Sussex County Jehovah's Witnesses congregation sued over child abuse

[Guest Nicole]

A lawsuit targeting elders of a Jehovah's Witnesses congregation for failing to report suspected child abuse continues to wind its way through Delaware's court system.

The attorney general's office sued elders of the Sussex County congregation in 2014 for not reporting an unlawful sexual relationship between a woman and a 14-year-old boy, both of whom were congregation members.

A judge scheduled a teleconference with attorneys Thursday to discuss the case.

The defendants say they did not have to report what they learned because Delaware's child abuse reporting law exempts communications "between priest and penitent in a sacramental confession."

http://www.delaware1059.com/news/sussex-county-jehovah-s-witnesses-congregation-sued-over-child-abuse/article_601f0296-93ac-11e7-a25c-0f66b6d11284.html

[Guest Nicole]

Judge talks with attorneys in child abuse reporting case

DOVER, Del. (AP) — A lawsuit targeting elders of a Jehovah's Witnesses congregation for failing to report suspected child abuse continues to wind its way through Delaware's court system.

The attorney general's office sued elders of the Sussex County congregation in 2014 for not reporting an unlawful sexual relationship between a woman and a 14-year-old boy, both of whom were congregation members.

A judge scheduled a teleconference with attorneys Thursday to discuss the case.

The defendants say they did not have to report what they learned because Delaware's child abuse reporting law exempts communications "between priest and penitent in a sacramental confession."

The case has raised questions about whether that exemption unconstitutionally applies only to select denominations using such terms.

The woman was sentenced to six years in prison for rape and child endangerment.

http://www.theeagle.com/news/nation/judge-talks-with-attorneys-in-child-abuse-reporting-case/article_2f225061-44ce-54a6-bede-21f8f7ca98db.html

[James Thomas Rook Jr.]

I find it BOTH fascinating and revolting that  IN THESES CASES ... The Society's attorneys always try to claim "Clergy-Penitent Confidentiality Privilege".  

Every law I know about providing such protection is only effective for one person and ONE CLERGYMAN. 

"Confessing ones' sins", or ANY conversation to a  Congregational Judicial Committee, which then writes a report which is seen and filed by the Branch Office, and the subject of telephone conversations when they do not want to leave a "paper trail", IS NOT PRIVILEGED.

It is NOT a secret between two people, and God.  There could be DOZENS of people involved.

The fact that the Society's Lawyers try to change venues to OBSTRUCT JUSTICE, by DELIBERATELY making it difficult for plaintiffs and plaintiffs' witnesses to testify, as it was attempted in Delaware, means that OUR CONTRIBUTED MONEY .. is deliberately being used in MANY ways ... to OBSTRUCT JUSTICE.

With all the many court  "settlements" with plaintiffs, there is ALWAYS a gag order that the plaintiffs can NOT talk about it. 

One does that ONLY if one is ASHAMED of the answers.

That makes me as proud of the Society and the Governing Body as Jehovah must be ....

NOT !

[Otto]

Let's not jump to any conclusions, when it comes to matters of abuse of children that could be among family members or other people within a congregation, the Elders must abide by the law, however the elders are not policemen they deal with sin not crime, but where were the parents in this issue, there are lots of unanswered questions and the elders are not available for comment maybe they did obstruct Justice maybe they did abide by the law maybe they were trying not to embarrass the child or the family, there are lots of different reasons as to why things appear as they do but not knowing the ins and outs of it doesn't mean we should jump to conclusions and assume the worst of them as you are doing and it's not that I blame you because child abuse is a serious issue all over the world today. I went through the Royal Australian commission transcripts and videos for this case against the Watchtower based on people who claimed to be abused and it's never as cut and dry as it appears. once you start to get into this you see that it is everywhere in other organisations and it must be in with the Witnesses as well but it is definitely not practiced with consent by the society and it is definitely not hidden intentionally, however because we don't have the full facts it is not easy to convince people that no wrongdoing has been committed by those in authority because sometimes, in some cases people were not taken seriously and that in itself is wrong but that doesn't mean the whole organisation is bad and Jehovah is displeased with the governing body because of the acts of the few if that were the case Jehovah would have disowned Israel from the very beginning before it even started

[Evacuated]

Folks! Please get this in perspective: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41200949

And Otto, your objective comments are great but i could not upvote as you must leave JTR to express his(strong) feelings on this matter. He obviously cares even if you don't agree with all his sentiments.