http://archive.uua.org/president/mandated_reporting_letter.htm
no doubt other states have followed suit.
2007-09-03 14:31:41 · 8 answers · asked by PediC 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Paladin, no kidding. You'd think people who claimed to have such high standards of behavior would know how to do the right thing.
2007-09-03 14:38:21 · update #1
evidently this became law in Massachusetts in May of 2002.
2007-09-03 16:52:36 · update #2
Teem, what's being said here is pretty clear. If a clergyman suspects abuse, he's reported by law to report it to the legal authorities and will be sanctioned if it's discovered he kept it quiet. This was enacted into law because clergy obviously did not do the right thing prior to 2002. For people who live according to a bible based conscious, the course of action when child abuse is suspected should be pretty clear, even within the ranks of the church. It's obvious church clergy, JWs included, needed assistance with their conscience.
Now let's look at the definition of slander. The American Heritage dictionary defines slander as:
"A false and malicious statement or report about someone."
Again, with the accusation of slander, what part of the above question is slanderous? Don't JWs claim to be ministers? The mandated reporter law applies to all ministers/clergy, etc. Just because something's said you don't want to hear doesn't make it slander.
2007-09-04 02:59:51 · update #3
you'd be wise to "make sure of all things" and check out the laws in YOUR state. Again, your bible based conscience -should- be your guide and a law should not be required in this matter.
2007-09-04 03:00:25 · update #4
Al, it's not up to the elders or the individual minister, legally it's a requirement of them. doesn't matter if the parents and the child desire the reporting or not.
My sister is a teacher and she's also considered a "mandated reporter." believe me, she often doesn't want to tell what she's heard or suspects, but she's required to by law. And now, so are clergy and ministers.
2007-09-04 12:20:48 · update #5
I would consider it immoral for anyone to know that a child is being abused and not report it.
2007-09-03 14:37:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
A law like that is better for the clergy then it is for the abused person. With this law, talking to your pastor is equal to going to the police so a nervous girl who needs to talk isnt going to talk to anyone. How many victims are going to keep their troubles bottled up now inside instead of counselling with thier pastor?
Well I don't think it applies to a regular JW "minister" anyway but I guess to elders. I know I read that JWs always follow the law about police reports but its better to let the family and the abused person decide about procecuting. Thier policy somewhere on the JW-media.org web.
2007-09-04 10:35:37 · answer #2 · answered by Al 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Every Jehovah's Wittness who is a 'publisher' (preaches door to door and has their preaching hours documented)baptised or unbaptised, is suppose to consider themselves a 'Minister'.
Therefore no Jehovah's Wittness publisher is exempt for from that law in that state.
That law should be mandatory in all countries.
Edit: Al......there are many times I have heard Jehovah's Wittnesses proclaim the fact that while 'worldly' churches have only one minister per congregation, every Jehovah's Wittness is a minister. They take that aspect very seriously.
2007-09-03 14:53:00 · answer #3 · answered by . 6 · 4⤊ 2⤋
In the mental health profession, at least in my state, we are REQUIRED by law to report our knowledge of a crime that has been committed. Patient confidentiality doesn't extend quite THAT far. As far as I know, clergy are under the same parameters. Anything else is unethical and unlawful.
2007-09-03 16:39:02 · answer #4 · answered by Simon Peter 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
So you are saying prior to 2002 in Mass. it wasn't mandated.
therefore prior to that date, Clergymen were not required to report SUSPECTED child abuse.
You are correct in saying 'may be' and not they must in all states.
Are all suspected people quilty of child abuse?
Were the men and women in Salem, Mass. really witches?
Slander is also a sin warrenting death and is against the law in most states.
.
2007-09-03 17:57:40 · answer #5 · answered by TeeM 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋
It is about damn time!
The fine is not enough.
Anyone who protects a child molester should spend a year in the joint with a tattooed bodybuilding inmate named bubba that needs a new wife.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AiJx8yTnWmDVhBTV6yaxLjXty6IX?qid=20070903144548AAQe11y&show=7#profile-info-8d3vlrOZaa
Notice the witness response..scary
2007-09-03 14:48:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 4⤋
everyone is should report abuse, or you are promoting it
2007-09-03 14:38:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
SORRY.... YOU ARE... " ONLY " ABOUT 15-YEARS... LATE.. with that Information!
Thanks, RR
2007-09-03 14:39:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋