Some how this most important part was cut off and I can't edit it "In 2024, the Archdiocese of Seattle refused to release documents related to clergy abuse, citing court-upheld exemptions under the Charitable Trust Act. The case is now on appeal. However, other religious organizations, including Jehovah's Witnesses and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also rely on the exemption to shield themselves from accountability in reporting abuse.
"Abuse thrives in silence," said Mitch Melin, a former member of Jehovah's Witnesses. "Washington's failure to protect its children with mandatory reporting laws is a betrayal of its most vulnerable. This hearing is a chance for every voice to demand justice and ensure no institution is above accountability when it comes to the safety of our children.