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.

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