Religious Boarding School Abuse

Religious boarding schools are often promoted as places of structure and safety. Too many have turned out to be the opposite. Survivors describe years of cruelty masked as discipline or spiritual guidance.

Common Forms of Abuse

• Isolation: Children locked away for weeks or months with little human contact.
• Forced labor: Daily manual work far beyond their age or physical ability.
• Deprivation: Food, hygiene products, and medical care withheld as punishment.
• Coerced punishment: Children forced to discipline peers to avoid being punished themselves.
• Psychological abuse: Constant shaming, verbal degradation, and threats of damnation.

These practices strip children of dignity and leave lasting trauma. Survivors often struggle well into adulthood with anxiety, PTSD, and trust issues.

Our Litigation Experience

In one Missouri case, we uncovered decades of systemic abuse. Survivors testified about solitary confinement for minor infractions, physical exhaustion from endless labor, and humiliation tied to natural bodily functions or body image. Girls were mocked, shamed, and told that resistance meant spiritual failure. Our firm has taken these stories into court, ensuring the truth is documented and justice is pursued.

No Statute of Limitations

Federal law recognizes this abuse as a form of trafficking and forced labor. Under 18 U.S.C. § 1591, it is unlawful to recruit, harbor, or obtain a minor for labor or services through force, fraud, or coercion. Importantly, Congress removed the statute of limitations for survivors of this kind of abuse through 18 U.S.C. § 1595. This means survivors can step forward—no matter how much time has passed—and still pursue justice.

I now handle these cases with my law partner, Geordie McGonagle, at my newly-formed law firm: McGonagle Spencer Johnson, LLC (www.mcgonagelspencer.com).  Please call me there at 816-221-2222.  I will answer your questions and tell you how I can be your voice and advocate for justice and closure.