A letter was sent to all congregations in nearby circuits instructing (not asking) elders to refuse to comment if approached by press etc. Nothing was said about how to handle householders who might have read the papers.
The (not so) pure one
Jehovah's Witness whose wife died after refusing blood transfusion is jailed for 13 years over child sex abuse covered up by religion's elders
by ThomasCovenant 23 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse
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Sol Reform
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/gordon-leighton-jehovahs-witness-whose-2214200
Gordon Leighton: Jehovah's Witness whose child abuse was covered up by church elders is jailed
24 Aug 2013 00:00
He broke down and admitted the abuse to three church elders but they refused to co-operate with a police probe, a court heard NNP
A Jehovah's Witness whose church covered up his sex abuse of a child was jailed for 13 years yesterday.
Gordon Leighton, 53, broke down and admitted the abuse to three church elders when confronted with allegations.
He confessed to Simon Preyser, Harry Logan and David Scott in 2010 but they refused to co-operate with a police probe, Newcastle crown court heard.
Their barrister Richard Daniels claimed they had a "duty to God" not to breach confidence.
He said: "Privileged communication between members of the congregation and ministers is an absolute right and there is no power in law to breach such a confidence."
But Judge Penny Moreland made an order, saying: "They are in possession of relevant evidence as to a point which is of real significance."
The court heard David Scott, an elder of Washington's Lampton Kingdom Hall, made a telephone call to the church's London HQ.He was instructed, with other elders, to carry out an investigation into the sex abuse claims against Leighton when they first emerged in December, 2009.
A meeting was set up in April 2010, to see if a "sin" had been committed.Leighton confessed after Bible verses were quoted which said "God sees everything".
He broke down, and was not 'banished' by the church until further allegations were made against him.
Prosecutor Katherine Dunn told the court: "The elders conducted their own investigation.
After initially denying the allegations the defendant broke down and admitted sexually abusing the complainant."But Leighton, of Washington, Tyne and Wear, refused to answer any questions when interviewed by detectives and claimed his confession at the meeting was limited.
He was found guilty on two counts of indecency with a child, and six of indecent assault after a six-day trial.
Judge Moreland told him: "You manipulated her with a combination of affection and attention and violence and threats."
She jailed him for 13 years. He was also given a sexual offences prevention order and must sign the sex offenders' register for life.
Leighton was at the centre of an infamous case when his first wife Yvonne, 28, died after refusing a blood transfusion on religious grounds.
After giving birth to a baby boy in January 1993, she needed surgical intervention and developed further complications and blood loss.
But shehad signed a form during her hospital stay, stating she was not to receive a blood transfusion. She died as a result. -
carla
Until the courts start prosecuting the elders (or any others in authority in religious communities)things will remain the same. Elders who let a pedophile back into society are just as guilty as the guy who's hands are all over the children.
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Vidiot
"Throughout the criminal investigation, church elders Simon Preyser, Harry Logan and David Scott refused to make statements about Leighton's confession, keeping their stance when the case was brought before Newcastle Crown Court."
When you're fully convinced God's got your back, even basic common decency goes straight out the window.
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AnnOMaly
I'm so glad he's gone to jail! I'm also glad the elders who resisted helping the police got named and they cooperated at the eleventh hour (all out of moves, I guess). Browsing around the 'net, it seems that forcing disclosure of what was discussed under 'clergy privilege' is discretionary according to UK law, and that claiming 'clergy privilege' is no guarantee that it will remain inviolable. I wonder whether the same points of law/arguments were used in the wrangling about 'privilege' in this case as were used in the Conti case or whether there were other legal issues specific to the UK.
Did anyone know that, when his wife Yvonne died leaving a baby son back in '93, she already had a 6-year-old daughter? Perhaps she was the victim? Whoever it was, I hope she has a sense of closure now and can begin to heal.
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JWdaughter
still trying to figure out what "duty to god" required them to stonewall police and protect a child abuser from receiving justice?
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mind blown
FINALLY....decent press regarding JW's and child sex abuse.
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/washington-jehovahs-witness-jailed-13-5780371
(pix & names of elders who stonewalled the case) http://freethinker.co.uk/2013/08/24/jehovahs-witness-elders-stonewalled-a-police-probe-into-church-members-sexual-abuse/
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MidwichCuckoo
...I did post a comment on the Daily Mail article, but they didn't publish it, drat! Anyone else here try to comment? I imagine there have been many similar comments to mine which have been rejected as the few comments published are generally not well informed.
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ThomasCovenant
''still trying to figure out what "duty to god" required them to stonewall police and protect a child abuser from receiving justice?''
Me too. This is the bit that gets me.
There are, have been, and always will be, 'evil' people in all walks of life who will take advantage of and sexually abuse children.
However, there is no need for 'good' people, assuming the three elders were 'good', to put 'duty to god' above the need to report and help local police authorities with their efforts to stop people abusing children.
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St George of England
I'm sure the actions of the elders have contributed to the severity of the sentance.
They really ought to be doing the time behind bars as well.
George