Lawsuits allege cover-up of sexual abuse by Jehovah's Witnesses-CNN.com (page 5)

Wow, good thing the WTS has prepared its members! At the current DC they told them they cannot trust the media because it is under the control of Satan and being influenced by apostates. Truly food at the proper time!

Elsewhere

ashitaka

Lol @ elsewhere

and....

ping

hawkaw

Got this from SL ....

I have no url link but it comes with reporter's phone number and Email addy. I think it came out yesterday or today.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Appearing in the Daily Democrat of Woodland California

Courts

Lawsuit filed against Jehovah’s Witnesses Church

Alleges coverup of abuse charges

By Becky Trout Democrat Staff Writer

Three people filed a lawsuit Thursday alleging that officials of the Jehovah’s Witnesses church repeatedly covered-up charges of sexual abuse of a minor by a member of the Woodland congregation.

This case follows a succesion of national and international suits of within the last year.

Plaintiffs Daniel West and Steve and Amber Pence allege that church officials were aware of abuse yet failed to report complaints to law enforcement officials or remove the offending leaders from interaction with children.

According to the suit, victims were threatened with punishment if they warned others and, in at least one case, accused of homosexual activity, which violates church policy.

The local action follows a previous criminal case by the state against Timothy Silva.

In 2001, Silva pleaded guilty to two counts of lewd and lascivious conduct against Shane Pence, one of the three plaintiffs, who was a monit when the abuse and the plea occurred.

Silva, a former programmer at UC Davis, was sentenced to 180 days in jail and a fine of about $1600.00. According to the suit, he lives in Woodland and is currently registered as a sexual predator in accordance with Megan’s Law. Silva’s address could not be verified Monday.

In the current civil case, Silva is one of several defendants; the others are various entities of the Jehovah’s Witnesses church, referred to in the lawsuit as the "Watchtower Defendants."

The Woodland Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses is also named as a defendant.

Silva no longer associates with members of the Woodland church, according to Paul Pfotenhauer, an elder in the congregation. Silva was publicly reproved but not excommunicated or "disfellowshipped", Pfotenhauer said.

Contradicting allegations in the lawsuit, Pfotenhauer said church members and Pence’s family members reported the abuse to the police.

"We have zero tolerance for (sexual abuse) Pfotenhauer said.

A 1995 article in the church’s official publication, The Watchtower, concurs that sexual abuse of children is "among the vilest perversions." Then, the anonymous article suggests that individuals suffering from "memories", always written in quotes, should contact the alleged abuser, preferably face-to-face.

If the alleged abuser denies the accusation, "nothing more can be done in a juducial way." And ultimate justice is left to God, according to the article.

According to the article, members should obey the law unless a "government demands what is in direct conflict with what God commands," according to the official website.

Woodland church elders said they were not aware of the lawsuit untill seeing the advertisement in the Sacramento Bee Sunday. The advertisement announced a series of meetings held by the plaintiff’s attorneys in order to gather additional information.

"Hopefully we can prevent this type of stuff from happening in the future," said Bill Brelsford, a partnet at the law firm Nolan Saul Brelsford, one of the firms representing the plaintiffs. The other firm is Love and Norris.

In conjunction with the case in Yolo county, the law firms filed suits in Tehama and Napa counties.

Plaintiffs are suing the church for monetary damages.

Becky Trout can be reached at 406-6231 or [email protected].

hawkaw

Comments from SL and request for apology.

http://www.silentlambs.org/newsletter/NewsLetterItem.cfm?SendoutID=124

waiting

Thanks Hawk,

I thought the following quotes most interesting. The article is in italics, and Bowen's comments are straight up (rather like him sometimes, eh?) I'm the red.

Very interesting. Good writing style.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brumley explained the requirement stems from biblical references that no single witness should rise up against any man. But he denied the church discourages victims or their parents from going to police.

Bru(m)ley reinforces that a lay minister investigation of child rape is to be determined as factual only if a child can produce an eye witness to the rape in the face of the molester’s denial. He fails to mention that the alleged molester now is deemed innocent if the child cannot produce an eye witness and remains in good standing in the congregation with the family of the victim being charged to remain silent to all members of the congregation with the threat of expulsion.

Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the ab

Lawsuits allege cover-up of sexual abuse by Jehovah's Witnesses-CNN.com

expatbrit

drwtsn32

Elsewhere

ashitaka

hawkaw

hawkaw

waiting

waiting

waiting

waiting

Share this