Clergy Privilege… Not All Faith-Based Communications Are Protected By The Clergy-Penitent Privilege: Reminger Attorneys at Law 5 Dec 202128 Dec 2021 McFarland v. West Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Lorain, OH, Inc., 9th Dist. Lorain No. 15CA010740, 2016-Ohio-5462Not All Faith-Based Communications Are Protected By The Clergy-Penitent Privilege: Reminger Attorneys at Law Excerpt:…
Civil Abuse… Mennonite farm Liberty Ridge human trafficked and abused boys, lawsuit says – The Washington Post 30 Nov 202128 Dec 2021 Two men are suing Liberty Ridge Farm in McAlisterville, Pa., alleging they were forced into performing free labor and were physically and emotionally abused. (Google Earth) Excerpt: Since at least…
Catholic Church… French clerical abuse report puts spotlight on Roman Catholic confession | The Seattle Times (From New York Times) 7 Nov 202128 Dec 2021 1 of 2 | A visitor prays at the Church of Saint-Sulpice in Pari in October. A church-ordered report issued in October by an independent commission on sexual abuse inside…
Legislation… Advocates urge Senate to approve window for sex abuse cases – Pennsylvania Capital-Star 20 Sep 202128 Dec 2021 'We waited our entire childhood.' Advocates urge Senate to approve window for sex abuse cases - Pennsylvania Capital-Star Advocate LaQuisha Anthony outside the Pennsylvania State Capitol, where she and other…
Legislation… Tom Lehman on Twitter: “Speaking at CHILDUSAdvocacy event, PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro says there’s no reason why HB951 Hasn’t Passed Yet. 20 Sep 202128 Dec 2021 https://twitter.com/tomlehmanwgal/status/1439997083117891596?s=27
Belgium… Court hits Jehovah’s Witnesses with €96,000 fine for discrimination | The Bulletin 17 Mar 202128 Dec 2021 Belg Excerpt: The Belgian chapter of the Jehovah’s Witnesses have been handed a €96,000 fine by a court in Ghent for discrimination and incitement to hate. It sets a precedent…
Australia… Queensland passes law to jail priests for not reporting confessions of child sexual abuse – ABC News 8 Sep 20209 Sep 2020 Priests in Queensland will now be compelled to break the seal of confession to report child sexual abuse or face three years in jail. Key points: The law was passed…
News… New York extends civil ‘look back’ for child sexual assault victims 8 May 202017 May 2020 NY Gov. Cuomo extended a “lookback window” created as part of the Child Victims Act last year that allows child sex abuse survivors of all ages to file civil suits…
Legislation… Montana sees flurry of child sex abuse lawsuits as deadline approaches 29 Apr 202017 May 2020 The one-year window Montana lawmakers opened to give child sex abuse survivors a chance to bring old claims is closing soon, and a flurry of lawsuits is hitting the courts.…
Clergy… Bisbee man confesses he’s molesting his daughter. Church tells bishop not to report abuse to authorities 22 Apr 202017 May 2020 State lawmaker vows to again introduce legislation to eliminate the so-called confessional exception when it comes to admissions of ongoing abuse. Source. AZCentral.com [USA Today Network]: Bisbee man confesses he's…
Investigations… Grand jury investigators are ‘dead serious’ about revealing sexual-abuse cover-ups among Jehovah’s Witnesses 14 Feb 202019 Feb 2020 Former Jehovah’s Witnesses who have testified before a state grand jury say investigators are seeking to shatter the wall of secrecy around the religion’s leaders and their response to sex…
Clergy… Court overturns $35 million sex abuse verdict against Jehovah’s Witnesses 10 Jan 202027 Jan 2020 In the ruling, justices cited a state law that says religious leaders do not have to report confidential child abuse allegations to authorities. BILLINGS, Mont. — The Montana Supreme Court…
Clergy… MT court reverses $35M Jehovah’s Witness case 8 Jan 202027 Jan 2020 The Jehovah's Witnesses of Thompson Falls, as well as its national headquarters, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, failed to protect one of its members from child sexual abuse, a…
Catholic Church… A bill in the Utah State Legislature removes ‘priest-penitent’ privilege when it comes to child abuse 7 Jan 202027 Jan 2020 SALT LAKE CITY -- A bill made public ahead of the 2020 legislative session would remove the "priest-penitent" privilege when it comes to reporting abuse cases. House Bill 90, sponsored…