Topics Started by Corney

10
Watch Tower PA sues Russia in DC district over confiscation of Bethel
by Corney in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
the watch tower society of pennsylvania filed a lawsuit on september 3, 2024, naming as defendants the russian federation, the russian ministry of health, and the almazov national medical research center.

unfortunately, i can't access the case documents, including the complaint.

i would appreciate if someone with an active pacer account could make them available.. anyway, it is enough to know the almazov center is one of the entities sued by the wts to say what this case is about.
2
Quebec court: film classification rules unconstitutionally restrict rights of Jehovah's Witnesses
by Corney in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
on 30 may, a judge of the court of quebec ruled on a case of watch tower's non-compliance with film classification rules.

the society was prosecuted for showing the story of josiah movie during the 2019 summer convention in quebec city, without it first being examined by the age rating authority, an offence punishable by fine of up to ca$2800 for the first time and up to ca$14,000 subsequently.

the offence was indeed committed, the court found, but the law in question violates religious freedom, freedom of expression and parental freedom of jehovah's witnesses and therefore doesn't apply to the defendant.
6
UK Supreme Court decides Watchtower not liable for elder raping 29 year old congregant
by Corney in
1. watchtower
2. child-abuse
background: https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5684019822854144/vicarious-liability-court-appeal-dismisses-appeal-from-religious-organisation-following-sexual-assault.

the judgment (unanimous): https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/docs/uksc-2021-0089-judgment.pdf.

press summary: https://www.supremecourt.uk/press-summary/uksc-2021-0089.html.
3
Netherlands: JWs prevail in Bethel raids and shunning cases
by Corney in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
this week, it was revealed that the organization had won, at least so far and partially, two significant cases.. first, the overijssel district court declared that many items seized during the 2018 bethel raids contain privileged information, which the public prosecution service no longer contests.

this applies, in line with the supreme court judgement, to "all seized documents that, according to the complainants, fall under the right of non-disclosure ... and that contain information relating to information shared with elders in trust in the context of pastoral care, including information relating to the religious judicial committees"; apparently, 15 million electronic files the prosecution was unable to provide for judicial examination are also considered privileged.

the documents have already been returned, their copies are to be destroyed until 1 november.
10
BREAKING. European Court rules for Jehovah's Witnesses in long-awaited "extremism" case
by Corney in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
in 6-1 judgment, the ecthr found that the forced dissolution of jehovah’s witnesses religious organisations in russia, the banning of their religious literature and international website on charges of extremism, the revocation of the permit to distribute religious magazines, the criminal prosecution of individual jehovah’s witnesses, and the confiscation of their property unlawfully interfered with their human rights.

the only dissenting judge is apparently mikhail lobov, who was nominated by the russian government.. .

.
12
Apparently the most exhaustive list of English-language exJW books (primarily memoirs) published this millenium
by Corney in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
...is found in a recent journal of cesnur article:.

abrahams, kyria.

i’m perfect, you’re doomed: tales from a jehovah’s witness upbringing.
2
Suspected WA KH arsonist arrested
by Corney in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
as many probably remember, in 2018-2020, multiple kingdom and assembly halls were set on fire in the state of washington, so fbi, atf, local sheriff and arson alarm foundation offered $61,000 in rewards for information leading to arrest of the arsonist.

the attacks (seven arsons and one shooting) included:.

march 19, 2018: two arson attacks - one at a tumwater kingdom hall and the second at a kingdom hall on cain road in olympia.
14
Suspected Washington Kingdom Halls arsonist arrested
by Corney in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
as many probably remember, in 2018-2020, multiple kingdom and assembly halls were set on fire in the state of washington, so fbi, atf, local sheriff and arson alarm foundation offered $61,000 in rewards for information leading to arrest of the arsonist.

the attacks (seven arsons and one shooting) included:.

march 19, 2018: two arson attacks - one at a tumwater kingdom hall and the second at a kingdom hall on cain road in olympia.
10
Leading First Amendment scholars intervene in CA loyalty oath case
by Corney in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
brianna bolden-hardge, a mother of two, a devout jw and a career california civil servant, sues the office of the state controller which revoked a job offer after she objected to swearing a loyalty oath, even though three other state agencies she worked for "either did not insist on the oath or provided her a religious accommodation to it" (by allowing to submit a clarifying statement).

she sued, and the case was dismissed by a district court.

now it's heard by the ninth circuit.
40
Congregation in PA sues over mandatory reporting
by Corney in
1. watchtower
2. child-abuse
ivy hill congregation of jehovah's witnesses is currently suing the pa department of human services.

it requests "a declaration that its elders are entitled to" clergy privilege, or, in the alternative,.

to the extent that the clergyman privilege is determined to exclude its elders on the basis that they are "members of [a] religious organization[] in which members other than the leader thereof are deemed clergymen or ministers," the court declare the statute to be unconstitutional.