Much has transpired within and beyond the view of present Jehovah’s Witness members concerning the organization. Below are brief updates of occurrences in the past month of April, including links to back up the information provided at the end of each column.
The pictures above are from a January 21st, 2024 NNN media report in Japan on Jehovah’s Witnesses becoming a social problem and abusing children.
In 2022, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare declared that coercing religious practices constitutes abuse. This policy spurred former and current Jehovah’s Witnesses, including many second-generation members, to speak out about the severe abuse they endured and the ongoing challenges they face. However, there hasn’t been an organization specifically addressing these issues for Jehovah’s Witnesses. It is a legal team involving a former Jehovah’s Witness, one in particular is a lawyer named Tanaka, in Tokyo Japan. Supported by medical advisors, they formed the “Jehovah’s Witness Issues Support Lawyers Group” to investigate and address these concerns. Their website is linked below. The team strives to empathize with the challengers former Witnesses endure, such as abuse of all sorts, shunning and social restrictions.
The Jehovah’s Witness Organization issued a preliminary report in response to the adverse media attention that multiple media outlets and Tanaka’s legal team have received in connection with government inquiries. The Jehovah’s Witness Organization initiated this study in 2023, and have been releasing the report “Jehovah’s Witnesses in Japan- A Quantitative Study” for the past few weeks in April, 2024.
Tanaka responds to the study they conducted: “Of the 304 facilities with emergency medical centers, 138 responded to this report. Among them was a case in which a 13-year-old child died after refusing a blood transfusion during a bone marrow transplant. This is not an attack on religious freedom, but rather the fact that this situation is being allowed to continue is abnormal and dereliction of society and the country’s duties. This so-called STUDY by an organization thought to be related to Jehovah’s Witnesses writes that 6.9% of Japanese people have no education, but the actual high school enrollment rate in Japan is about 97%, and maybe 99.9% of people have received some kind of formal education. The premise that about 8 million Japanese are uneducated is absolutely absurd.”
On April 3rd, 2024, Carlos Bardavío – involved in the Spanish Association of Victims of Jehovah’s Witnesses (AEVTJ) was quoted in the article “We want the Prosecutor’s Office to investigate what happens within the Jehovah’s Witnesses” by the News Report Site Deia. responding to the reporter, he says “Citizens, and even more so the former Jehovah’s Witnesses, have the right to say that they consider this religious group a destructive sect because there is truth that there is excessive control.” Explaining the 2 Witness rule, “When you report you have to have either the abuser’s confession or two eyewitnesses, which is impossible. The judge says that this greatly discourages reporting. The victims say that when they reported it, the elders told them to leave it in the hands of Jehovah.”
The Spanish Association of Victims of Jehovah’s Witnesses wanted the public to know that if any current/ former Jehovah’s Witnesses in Spain would like to express their story to ABC news outlet, the email is here: [email protected]
On April 18th, 2024 an Article was released “Justice acquits a doctor who gave a blood transfusion to a Jehovah’s Witness in Lleida.“ The court has acquitted a doctor who in 2016 gave a blood transfusion to a Jehovah’s Witness. The magistrate also warns that the presence of the members of the congregation could have initially “conditioned” the patient’s decision.
Sorayis Nárez, a former Jehovah’s Witness has stirred significant attention with her past in the Jehovah’s Witness community, and the types of abuse that occurs inside. On March 14th, 2024 her book “WE ARE NOT PART OF THE WORLD” was published. She was also interviewed on talk shows, and mentioned in a newspaper article “Escaping the Jehovah’s Witnesses” by a Journalist for the El Periódico de Catalunya.
April 12th, 2024 “Fear, reports of abuse and “social death:” What those who leave the Jehovah’s Witnesses say” goes into former followers of the organization denouncing the social ostracism they suffer when leaving it, either by personal decision or by being expelled for committing what the witnesses consider sins, such as giving a blood transfusion.
On April 24th, 2024 ABC, one of Spain’s leading news outlets has released a podcast regarding the life of a Jehovah’s Witness. “12 people who left the organization break their silence and denounce the abuses of power they suffered.”
On April 24th, 2024, an article was published with CNE news “Jehovah’s Witnesses ease shunning rules after blow in Oslo Court.” Jehovah’s Witnesses globally have relaxed disciplinary measures for young members following instances of “serious wrongdoing.” This shift occurred shortly after the Oslo District Court in Norway revoked the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ official status as a registered faith community. Testimonies from numerous individuals underscored the profound harm caused by exclusion from the community, while others expressed fear of such exclusion and therefore chose to remain despite reservations. Many recounted enduring years of pressure leading to lasting emotional scars. The central legal question revolved around whether the practice of disfellowshipping and shunning constituted an exercise of the community’s freedom of belief or an infringement on the rights of those, particularly minors, affected. Additionally, the case raised concerns about whether such practices could serve as grounds for de-registration, marking uncharted territory as the first instance of a group losing its registration status.
On April 20th, 2024 Governing Body Member Stephen Lett visited the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam to be apart of a special program.
In the beginning of the program, a music video was aired “Listen to my Prayer Jehovah.”
In Stephen Lett’s translated talk he discusses the biblical story of Jonah and its lessons about Jehovah’s character and human behavior. In the bible, Jonah, a prophet from ancient Israel, was tasked by Jehovah to go to the city of Nineveh but fled to Spain instead. Lett questions whether Jonah was wicked or just weak for disobeying. Despite Jonah’s reluctance, Jehovah provided support for him to fulfill his mission, teaching the importance of trusting in divine assistance. Lett draws parallels between Jonah’s story and Jesus’ resurrection, trying to emphasize their truth. He highlights patience and mercy as key themes, urging listeners to learn from Jonah’s experiences and apply these lessons in their lives, particularly in assignments, discipline, attitude, and work ethic. In the conclusion of the talk he expresses gratitude for the congregation’s support and encourages continued learning from scripture and active participation in spreading the message. Another talk given was by A. DuShey “Antidote to Worry.”
Joining the Jehovah’s Witnesses at the arena that day were also peaceful protesters, who were outside protesting for freedom, respect and rights. They released a notice for the silent protest, stating “We gather in the shadow of the arena, not as opponents of individual believers, but as voices of concern against an institution that undermines the fundamental rights of people and children through the practice of shunning. This action is a plea for change, for understanding and for the rights of those who suffer from these practices.”
The signs shown above the advocates had displayed that day reads how the Jehovah’s Witness organization violates humans and children’s rights.
‘Declaring imposed social death. Suffering for all involved. How long?’
‘STOP parental alienation ‘in the name of God’. Mom/Dad is NOT in the hands of Satan!
‘Baptized as a minor? High chance of being banned instead of connected! Who will protect these children?’
On April 24th, 2024- The decision to dismiss the appeal was made by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions. The Commission concluded that the activities of the Jehovah’s Witnesses fell within the scope of its inquiry, and this interpretation was later confirmed through an amendment to the terms of reference. The Jehovah’s Witnesses organization in New Zealand sought judicial review of the Commission’s initial interpretation and the lawfulness of the amendment. However, the High Court dismissed these claims. The Jehovah’s Witnesses have now appealed the High Court decision. The appeal questions whether the Commission exceeded its terms of reference before the amendment and whether the amendment targeted the Jehovah’s Witnesses unlawfully. The Court held that the Commission did not exceed its terms of reference and that the amendment was lawfully made.
This means that the Organization has lost the appeal and will be included in the Royal Commission’s Inquiry into abuse.
Starting with one arrest on April 2nd, 2024, 2 other arrests within the PA investigation on Jehovah’s Witnesses was made of Ronald Mangone, age 69, in Westmoreland and Roger E. Zellars, 68, in Pittsburgh, Garfields neighborhood. Mangone was charged with 3 felony charges and 5 misdemeanor charges for sexually assaulting a minor. Zellars is charged with multiple counts of rape, statutory rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault.
This would makes 15 perpetrators arrested for child sexual abuse by the PA Grand Jury Investigation to the Jehovah’s Witness congregations in Pennsylvania.
On April 3rd, 2024, documents regarding an ongoing Child Sex Abuse case was released. It involves the Defendant, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. (WTNY), failing to provide important documents related to child sexual abuse.
These documents were used by their Service Department to create internal reports called ‘Memorandums of Record.’ Initially, WTNY said these documents were kept by their Legal Department, then later admitted that the Service Department also had copies. However, they can’t confirm if these documents still exist, leading to uncertainty about their whereabouts.
The Plaintiffs, – the victims of abuse, who are seeking these documents, argue that they are crucial because they contain information about what WTNY knew regarding the abuse and when they knew it. Despite being asked to provide the documents, WTNY’s responses have been inconsistent and raised suspicions about whether the documents were destroyed. The Plaintiffs believe that WTNY should be compelled to produce the documents or face sanctions for potentially destroying them.
Quoting Mark O’ Donnell on his site, jwchildabuse.org “Attorneys for Plaintiffs have filed a 25 page brief in support of a motion for Sanctions against the Watchtower Corporation, alleging that the Jehovah’s Witnesses intentionally destroyed original evidence files containing significant information about at least three child predators who committed multiple rapes and abuses of children in Hardin Montana during the 1970s and 1980s.”
Aiding Transparency to Watchtowers teachings. If you have additional information about this topic or would like to reach the author- Please email [email protected]