AndersonsInfo
JoinedPosts by AndersonsInfo
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Escaping Jehovah's Witnesses: Inside the dangerous world of a brutal religion | Four Corners
by projecthydra inplease click here to download or alternatively stream from youtube here.. .
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“The Right to Shun: Ghent’s Misguided Jehovah’s Witness Decision“ Matthew P. Cavedon
by AndersonsInfo inhttps://canopyforum.org/2021/04/19/the-right-to-shun-ghents-misguided-jehovahs-witness-decision/.
in march, the criminal court of ghent, belgium fined the congregation of jehovah’s witnesses (jw) for “inciting discrimination and hatred or violence against former members.” the case centered on the jw practice of “disfellowshipping.” while the court’s sensitivity to the individual impact of shunning is laudable, its decision regrettably assaults the freedoms of religion and association.. first, some background on jw beliefs and disfellowshipping.
jw was founded in the united states over a century ago and is headquartered in new york state.
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AndersonsInfo
https://canopyforum.org/2021/04/19/the-right-to-shun-ghents-misguided-jehovahs-witness-decision/
In March, the criminal court of Ghent, Belgium fined the congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW) for “inciting discrimination and hatred or violence against former members.” The case centered on the JW practice of “disfellowshipping.” While the court’s sensitivity to the individual impact of shunning is laudable, its decision regrettably assaults the freedoms of religion and association.
First, some background on JW beliefs and disfellowshipping. JW was founded in the United States over a century ago and is headquartered in New York state. This Christian movement proclaims that the end times began in 1914. Given the impending end of the world, JW teaches followers to hold themselves apart from churches and politics, instead ordering their lives pursuant to JW biblical interpretations. JW disciplines its eight million members accordingly. The congregation shuns, or disfellowships, those deemed insufficiently obedient. Once this happens, “no one is allowed to talk to you, not even your own family. They declare that this person must be avoided because they have a mental illness that is contagious.” JWs “physically turn away” from the shunned.
While the court’s sensitivity to the individual impact of shunning is laudable, its decision regrettably assaults the freedoms of religion and association.
This practice seriously impacts those subjected to it. One advocate for disfellowshipped former JWs told the BBC that she never met a shunned believer “who has not experienced depression, alcoholism, suicidal feelings or self-harm.” One such man, a Belgian named Patrick Haeck, responded to his pain by turning to a secular criminal court. Mr. Haeck had been a JW for 35 years and served as an elder. He was disfellowshipped after exposing sexual abuse. Following his judicial complaint, the court conducted a five-year investigation. The inquiry gathered other former JWs and brought criminal charges against the entire JW congregation for inciting discrimination, hatred, and violence.
Read More: https://canopyforum.org/2021/04/19/the-right-to-shun-ghents-misguided-jehovahs-witness-decision/
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IICSA report on child protection in religious and organised settings “rightly draws attention” to the Jehovah's Witness Organisation
by AndersonsInfo inhttps://www.hughjames.com/blog/iicsa-report-of-child-protection-in-religious-and-organised-settings-%e2%80%9crightly-draws-attention%e2%80%9d-to-the-jehovahs-witness-organisation.
the independent inquiry into child sex abuse (iicsa) has published its report on child protection in religious and organised settings.
it rightly draws attention to the jehovah’s witnesses organisation, according to alan collins, one of the best known and experienced abuse lawyers.. iicsa found children are not adequately protected from the risk of child sexual abuse in the jehovah’s witness organisation and the evidence demonstrates that it fails to adequately address child sex abuse allegations.. commenting on today’s report, alan collins, head of the hugh james abuse team said:.
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AndersonsInfo
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA) has published its report on child protection in religious and organised settings. It rightly draws attention to the Jehovah’s Witnesses organisation, according to Alan Collins, one of the best known and experienced abuse lawyers.
IICSA found children are not adequately protected from the risk of child sexual abuse in the Jehovah’s Witness organisation and the evidence demonstrates that it fails to adequately address child sex abuse allegations.
Commenting on today’s report, Alan Collins, Head of the Hugh James Abuse team said:
The Jehovah’s Witness organisation relies on outdated policies and practices to respond to allegations of child sexual abuse which were not subject to ongoing and continuous review and are compromised by attempting to ensure that all that it does is rooted to scripture and bible interpretations.
What is of concern is the organisation’s retention and continued application of policies, such as the two-witness rule in cases of child sexual abuse - which must be considered as showing a serious lack of understanding of the nature of child sexual abuse.
Read More:
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Shocking failures’ in child protection in religious institutions, report finds
by AndersonsInfo inttps://www.channel4.com/news/shocking-failures-in-child-protection-in-religious-institutions-report-finds?fbclid=iwar0ndvqtbhsyvzrnpdo2gaso1dmidw_fsiosyi4q3gvgli1-b_c76vrsjm8.
‘shocking failures’ in child protection in religious institutions, report finds.
religious institutions are failing to protect children from abuse, according to the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse.. www.channel4.com.
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AndersonsInfo
Religious institutions are failing to protect children from abuse, according to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. -
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Article: New Law Gives Louisiana Child Sex Abuse Victims More Time To Seek Justice
by AndersonsInfo ina new child sexual abuse law was signed by the governor of louisiana on june 14, 2021. the new law eradicates the deadline for sex abuse victims to seek damages and establishes a three-year window where all unresolved claims, no matter how long ago they were made, can also be pursued.
this new law will take effect on august 1. the articles below appeared in new orleans on june 15th and 23rd, 2021.
https://www.abuselawsuit.com/news/louisiana-legislature-passes-bill-for-child-sex-abuse-survivors/#:~:text=on%20june%2010%2c%202021%2c%20louisiana,for%20older%20cases%20of%20abuse.
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AndersonsInfo
A new child sexual abuse law was signed by the Governor of Louisiana on June 14, 2021. The new law eradicates the deadline for sex abuse victims to seek damages and establishes a three-year window where all unresolved claims, no matter how long ago they were made, can also be pursued. This new law will take effect on August 1. The articles below appeared in New Orleans on June 15th and 23rd, 2021. https://www.abuselawsuit.com/news/louisiana-legislature-passes-bill-for-child-sex-abuse-survivors/#:~:text=On%20June%2010%2C%202021%2C%20Louisiana,for%20older%20cases%20of%20abuse. https://neworleans.legalexaminer.com/legal/new-law-gives-louisiana-child-sex-abuse-victims-more-time-to-seek-justice/
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Vice doc spotlights Jehovah’s Witnesses
by Rattigan350 inhttps://www.c21media.net/news/vice-doc-spotlights-jehovahs-witnesses/.
us cable network vice tv will debut an original documentary that claims to uncover corruption and abuse within the jehovah’s witnesses community.. vice versa: crusaders, which will air on july 28, is part of the channel’s vice versa brand, known for docs including fear of a black quarterback and the neglected pandemic.. the project comes from hollywood director aaron kaufman, who was shunned by his jehovah’s witness family after investigating paedophilia within the organisation.. crusaders is directed by kaufman and executive produced by lauren terp, as well as daniel levinson and robert fernandez for us-london prodco moxie pictures, and danny gabai and andrew freston for vice studios.
executive producing for vice tv is catherine whyte.. kaufman said: “after witnessing first-hand the cycle of abuse that runs deep within the jehovah’s witnesses, i could not rest until the dark truth of this organisation was brought to light.
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Article: HOLY SMOKE: LONDON SITE OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESS HQ TO BE MOVIE STUDIOS
by AndersonsInfo inhttps://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-site-jehovahs-witness-hq-movie-studios-netflix-b947841.html.
evening standard, july 26, 2021. london.
holy smoke: london site of jehovah’s witness hq to be movie studios.by .
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AndersonsInfo
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-site-jehovahs-witness-hq-movie-studios-netflix-b947841.html
Evening Standard, July 26, 2021
London
Holy smoke: London site of Jehovah’s Witness HQ to be movie studios.
ByRobert DexArts Correspondent
The former UK headquarters of the Jehovah’s Witness organisation is to be transformed into a huge film studio in an attempt to meet the massive demand from firms wanting to film in the capital.
The 200,000 sq ft site in Mill Hill was home to the religious group for decades and also housed the printing plant for its Watchtower magazine and the leaflets handed out at Tubes and in door-to-door visits.
It has been taken on by Purpose which specialises in building flexible workspaces and who will transform it into London North Studios.
It is part of a surge in demand for studio space in the capital with broadcast giants like Netflix attempting to meet increased demand for shows powered by a rise in viewing during lockdown.
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Another JW documentary coming soon...
by tresdecu inthis looks like a good one, another small blow coming straight from satan's system!!!
vice versa: crusaders.
(hollywood reporter article) .
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Article: Trial scheduled for Jehovah’s Witnesses elders accused of failing to report sexual abuse
by AndersonsInfo inhttps://www.shawlocal.com/northwest-herald/news/crime-brief/2021/05/27/trial-scheduled-for-jehovahs-witnesses-elders-accused-of-failing-to-report-sexual-abuse/.
trial scheduled for jehovah’s witnesses elders accused of failing to report sexual abuse.
judge denies request to bar testimony regarding statements made during religious confession.
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AndersonsInfo
Trial scheduled for Jehovah’s Witnesses elders accused of failing to report sexual abuse
Judge denies request to bar testimony regarding statements made during religious confession
By Katie SmithMay 27, 2021 at 11:30 am CDT
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Article:Religious freedom case over Roy church discipline matter is revived by Utah Supreme Court
by AndersonsInfo intake my word for it, knowing this case as i do, this is an extraordinary decision.
congratulations go to all those involved on the plaintiff's side.
hopefully, the lower court will do the right thing this time.. barbara.
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AndersonsInfo
Take my word for it, knowing this case as I do, this is an extraordinary decision. Congratulations go to all those involved on the plaintiff's side. Hopefully, the lower court will do the right thing this time.
Barbara
- By MARK SHENEFELT Standard-Examiner
- Jun 7, 2021
Roy - The Utah Supreme Court has revived a religious freedom dispute, instructing an Ogden court to take another look at a suit filed by a woman who alleged Jehovah’s Witnesses leaders in Roy subjected her to humiliating discipline as a teenager after she accused a fellow church member of rape.
In 2008, four church elders at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Roy convened a disciplinary hearing to determine whether the 15-year-old girl had engaged in “unclean sexual conduct” and, if so, whether she was “sufficiently repentant.” They had an audio recording of the rape, which had been provided by the male, and played it while questioning her, “suggesting that she consented to” the sexual acts, the lawsuit alleged.
The suit alleged the church intentionally inflicted emotional distress and humiliation on the girl, and the church advanced a defense of religious freedom from government interference in church disciplinary matters.
Second District Judge Mark DeCaria in 2016 dismissed the woman’s civil suit, saying the court could not disentangle the claimed damaging conduct from religious freedom protections under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
DeCaria ruled — and the Utah Court of Appeals later agreed in 2019 — that the woman’s claims “expressly implicate key religious questions regarding religious rules, standards, discipline and most prominently how a religion conducts its ecclesiastical disciplinary hearings.”
DeCaria said he viewed the elders’ conduct as “reprehensible” and said he would have “no hesitation in sending (the claim) to the jury” if it the case had “occurred in a secular setting.”
But in an opinion issued Thursday, the Utah Supreme Court said it was overturning the claim’s dismissal because DeCaria’s and the Appeals Court’s rulings relied on a case-law test that has since been discarded by the U.S. Supreme Court.
That old standard, established by the nation’s high court decades ago, set out a test for lower courts to judge whether “excessive entanglement” of religious practices barred successful civil litigation.
Under the new approach adopted by the high court in a pair of recent cases, the lower court now should “focus on the particular issue at hand and look to history for guidance as to the correct application of the Establishment Clause in this case,” the Utah justices ruled.
“In vacating the district court‘s order, we are in no way criticizing the district court or the Court of Appeals for failing to follow the approach identified” in the more recent U.S. Supreme Court cases, the justices said.
DeCaria has since retired, so a different judge in the Ogden court will handle the case upon its return. Efforts to contact attorneys who argued the appeal — Karra Porter for the church and attorneys from Georgetown Law who represented the woman — were not immediately successful Monday.
The lawsuit said that upon hearing the recording, the teenager cried, trembled and pleaded with the elders to stop forcing her to relive the scarring experience. They did not stop, and instead continued to play the recording, on and off, for hours, it said.
The suit said the girl suffered humiliation, anxiety, nightmares, loss of appetite and poor performance in school.
In their arguments to the Utah Supreme Court last year, her attorneys said she “continues to experience distress, including embarrassment, loss of self-esteem, disgrace, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life, and spiritual suffering.”
Summarizing the constitutional issue in its analysis, the Utah court said the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause protects religious bodies to govern themselves in accordance with their own beliefs, free from government interference. On the other hand, the court said, no segment of society and no institution within it “can exist in a vacuum or in total or absolute isolation from all its other parts.”
Background: https://casetext.com/case/williams-v-kingdom-hall-of-jehovahs-witnesses
