The SilentLambs Strike Back -- with 77 News Articles around the United States since July 28th, 2003!
Child Abuse Victims in California sue the Watchtower Society!!!!!
Below are ALL of the California SilentLambs Lawsuit News Articles I could find from Google News!
I highly recommend and encourage everyone to send any of these News Articles to local and national News Media Websites, TV Stations, Newspapers, Magazines, Anti-Cult Groups, Anti-Abuse Groups, etc.
I would love to hear everyone's comments!
For all of the most up-to-date and accurate JW Child Abuse Information, please visit http://www.SilentLambs.org __________________________________________________________________
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http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/07/29/jehovahs.witnesses.lawsuit.ap/
CNN.com / Law Center
Lawsuits allege cover-up of sexual abuse by Jehovah's Witnesses
Tuesday, July 29, 2003 Posted: 9:38 AM EDT (1338 GMT)
SACRAMENTO, California (AP) -- Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
"Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it," Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
"We abhor child abuse," Brumley said. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tennessee, worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/07/29/national/main565579.shtml
CBS News
Jehovah's Witnesses Sued
SACRAMENTO, July 29, 2003
(Photo: CBS/AP)
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
(AP) Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
"Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it," Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
"We abhor child abuse," Brumley said. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Brumley said ten lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
By Don Thompson © MMIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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http://www.abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20030729_151.html
ABC News
Abuse Suits Point at Jehovah's Witnesses
Flurry of Lawsuits Allege Cover Up of Sexual Abuse by Jehovah's Witnesses
The Associated Press
SACRAMENTO July 29 —
Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
"Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it," Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
"We abhor child abuse," Brumley said. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
On the Net:
Jehovah's Witnesses:
Silentlambs Web site:
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/07/31/BA38148.DTL
San Francisco Chronicle
Jehovah's Witnesses hit with rash of sex-abuse suits
Don Lattin, Chronicle Religion Writer Thursday, July 31, 2003
Eight former members of the Jehovah's Witnesses have filed lawsuits in three Northern California counties alleging that they were sexually molested as children and that their church covered up the crimes.
The lawsuits against the church and its congregations in Yolo, Napa and Tehama counties seek unspecified damages against two individuals and several organizations affiliated with the religious group.
The Jehovah's Witnesses, famous for promoting its "Watchtower" religious tracts on city streets and door-to-door, is a Christian millenarian sect that arose in the wake of the "Great Disappointment" of the 1840s, when several predictions about the end of the world failed to come to pass.
Members hold views different from those most Christian churches preach, most notably their denial of the Trinity and their belief that only 144,000 true believers will achieve full sainthood when the world does end.
The allegations against the Jehovah's Witnesses are similar to those leveled against the Roman Catholic Church in numerous lawsuits filed in California and across the country in recent years.
The legal assault -- coordinated and filed last week by the Sacramento law firm of Nolen Saul
Brelsford -- is the latest action under a new state law that temporarily abolishes the statute of limitations on lawsuits dealing with child abuse cases, making it easier to collect money from churches, schools and other organizations with a history of sexual abuse.
Because they deal with civil law, the lawsuits against Jehovah's Witnesses are not bound by last month's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down a California law used to prosecute priests and other alleged child molesters accused of decades-old abuse.
In Yolo County, the lawsuit was brought by Daniel West, 26; Shane Pence, 18;
and Amber Pence, 23.
All three plaintiffs say they were molested by Timothy Silva, who led "adolescent book studies" at the Jehovah's Witnesses congregation in Woodland.
"This sexual predator used his appointed position of leadership and authority over children to gain access to and abuse those children," the lawsuit states.
Paul Polidoro, the associate general counsel for the Jehovah's Witnesses, said the staff at the church headquarters in New York had not yet seen the lawsuit and had no comment on the specific allegations.
"The majority of these lawsuits are parishioner-on-parishioner incidents," Polidoro said.
Silva, who, according to plaintiffs' attorney William Brelsford, was convicted in 1995 of lewd and lascivious behavior with a minor, could not be reached for comment.
"Our local congregations and national organization take child abuse quite seriously," Polidoro said. "Child abuse allegations are reported to (the) authorities if they occur."
Not so, the lawsuit charges.
It alleges that church leaders were told that West had been molested from 1991, when he was 13 years old, through 1993.
"Watchtower defendants did not notify authorities nor take any steps to hold (Silva) accountable," the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit goes on to charge that the church exacerbated the trauma to West by accusing him "of participating in homosexual activity."
The complaint also alleges that one of the other plaintiffs, Shane Pence, was 7 years old when Silva "committed continued and repeated sexual battery" on the boy for five years, until 1997.
"His mother reported the abuse to the Watchtower defendants," the suit states, and was told not to contact the police herself, that the church would take care of the problem.
"Watchtower defendants did not report the abuse to authorities and took no steps to address it," the lawsuit charges.
The only other named, living perpetrator in the four lawsuits filed last week is convicted child molester James Henderson of Red Bluff, who, Brelsford said, is alleged to have molested then-15-year-old plaintiff "Tim W." in 1994.
Daniel Hall, who left the Jehovah's Witnesses in 1992 and now runs a "counter-cult" ministry in Sacramento, said the tightly controlled nature of the sect made it even harder for children and adults to speak out against sexual abuse.
"These children have been living in fear and are just coming out," said Hall.
Hall is working with another former Jehovah's Witness, William Bowen, who has an extensive Web site (www.silentlambs.org) devoted to the abuse problem in the sect.
Bowen's Web site, which includes a SilentLambs store selling coffee mugs and T-shirts with the group's logo, reports that "inside sources" at the headquarters of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York have revealed secret files with the names of 23,720 accused child molesters.
Hall and Bowen will be among the speakers Aug. 8-10 at a weekend conference about cults and sects being held at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Marin County.
Hall described the conference as a "gathering of people who have come out of these groups and become Christians."
Polidoro said he was insulted by Hall's ministry and Bowen's allegations.
"We are a well-established religion that has been in this country for a century," he said. "It's somewhat offensive when someone uses the word 'cult' to describe your religion."
E-mail Don Lattin at [email protected].
Page A - 15
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http://www.davisenterprise.com/articles/2003/08/01/news/152new1.txt
Lawsuits allege Jehovah's Witnesses abuse
By Lauren Keene/Enterprise staff writer
WOODLAND -- Three former members of the Woodland congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses have filed a civil lawsuit against the church, claiming officials there failed to discipline and even promoted the church leader who allegedly molested them.
The suit was filed July 24 in Yolo Superior Court on behalf of Daniel West, Amber Pence and Shane Pence, all of whom said they were sexually molested while in the care of adolescent book studies leader Timothy Silva.
Sacramento attorney Bill Brelsford alleges in the suit that Jehovah's Witness church officials "engaged in a systematic pattern and practice" of suppressing information to conceal incidents of child molestation from both law enforcement and the church's own membership for more than a decade.
The suit also alleges that church officials in Woodland not only failed to discipline Silva when complaints about him arose starting in 1987, but appointed him to a higher position of authority and allowed him continued unsupervised access to children.
"This predator used his appointed position of leadership with authority over children to gain access to and abuse these children," the suit says.
In published reports about the lawsuits, church officials have denied the allegations in the various lawsuits.
The suit filed in Yolo County gave an address for Silva of Third Street in Woodland, but a resident there said Thursday that Silva had moved just over a year ago. Other attempts to reach him were unsuccessful.
Brelsford said the alleged molests began in 1990, when Amber Pence, now 22, said she was molested by Silva at the age of 13. Daniel West, now 26, says Silva molested him from 1991 to 1993, starting at age 14. Shane Pence, Amber's 18-year-old brother, reported being abused from 1992 to 1997, starting at age 7.
All three plaintiffs say they reported the alleged molests to church authorities, but they took no action to discipline Silva or prevent future molests from occurring. In West's case, church officials allegedly accused him of participating in homosexual activity, "thereby exacerbating his trauma," the suit says.
The plaintiffs also said they were instructed to keep the matters "within the organization" and not disclose them to outside authorities.
But the Pence family apparently eventually took their complaints to police, who according to court records arrested Silva in 2000 on suspicion of molesting Shane Pence. Records show Silva was convicted in September 2001 of lewd and lascivious acts on a child under age 14 and sentenced to probation.
Charges were not filed in the other children's cases because the statute of limitations had expired, Brelsford said.
The three plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages for emotional distress, embarrassment, loss of self-esteem, lost earning capacity and expenses they have incurred for medical and psychological treatment, the suit says.
A status conference for the case has been scheduled for Dec. 28 before Judge Thomas Warriner. Brelsford said it could be a year and a half or more before the case goes to trial.
-- Reach Lauren Keene at [email protected]
Friday, August 1, 2003
__________________________________________________________
Abuse Suits Point at Jehovah's Witnesses
By DON THOMPSON
Associated Press Writer
July 29, 2003, 3:28 AM EDT
SACRAMENTO -- Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
"Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it," Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
"We abhor child abuse," Brumley said. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
* __
On the Net:
Jehovah's Witnesses: http://www.watchtower.org
Silentlambs Web site: http://www.silentlambs.org
Copyright © 2003, The Associated Press
__________________________________________________________
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-2964189,00.html
Guardian Unlimited
Abuse Suits Point at Jehovah's Witnesses
Tuesday July 29, 2003 8:29 AM
By DON THOMPSON
Associated Press Writer
SACRAMENTO (AP) - Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
``It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children,'' said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
``Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it,'' Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
``We abhor child abuse,'' Brumley said. ``The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth.''
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
``I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors,'' Bowen said. ``It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis.''
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
---
On the Net:
Jehovah's Witnesses: http://www.watchtower.org
Silentlambs Web site: http://www.silentlambs.org
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2003
__________________________________________________________
Link Here
Abuse Suits Point at Jehovah's Witnesses
By DON THOMPSON
Associated Press Writer
July 29, 2003
Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
"Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it," Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
"We abhor child abuse," Brumley said. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
---
On the Net:
Jehovah's Witnesses:
Silentlambs Web site:
__________________________________________________________
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/breaking_news/6407692.htm
The Sun Herald
Breaking News
Posted on Tue, Jul. 29, 2003
Abuse Suits Point at Jehovah's Witnesses
DON THOMPSON
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO - Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
"Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it," Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
"We abhor child abuse," Brumley said. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
ON THE NET
Jehovah's Witnesses: http://www.watchtower.org
Silentlambs Web site: http://www.silentlambs.org
__________________________________________________________
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030729/APA/307290599
The Ledger Online
Published Tuesday, July 29, 2003
Abuse Suits Point at Jehovah's Witnesses
By DON THOMPSON
Associated Press Writer
SACRAMENTO
Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
"Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it," Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
"We abhor child abuse," Brumley said. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
---
On the Net:
Jehovah's Witnesses:
Silentlambs Web site:
__________________________________________________________
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0729JehovahsWitnesses29-ON.html
Lawsuits allege cover-up of sexual abuse up by Jehovah's Witnesses
Associated Press
Jul. 29, 2003 07:15 AM
SACRAMENTO - Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
"Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it," Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
"We abhor child abuse," Brumley said. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
---
On the Net:
Jehovah's Witnesses: http://www.watchtower.org
Silentlambs Web site: http://www.silentlambs.org
__________________________________________________________
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/news/local/6407692.htm
Posted on Tue, Jul. 29, 2003
Abuse Suits Point at Jehovah's Witnesses
DON THOMPSON
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO - Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
"Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it," Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
"We abhor child abuse," Brumley said. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
ON THE NET
Jehovah's Witnesses: http://www.watchtower.org
Silentlambs Web site: http://www.silentlambs.org
__________________________________________________________
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/6407692.htm
Posted on Tue, Jul. 29, 2003
Abuse Suits Point at Jehovah's Witnesses
DON THOMPSON
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO - Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
"Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it," Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
"We abhor child abuse," Brumley said. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
ON THE NET
Jehovah's Witnesses: http://www.watchtower.org
Silentlambs Web site: http://www.silentlambs.org
__________________________________________________________
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/6407692.htm
Posted on Tue, Jul. 29, 2003
Abuse Suits Point at Jehovah's Witnesses
DON THOMPSON
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO - Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
"Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it," Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
"We abhor child abuse," Brumley said. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
ON THE NET
Jehovah's Witnesses: http://www.watchtower.org
Silentlambs Web site: http://www.silentlambs.org
__________________________________________________________
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_news/6407692.htm
Posted on Tue, Jul. 29, 2003
Abuse Suits Point at Jehovah's Witnesses
DON THOMPSON
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO - Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
"Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it," Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
"We abhor child abuse," Brumley said. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
ON THE NET
Jehovah's Witnesses: http://www.watchtower.org
Silentlambs Web site: http://www.silentlambs.org
__________________________________________________________
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/6407692.htm
Posted on Tue, Jul. 29, 2003
Abuse Suits Point at Jehovah's Witnesses
DON THOMPSON
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO - Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
"Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it," Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
"We abhor child abuse," Brumley said. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
ON THE NET
Jehovah's Witnesses: http://www.watchtower.org
Silentlambs Web site: http://www.silentlambs.org
__________________________________________________________
http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/6407692.htm
Posted on Tue, Jul. 29, 2003
Abuse Suits Point at Jehovah's Witnesses
DON THOMPSON
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO - Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
"Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it," Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
"We abhor child abuse," Brumley said. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
ON THE NET
Jehovah's Witnesses: http://www.watchtower.org
Silentlambs Web site: http://www.silentlambs.org
__________________________________________________________
http://www.pennlive.com/newsflash/lateststories/index.ssf?/base/national-7/1059464046287740.xml
Abuse suits point at Jehovah's Witnesses
By DON THOMPSON
The Associated Press
7/29/2003, 3:28 a.m. ET
SACRAMENTO (AP) — Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
"Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it," Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
"We abhor child abuse," Brumley said. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
___
On the Net:
Jehovah's Witnesses: http://www.watchtower.org
Silentlambs Web site: http://www.silentlambs.org
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/6407692.htm
Posted on Tue, Jul. 29, 2003
Abuse Suits Point at Jehovah's Witnesses
DON THOMPSON
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO - Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
"Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it," Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
"We abhor child abuse," Brumley said. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
ON THE NET
Jehovah's Witnesses: http://www.watchtower.org
Silentlambs Web site: http://www.silentlambs.org
__________________________________________________________
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/6407692.htm
Posted on Tue, Jul. 29, 2003
Abuse Suits Point at Jehovah's Witnesses
DON THOMPSON
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO - Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
"Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it," Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
"We abhor child abuse," Brumley said. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
ON THE NET
Jehovah's Witnesses: http://www.watchtower.org
Silentlambs Web site: http://www.silentlambs.org
__________________________________________________________
http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/6407692.htm
Posted on Tue, Jul. 29, 2003
Abuse Suits Point at Jehovah's Witnesses
DON THOMPSON
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO - Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
"Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it," Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
"We abhor child abuse," Brumley said. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
ON THE NET
Jehovah's Witnesses: http://www.watchtower.org
Silentlambs Web site: http://www.silentlambs.org
__________________________________________________________
http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/news/6407692.htm
Posted on Tue, Jul. 29, 2003
Abuse Suits Point at Jehovah's Witnesses
DON THOMPSON
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO - Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
"Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it," Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
"We abhor child abuse," Brumley said. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
ON THE NET
Jehovah's Witnesses: http://www.watchtower.org
Silentlambs Web site: http://www.silentlambs.org
__________________________________________________________
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/07/31/JEHOVAHS.TMP
Jehovah's Witnesses hit with abuse suits
Alleged victims were molested as children, they say
Don Lattin, Chronicle Religion Writer Thursday, July 31, 2003
Eight former members of the Jehovah's Witnesses have filed lawsuits in three Northern California counties alleging that they were sexually molested as children and that their church covered up the crimes.
The lawsuits against the church and its congregations in Yolo, Napa and Tehama counties seek unspecified damages against two individuals and several organizations affiliated with the religious group.
The Jehovah's Witnesses, famous for promoting its "Watchtower" religious tracts on city streets and door-to-door, is a Christian millenarian sect that arose in the wake of the "Great Disappointment" of the 1840s, when several predictions about the end of the world failed to come to pass.
Members hold different theological views than most Christian churches preach, most notably their denial of the Trinity and their belief that only 144,000 true believers will achieve full sainthood when the world does end.
The allegations against the Jehovah's Witnesses are similar to those leveled against the Roman Catholic Church in numerous lawsuits filed in California and across the country in recent years.
The legal assault -- coordinated and filed last week by the Sacramento law firm of Nolen Saul Brelsford -- is the latest action under a new state law that temporarily abolishes the statute of limitations on lawsuits dealing with child abuse cases, making it easier to collect money from churches, schools and other organizations with a history of sexual abuse.
Because they deal with civil law, the lawsuits against Jehovah's Witnesses are not bound by last month's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down a California law used to prosecute priests and other alleged child molesters accused of decades-old abuse.
3 YOLO PLAINTIFFS
In Yolo County, the lawsuit was brought by Daniel West, 26; Shane Pence, 18; and Amber Pence, 23.
All three plaintiffs say they were molested by Timothy Silva, who led "adolescent book studies" at the Jehovah's Witnesses congregation in Woodland.
"This sexual predator used his appointed position of leadership and authority over children to gain access to and abuse those children," the lawsuit states.
Paul Polidoro, the associate general counsel for the Jehovah's Witnesses, said the staff at the church headquarters in New York had not yet seen the lawsuit and had no comment on the specific allegations.
"The majority of these lawsuits are parishioner-on-parishioner incidents," Polidoro said.
Silva, who, according to plaintiffs' attorney William Brelsford, was convicted in 1995 of lewd and lascivious behavior with a minor, could not be reached for comment.
CHILD ABUSE TAKEN SERIOUSLY
"Our local congregations and national organization take child abuse quite seriously," Polidoro said. "Child abuse allegations are reported to (the) authorities if they occur."
Not so, the lawsuit charges.
It alleges that church leaders were told that West had been molested from 1991, when he was 13 years old, through 1993.
"Watchtower defendants did not notify authorities nor take any steps to hold (Silva) accountable," the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit goes on to charge that the church exacerbated the trauma to West by accusing him "of participating in homosexual activity."
The complaint also alleges that one of the other plaintiffs, Shane Pence, was 7 years old when Silva "committed continued and repeated sexual battery" on the boy for five years, until 1997.
MOTHER MADE THE REPORT
"His mother reported the abuse to the Watchtower defendants," the suit states, and were told not to contact the police themselves, that the church would take care of the problem.
"Watchtower defendants did not report the abuse to authorities and took no steps to address it," the lawsuit charges.
The only other named, living perpetrator in the four lawsuits filed last week is convicted child molester James Henderson of Red Bluff, who, Brelsford said, is alleged to have molested then-15-year-old plaintiff "Tim W." in 1994.
Daniel Hall, who left the Jehovah's Witnesses in 1992 and now runs a "counter-cult" ministry in Sacramento, said the tightly controlled nature of the sect made it even harder for children and adults to speak out against sexual abuse.
"These children have been living in fear and are just coming out," said Hall.
Hall is working with another former Jehovah's Witness, William Bowen, who has an extensive Web site (www.silentlambs.org) devoted to the abuse problem in the sect.
'INSIDE SOURCES'
Bowen's Web site, which includes a SilentLambs store selling coffee mugs and T-shirts with the group's logo, reports that "inside sources" at the headquarters of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York have revealed secret files with the names of 23,720 accused child molesters.
Hall and Bowen will be among the speakers Aug. 8-10 at a weekend conference about cults and sects being held at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Marin County.
Hall described the conference as a "gathering of people who have come out of these groups and become Christians."
Polidoro said he was insulted by Hall's ministry and Bowen's allegations.
"We are a well-established religion that has been in this country for a century," he said. "It's somewhat offensive when someone uses the word 'cult' to describe your religion."
Page A - 1
__________________________________________________________
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/news/6408075.htm
Posted on Tue, Jul. 29, 2003
Jehovah's Witnesses face abuse suits
By Don Thompson
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SACRAMENTO - A national flurry of lawsuits, many by the same or affiliated law firms, accuses Jehovah's Witnesses officials of covering up sexual abuse, sometimes by congregation leaders who the suits claim used their positions of authority to abuse children.
The most recent lawsuits were filed last week in three California counties. The law firms involved are holding public meetings this week in Sacramento, Red Bluff, Clearlake and Napa in a search for more victims and witnesses.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong because they tried to protect the victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed prior to the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was disfellowshipped -- excommunicated -- after he set up a critical Web site and hotline for abuse victims, estimated that 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday, in Napa, Yolo and Tehama counties. "Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it."
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, www.silentlambs.org, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," he said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Some of the allegations date to the 1970s. The perpetrators in the California complaints were convicted, but the suits allege church officials didn't do enough to stop the molesters before they were caught.
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
Allegations against the Jehovah's Witnesses and similar complaints against the Catholic Church prompted lawmakers in Canada and Kentucky to consider bills that would end legal confidentiality protections for confessions of child abuse or neglect.
Last month, a New Hampshire judge ruled Jehovah's Witnesses elders were not required to report alleged sexual abuse to state authorities because the ministers were protected by law from having to reveal confessions or confidential conversations.
Brumley said 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, and said church officials report any abuse as required by any state laws.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church, Brumley said, and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379802
WATE 6 Knoxville
Flurry of Lawsuits Allege Abuse Cover up by Jehovah's Witnesses
July 28, 2003
SACRAMENTO, CA (AP) -- A flurry of lawsuits across the country accuse Jehovah's Witnesses officials of covering up sexual abuse.
The suits claim some congregation leaders used their positions of authority to abuse children.
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tennessee, worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s.
She said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
__________________________________________________________
http://www.wbir.com/News/news.asp?ID=13849
WBIR (NBC News Affiliate in Knoxville, TN)
FLURRY OF LAWSUITS ALLEGE ABUSE COVER UP BY JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
A flurry of lawsuits across the country accuse Jehovah's Witnesses officials of covering up sexual abuse.
The suits claim some congregation leaders used their positions of authority to abuse children.
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tennessee, worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s. She said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
7/29/2003 8:54:03 AM
Reporter: Associated Press Copyright
__________________________________________________________
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/news/072803_nw_jehova_lawsuits.html
KABC-TV (ABC News Affiliate in Los Angeles, CA)
Lawsuits Allege Abuse Cover Up by Jehovah's Witnesses
SACRAMENTO — Four new California lawsuits accuse Jehovah's Witnesses officials of covering up sexual abuse _ sometimes by congregation leaders the suits claim used their positions of authority to abuse children.
Lawyers are holding public meetings this week in Sacramento, Red Bluff, Clearlake and Napa in a search for more victims and witnesses.
The perpetrators were convicted, but the suits allege church officials didn't do enough to stop the molesters before they were caught.
A church spokesman says the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect the victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws, and adhere to Biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
Copyright © 2003 KABC-TV and the Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Last Updated: Jul 28, 2003
__________________________________________________________
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030728/APN/307281042
Flurry of lawsuits allege abuse cover up by Jehovah's Witnesses
By DON THOMPSON
Associated Press Writer
July 29, 2003
SACRAMENTO --
A national flurry of lawsuits, many by the same or affiliated law firms, accuse Jehovah's Witnesses officials of covering up sexual abuse, sometimes by congregation leaders the suits claim used their positions of authority to abuse children.
The most recent series of lawsuits was filed last week in three California counties. The law firms involved are holding public meetings this week in Sacramento, Red Bluff, Clearlake and Napa in a search for more victims and witnesses.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect the victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws, and adhere to Biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed prior to the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was disfellowshipped - excommunicated - after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," alleged Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday, in Napa, Yolo and Tehama counties. "Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it."
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Some of the allegations date to the 1970s. The perpetrators in the California complaints were convicted, but the suits allege church officials didn't do enough to stop the molesters before they were caught.
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
"We abhor child abuse," responded Brumley. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Allegations against the Jehovah's Witnesses and similar complaints against the Catholic Church prompted lawmakers in Canada and Kentucky to consider bills that would end legal confidentiality protections for confessions of child abuse or neglect.
Last month, a New Hampshire judge ruled Jehovah's Witnesses elders were not required to report alleged sexual abuse to state authorities because the ministers were protected by law from having to reveal confessions or confidential conversations.
In Texas last month, an Amarillo woman sued the Jehovah's Witnesses claiming an elder used his position in the church to sexually abuse her and other children. She alleges the organization's officials took no action to stop the man, and transferred him to a different congregation without warning church members there.
In January, four Nevada women sued, claiming they were molested by a since-convicted church leader from 1974 until the 1990s and that church officials covered up the abuse.
Last year, two Minnesota women sued, alleging church elders told them to remain silent about being sexually abused by a member when they were children.
Similar suits were filed last year in Maryland, Oregon and Washington by members who said church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestations without corroboration by witnesses.
Brumley said 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, and said church officials report any abuse as required by any state laws.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church, Brumley said, and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded.
---
On the Net:
Jehovah's Witnesses:
Silentlambs Web site:
__________________________________________________________
http://www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030729/APA/307290599
Abuse Suits Point at Jehovah's Witnesses
By DON THOMPSON
Associated Press Writer
July 29, 2003
Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
"Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it," Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
"We abhor child abuse," Brumley said. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
---
On the Net:
Jehovah's Witnesses:
Silentlambs Web site:
__________________________________________________________
http://www.nbc4.tv/news/2364397/detail.html
Flurry Of Lawsuits Allege Abuse Cover Up By Jehovah's Witnesses
POSTED: 7:07 p.m. PDT July 28, 2003
SACRAMENTO -- A national flurry of lawsuits, many by the same or affiliated law firms, accuse Jehovah's Witnesses officials of covering up sexual abuse, sometimes by congregation leaders the suits claim used their positions of authority to abuse children.
The most recent series of lawsuits was filed last week in three California counties. The law firms involved are holding public meetings this week in Sacramento, Red Bluff, Clearlake and Napa in a search for more victims and witnesses.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect the victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws, and adhere to Biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed prior to the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was disfellowshipped -- excommunicated -- after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," alleged Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday, in Napa, Yolo and Tehama counties. "Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it."
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Some of the allegations date to the 1970s. The perpetrators in the California complaints were convicted, but the suits allege church officials didn't do enough to stop the molesters before they were caught.
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
"We abhor child abuse," responded Brumley. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Allegations against the Jehovah's Witnesses and similar complaints against the Catholic Church prompted lawmakers in Canada and Kentucky to consider bills that would end legal confidentiality protections for confessions of child abuse or neglect.
Last month, a New Hampshire judge ruled Jehovah's Witnesses elders were not required to report alleged sexual abuse to state authorities because the ministers were protected by law from having to reveal confessions or confidential conversations.
In Texas last month, an Amarillo woman sued the Jehovah's Witnesses claiming an elder used his position in the church to sexually abuse her and other children. She alleges the organization's officials took no action to stop the man, and transferred him to a different congregation without warning church members there.
In January, four Nevada women sued, claiming they were molested by a since-convicted church leader from 1974 until the 1990s and that church officials covered up the abuse. Last year, two Minnesota women sued, alleging church elders told them to remain silent about being sexually abused by a member when they were children.
Similar suits were filed last year in Maryland, Oregon and Washington by members who said church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestations without corroboration by witnesses.
Brumley said 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, and said church officials report any abuse as required by any state laws.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church, Brumley said, and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded.
On the Net:
Jehovah's Witnesses
Silentlambs Web site
Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.belleville.com/mld/newsdemocrat/6407692.htm
Posted on Tue, Jul. 29, 2003
Abuse Suits Point at Jehovah's Witnesses
DON THOMPSON
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO - Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
"Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it," Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
"We abhor child abuse," Brumley said. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
ON THE NET
Jehovah's Witnesses: http://www.watchtower.org
Silentlambs Web site: http://www.silentlambs.org
__________________________________________________________
Abuse Suits Point at Jehovah's Witnesses
By DON THOMPSON
Associated Press Writer
July 29, 2003
SACRAMENTO (AP)--Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
``It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children,'' said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
``Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it,'' Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
``We abhor child abuse,'' Brumley said. ``The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth.''
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
``I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors,'' Bowen said. ``It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis.''
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
___
On the Net:
Jehovah's Witnesses: http://www.watchtower.org
Silentlambs Web site: http://www.silentlambs.org
AP-NY-07-29-03 0328EDT
Copyright 2003, The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP Online news report may not be published, broadcast or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
__________________________________________________________
Link Here
Abuse Suits Point at Jehovah's Witnesses
By DON THOMPSON
Associated Press Writer
July 29, 2003
SACRAMENTO (AP)--Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
``It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children,'' said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
``Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it,'' Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
``We abhor child abuse,'' Brumley said. ``The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth.''
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
``I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors,'' Bowen said. ``It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis.''
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
___
On the Net:
Jehovah's Witnesses: http://www.watchtower.org
Silentlambs Web site: http://www.silentlambs.org
AP-NY-07-29-03 0328EDT
Copyright 2003, The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP Online news report may not be published, broadcast or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/6404931.htm
Posted on Mon, Jul. 28, 2003
Flurry of lawsuits allege abuse cover up by Jehovah's Witnesses
DON THOMPSON
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO - A national flurry of lawsuits, many by the same or affiliated law firms, accuse Jehovah's Witnesses officials of covering up sexual abuse, sometimes by congregation leaders the suits claim used their positions of authority to abuse children.
The most recent series of lawsuits was filed last week in three California counties. The law firms involved are holding public meetings this week in Sacramento, Red Bluff, Clearlake and Napa in a search for more victims and witnesses.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect the victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws, and adhere to Biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed prior to the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was disfellowshipped - excommunicated - after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," alleged Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday, in Napa, Yolo and Tehama counties. "Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it."
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Some of the allegations date to the 1970s. The perpetrators in the California complaints were convicted, but the suits allege church officials didn't do enough to stop the molesters before they were caught.
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
"We abhor child abuse," responded Brumley. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Allegations against the Jehovah's Witnesses and similar complaints against the Catholic Church prompted lawmakers in Canada and Kentucky to consider bills that would end legal confidentiality protections for confessions of child abuse or neglect.
Last month, a New Hampshire judge ruled Jehovah's Witnesses elders were not required to report alleged sexual abuse to state authorities because the ministers were protected by law from having to reveal confessions or confidential conversations.
In Texas last month, an Amarillo woman sued the Jehovah's Witnesses claiming an elder used his position in the church to sexually abuse her and other children. She alleges the organization's officials took no action to stop the man, and transferred him to a different congregation without warning church members there.
In January, four Nevada women sued, claiming they were molested by a since-convicted church leader from 1974 until the 1990s and that church officials covered up the abuse.
Last year, two Minnesota women sued, alleging church elders told them to remain silent about being sexually abused by a member when they were children.
Similar suits were filed last year in Maryland, Oregon and Washington by members who said church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestations without corroboration by witnesses.
Brumley said 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, and said church officials report any abuse as required by any state laws.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church, Brumley said, and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded.
ON THE NET
Jehovah's Witnesses: http://www.watchtower.org
Silentlambs Web site: http://www.silentlambs.org
__________________________________________________________
http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/news/6407692.htm
Posted on Tue, Jul. 29, 2003
Abuse Suits Point at Jehovah's Witnesses
DON THOMPSON
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO - Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
"Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it," Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
"We abhor child abuse," Brumley said. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
ON THE NET
Jehovah's Witnesses: http://www.watchtower.org
Silentlambs Web site: http://www.silentlambs.org
__________________________________________________________
AP Wire
Last updated: July 29. 2003 3:28AM
Abuse Suits Point at Jehovah's Witnesses
By DON THOMPSON
Associated Press Writer
Four lawsuits filed in California claim Jehovah's Witnesses officials have been covering up alleged sex abuse of children by congregation leaders, adding to a series of similar suits nationwide.
The law firms involved in the suits filed last week in three northern California counties are holding public meetings this week in search of more victims and witnesses.
"It is a widespread problem and nothing's been done about it to protect these children, to protect future children," said Bill Brelsford, one of the Sacramento attorneys who filed four lawsuits Thursday in California.
"Once they (church leaders) know about it, they don't do anything to stop it," Brelsford said.
Church general counsel Philip Brumley said the church's own investigation of previous lawsuits found church elders did nothing wrong as they tried to protect victims, comply with sexual abuse reporting laws and adhere to biblical admonitions against accepting accusations by a single witness.
"We abhor child abuse," Brumley said. "The assertion or allegation of a cover up, or a nonchalance about child abuse, is just so far from the truth."
Brumley said 10 lawsuits were filed before the California suits. William H. Bowen, who was excommunicated from the church after he set up a critical Web site and hot line for abuse victims, estimated 15 to 17 suits are pending, not counting the California cases.
Bowen said he has posted more than 1,000 abuse stories on his Web site, and fielded more than 6,000 complaints since 2001. Some of the allegations date to the 1970s.
The church puts its membership at 6 million worldwide, including 1 million in the United States.
"I have literally the last couple months been bombarded with this stuff. These are not liars, they're abuse survivors," Bowen said. "It never stops. New victims are coming in on a weekly basis."
Last year, church members or elders in Tennessee and Kentucky were banned from the church after they went public with allegations the denomination has protected pedophiles.
One member, Barbara Anderson of Tullahoma, Tenn., worked as a researcher at Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquarters in the early 1990s, when she said a church official asked her to look into the handling of sexual abuse cases. She said she found hundreds of allegations kept secret in church files.
Lawsuits have been filed in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Hampshire. Suits filed last year by members in Maryland, Oregon and Washington also claim church elders told them they would not be believed if they reported the molestation without corroboration by witnesses.
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.
Where molestation allegations are corroborated, the abuser is banned from the church and is never again allowed to hold a position of authority if the excommunication is rescinded, Brumley said.
---
On the Net:
Jehovah's Witnesses:
Silentlambs Web site:
__________________________________________________________
http://www.kfor.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
KFOR-TV News Channel 4 (NBC News Affiliate in Oklahoma City, OK)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.whotv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
WHO-TV
July 29, 2003
Religious group faces lawsuits
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
KVIA ABC 7 (ABC News Affiliate)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.fox21.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
FOX News Carolina
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
KESQ News Channel 3
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
WOOD TV 8 (NBC News Affiliate in Grand Rapids, MI)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
WCAX-TV Channel 3 News (Burlington, VT)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.kcautv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
KCAU-TV Eyewitness News Channel 9 (Sioux City, IA)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.ktvotv3.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
KTVO TV 3 (ABC News Affiliate)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.whbf.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
WHBF-TV Eyewitness News Channel 4
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
WBAY TV Action 2 News (ABC News Affiliate)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.wric.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
WRIC TV News 8
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.kwwl.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
KWWL News Channel 7 (NBC News Affiliate)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.wluctv6.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
WLUC TV 6 (NBC News Affiliate in Upper Michigan)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.wqad.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
WQAD News Channel 8
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.wkyt.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
WKYT Newsfirst 27 (CBS News Affiliate in Kentucky)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.ksfy.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
KSFY Dakota First News (ABC News Affiliate)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.wkbn.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
WKBN FirstNews 27 (CBS News Affiliate in Youngstown, Ohio)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.arkansasnbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
Arkansas NBC 24/51
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.wmcstations.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
WMC-TV 5 (NBC News Affiliate in Memphis, TN)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.kplctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
KPLC (NBC News Affiliate in Lake Charles, LA)
Religious group faces lawsuits
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
WISH-TV (Voted Indiana's Best Website by The Associated Press)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
WALB Newscenter 10 (NBC News Affiliate in South Georgia)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.nbc25.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
NBC 25
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.wstm.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
WSTM-TV 3 (NBC News Affiliate in Central New York)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.waff.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
WAFF (NBC News Affiliate)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.woi-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
WOI-TV Eyewitness News Channel 5 (Des Moines, IA)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://home.abc28.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
ABC 28 (ABC News Affiliate in Lubbock, TX)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
WAVY-TV 10 (NBC News Affiliate)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
WLOX 13 (ABC News Affiliate)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.kfvs12.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
KFVS Heartland News 12 (CBS News Affiliate)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.wane.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
WANE News Channel 15
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.krnv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
KRNV 4 (NBC News Affiliate)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.kron4.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
KRON 4 (Voted California's Best TV Website by The Associated Press)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
KAIT 8 (Jonesboro, AR)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.wtvm.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
WTVM News Leader 9
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.wtvo.com/Global/story.asp?S=1379572
WTVO Channel 17 (ABC News Affiliate in Rockford, Illinois)
Religious group faces lawsuits
July 29, 2003
Sacramento, California-AP -- The Jehovah's Witnesses organization is facing the same kinds of allegations that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church.
Four lawsuits filed in California last week claim officials have covered up alleged child sex abuse by congregation leaders. The law firms involved in the suits are holding public meetings this week in search of more alleged victims or witnesses. An attorney in the case says church leaders did nothing to stop the abuse once they knew about it.
A top lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses says an internal investigation found church elders did nothing wrong -- as they tried to balance protecting victims and complying with sex abuse reporting laws with sticking to biblical warnings against accepting accusations from just a single witness.
The lawsuits claim abusers told their victims they wouldn't be believed if they reported molestation without corroboration.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
__________________________________________________________