OC said,
Well, those WT lawyers might be getting a rude awakening soon...along with all the Canadian elders who listened to them for advice. And anyone else who was aware that there were child abuse allegations in the congregations and didn't report it. Legally, it is not up to the victim or family to report - it is anyone who has knowledge of it.
As a trained crisis interventionist, who worked on a rape crisis line, I can state FOR SURE that what OC quoted above, and earlier, is the truth across Canada. This does not vary from province-to-province. Although few people have ever been charged, ALL ADULTS who have knowledge of child neglect/abuse are require to report, and can be charged criminally for failure to do so. (If you doubt this, consult a lawyer or the RCMP; that's who trained us, along with therapists and such, and I have the paperwork somewhere.)
The courts and Crown may choose to hold those in positions of authority with children, such as church officials, scout leaders, teachers, hockey coaches (you catch my drift) to a standard of higher accountability, but we ALL have a duty to report. The end. tal
EDIT: As Rape Crisis line workers, we also had a duty to inform the child (as soon as we determined it was such) and immediately call 9-1-1 and have the police to the residence. FYI