Valis, This congregation sure didn't let my mother use her own conscience. My mom was on her way out, not attending meeting anymore. My father and mother had separated and my father who never was a witness went to the elders and said he just knew my mother was committing adultery, which she wasn't. The elders called her to a committee meeting which she refuse to go to as she hadn't done anything wrong except quit going to meetings and out in service. Because of her refusal to attend they were looking for something to disfellowship her on. So it was for speaking to me.
My mom had been a devout witness for 25 years, raising 5 children, attending meetings, service, witness functions etc. My dad supported us financially, but that was the extent of his involvement with us. He cheated on my mother constantly and would brag about it to her. She waited until her kids were grown and finally left him. He started running to elders trying to get her in trouble and telling them that they need to make her come back. He actually started studying which he never did the whole time my mother was a witness. When that didn't work, he told on her for still speaking to me and they disfellowshipped her.
He now tells people that he is a JW and therefore doesn't celebrate anything, but smokes 2 packs a day and continues to drink.