Mephis: But the whole process and procedure of their internal judicial structure... they're still hauling people in front of judicial committees to face their abusers in spite of said abusers just being out of prison for those very offences. They need to broaden their evidence requirements. They can do this easily. Their internal letters show that they can re-write the meaning of a word when it suits their needs.
I disagree with this part of your post.
The elders should not be sticking their nose into "evidence collecting". Who made them cops?? Are they a professional police force? Nobody in a religion should be "collecting evidence" on an alleged crime. Mandatory reporting laws or not - sexual abuse of a minor is still a crime.
Not only that, the elders "collecting evidence" system certainly calls into question their claims that they can't release information under the clergy penitent clause. That privlege is violated the minute that the elders start sticking thier nose into evidence collecting. Even the practice of having three elders in the room when said confidential information was exposed is an slippery slope.
If they are so concerned about confidentiality and privacy laws, using those laws as a shield to hide behind, why did the whole congregation that BCG attended know about the abuse? Her confidentiality certainly wasn't respected.
Whatever happened to the fundamental right of legal representation when facing a court system?