Image source: Bible Chapel’s South Hills campus in McMurray, PA via Bible Chapel.
Churches have a fundamental legal and moral duty to protect the children entrusted to their care. When they fail to uphold this responsibility, vulnerable individuals can suffer devastating harm.
Andreozzi + Foote recently filed a civil lawsuit in Allegheny County against Bible Chapel Ministries, Inc., alleging the church failed to protect a 13-year-old boy with Down Syndrome from sexual abuse by an adult on the autism spectrum, Daniel Gould. Both perpetrator and victim were involved in the church’s Special Needs Ministry.
Abuse Captured on Surveillance Video
According to the lawsuit, on January 5, 2025, the victim was attending youth group at Bible Chapel when Gould approached him in the sanctuary and began sexually abusing him.
The abuse lasted more than seven minutes and ended only after other children who witnessed the assault alerted youth group leaders. During that entire time, the abuser, the victim, and the other children had no adult supervision. Bible Chapel didn’t tell the child’s father about the abuse until he arrived around 8:30 p.m. to pick up his son.
The lawsuit mentions that the abuser’s father, Gary Gould, was responsible for supervising his son during church activities because of earlier concerning behavior. However, he was absent when the abuse occurred and was purportedly out to dinner instead.
Bible Chapel Ministries Chose Prayer over Action
The civil complaint asserts that on January 6, 2025, the victim’s parents contacted Pastor Sommerfeldt to confirm mandatory reporters affiliated with the church had notified authorities, but no report was filed until on or around January 7, when the victim’s mother and trauma therapist separately reported the incident to ChildLine.
The parents were eventually informed that video surveillance showed that the assault lasted seven minutes and eleven seconds. Despite the clear video evidence, the Peters Township Police Department informed the family that no criminal charges would be filed, stating that both individuals involved were special needs.
On January 19, Special Needs Ministry Director Jaclyn Royall Stottlemyer told the child’s mother that there was nothing else the church could do aside from pray that Gould’s family would get him “help.” Founders Cheryl and Tim Colussey similarly offered prayer as the only solution.
The lawsuit alleges that Bible Chapel failed to remove the alleged abuser, inform the congregation of the abuse, or alert law enforcement or ChildLine.
Church Allegedly Dismissed Abuse As “Boys Being Boys”
The suit further alleges that Bible Chapel Ministries was previously aware of Gould’s disturbing behavior. Gould and his family purportedly had been asked to leave another church due to similar misconduct. Bible Chapel and the Gould family allegedly agreed that Gary Gould would attend every youth group activity to supervise his adult son because of the son’s prior abusive behavior. Reportedly, Gould had previously sexually abused another youth member of the church on the Bible Chapel playground.
The lawsuit outlines the Bible Chapel’s alarming dismissal of obvious abuse. It alleges that the church brushed off Gould’s conduct as “boys being boys” and took no meaningful action to protect members of the congregation.
Church’s Claims of Safety Questioned
Bible Chapel markets its Special Needs Ministry as a secure environment for individuals with disabilities, stating:
- “You can attend church services without worry” (Bible Chapel)
- “All of our staff and volunteers are rigorously screened, cleared, and trained.” (Bible Chapel)
Yet the lawsuit alleges those assurances rang hollow: after the incident, Gould remained at the church, and no public warning was issued to other families.
The lawsuit accuses Bible Chapel Ministries of negligence and of violating Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law.
You and Your Child Are Not Alone
If your child was abused at Bible Chapel or another religious organization, know that you and your child are not alone. Finding the words to speak about what happened can feel overwhelming, especially when the harm occurred in a place that promised care and safety, but you and your child have the right to be heard and supported. Families have legal options to pursue the justice their children deserve.
At Andreozzi + Foote, we’ve worked with families nationwide to hold institutions accountable for failing to protect children. Our attorneys are experts in trauma-informed legal representation. Whether you’re considering a civil lawsuit or just want to understand your legal options, we’re here to listen and help.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
