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Warning: This article contains details of sexual abuse that some readers may find distressing.
Former church leader admits abuse but avoids prosecution
Robert Corfield, a former minister in an unnamed Christian sect known as The Truth or the Two by Twos, remains at liberty in Montana more than two years after confessing to the BBC that he sexually abused a child in Canada during the 1980s.
Corfield's admission came as part of a broader investigation into allegations of systemic abuse within the church, which has no formal name but operates through a network of traveling preachers called "workers." Despite his confession and an ongoing FBI inquiry, no charges have been filed against him.
New allegations surface from 1974
A second survivor, identified only as Edward, has come forward to allege that Corfield abused him in 1974 when he was 11 years old-nearly a decade before the abuse of Michael Havet, now 57, began. Edward described Corfield as being in "constant grooming mode," recalling an incident during a camping trip where Corfield allegedly assaulted him in a camper.
"Robert got mad at me for something-I don't remember exactly what that was. Then he called me into the camper. I just remember the cushions being covered with that weird '70s floral pattern... he ended up holding me down on the bed."
Edward, survivor
Edward also reported seeing Corfield engage in inappropriate behavior at a church gathering, where he was observed with a blanket over his lap. When Edward attempted to disclose the abuse to his parents, they refused to listen, citing the unquestionable authority of church workers.
Church structure enables abuse, survivors say
The Two by Twos, founded in Ireland in 1897, relies on itinerant preachers who relinquish personal possessions and live with church members while spreading their teachings. This practice, former members argue, creates opportunities for abuse, as children in host homes are left vulnerable.
Edward described the church's hierarchy as unassailable: "Our house was an open door; the workers had keys. They were on the pedestal, the moral compass. The family didn't have a moral compass of its own-they only looked at right and wrong based on what the workers said."
The sect is estimated to have up to 100,000 members worldwide, primarily in North America.
Legal inaction frustrates survivors
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed they investigated Michael's allegations of abuse in Saskatchewan during the early 1980s and forwarded their findings to Crown prosecutors. However, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice declined to comment on whether the case is under review.
Edward reported his abuse to the RCMP in 2024, but prosecutors declined to pursue charges due to insufficient evidence. Corfield, contacted by the BBC in December 2025, stated that FBI agents visited him a year earlier but had not followed up since. When asked if he feared arrest, he replied, "I realize there is that possibility."
Michael Havet expressed frustration at the lack of accountability, telling the BBC: "I'm confused by the law enforcement in Canada. Robert is a confessed pedophile... he took responsibility for abusing me for six years."
Church leadership accused of covering up abuse
Michael reported his abuse to Dale Shultz, the church's overseer for Saskatchewan, in 1993. Instead of notifying authorities, Shultz allegedly assaulted Michael weeks later and encouraged him to leave the church. Corfield was subsequently relocated to Montana, where he served as a minister for 25 years.
Shultz told the BBC in 2024 that reports about him were "distorted and inaccurate" but provided no further details. Corfield claimed Shultz was responsible for his transfer to the U.S.
Cynthia Liles, a private investigator and co-founder of the now-defunct Advocates for The Truth, said the church has failed to address the crisis. "I think they're going backwards," she said, noting that some states initially adopted policies to confront abuse but later reverted to biblical justifications.
Survivors find support outside the church
Despite the church's inaction, survivors are connecting through online communities. A Facebook group called *Exposing Abuse: 2x2s* has grown to over 10,000 members worldwide, offering mutual support.
Edward, who reconnected with Michael after Corfield's public confession, said their bond has helped combat isolation: "It's us against the church."
He is now receiving counseling funded by former church members, calling the support a "godsend."
The BBC reached out to multiple church overseers for comment but received no response.
