And in the midst of a national civil rights movement centered on the value of Black lives, they believe the community deserves more from leadership than someone who they say has spent years using his influence to harm Black people. Now, after more than a decade of silence, these individuals have chosen to make their stories public out of fear that Mondainé’s ascending role in the community-as a religious leader, political advisor, and NAACP president-will allow him to continue taking advantage of vulnerable Portlanders. The majority of those who say they were sexually or psychologically abused by Mondainé are Black men, and many were teens when the alleged abuse began. Few of them are still in contact with anyone who still attends the church, where Mondainé remains the head pastor. Most of those who spoke with the Mercury stopped attending Celebration Tabernacle between 20, and many left as an act of solidarity with those who experienced physical abuse. “People can say whatever they need to say.
There’s no truth to it,” Mondainé told the Mercury. Mondainé denies the allegations of both abuse and financial mismanagement. Many of these stories have been confirmed by other individuals formerly involved with the church. The Mercury also interviewed eight other people who shared experiences of psychological abuse at the hands of Mondainé while attending Celebration Tabernacle during this time period. The Mercury spoke with Ray and two other men who say they were repeatedly sexually and physically assaulted by Mondainé during a period of time spanning the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s. With Ray’s permission, those members shared these allegations with the Mercury. Ray eventually wrote a letter to the NAACP members leading the investigation into Mondainé, detailing his alleged abuse at the hands of Mondainé.
Anger about him getting away with this… knowing that, despite what he did to us, he still got to become a community hero, leading this venerable organization.”
She called him.Īfter the call ended, Ray dialed another number: The emergency line for his mental health counselor. When Ray’s friend heard about the investigation, she knew the NAACP needed to hear Ray’s story. In late 2019, several members of the local NAACP began investigating Mondainé for allegedly misusing the nonprofit's funds and physically threatening people at meetings. Ray is one of several former Celebration Tabernacle members who say they were sexually, physically, and/or psychologically abused by Mondainé while they attended the church. In June 2020, that perspective brought Mondainé national attention when he penned an opinion piece for The Washington Post about Portland’s racial justice protests.īut Ray, 41, isn’t familiar with that version of Mondainé. Elected officials, including Oregon Governor Kate Brown and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, have regarded Mondainé as a trusted representative of the local Black community, turning to him for support, perspective, and guidance.
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