Fisherman

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Posts by Fisherman

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  52

  Reveal article: Jehovah’s Witnesses settle suit alleging cover-up of child sex abuse

  by AndersonsInfo in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  https://www.revealnews.org/blog/jehovahs-witnesses-settle-lawsuit-alleging-coverup-of-child-sex-abuse/.

  by trey bundy / february 17, 2017 .

  the jehovah’s witnesses settled a lawsuit this week brought by a pennsylvania woman who says the religion’s leaders covered up sexual abuse she suffered as a teenager.. the settlement came five days into a trial in which stephanie fessler, a former jehovah’s witness, claimed the religion’s parent corporation violated pennsylvania’s child abuse reporting laws by instructing local leaders – known as elders – not to report her allegations to police.. according to fessler, a middle-aged jehovah’s witness woman, terry monheim, began sexually abusing her when she was 14. at 15, fessler disclosed the abuse to her parents.

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  Fisherman

  the religion’s leaders covered up sexual abuse she suffered as a teenager.

  Since it is axiomatic that it is US law that protects child abuse communications in a c/p setting, that allegation is a blatant lie and a miscategorization. Coverup implies wrongful conduct. WT compliance with US law under wt version of c/p is not cover-up.

  Are active child abusers that confess under the secrecy of a Catholic confession a cover up? Not under US law it is not. However, even under such a setting and relationship does not make it automatically qualify, it can be challenged, and it has.

  And therefore the contention against the WT is not the congregant's protection under the First Amendment, but qualifications under a JC setting under the circumstances of a given case.
  
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  90

  Day 5 - Fessler vs. Watchtower – Ends: Plaintiff settles in Jehovah’s Witness Child Abuse Trial

  by darkspilver in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  day 5 in court - and apparently the plaintiff stephanie fessler has decided to settle..... http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/02/jehovahs_witness_sexual_abuse.html.

  jehovah's witness sexual-abuse-coverup lawsuit settled.

  february 13, 2017 at 2:37 pm, updated february 13, 2017 at 2:44 pm.

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  Fisherman

  Would it please you if wt did things like Babylonia? or your way? Child abuse non-disclosure is good for you then. As it is good for you now - except for wt way of doing things.

  To you: "Abortions should be done in secret, this clinic that I hate is not doing abortions the way I like it. Everybody else that I like qualifies except the clinic that I hate"
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  90

  Day 5 - Fessler vs. Watchtower – Ends: Plaintiff settles in Jehovah’s Witness Child Abuse Trial

  by darkspilver in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  day 5 in court - and apparently the plaintiff stephanie fessler has decided to settle..... http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/02/jehovahs_witness_sexual_abuse.html.

  jehovah's witness sexual-abuse-coverup lawsuit settled.

  february 13, 2017 at 2:37 pm, updated february 13, 2017 at 2:44 pm.

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  Fisherman

  It is US law that protects confidential c/p conversations of child abusers not wt.

  It is US legislation that considers the conversation between elder and jw as C/p not wt. wt views it as elder/ jw.

  It is hypocritical and funny that you do not object to US law that protects all penitents including child abusers.

  You really don't care about children at all because if you did your beef would be about the law that protects penitents and not about wt not qualifying.

  As a wt hater, your only concern is that child abuser comunications with elders should not qualify, that is it. Let the abusers join another religion and confess to them the proper way and the he-- with the children.

  It does not mattter to you about the children as long as the abusers confess correctly to the clergy of babylonia.

  That is the real issue with you. That is what you have expressed, that jw elders in a jc setting do not qualify as clergy in a spiritual setting and not that all communications about child abuse in any setting or relationship should be disclosed regardless of qualifications.

  You target wt and not US law which protects child abuse communications in a c/p setting Your true motive being revealed by your expressions is to punish the wt regardless of justice. What hypocrisy and unfairness!
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  90

  Day 5 - Fessler vs. Watchtower – Ends: Plaintiff settles in Jehovah’s Witness Child Abuse Trial

  by darkspilver in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  day 5 in court - and apparently the plaintiff stephanie fessler has decided to settle..... http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/02/jehovahs_witness_sexual_abuse.html.

  jehovah's witness sexual-abuse-coverup lawsuit settled.

  february 13, 2017 at 2:37 pm, updated february 13, 2017 at 2:44 pm.

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  Fisherman

  What I find incredible is how people only object to the setting. I suppose it would be ok for some people if a person confessed child abuse to a Catholic priest or a pastor or somebody else other than a jw elder. That is ok as long as that person remains secret about it. Say a couple of hail maries and hush is the word and that is ok vs the same man confessing the sin under a JC setting, that is not ok. Makes a lot of sense.
  
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  90

  Day 5 - Fessler vs. Watchtower – Ends: Plaintiff settles in Jehovah’s Witness Child Abuse Trial

  by darkspilver in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  day 5 in court - and apparently the plaintiff stephanie fessler has decided to settle..... http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/02/jehovahs_witness_sexual_abuse.html.

  jehovah's witness sexual-abuse-coverup lawsuit settled.

  february 13, 2017 at 2:37 pm, updated february 13, 2017 at 2:44 pm.

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  Fisherman

  Gotta love Watchtower Speak and how they have bent word usage to their standards

  Says you.

  Read US Legislation and not public opinion.

  Isn't that sort of the same as saying...ummm...apples (aka oranges/pear

  Not according to US law. But you are entitled to your view. This is not the proper forum to verify whether or not JW religion enjoys clergy/ penitent privilege. But according to US legislation they do! And opinions do not matter. Same as Roe vs Wade and same sex marriages. It is the law of the land..... at least for now.. laws can change you know -but not because someone thinks it is not the law.

  And if you can show US law stating that Jehovah's Witnesses do not enjoy clergy/penitent privilege, produce it.
  
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  90

  Day 5 - Fessler vs. Watchtower – Ends: Plaintiff settles in Jehovah’s Witness Child Abuse Trial

  by darkspilver in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  day 5 in court - and apparently the plaintiff stephanie fessler has decided to settle..... http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/02/jehovahs_witness_sexual_abuse.html.

  jehovah's witness sexual-abuse-coverup lawsuit settled.

  february 13, 2017 at 2:37 pm, updated february 13, 2017 at 2:44 pm.

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  Fisherman

  If JW religion confidentiality privilege finds it way up to the SCOUS. JW will win, but what will remain undecided and points of contention are the 2 points I have described.
  
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  90

  Day 5 - Fessler vs. Watchtower – Ends: Plaintiff settles in Jehovah’s Witness Child Abuse Trial

  by darkspilver in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  day 5 in court - and apparently the plaintiff stephanie fessler has decided to settle..... http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/02/jehovahs_witness_sexual_abuse.html.

  jehovah's witness sexual-abuse-coverup lawsuit settled.

  february 13, 2017 at 2:37 pm, updated february 13, 2017 at 2:44 pm.

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  Fisherman

  We know that down the line a confession will be shared with others, this reference seems to indicate that in order to keep the privilege they must remain secret.

  And what is the legal meaning of that? The State Court determines on a case by case basis whether or not any challenged church communication meets the legal standard for confidentiality under the related STATE LAW. The California case that you cite was adjudicated under the laws of California and not under Federal Law.
  

  STATE LAW vs The US Supreme Court however has not decided on Elder/ JW communication confidentiality as not being secret -or more importantly, not protected under the constitution or federal law because of the manner JW handles judicial cases (aka clergy/ penitent) does not comply with a LEGAL standard.
  
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  90

  Day 5 - Fessler vs. Watchtower – Ends: Plaintiff settles in Jehovah’s Witness Child Abuse Trial

  by darkspilver in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  day 5 in court - and apparently the plaintiff stephanie fessler has decided to settle..... http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/02/jehovahs_witness_sexual_abuse.html.

  jehovah's witness sexual-abuse-coverup lawsuit settled.

  february 13, 2017 at 2:37 pm, updated february 13, 2017 at 2:44 pm.

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  Fisherman

  Hecce,the only points of contention that the Court looks at and rules on, on a case by case basis is:
  

  1) The setting: Does the communication setting qualify in this particular case for C/P privilege
  

  2) In what capacity was the clergyman acting at the time of the communication.
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  90

  Day 5 - Fessler vs. Watchtower – Ends: Plaintiff settles in Jehovah’s Witness Child Abuse Trial

  by darkspilver in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  day 5 in court - and apparently the plaintiff stephanie fessler has decided to settle..... http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/02/jehovahs_witness_sexual_abuse.html.

  jehovah's witness sexual-abuse-coverup lawsuit settled.

  february 13, 2017 at 2:37 pm, updated february 13, 2017 at 2:44 pm.

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  Fisherman

  Two cases in California destroyed the so called clergy privilege of the WT.

  No, it does not. As described in your post referenced above, the Court's adverse ruling affecting C/P privilege in the related setting for this particular case does not destroy WT (JW religion) C/P privilege. The ruling only affects the communication setting for this particular case only. The confidentiality of.JW Elders and Penitents going to them for a spiritual purpose continue to be protected under Federal Law..
  
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  17

  The fact that different states have different laws about child sexual abuse is ludicrous it should be looked at pronto.

  by smiddy in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  it would go a long way in having a law that prosecutes anybody sexually abusing a child or even an adult that encompasses all states with the same laws the same consequences and the same penalties in the country.. this system that has different laws ,different penaltys , different outcomes depending in what state you live in is ludicrous.. one country should have the same judicial system no matter how many states their are in that country.. this state has mandatory laws this state doesnt and the outcome can be so demoralising for those involved ..

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  Fisherman

  f that 'Clergy privilege BS' is sacred to a state then other safeguards need to be in place. What do they say about.

  It is not sacred to a state and that is why a +States have formed laws that conflict with US law, namely mandatory reporting laws by the clergy which go against the Constitution. It is US legislation that protects the confidentiality of penitents. Child abuse reporting by the clergy when mandated by State law under a clergy/ penitent setting violates the confidentiality of the penitent. The legal proceedings that have been initiated against JW by child abuse victims challenge the setting of communication between C/P. It cannot challenge or invalidate the clergy status of the JW elder class which has been established by Federal law and cannot be un-established by local courts.

  The WT has already made it crystal clear in Court that they are prohibited by Federal law to reveal confidential communications of penitents even if local laws mandate it. Also, wt does not have legal authority to adjudicate what communications settings comply. Also wt views all church communications with penitents as confidential.

  How many times does wt haters wish that wt ask the gov to make it easy for them by CHANGING US LAW. They haven't becsuse it protects Babylonia -- a bedfellow.