The Pennsylvania attorney general’s office reportedly is investigating whether the Jehovah’s Witnesses repeatedly failed to report child sexual abuse allegations to authorities in what is believed to be the first wide-scale examination by a U.S. law enforcement agency. The attorney general’s office told USA TODAY it “cannot confirm or deny the existence of investigations.” But Mark […]
Utah high court weighs case of woman who says church made her listen to audio of her rape Lower courts say First Amendment prevents juries from considering case By Annie Knox Nov 9, 2020, 8:56pm EDT SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Supreme Court heard arguments Monday in a case alleging male leaders of a Jehovah’s […]
Since the royal commission exposed the cruel treatment of victims of child abuse within the Jehovah’s Witnesses, little has changed. But in a landmark civil case, former member Amy Whitby is taking on the secretive religious group in court. By Adam Harvey, Mary Fallon, and Lucy Carter with photography by Harriet Tatham Four Corners Updated […]
By Tom Symonds Home Affairs correspondent 2 September 2021 Related Topics There are “shocking failings” and “blatant hypocrisy” in the way major UK religious groups handle child sex abuse allegations, an inquiry has found. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) said some religious organisations in England and Wales were “morally failing” children. It […]
March 2022 A McHenry County judge ruled Friday that two Jehovah’s Witnesses elders are guilty of “knowingly and willfully” failing to report to authorities in 2006 that a 6-year-old child in their church was being sexually assaulted by a congregant. Not reporting the sexual abuse permitted the abuse to go on for another 12 years. […]
JW Child Abuse is being developed as a reference site for the sharing of resources and court documents for civil and criminal cases involving Jehovah’s Witnesses. By sharing legislative and legal information, they provide survivors of abuse and their supporters a pathway to change. This site is designed with the intention of presenting only facts […]
During the 2015 Australian Royal Commission, two representatives of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society were asked why it is necessary for the organization to have a policy that tells all of their members to shun persons that have disassociated themselves. Notice their evasive reply.
By means of the news media, more and more people are becoming aware of the mishandling of child sexual abuse in congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses. This is due in large part to their insistence on handling these cases internally by means of their own judicial process without the aid of criminal investigators.
Amid increasing reports in the media regarding allegations of child sexual abuse among its members, the Watchtower organization claims that it is proud of its efforts to protect children. However, the protection they offer is described as spiritual protection. What is spiritual protection? Does it include notifying the authorities when congregation elders receive allegations of […]
Many of the policies and teachings of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses can be damaging to existing Jehovah’s Witnesses or their families. The aim of the site “The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses under the Spotlight” is to draw attention to these policies and teachings.