Posts by AndersonsInfo

8

Hawaii Window of Opportunity gives victims of JWs sexual abuse a chance for justice

by AndersonsInfo in

hawaii window of opportunity gives victims of jehovah's witness sexual abuse a chance for justicehttp://www.zalkin.com/sexual_abuse_blog/2012/november/hawaii_window_of_opportunity_gives_victims_of_je.aspxsurvivors of childhood sexual abuse in hawaii now have an unprecedented opportunity to seek justice and hold those responsible for their abuse accountable.

on april 24, 2012, the state of hawaii changed the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse occurring years, or even decades ago.

beginning last april, and continuing through april 24, 2014, any survivor of childhood sexual abuse can file a lawsuit, even if their claim had been barred by the statute of limitations in the past.

AndersonsInfo

bttt

8

Hawaii Window of Opportunity gives victims of JWs sexual abuse a chance for justice

by AndersonsInfo in

hawaii window of opportunity gives victims of jehovah's witness sexual abuse a chance for justicehttp://www.zalkin.com/sexual_abuse_blog/2012/november/hawaii_window_of_opportunity_gives_victims_of_je.aspxsurvivors of childhood sexual abuse in hawaii now have an unprecedented opportunity to seek justice and hold those responsible for their abuse accountable.

on april 24, 2012, the state of hawaii changed the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse occurring years, or even decades ago.

beginning last april, and continuing through april 24, 2014, any survivor of childhood sexual abuse can file a lawsuit, even if their claim had been barred by the statute of limitations in the past.

AndersonsInfo

Calif. Supreme Court Decision Could Open Window for Old Sex Abuse Claims

http://www.christianpost.com/news/calif-supreme-court-decision-could-open-window-for-old-sex-abuse-claims-66610/

Six brothers who allege they were sexually abused by an Oakland, Calif., priest over three decades ago, asked the California Supreme Court Thursday for permission to sue the priest’s diocese, counting on a narrow legal loophole to work in their favor.

The men allege that the Oakland Diocese knew the priest, who passed away in 2010, might have been a child molester.

Some fear that if the justices side with the plaintiffs, the state could get inundated with clergy abuse lawsuits concerning years-old cases that would normally fall outside of the statute of limitations.

California allows claims of sexual abuse to be filed at any time before the victim’s 26th birthday, and provides a vehicle for later claims in some circumstances, Devin Storey, of the Zalkin Law Firm, which specializes in clergy sex abuse cases, told The Christian Post.

The brothers are currently in their 40s and 50s. They allege they were molested in the 1970s, but did not link it to their ongoing distress until 2006. Although way past their 26th birthday, the brothers might still have a chance to file their claims, Storey told CP.

In 1998, the legislature provided a direct statute of limitations for claims against non-abuser defendants, such as the employer of the abuser (the diocese, in this case) with a cap on the alleged victim’s age at 26 years old. But in 2002, the legislature changed that requirement, adding that if the plaintiff could prove that the abuser’s employer knew or had reasons to know that the molester had abused someone else in the past and failed to take appropriate steps to prevent future abuse, the limitation of 26 years of age no longer applies, Storey said.

The priest in question, Donald Broderson, was forced to retire amid abuse allegations in 1993, according to The Associated Press. Broderson reportedly admitted that he had had sexual relationships with four sets of underage brothers during the 1970s, including at least two of the brothers in question, in 2005. Broderson also admitted fondling other children, including a little girl, the news agency reported.

The Oakland Diocese reportedly maintains that the men are precluded from suing now because they did not do so during a one-year window for outdated cases that California opened in 2003.

Storey is skeptical that the case, if accepted by the California Supreme Court, will evoke an avalanche of similar lawsuits.

"I don’t believe that there would be a rush of these cases," because this model only allows cases to move forward in very specific circumstances, he said. The plaintiff has to be able to demonstrate that the defender had the knowledge of abuse.

The court has 90 days to make a decision.

Catholic dioceses and religious orders in California already reportedly have paid more than $1.1 billion since 2006 to settle child abuse lawsuits filed since the church clergy scandal erupted a decade ago.

In the context of the national (and global) recent revelations of sexual misbehavior in church institutions, many states legislatures have looked more closely at laws that allow victims to report abuse, especially the statutes of limitations.

Recently, a bill that would open a similar one-year window for filing in old cases of sexual abuse was introduced in New York, sparking protests from local Catholic Church authorities.

According to the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), a majority of sexual abuse cases involving minors often become outdated due to the victim taking years to realize the gravity of the incident psychologically. Often, victims are also too scared or too embarrassed to come forward.

8

Hawaii Window of Opportunity gives victims of JWs sexual abuse a chance for justice

by AndersonsInfo in

hawaii window of opportunity gives victims of jehovah's witness sexual abuse a chance for justicehttp://www.zalkin.com/sexual_abuse_blog/2012/november/hawaii_window_of_opportunity_gives_victims_of_je.aspxsurvivors of childhood sexual abuse in hawaii now have an unprecedented opportunity to seek justice and hold those responsible for their abuse accountable.

on april 24, 2012, the state of hawaii changed the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse occurring years, or even decades ago.

beginning last april, and continuing through april 24, 2014, any survivor of childhood sexual abuse can file a lawsuit, even if their claim had been barred by the statute of limitations in the past.

AndersonsInfo

Hawaii Window of Opportunity Gives Victims of Jehovah's Witness Sexual Abuse a Chance for Justice

http://www.zalkin.com/Sexual_Abuse_Blog/2012/November/Hawaii_Window_of_Opportunity_Gives_Victims_of_Je.aspx Survivors of childhood sexual abuse in Hawaii now have an unprecedented opportunity to seek justice and hold those responsible for their abuse accountable. On April 24, 2012, the State of Hawaii changed the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse occurring years, or even decades ago. Beginning last April, and continuing through April 24, 2014, any survivor of childhood sexual abuse can file a lawsuit, even if their claim had been barred by the statute of limitations in the past. Actions must be filed prior to April 24, 2014 or become forever time barred. Under this law both the abuser and institutions responsible for the abuse can be brought to justice.

For decades, a perfect storm of sexual abuse has arisen out of the Jehovah's Witness' policies of encouraging victims of sexual abuse to go to elders rather than law enforcement, demanding that elders keep knowledge of such accusations away from members of the congregation who were at risk, and requiring two eye witnesses to the abuse before judicial action could be taken. These policies shielded sexual predators and created a pedophile paradise in which abusers had little concern of being arrested, exposed to the congregation or removed from the faith.

To make matters worse, for many raised in "The Truth," the idea of disobeying elders by speaking out against an abuser or seeking outside psychological help carried with it the probability of disfellowship and being shunned by everyone they knew and loved. As a result, sexual abusers flourished within the religion. By the time many survivors of abuse broke away from the Jehovah's Witnesses or found the strength to stand up to their abusers, the doors of the civil courthouse had closed to them. In Hawaii, those doors are now wide open again.

If you or someone you know was a victim of sexual abuse within the Jehovah's Witness religion in Hawaii, do not hesitate.

18

Former priest alleges 'system of cover-ups' of abuse

by AndersonsInfo in

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/15346288/former-priest-alleges-system-of-cover-ups-of-abuse/.

abcupdated november 10, 2012, 2:01 am.

a former new south wales priest claims to have witnessed a "system of cover-ups" within the catholic church to hide child sexual abuse.. kevin lee was ordained as a priest 20 years ago and worked as a police chaplain for some of that time, but was relieved of his parish responsibilities in western sydney this year when he admitted to marrying a woman in secret.. his comments follow those of that the catholic church is involved in cover-ups and paedophile priests have destroyed evidence to avoid prosecution.. mr lee told lateline on friday that abuse is widely covered up in the church and that he first became aware of it as soon as he was in the seminary.. "people used to tell me and people in the first parish i was in started to confess their frustration with the authorities and the church for not dealing with the abuse that happened to their sons," he said.. mr lee says during the course of his life as a priest, he became aware that some of those around him were paedophiles.. "i became aware that some of the other priests were actually paedophiles and were not necessarily becoming priests because they wanted to help people, but because they were paedophiles who wanted the opportunity," he said.. mr lee says a church protocol was in place for dealing with cases of child sexual abuse, but it was not actually used.. "i saw a system of cover-ups, a system of blind-eye turning and just ignorance of the fact that it was happening," he said.. he says he took his concerns to superiors within the church but was knocked back.. "in my earlier years as a priest, i was having these people coming to me in confession or just sharing in counselling sessions their experience of frustration and anger with the church that had ignored their pleas of justice when their children had been abused and i started writing the notes down," he said.. "i was speaking to a barrister at one point and i thought he was going to help my case by putting it forward in some legal process.. "he said 'document everything you have', and everything i had i took to authorities within the church and i was told i needed more evidence.".

AndersonsInfo

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/15346288/former-priest-alleges-system-of-cover-ups-of-abuse/

ABC Updated November 10, 2012, 2:01 am

A former New South Wales priest claims to have witnessed a "system of cover-ups" within the Catholic Church to hide child sexual abuse.

Kevin Lee was ordained as a priest 20 years ago and worked as a police chaplain for some of that time, but was relieved of his parish responsibilities in Western Sydney this year when he admitted to marrying a woman in secret.

His comments follow those of that the Catholic Church is involved in cover-ups and paedophile priests have destroyed evidence to avoid prosecution.

Mr Lee told Lateline on Friday that abuse is widely covered up in the church and that he first became aware of it as soon as he was in the seminary.

"People used to tell me and people in the first parish I was in started to confess their frustration with the authorities and the church for not dealing with the abuse that happened to their sons," he said.

Mr Lee says during the course of his life as a priest, he became aware that some of those around him were paedophiles.

"I became aware that some of the other priests were actually paedophiles and were not necessarily becoming priests because they wanted to help people, but because they were paedophiles who wanted the opportunity," he said.

Mr Lee says a church protocol was in place for dealing with cases of child sexual abuse, but it was not actually used.

"I saw a system of cover-ups, a system of blind-eye turning and just ignorance of the fact that it was happening," he said.

He says he took his concerns to superiors within the church but was knocked back.

"In my earlier years as a priest, I was having these people coming to me in confession or just sharing in counselling sessions their experience of frustration and anger with the church that had ignored their pleas of justice when their children had been abused and I started writing the notes down," he said.

"I was speaking to a barrister at one point and I thought he was going to help my case by putting it forward in some legal process.

"He said 'document everything you have', and everything I had I took to authorities within the church and I was told I needed more evidence."

Mr Lee says church authorities told him the allegation he brought them were hearsay.

"In the end I got frustrated with the fact that it was like the hierarchy in the Church was saying we don't believe you, you're a liar, you're making it up," he said.

Mr Lee says he has also taken his allegations to police and helped them with their investigations.

"I have given information to the police and I have also given information to the Catholic Church's independent inquiry," he said.

"One of the feelings I have about that information is that, again, I have been told it is hearsay. I didn't witness it.

"I have heard from people who have said to me that this happened and that is where the process gets bogged down."Â

Royal commission

Mr Lee has echoed calls from Chief Inspector Fox for a royal commission into child abuse within the Catholic Church.

On Friday, NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell announced a special commission of inquiry into claims of police cover-up of church sexual abuse following Chief Inspector Fox's comments.

Chief Inspector Fox said he was not convinced a special commission would be as effective as a royal commission.

Mr Lee told Lateline he has spoken to victims who says they would speak at a royal commission if one was set up.

He says damage to the church's reputation will continue until a royal commission is held.

"If you try and encourage people to be involved in the church and yet there is an undercurrent of suspicion that all priests are paedophiles, then it's going to continue until there is a royal commission that says 'no, we're actually looking into the operation of the Catholic Church'," he said.

7

No Supreme Court review of ban on Jehovah's Witnesses magazines in Russia

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

http://rapsinews.com/judicial_news/20121029/265164439.html.

newsno supreme court review of ban on jehovah's witnesses magazines in russiacontextban on jehovah's witnesses magazines validatedjehovah's witnesses magazines ban challenged by distributorwatchdog's ban on distributing jehovah's witnesses magazines affirmedtags: telecommunications, federal service for supervision of communications, the ninth commercial court of appeals, russia, moscow13:18 29/10/2012moscow, october 29 - rapsi.

the supreme commercial court will not be reviewing the lower court's ruling prohibiting the distribution of two jehovah's witnesses magazines, the watchtower and awake!, the court's spokesperson told the russian legal information agency (rapsi/rapsinews.com) on monday.. on april 6, 2010, the federal service for supervision of communications, information technology and mass media (roskomnadzor) annulled the permission to distribute the aforementioned magazines in russia issued in 1997 by the state committee for press after some of the content was declared extremist.. in february, the ninth commercial court of appeals upheld the federal service's ban on publishing and distributing the magazines.. the court thus dismissed the appeal filed by wachtturm bibel- und traktat-gesellschaft, deutscher zweig, e.v, the legal entity which holds the license to the magazines, and the jehovah's witnesses administrative center responsible for their distribution.. the religious organization requested to reconsider the ruling, but the supreme commercial court found no grounds for this.. the roskomnadzor representative said that the organization is carrying outs its activity outside russia and it is not subject to russian laws regulating the enterprises activity.. jehovah's witnesses is an international religious organization.

AndersonsInfo

http://rapsinews.com/judicial_news/20121029/265164439.html

News

No Supreme Court review of ban on Jehovah's Witnesses magazines in Russia

Context

MOSCOW, October 29 - RAPSI. The Supreme Commercial Court will not be reviewing the lower court's ruling prohibiting the distribution of two Jehovah's Witnesses magazines, The Watchtower and Awake!, the court's spokesperson told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinews.com) on Monday.

On April 6, 2010, the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) annulled the permission to distribute the aforementioned magazines in Russia issued in 1997 by the state committee for press after some of the content was declared extremist.

In February, the Ninth Commercial Court of Appeals upheld the federal service's ban on publishing and distributing the magazines.

The court thus dismissed the appeal filed by Wachtturm Bibel- und Traktat-Gesellschaft, Deutscher Zweig, e.V, the legal entity which holds the license to the magazines, and the Jehovah's Witnesses administrative center responsible for their distribution.

The religious organization requested to reconsider the ruling, but the Supreme Commercial Court found no grounds for this.

The Roskomnadzor representative said that the organization is carrying outs its activity outside Russia and it is not subject to Russian laws regulating the enterprises activity.

Jehovah's Witnesses is an international religious organization. Many traditional religions believe it to be a pseudo-Christian sect. Its management center in Russia is located in St. Petersburg. Its activities are forbidden in China, North Korea, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and a number of other countries.

According to the organization, it had seven million members as of August 2009.

In June 2010, the European Court of Human Rights declared a Russian court's ruling to dissolve the Jehovah's Witnesses religious community in Moscow illegal and ordered Russia to pay 70,000 euros in compensation to the aggrieved party.

22

Richard Rawe

by Outaservice in

jw
friends

it was reported to me in an e-mail that richard rawe of soap lake, washington has died.. many of you might remember him and god rest his soul.. outaservice.

.

AndersonsInfo

Richard and his wife Frances were very dear friends. Richard had a significant stroke last week and died in his sleep at home last Friday night. He will be sorely missed by his family and hundreds of friends. We know we'll miss his phone calls. He had a raspy, croaky voice due to many little strokes over the past twenty years which affected his vocal cords. But what knowledge he carried in his head about the history of the WT and Adventist religions that we won't be able to hear him tell anymore. All his many friends are shedding tears over his death and he will be sorely missed. Richard left a hole in our world that will never be filled by anyone else. He truly was one of a kind.

Barbara and Joe

78

Whitney Heichel killed by multiple gunshots

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

autopsy - whitney killed by multiple gunshots.. http://www.koinlocal6.com/mostpopular/story/autopsy-whitney-killed-by-multiple-gunshots/pfbmma18luksrgnszxpxfq.cspx.

salem, ore. -- the oregon state medical examiner's office announced monday the death of 21-year-old whitney heichel was caused by multiple gunshot wounds.

heichel's body was found friday afternoon on larch mountain in east multnomah county.. .

AndersonsInfo

Autopsy - Whitney killed by multiple gunshots.

http://www.koinlocal6.com/mostpopular/story/Autopsy-Whitney-killed-by-multiple-gunshots/pFbMMA18lUKSrgnszXPxFQ.cspx

SALEM, Ore. -- The Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office announced Monday the death of 21-year-old Whitney Heichel was caused by multiple gunshot wounds.

Heichel's body was found Friday afternoon on Larch Mountain in East Multnomah County.

Dr. Christopher Young with the Oregon state medical examiner's office said the autopsy, which was performed on Saturday morning, showed Heichel 's death to be homicide, adding she was shot.

An 11 a.m. news release from the Gresham Police Department included the following: "The Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office ... confirmed she died from multiple gunshot wounds."

Detectives have not released how the suspect in the case, Jonathan Holt, 24, got access to the weapon.

Young did not release any findings on Heichel's time of death.

Officials believe Heichel was kidnapped on her way to work at Starbucks in Gresham on Tuesday.

Detectives believe Heichel's neighbor and fellow church-goer, Holt, shot her in Clackamas County. Extensive searching for clues in Heichel's then-disappearance was done this past week at Dodge Park , in Clackamas County.

The case is being prosecuted in Clackamas County.

75

JW Tragic murder was by JW

by snare&racket in

jw
friends

http://www.katu.com/news/local/report-holt-heichel-were-members-of-same-church-175169201.html.

.

how sad......

AndersonsInfo

Autopsy - Whitney killed by multiple gunshots.

http://www.koinlocal6.com/mostpopular/story/Autopsy-Whitney-killed-by-multiple-gunshots/pFbMMA18lUKSrgnszXPxFQ.cspx

SALEM, Ore. -- The Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office announced Monday the death of 21-year-old Whitney Heichel was caused by multiple gunshot wounds.

Heichel's body was found Friday afternoon on Larch Mountain in East Multnomah County.

Dr. Christopher Young with the Oregon state medical examiner's office said the autopsy, which was performed on Saturday morning, showed Heichel 's death to be homicide, adding she was shot.

An 11 a.m. news release from the Gresham Police Department included the following: "The Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office ... confirmed she died from multiple gunshot wounds."

Detectives have not released how the suspect in the case, Jonathan Holt, 24, got access to the weapon.

Young did not release any findings on Heichel's time of death.

Officials believe Heichel was kidnapped on her way to work at Starbucks in Gresham on Tuesday.

Detectives believe Heichel's neighbor and fellow church-goer, Holt, shot her in Clackamas County. Extensive searching for clues in Heichel's then-disappearance was done this past week at Dodge Park , in Clackamas County.

The case is being prosecuted in Clackamas County.

56

JW Sister Missing near Portland, OR

by tresdecu in

jw
friends

AndersonsInfo

tresdecu, please check your PMs. Thanks

6

VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA: Child Abuse Inquiry submissions from religions and institutions are now publicly available on the government website

by jwleaks in

many religions, including the catholic church, have adopted a blanket approach for all 'ministers of religions' and volunteers with regards to compliance with the working with children act 2005.. another point worthy of mentioning is that all religions and organisations have adopted, and have made publicly available a child protection policy, a working with children protocol, a child abuse handling policy, and a privacy policy.. victoria police also made a submission in which they launched an attack on the catholic church in relation to interfering with police investigations into child abuse.

the catholic church has now placed a "gag" order on all priests and religious personnel prohibiting them from talking to the media or the public about the inquiry.. notably absent was any submission made by the religion of jehovah's witnesses and the watch tower society.. an interesting submission came from the seventh-day adventist church.

their 65 page submission was submitted with the follow letter published on page 2.... .

AndersonsInfo

I bet Watchtower is not looking forward to the public hearings that commence on Friday, October 19, 2012, at Parliament House, Melbourne as much as we are.

Barbara