Is the report that the Jehovahs Witnesses settled 14 child abuse cases out of court recently true?

Question

There is a report on some of the Jehovahs Witness Discussion Forums that the Watchtower Society settled 14 law suits taken out against them by victime of child abuse from within their congregations out of court. All these cases were in the USA, and it is also reported that the Watchtower was able to impose a gagging order on the claimants to prevent them going public with the settlements. However, the news has, apparently, been leaked, not by the claimants or their legal representatives, but by people within the organisation who wish that the truth should be told. Apparrently, the Napa Valley Courthouse in California has confirmed that these cases have indeed been settled out of court, but no details of the size of the payouts has been revealed as yet. If these reports are accurate, it would appear that the Watchtower Society has once again been able to cover up child abuse cases within their organisation, though settling out of court is an admission of guilt in itself.

Answer 1

Yes, it's true, there are two Press Conferences today re: this, one in Nashville,TN, at 10 am, and another in San Diego at 1 pm (both Thursday 5/10/07). A film crew from France will be in Nashville, and Press Releases have already been sent out yesterday. Visit the silentlambs.org website for more details, scoll down left side. All those who may live near either of these two cities and who care about abuse coverups, by all means please go downtown and lend support!

Nashville, TN Press Conference: Davidson County Court House: The courthouse is located at the exit 48 off I-24 Davidson County Chancery Court 200 James Robertson Pkwy Nashville, TN 37201 Take Exit 48 (James Robertson Pkwy/State Capital). Turn right onto James Robertson Pkwy. Immediately after going over the Victory Memorial Bridge turn left into the Public Square Garage. Parking is about $6 - $8 for the time we will be there.
We will meet on the front Courthouse steps at 10 o'clock am Thursday morning 5/10/07.

San Diego, CA Press Conference: Outside the Hall of Justice, 330 West Broadway, in San Diego, CA 9210; Thursday, May 10, 1:00 p.m.

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Re: the "HUGE" pay off/settlement, if one just puts Two and Two Together, it's not hard to figure out WHY the WTBTS decided to do this (strangely, too many are assuming the WT just didn't want to fight a long battle. NOT! Since WHEN has the Org backed-down from a legal battle? They went all the way to the Supreme Court 41-42 times in the 1940s/1950s, so why run from 16 plaintiffs whom the WT no doubt says are lying, are from Satan himself, etc. etc. [the WT is famous for demonizing the VICTIM rather than the PERPETRATOR] ).

The ONLY reason the WT "paid off" the plaintifffs is because they were losing BIG TIME, but moreso to keep from having their backsides EXPOSED, like so:

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Dated 10/19/2006:

Love and Norris Cracks Watchtower Pedophile Database!
http://www.silentlambs.org/courtrulingnapa.ht...

Recent decisions in California Courts have ruled in favor of abuse survivors in that state. The Legal Department lawyers of Jehovah’s Witnesses have fought with filing after filing trying to claim “clergy penitent privilege” with information that would lead to the possible conviction or implication of further crimes against children by Jehovah’s Witness child molesters. The secondary issue regards civil damages brought upon victims due to negligence of church officials in not reporting allegations of child abuse putting additional children in danger.

This ruling from the court states simply that the church cannot use “clergy penitent privilege” as a way to protect pedophiles from law enforcement. The ruling further states information stated in judicial hearings of Jehovah’s Witnesses as well as documents generated by those hearings ARE NOT "PRIVILEGED" and WILL HAVE TO BE RELEASED TO THE COURTS as any information that is relevant to the case.

IN ADDITION, the Legal Department WILL HAVE TO PRODUCE ALL DOCUMENTS related to their abuse policy and how they investigate child abuse allegations.

MOST IMPORTANTLY the ruling states: “RECORDS KEPT BY OR UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT CONCERNING ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE," that DIRECTLY INVOLVES the PEDOPHILE DATABASE reported by silentlambs in April of 2002. This represents the FIRST OFFICIAL RULING of the court that OPENS THE DATABASE FOR PUBLIC SCRUTINY. [emphasis/caps added]
[...]

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And there you have it. For once WT lawyers were losing left and right, on every count that is "sacred" to the WT heirarchy. The WT cannot afford (reputation-wise, in ITS OWN EYES) for that pedophile database to be opened to the public and all those 25,000+ names turned over to the courts, which is what would happen in a trial, discovery process, etc.

Once the grape-vine begins permeating through the KHalls, you can expect some noble-sounding propaganda being issued from the Tower as to why they decided to settle. Believe it not! You have your answer as to why they settled, above.

L2TC

Answer 2

Jehovah's Witnesses HATE child abuse!

Answer 3

The premise of this so-called "question" is demonstrably false, and shamefully dishonest. It is revealing to recognize just how disgraceful the enemies of Jehovah's Witnesses truly are.


Jehovah's Witnesses are disgusted and repulsed by abuse, and are relieved when secular law enforcement officials successfully investigate, prosecute, and punish any criminal who engages in these terrible crimes.

Jehovah's Witnesses fully understand that their role as a religion is in providing comfort to the victim and her family, sharing relevant bible warnings with the congregation and specific potential victims, extolling Christian peaceableness and righteousness, and eventually perhaps in counseling a repentant sinner.

Government workers such as police and prosecutors are generally empowered to pursue criminal matters. Jehovah's Witnesses always work in obedience to secular law and deference to the personal decisions of victims (and their families, where practical). Jehovah's Witness ministers do not investigate criminal matters, leaving such matters to law enforcement authorities.

An unrepentant baptized Jehovah's Witness who is found guilty of a secular crime is likely to be disfellowshipped (or "excommunicated", although Witnesses do not use this latter term). However, a sin against God's supreme authority is clearly a different matter from a sin against secular superior authorities. The standards for criminal conviction and forced religious disassociation will never be identical.


This so-called "question" is almost certainly not sincere, but rather is intended as a slanderous assault on Jehovah's Witnesses. Interestingly, such "hatred" should be expected by true Christians in this time of the end, and it actually helps identify Jehovah's Witnesses as Christ's true disciples:

(John 15:19) If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, on this account the world hates you.

(2 Timothy 4:3-5) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories. You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.

Learn more:
http://jw-media.org/vnr/2122827332/717263.htm
http://jw-media.org/vnr/2122827332/713173.htm
http://jw-media.org/vnr/2122827332/716353.htm
http://jw-media.org/region/global/english/backgrounders/e_molestation.htm
http://jw-media.org/region/americas/usa/english/releases/educational/usa_e990402a.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/19970101/
http://watchtower.org/e/19850122/
http://watchtower.org/e/19951101a/

Answer 4

I agree with dizzi..

Child abuse has been carried out right across the strata of different organisations and much of it kept from leaking out for fear of tarnishing the image of that organisation.

Answer 5

its been happening with religious sects for years always trying to cover it up.....they are all as bad