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…
Investigations… ‘I Want to Be Heard’: Adult Sex-Abuse Victims Demand New Rights [NYT] 25 Oct 20191 Nov 2019 For more info click on link
Amish… The limits of religious freedom: America must come to grips with when faith groups limit personal liberty 19 Oct 20191 Nov 2019 When Pastor Robert Jeffress, a member of President Trump’s Evangelical Advisory Board and the White House Faith Initiative, recently dismissed climate activist Greta Thunberg by saying that rainbows are evidence…
Legislation… Long-ignored sex abuse claims leave Pennsylvania lawmakers grappling with fairness for alleged victims, institutions 9 Oct 201918 Oct 2019 Pennsylvania lawmakers may follow in other states' footsteps and allow sexual assault victims to sue their abusers years after the assault happened and remove the statute of limitations on prosecutions.…
Catholic Church… The Catholic Church and Boy Scouts are lobbying against child abuse statutes. This is their playbook 2 Oct 201918 Oct 2019 Pennsylvania state Rep. Tom Murt slid into a pew at his childhood church, seeking a break from politics and the stress of work. Instead, Murt got an earful. In his sermon, the…
Catholic Church… NY Diocese Files for Bankruptcy in Light of Misconduct Suits 19 Sep 201918 Oct 2019 Rochester is the state's first to seek court protection. It may not be the last (BUFFALO, N.Y.) — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester was the first in New York…
Jehovah's Witnesses… Groundbreaking Lawsuits Claim Jehovah’s Witnesses Covered Up Years of Child Sexual Abuse – Newsweek 13 Aug 201918 Oct 2019 Two lawsuits being filed this week are targeting the leadership of the Jehovah's Witnesses for what the plaintiffs claim is a history of child sexual abuse. Heather Steele, 48, and…
Legislation… New child protection laws in Tennessee go into effect July 1; Statute of Limitations 16 Jul 201918 Oct 2019 TENNESSEE (WJHL) – Several new laws aiming to protect children from sexual predators and human trafficking are set to take effect July 1 in Tennessee. The laws include major legislation…
Catholic Church… Pa. court finds merit in lawsuit filed by victim of clergy sex abuse despite expired statute of limitations [case involving fraud; coverup] 12 Jun 201918 Oct 2019 The decision handed by the Pennsylvania Superior Court could open the way for lawsuits against Catholic dioceses even in cases where the statute of limitations has expired. The unanimous opinion…
Investigations… Legislature eliminates statute of limitations for child sex crimes, the ‘most important’ reform in decades to support survivors 10 Apr 201918 Oct 2019 Supporters say this is the "most important move" the Legislature has made to support sexual-assault survivors in decades. Source - Seattle Times, WA: Legislature eliminates statute of limitations for child…
Culture Change… NY Child Victims Act: What new law means for sex abusers, victims 5 Feb 201928 Feb 2019 Legislators said the Child Victims Act will pass as the Catholic Church eases its long-held opposition to the bill. Decade-long battle Survivors of child sexual assault will earn a victory…
Catholic Church… DC attorney general proposes bill to make clergy mandatory reporters 5 Feb 201928 Feb 2019 The bill would extend to a range of positions and professions across church, state, and private insitutions, but provides explicit exemptions for the confessional, and priests would not be required…
