Sixteen Child Sex Abuse Lawsuits against Jehovah’s Witnesses Are Settled

by Dogpatch 166 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

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  Dogpatch

  Press Release 5/10/07 http://www.freeminds.org/history/16lawsuits.htm Sixteen Child Sex Abuse Lawsuits against Jehovah’s Witnesses Are Settled Largest Deal Ever in Denomination’s History Includes Controversial Gag Order One of the Predators is A Fugitive & Was Profiled on “America’s Most Wanted” Nation-wide Support Group Blasts Secrecy & Wants To Help Others Who Are Wounded WHAT: At a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will disclose and discuss a child molestation settlement (allegedly in the millions of dollars and the largest-ever) against the Jehovah's Witnesses. All but two of the 16 victims are Californians. One of the predators, a San Diego native, was on ‘America’s Most Wanted.’ They’ll also discuss a nationwide outreach effort to find and help more men and women who have been sexually abused by Jehovah's Witness officials. WHEN: Thursday, May 10, 1:00 PM WHERE: Outside the Hall of Justice, 330 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101, phone: 619-531-4460. WHO: Several clergy molestation victims including a Long Beach woman who is the long time western regional director of a nationwide support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, SNAPnetwork.org) DETAILS:Over a five day period in February, 16 civil child sex abuse lawsuits against Watchtower (the Jehavoah’s Witness headquarters in New York City) were quietly settled in three states (CA, TX and OR). The victims involved were essentially coerced into signing ‘gag orders’ that prevent them from discussing the cases. Attorneys for the victims are Greg Love and Kimberly Norris of Ft. Worth Texas (817 560 5600). Six years ago media was first alerted that Jehovah’s Witnesses have a policy that endangers children. Since that first report in which William H. Bowen reported a fellow elder in Kentucky that was a confessed child molester and who remains a Jehovah’s Witness in good standing to this day, over 6,000 abuse survivors have come forward to say they too were molested and silenced by Jehovah’s Witness policy on child abuse. Dateline, CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, BBC, CBC, New York Times and over 30 countries have aired documentaries that identified child rapists who enjoy sanctuary in Jehovah’s Witness congregations. In 2007, fugitive Rick McLean (a San Diego native and long time resident) was featured on America’s Most Wanted and suspected of molesting over 30 children while protected as a Jehovah’s Witness. In the last five years, more than 40 lawsuits against Watchtower (the Jehovah’s Witnesses headquarters/administrative arm in NYC) have been filed by members to seek justice for the way they were treated by church policy when they were molested as children. Attorney Jeff Anderson successful in over 600 lawsuits over abuse states, “When victims are forced to sign gag orders it is a continuation of the coerced code of silence from church hierarchy. Jehovah’s Witnesses silenced molested kids before the elders and now they are doing it in the courts. After a five year court battle Watchtower is finally admitting they have hurt children. Material will be provided to assist Nashville Jehovah’s Witness sexual abuse survivors at the press conference. http://www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=35566 Mary Grant of Long Beach CA, SNAP western regional director 626-419-2930 cell David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP national director 314-566-9790 cell Statement by Bill Bowen of Paducah Kentucky, founder of SilentLambs.org, a support group for those molested by Jehovah’s Witnesses. . .270-703-2257 Sex abuse survivors through litigation have forced Jehovah’s Witnesses to admit their policy on child abuse is not working. Watchtower policy has silenced thousands of victims and continues to strangle their ability to cry for justice and healing. One month ago, we were informed about settlements in some of the more than forty recent civil sex abuse lawsuits against the Jehovah's Witnesses. We learned that 16 victims were paid the largest settlement in history of Jehovah’s Witnesses but forced to sign a gag order that forbids them from speaking about their abuse. We find this bittersweet. On one hand, we're glad a few victims are finally getting some financial help. On the other hand, we're sad and worried because they've essentially been forced to give up their right to protect others by speaking out about their abuse to the public. In 2002, US Catholic bishops publicly promised that the church would never ask for gag orders when compensating abuse survivors. Five years later, Jehovah’s Witnesses do just the reverse. They keep putting innocent kids and unsuspecting families at risk of horrible crimes because they value their secrecy and reputations more than they value children's safety. Jehovah’s Witness kids that experience abuse need to have freedom to speak. It is time to step up and do the right thing instead of protecting the reputation of the church. Watchtower's secrecy and recklessness gives dangerous men like Rick McLean continued access to youngsters. McLean was recently featured on America's Most Wanted as one of the 15 most wanted fugitives in this country. Four of his victims were part of the sixteen lawsuits recently settled and silenced by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Because Watchtower officials never reported McLean and his crimes to law enforcement, he remains on the run and in fact might be molesting kids right now. Watchtower has a long-standing and ridiculous policy of not reporting molesters to police, requiring two eye witnesses before an abused child is believed and insisting that untrained individuals do internal investigations. This keeps kids vulnerable and predators free. Watchtower has attacked and ousted members of conscience who have spoken out on to protect kids. They have protected child molesters by maintaining a secret database of more that 25,000 molesters that they do not shared with law enforcement. Finally, when a few victims find the courage and strength to speak up, get help, warn others, and seek justice in court, church officials silence them with hurtful gag orders. Why did they settle? Last fall, a California court ruling would have required Watchtower to open their pedophile database. To prevent this information from becoming public, church officials chose to settle these 16 cases. They do not want anyone to know how much damaging information the database contains. This is an international problem that needs to be addressed by one of the wealthiest religious groups in the world. At silentlambs.org, we want victims to know that, now more than ever, they can speak out, get help, expose molesters and protect others. Now more than ever, the legal climate has changed and is changing, so they have a better chance to get justice in court and deter others from hiding sex crimes. We are announcing a worldwide campaign to reach Jehovah’s Witness sex abuse victims. We are asking that this downloadable “Service Bulletin” be placed in every Kingdom Hall (JW CHURCH) around the world and delivered to any Jehovah’s Witness that you may come in contact with. By doing so you can help victims find healing and protect children.

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  Highlander

  “When victims are forced to sign gag orders it is a continuation of the coerced code of silence from church hierarchy. Jehovah’s Witnesses silenced molested kids before the elders and now they are doing it in the courts.

  In 2002, US Catholic bishops publicly promised that the church would never ask for gag orders when compensating abuse survivors. Five years later, Jehovah’s Witnesses do just the reverse. They keep putting innocent kids and unsuspecting families at risk of horrible crimes because they value their secrecy and reputations more than they value children's safety. Jehovah’s Witness kids that experience abuse need to have freedom to speak. It is time to step up and do the right thing instead of protecting the reputation of the church.

  Why did they settle? Last fall, a California court ruling would have required Watchtower to open their pedophile database. To prevent this information from becoming public, church officials chose to settle these 16 cases. They do not want anyone to know how much damaging information the database contains.

  Excellent quotes that I hope the media uses! Damnit,, how do I turn off this yellow!
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  What-A-Coincidence

  AMEN!!! THIS IS WHAT I CALL 'GOOD NEWS' !!!
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  Dogpatch

  By now Danny Haszard has covered the news media as well. :-))

  GO DANNY!

  Randy
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  Atlantis

  Thanks Randy for the update! I would think that there would be more cases than that. But this is good news.

  Take care old friend!

  Cheers! Atlantis & Nevada-
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  Highlander

  By now Danny Haszard has covered the news media as well. :-))

  GO DANNY!

  Yes,, that guy is a machine.

  An apostadroid, if you will.
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  DannyHaszard

  1st one up TOP rank already

  JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES PAY PEDOPHILE SETTLEMENT
  International Falls Daily Journal, MN - 19 minutes ago
  The group will also announce an outreach effort to find and help more men and women who have been sexually abused by Jehovah's Witness officials....
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  Dogpatch

  Please note:

  times have changed:

  WHEN:
  Thursday, May 10, 1:00 PM

  WHERE:

  Outside the Hall of Justice, 330 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101, phone: 619-531-4460.

  If you live near San Diego and can make it at 1:00 PM (not 10:00 AM as the press release says) show up!

  Randy
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  Dogpatch

  Danny is DA MACHINE
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  stillajwexelder

  Randy and Danny - dynamite - keep up the good work