Hey guys, thanks for opening this topic up for discussion here. I will be happy to answer any questions, time permitting. I have been working on this for quite some time- this is something we have been expecting ever since Watchtower lost the JW v Watchtower case in California in the trial court and in the appellate courts of California.
Watchtower was held responsible for failing to produce the child abuse documents demanded by the plaintiff, and as a result a default judgment was issued in her favor of more than 4 million dollars.
Watchtower has been paying a 6 million dollar bond on this case during the appeal process.
Because they have lost all appeals in California- they are now taking this to the US Supreme Court, but the chances of it being heard are slim.
Basically they are claiming that they are being abused by California and denied their constitutional right to keep their judicial hearings private, even when they involve child abuse allegations which by law must be reported to the authorities.
They demand that the clergy-penitent exemption be applied to their elders notes and documents, and feel they are being unfairly discriminated against because their policies differ from those of the Catholic Church.
I should have a JW Survey article up on Tuesday with more information