Congregation in PA sues over mandatory reporting

by Corney 40 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

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  Disillusioned JW

  The Watchtower has Vatican envy. The WT is trying to copy portions of the organizational and legal structure of the Roman Catholic Church.
  

  The WT/JW religion wants all of the legal rights of the Catholic Church while wanting to continue claiming they don't have a clergy class, are not part of Christendom (despite claiming they are the headquarters of the earthly organization of Christ's kingdom), do not have a hierarchy, that their governing body and other Bethel members take a vow of poverty, that they are God's channel and they in some sense receive inspiration from God, that they are the one and only true religion, that they disfellowship some JWs (in other words practice a form of excommunication - even more severe than that of the Catholic church), that they have a legal entity which is called the "Religious Order of Jehovah's Witnesses" (the Catholic Church also has an order), etc. The Religious Order of Jehovah's Witnesses was organized on August 21, 2000 - the same year the WT said the governing body of JWs is no longer a part of the WT corporation.

  The WT operates inquisitions - known as Judicial Committees in which they try JWs for heresies and on other matters. The WT says JWs shoul not study the Bible without the guidance of the WT doctrinal literature. The Catholic Church says Catholics should not study the Bible without the guidance of the Catholic Church's literature.
  

  See https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company-profiles.religious_order_of_jehovahs_witness.ed57e6971ac48c7cf2512c42a2169a31.html and https://www.guidestar.org/profile/11-3574246 . See also https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/183773/religious-order-jehovahs-witnesses-letter-from-wt , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporations_of_Jehovah%27s_Witnesses , and https://www.bible.ca/Jw-catholic.htm .
  
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  Fisherman

  There are Federal laws protecting confidentiality that conflict with the reporting laws. Why don’t legislators repeal the federal laws and make mandatory reporting easy. It is that simple. But the way the laws are crafted now, on the one hand confessions to a minister are confidential but on the other hand mandatory reporting laws compel disclosure.
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  Fisherman

  Does your organisation have a clergyman class?”
  Answer ..No.

  Correct but JW church ministers are governed by Federal law that proscribes them from disclosing confidential communications under a spiritual setting.
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  Disillusioned JW

  Note that https://www.catechismclass.com/catholic_bible_study.php says the following. "Catholics are taught not to independently interpret the Bible but, we are encouraged to read the Bible." Doesn't that sound like the WT saying JWs should not study/interpret the Bible independently of the WT?
  
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  Corney

  There is a widespread misunderstanding of this issue. In Pennsylvania, just like in Montana, Illinois and many other jurisdictions, JW elders are mandatory reporters BECAUSE, not despite, they are considered to be clergymen. In these jurisdictions ordinary people have no duty to report - only certain professionals, including members of clergy, have that duty. And their "we don't have clergy class" rhetoric is simply immaterial and irrelevant, and it's a kind of urban legend that courts use it against the org.
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  TonusOH

  Why don’t legislators repeal the federal laws and make mandatory reporting easy.

  If I am not mistaken, current law does not forbid them from coming forward with such information. But it does not compel them to break the confidentiality of the confessional, either. It is up to the clergy in question, whether they decide to contact authorities if they are given information regarding a crime or illegal activity.

  Edit: Or, I may be wrong about that, seeing Corney's post above mine.
  
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  Corney

  Also, there is no federal law on clergy privilege, it's a state matter.
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  Fisherman

  current law does not forbid them from coming forward

  Such law still conflicts with Federal law that protects a penitent’s confidentiality. An involved penitent can still sue for damages based on Federal law. Again, simply repeal the Federal law instead of passing conflict ing laws. The government is playing both sides while the church is doubly exposed.
  
  
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  Fisherman

  Also, there is no federal law on clergy privilege, it's a state matter.

  There is Federal law protecting confidentiality between a church member and minister.
  
  
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  Corney

  What federal law?