual activities, which occurred multiple times at the pastor's home.
Police refused criminal proceedings because of statute of limitations
One of the women, upon reaching adulthood, approached the State Police about what had occurred. The police refused to initiate criminal proceedings, based on the statute of limitations — the possible actions were qualified under Article 161 of the Criminal Law then in force as "willing" involvement of a minor in sexual activities, which had a five-year statute of limitations until 2006. Prosecutor Baiba Balode emphasised that retroactive application of stricter provisions adopted later is not permissible.
The possible victim acknowledged that it was only in recent years during therapy that she became aware of the nature of her experience. She has not appealed the police's refusal, but is considering the possibility of approaching the authority again.
Marijuana use and criminal record
The women told the portal that Eimans frequently used marijuana and expressed the belief that in photographs publicly released by the State Police regarding cannabis cultivation discovered in Baldone, Eimans's greenhouse is visible. As Delfi discovered from the prosecutor's office, in a case concerning drug storage in Baldone in 2018, a person born in 1968 was sentenced conditionally to 3.5 years.
Former LELB Archbishop Jānis Vanags confirmed that he knew of Eimans's marijuana use — allegedly for health reasons — and had received information about moral breaches.
Admission to LELB without criminal record check
Later Eimans joined the LELB. The church's archbishop Kārlis Žols told Delfi that at the time of Eimans's admission, his criminal record was not visible in the criminal record register, and promised to propose a more thorough internal investigation into the circumstances of Eimans's admission.
Source: Apollo