Watchtower Motion to Dismiss

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Barbara Anderson and Joseph Anderson VS Watchtower Society. As you may remember the Watchtower has petitioned the Circuit Court of Manchester Tennessee to dismiss the case against them filed by Barbara and Joe Anderson. http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/22/59953/1.ashx There are 8 counts filed against the Watchtower in this case. The Watchtower Corporation's alleged grounds for dismissal was primarily "lack of jurisdiction" (a technical issue of "failure to state a claim" was also denied). The "lack of jurisdiction" issue was based on the doctrine of "ecclesiastical abstention". In this case this means the courts have no right to second guess church disciplinary decisions. The Watchtower attorneys had previously argued that "even if the church's motives were secular, the court could not exercise jurisdiction over a church decision because the decision was inextricable from belief". The attorneys for the Andersons had previously argued that they agree with the doctrine of "ecclesiastical abstention" and were not asking the court to evaluate a church's internal disciplinary action. What the Andersons and their attorneys want the court to consider is the evidence that their disfellowshipping was not based on an internal act of church discipline due to a "spiritual violation" but was actually an attempt to "stop someone from disclosing a deep, dark secret about this church" . . . "we are asking in count 8 to look into . . . why they protect child molesters." The Judges decision: Motion to dismiss denied. This case will go to court. Jst2laws

Mak and Sabine

Watchtower Motion to Dismiss - DENIED

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