Church Elder Confesses Child Rape Horror

Yellow police line tape with Do Not Cross.

A trusted church elder’s confession to years of child rape is shaking a Wisconsin-border congregation and raising hard questions about how families can really protect their kids in an age of moral decay and institutional failure.

Story Highlights

Wisconsin-border church elder Greg Douma is charged after confessing to years of child sexual abuse and incest involving a girl under 13.
The alleged abuse began when the child was about 6 and continued until age 12, hidden behind family ties and church authority.
The victim’s disclosure in a mental health facility triggered action by child services and Pleasant Prairie police.
The case spotlights broader failures to guard children in religious settings and the need for real accountability, not PR damage control.

Confession From a Church Elder Shocks a Cross-Border Community

In the Kenosha County border community that looks to The Point church in Winthrop Harbor for spiritual guidance, the news feels like a punch to the gut. Prosecutors say 58-year-old church elder Greg R. Douma admitted to repeatedly sexually assaulting a girl in his family circle for years, starting when she was just six or seven and continuing until she reached about twelve. The charges include multiple counts of child sexual assault and incest, reflecting a pattern of abuse closely tied to his role and trust.

According to the criminal complaint, the victim finally spoke up while in a mental health facility, telling staff about years of abuse that often started during seemingly innocent “movie nights.” Douma allegedly used videos as the entry point, then escalated to sexual contact while the child was supposed to be safely distracted. When questioned by Pleasant Prairie police, he reportedly gave a full confession and admitted there had been an “awful lot” of incidents, especially in the last two years before his arrest.

How a Vulnerable Child and Mandatory Reporting Finally Broke the Silence

The path to this arrest shows both how deeply an abuser can hide behind religious respectability and how crucial strong reporting laws are for protecting children. The girl, now in early adolescence, disclosed the abuse to staff at a mental hospital, away from family pressure and fear. Staff then notified the state Department of Children and Family Services, which passed the case to Pleasant Prairie police, triggering a formal investigation that rapidly led to Douma’s interview, confession, and arrest on serious felony charges.

Court records indicate the victim had tried to confront Douma before the system got involved. In a phone call around November, she reportedly told him she would not lie for him anymore, and he responded simply, “okay,” a chilling acknowledgment considering what she later described. That call, followed by her detailed account to professionals, gave law enforcement a clear timeline. Within days, Douma sat in a police interview room and confirmed what she said, acknowledging that he knew his actions were illegal even while he was committing them.

A Pattern Echoing Other Wisconsin Faith Abuse Cases

This case does not stand alone; it fits a troubling pattern conservatives have watched unfold for years as institutions that preach virtue fail to police their own ranks. In Langlade County, former pastor Travis Huse received a 25-year sentence for long-running assaults, while his father, also a pastor, faces trial over similar allegations. Wisconsin’s Department of Justice launched a Clergy and Faith Leader Abuse Initiative that has already produced charges and convictions against multiple leaders, including a former youth pastor who pleaded guilty in a separate case.

Across Wisconsin, both Catholic dioceses and Protestant congregations have had to reckon with lists of accused clergy, lawsuits, and criminal prosecutions. A Green Bay pastor received a fifteen-year federal sentence for online sex crimes targeting minors, highlighting how abuse can occur both in person and through digital grooming. For families in the pews, these headlines create a painful tension: they cherish their churches, yet keep seeing predators hide behind pulpits and titles, counting on polite silence and institutional image management to keep them safe from consequences.

Conservative Concerns: Family Authority, Church Accountability, and State Power

For many conservative families, this story hits where values collide. Parents believe in church, family, and respecting elders, but this elder allegedly weaponized all three. The incest charge underscores how abuse can masquerade as “family time” or spiritual mentorship until a child finds enough courage and distance to speak. The fact that the victim had to be in a mental health facility before she felt secure enough to talk raises hard questions about how much pressure children feel to protect adults’ reputations.

At the same time, this case shows why limited but firm government authority is necessary to protect the truly vulnerable. Child services and local police did exactly what conservatives should expect: follow the law, respect due process, and act swiftly when a credible victim steps forward. Douma is out on bond and still entitled to his day in court, but his reported full confession and the seriousness of the charges signal that, for once, the system is not sweeping church-based abuse under the rug to preserve anyone’s image.

What This Means for Faithful Families Moving Forward

For believers who are tired of both leftist attacks on religion and hypocrites hiding inside the church, Douma’s case is a reminder that protecting children must come before protecting institutions. Strong families and healthy churches go hand in hand with transparency and accountability. Parents can respect pastors and elders while still verifying who is alone with their kids, demanding clear policies, and insisting that any hint of abuse triggers immediate reporting to law enforcement, not just quiet internal discussions.