Mary,
In Pennsylania and California, the harmed individuals may have the right to sue the religion for shunning It's a type of coercion that keeps followers inside a religion that they do not want to be in. The fear of losing one's family & one's business relationships are a concern of the government. The freedom to enter and TO LEAVE a religion should be protected. We do not live in an Islamic country - where you are severly punished for leaving a religion. Yet, with shunning by family & business associates, this is what we have. There is a Mennonite case in Pennsylvania Supreme Court and another case in California Supreme Court that speaks of shunning & coercion. In those cases, the shunned follower won money. If you PM me, I'll give you the case names, if you care to read them.
Skeeter