Attorneys Fighting the Jehovah’s Witnesses for Covering up Child Sexual Abuse
Much like the Mormons, the Jehovah’s Witnesses create a very isolated community of followers that have little contact with non-members. They insist on dealing with allegations of child sexual abuse within the organization, covering it up from public view and, effectively, allowing abusers to continue harming the vulnerable.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses are run by a group of men who have a tremendous amount of power over their followers’ lives. According to William S. Bowen, who operates the Silent Lambs web site, the church has a policy of hiding and protecting known child molesters. Anyone who speaks to anyone outside the church about the problem is charged with “speaking against God” and is often excommunicated. Mr. Bowen has seen his own family members refuse to speak to him because he stood up and told the truth about children being hurt.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses Will Not Solve the Problem
If someone is found guilty of child sexual abuse within the Jehovah’s Witnesses, he or she may be stripped of their titles, but will not be prevented from committing further abuses. Even minor punishments occur only if the offender is found guilty by the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ standards, which are impossibly strict. They insist that any allegation must be supported by a witness — of course there are seldom witnesses to report incidents of child sexual abuse.
Meanwhile, if your allegations aren’t found to have enough support, you can be accused of bearing false witness, which is a major moral violation within the organization. Church officials often use the threat of “bearing false witness” to intimidate victims of abuse into not disclosing the crimes that occurred.
Fighting Back Is Difficult but Necessary
For anyone who has grown up within the Jehovah’s Witnesses, it takes tremendous courage to stand up against the church. But only through that courage can they bring about change. The attorneys at Kosnoff Fasy applaud their clients, who risk so much for the sake of recovering from their ordeal and fight to prevent future abuse.
Contact a Lawyer Fighting Against Sexual Abuse
If you know of any child sexual abuse within the Jehovah’s Witnesses or any other organization, please contact Kosnoff Fasy and speak with our attorneys in a free, confidential consultation. Call 206-257-3590.
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