Jehovah’s Witness Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Jehovah’s Witnesses is a religious group with approximately 8.6 million members spread across 239 different countries [1]. Its largest group is in the United States, where 1.2 million Jehovah’s Witnesses worship across its 11,942 congregations [2].

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the Jehovah’s Witnesses publishing company, has published over 40 billion pieces of Biblical literature, demonstrating the organization’s enormous scale and scope [3].

With such significant influence comes the severe danger of religious leaders abusing their authority to harm others and protect sexual predators. Like many other religious organizations, thousands of children and adults have been sexually assaulted within the Jehovah’s Witnesses congregation.

The Jehovah’s Witness church has been accused of failing to report child sexual abuse allegations and protecting child sex offenders who are part of the organization, particularly church elders and other influential authority figures.

A Jehova’s Witness sexual assault lawyer from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers will help you seek justice against sexual abusers in Jehovah’s Witness congregations, ensuring this religious institution is held accountable for the abusive behavior of church members.

WE ARE ONLY ACCEPTING SEXUAL ABUSE CASES INVOLVING INSTITUTIONS.

IF YOU HAVE A MATTER INVOLVING A RELATIVE OR ACQUAINTANCE, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL BAR ASSOCIATION

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Understanding the Scope of Jehovah’s Witness Sexual Assault

There are no definitive statistics on how prevalent sexual abuse is within the Jehovah’s Witnesses community. However, recent cases provide a concerning look into how this religious organization protects child abusers and predators to the detriment of sex abuse survivors.

Jehovah’s Witness abuse can happen to individuals of any age. Additionally, Jehovah’s Witnesses are known for their conservative views regarding sexuality, which can be incredibly damaging to those whose identities do not match the expectations of the church.

In recent years, child abuse among the Jehovah’s Witnesses has become of grave concern. A culture of silence and a failure to protect children from abusive members of this Christian congregation pose severe risks to the overall well-being of children.

Last year, the Pennsylvania Attorney General filed criminal charges against five men for sexually abusing children, most of whom they met through their local Jehovah’s Witness congregation [4].

In 2017, a woman alleged she was the victim of child sexual abuse between the ages of 14 and 16 while at the Spring Grove Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, located in Pennsylvania. She stated Jehovah’s Witness elders were aware of the child sex abuse but refused to take action [5].

In two cases in San Diego, the Watchtower Society refused to hand over documents related to thousands of child sex abuse allegations to a California court, costing them millions of dollars [6].

Jehovah’s Witnesses also uphold a doctrine that unless a victim verbally or physically resists sexual abuse, they are consenting [7]. This can lead to perpetrators falsely claiming the victim desired nonconsensual sexual acts.

Sexual abuse suffered by Jehovah’s Witnesses includes homophobia and gay conversion therapy. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe same-sex relationships are sexual misconduct, thinking it is possible to support gay people while condemning their relationships [8].

One young man was sent to a conversion therapy camp in an attempt to “fix” his sexuality, even being physically assaulted if he demonstrated any “feminine” mannerisms [9].

As in the Catholic Church and other organizations, Jehovah’s Witness elders may abuse their positions of authority to gain access to children or vulnerable adults. The organization believes they are in direct spiritual communication with God, which religious leaders can exploit to justify sex abuse.

Many of the major sexual abuse cases regarding the Jehovah’s Witnesses involve religious leaders, called elders, assaulting child victims. In one example from Pennsylvania, a former elder was found guilty of sexually abusing three children more than 20 years ago [10].

However, there have also been sexual abuse claims against younger members of congregations, such as a 14-year-old girl abused by an 18-year-old [11]. In this instance, church elders were aware that the abuse happened and did nothing to stop the perpetrator, instead pressuring the child victim to claim it was consensual.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses are active in preventing child sexual abuse from being disclosed to the authorities. As an example, Pennsylvania state laws require that clergy members report child abuse but provide exceptions for clergy-penitent privilege [12].

The Watchtower Society claims that all their baptized church members are ordained ministers; therefore, anything spoken in confidence to them would be subject to this rule. This allows the Jehovah’s Witnesses to avoid disclosing sexual abuse to the authorities, thus enabling serial abusers.

In Utah, the Jehovah’s Witnesses joined with other religious faiths to oppose HB90, which would have ended this loophole and forced churches to report abuse disclosed during confessions [13].

In their piece “Love and Justice in the Face of Wickedness,” The Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that child sexual abuse is abhorrent and against the law of Christ [14]. However, their institutional policies do not support this position.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse to cooperate with the police or court systems regarding sex abuse claims. Instead, all congregations send reports to the legal department of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society in Pennsylvania and New York [15].

In 2022, investigative journalists found the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society had a secret database of child sexual abuse allegations against Jehovah’s Witnesses, many of which were never shared with the local police department [16]. The organization would also not cooperate with court systems when judges demanded access to the databases [17].

Another component of the organization’s failure to report sexual abuse is the two-witness rule, which requires there be two witnesses present to testify regarding serious transgressions.

This is meant to prevent false accusations, but as child molestation or sexual abuse typically happens in private, the two-witness rule more often prevents survivors from being believed or any action being taken.

While the Jehovah’s Witnesses claim medical evidence can satisfy the two-witness rule, the evidence may never have been collected, making it impossible to corroborate.

Additionally, victims are forced to undergo questioning in front of elders, sometimes even being required to listen to their own assault in the presence of other Jehovah’s Witnesses [18]. Such policies can create deep emotional injuries and lifelong trauma that severely limits a person’s overall quality of life.

The Role of a Jehovah’s Witness Sexual Assault Lawyer

A sexual abuse lawyer from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is your advocate throughout the civil litigation process, protecting your civil rights and ensuring your voice is heard. Our experienced attorneys have an excellent track record in sexual abuse lawsuits. They will work tirelessly to gain you compensation for the trauma you have endured at the hands of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

$21 Million

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Child sexual abuse lawsuit

$5 Million

Therapist sexual abuse settlement

Expertise and Sensitivity

Our legal team is deeply familiar with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, including their culture and doctrine. This, paired with our experience in legal claims against religious institutions, gives us the skills to successfully litigate civil lawsuits against the church.

We take a trauma-informed approach to all our sexual abuse cases, following the advice of top advocacy organizations like the National Sexual Assault Hotline and the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. Our goal is to reduce the distress of the litigation process while still ensuring positive outcomes in your sexual abuse case.

Legal Advocacy and Support

A child sexual abuse lawyer from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers will carefully investigate all facets of your case, including speaking to potential witnesses on your behalf.

We’ll review medical reports, communications between Jehovah’s Witnesses, and any police reports related to the incident. Our team will also examine the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ policies to determine whether they are fulfilling their legal obligations related to where the incident occurred.

After identifying liable parties, including your local Kingdom Hall and the Watchtower Society, our legal team will file civil lawsuits and pursue compensation for you while protecting your privacy and civil rights.

Navigating Unique Legal Challenges

Child sexual abuse or adult abuse litigation related to religious institutions can face many challenges. For child molestation, the victim may not disclose the abuse until years later, potentially causing statutes of limitations issues.

Additionally, organizations like the Jehovah’s Witnesses may claim religious freedom and First Amendment concerns, insisting that they have the right to handle private matters within the Church structure. We’ll prove that they have a responsibility to protect their members from sexual abuse and to comply with mandatory reporting laws.

Finally, the Watchtower is known for resisting any investigation into its internal affairs, even facing fines for refusing to cooperate with criminal investigations. We’re familiar with their processes and will work to overcome this resistance to protect abuse survivors.

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Seeking Compensation for Jehovah’s Witness Sexual Assault

Our firm handles civil cases related to sexual abuse. Unlike criminal trials, these cases are focused on compensation for the victim. This can include several types of compensation, called damages.

Types of Damages

The damages you can receive depend on the extent of the abuse, the tangible financial losses you incurred, and the strength of the evidence available to support your claim. Some common types of damages include:

Medical expenses
Out-of-pocket medical bills
Therapy and counseling
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Loss of faith
Loss of companionship or community
Loss of earning potential
Lost wages
Loss of enjoyment of life

If your case goes to trial, the court may award punitive damages, which punish the perpetrator for negligence or malicious behavior beyond gross negligence. These are rarer forms of damages that may not always apply in every case.

Proving Liability

Liability hinges on negligence, which includes four factors: duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages. This means the liable party was responsible for caring for the victim, failed to fulfill their obligations, and caused the injury. The victim must also have suffered tangible losses as a result of the sexual abuse, such as medical bills.

This negligence may be due to several reasons, which include:

Negligent Supervision—Church elders are obligated to ensure their congregation members are acting appropriately. If they fail to note signs of abuse or act on suspicions, they are considered negligent and potentially complicit in the abuse.
Failure to Report Abuse – Religious institutions have a legal and moral obligation to report child sexual abuse when they are aware it has occurred. However, the Watchtower often prefers to handle allegations internally, preventing perpetrators from ever seeing justice.
Institutional Betrayal – Jehovah’s Witnesses put their faith in the church and should feel confident that the church will protect them in times of danger. Failing to act or covering up sexual abuse is a grave betrayal of this faith. In some cases, whistleblowers are disfellowshipped, another form of institutional betrayal.

civil claims filed alleging sexual abuse

The Legal Process for Jehovah’s Witness Sexual Assault Cases

Our lawyers will assist you with every step of getting justice, including the following:

You should always report a sex crime to the proper authorities as soon as possible, even if religious organizations attempt to discourage you. After you have filed a report, speak to your local elders so that they can begin an internal investigation.

The church has posited that medical evidence, such as DNA swabs, can be used to satisfy their two-witness rule, making it crucial that you get a forensic examination [19]. Be aware that you may be required to testify about the abuse in front of male Church elders, which can be traumatic.

Once you complete your free consultation, we will begin identifying the defendants and filing the necessary paperwork, including a demand letter stating that we will pursue compensation. We’ll also investigate the legal claims and determine which laws apply to your case.

During the discovery phase, we gather and share evidence with all parties involved to inform everyone of the case facts. We will also conduct depositions, which are interviews with witnesses and experts, to gather further details for our case.

We begin the process of seeking compensation through negotiations with the liable parties. This is often faster and less distressing for victims, allowing them to start the healing process sooner. We’ll use evidence of previous settlements for similar cases and expert testimony to justify our settlement demands.

In some cases, a trial is necessary, as the Jehovah’s Witnesses may refuse to provide a fair settlement. In this instance, we will file a lawsuit and provide legal representation in a court of law, presenting your case to a judge or jury.

We have an excellent track record of success at trial, but sometimes, it’s necessary to appeal an undesirable verdict. If this happens, we will provide further evidence and demonstrate why you deserve compensation.

Contact a Jehova’s Witness Sexual Abuse Attorney Now!

Jonathan Rosenfeld, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer

Sexual abuse in a religious setting can be deeply traumatic, leading to lifelong emotional harm. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is a fierce advocate for victims of predatory religious organizations, including the Jehovah’s Witnesses. We have recovered millions in damages for our clients and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe us nothing unless we can win your case.

To schedule your free consultation, contact us 24/7 at (888) 424-5757 or through our online contact form.

References: [1] Jehovah’s Witnesses, [2] Jehovah’s Witnesses, [3] Jehovah’s Witnesses, [4] Pennsylvania Attorney General, [5] York Daily Record, [6] PBS News, [7] KentWired, [8] Jehovah’s Witnesses, [9] OutFront, [10] Pennsylvania Attorney General, [11] Standard-Examiner, [12] AP News, [13] KUER, [14] Jehovah’s Witnesses, [15] Reveal News, [16] InvestigateWest, [17] PBS News, [18] Standard-Examiner, [19] Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Australia

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Jehovah’s Witness Sexual Assault Lawyer

Understanding the Scope of Jehovah’s Witness Sexual Assault