A Northern California jury has awarded $28 million in damages to a woman who said the Jehovah's Witnesses allowed an adult member of a Fremont, California church to molest her when she was a child, the Associated Press website reports today (June 17, 2012).
Alameda County jurors awarded $7 million in compensatory damages on June 13 and an additional $21 million in punitive damages on June 14 to the plaintiff, Candace Conti, said Rick Simons, her lawyer.
"This is the largest jury verdict for a single victim in a religious child abuse case in the country," Simons said.
In her lawsuit, Conti, 26, said that in 1995 and 1996 -- when she was 9 and 10 years old and a member of the North Fremont Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses -- she was repeatedly molested by a fellow congregant, Jonathan Kendrick.
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The Jehovah’s Witnesses have a policy within their religion that protects pedophiles.
ReplyDeleteThe official policy is that the elders of the “Church” are supposed to handle the matter internally, without contacting the police. They do this so that shame will not be brought on the religion.
It’s important that they keep a squeaky clean image to the public. Remember they believe they are the only “True” religion and all other Christian Churches are under the control of Satan. JW’s are not supposed to sue other JW’s or involve the police or courts.
They believe these are Satan’s organizations and any crime by a JW should be dealt with internally.The elders will contact the police ONLY if they’re forced to by state law. Otherwise they are forced to follow official policy from headquarters. Some states require that “priests” or “pastors” report child abuse to the authorities. If they are not forced to report them than they cover it up.
You might actually get a unreported pedophile knocking on your door next time they show up peddling pamphlets and selling “Eternal Life".
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Danny Haszard *tell the truth don't be afraid*