Topics Started by Corney

Finnish activist subjected to theocratic lawfare, convicted of violating privacy rights of elders
by Corney in
1. watchtower
2. scandals
i believe this case was already discussed here or there but it will be useful to provide some more details and perspective.. the 7-13 december 2020 midweek meeting program included parts appallingly titled “love for jehovah stronger than love for family” and “we show love by supporting jehovah’s discipline” on the topic of shunning.

jari-pekka peltoniemi, a local exjw activist, accessed the congregation meeting via jwstream and posted an article on it, publishing facial images and voice recordings of two elders (altered nearly two weeks later) without revealing their names.

note: please have in mind that google translates the finnish word relating to shunning as "map learning" and "mapping.".
7
Mark O'Donnell sued by Pennsylvanian congregations over "eavesdropping" virtual meeting between lawyers and elders
by Corney in
1. watchtower
2. child-abuse
in a civil complaint filed under seal and unsealed nearly two months ago, 11 congregations accuse the activist of violating federal, pennsylvania and maryland wiretap statutes.

in the course of the ongoing statewide grand jury investigation, all jw congregations in pennsylvania were subpoenaed to produce records pertaining to child sexual abuse.

so, meetings were arranged, county by county, between lawyers and elders on how to deal with the subpoenas.
15
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.