-- Two Women Sue Jehovah's Witnesses Over Sexual Abuse --
/FROM PR NEWSWIRE CHICAGO 888-776-6551/
TO STATE, SOCIETY AND RELIGION EDITORS:
Two Women Sue Jehovah's Witnesses Over Sexual Abuse
Charge That National Church Policies "Protect" Predators
New York Headquarters, Local Congregation and Convicted Molester Named
As Defendants
MANCHESTER, N.H., Aug. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The official policies and
practices of the Jehovah's Witnesses church violate New Hampshire's mandatory
child abuse reporting laws and led to the sexual molestation of at least two
girls, according to a civil lawsuit to be filed tomorrow in Hillsborough
County Superior Court in Manchester NH.
Holly and Heather Berry allege that their father sexually abused them for
six years in the 1980s when they were between three and ten years old.
Their mother, a devout Jehovah's Witness, brought her suspicions/concerns
about the molestation to three church leaders, but was told to "pray more
about the situation" and "become a better wife," according to the lawsuit.
No church official contacted state authorities about the allegation, in
violation of New Hampshire's requirement that law enforcement agencies be
notified of suspected child abuse.
Defendants in the litigation include the denomination itself (officially
known as the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.), a local
church (the Wilton Congregation in Wilton, NH), and the girls' father, Paul
Berry, who was convicted of sexual abuse in October of last year and is
currently serving a 56-year sentence at the Northern Correctional Facility
in Berlin, NH.
"No organization, not even a religious one, is above the law," said David
Clohessy of St. Louis, director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those
Abused by Priests, a national support group. "This is a potentially
far-reaching case. Simply put, the question is whether society must tolerate
so-called 'religious practices' that enable molesters to hurt kids, hamstring
police, and violate our most sacred laws."
"Like teachers, social workers and others in leadership positions, church
figures must protect kids and help police stop predators," Clohessy
maintained.
According to the lawsuit, official Jehovah's Witness "policies and
practices" require that any accusations against church members be reported
to church leaders, not civil authorities. In child abuse allegations, those
policies also require two eyewitnesses. Yet, church elders "have no
experience or training in child abuse investigations," the suit contends.
As a result, the suit alleges that Jehovah Witness leaders "failed to take
reasonable steps" to protect the Berrys and other youngsters.
The suit blasts the denomination for its alleged "minimizing, defending
and tolerating abuse by (Jehovah's Witnesses)" and claims that Witnesses
accused of molestation "are routinely given sanctuary, protection, sympathy
and support from the organization." Church leaders and members, for example,
spoke in support of Paul Berry at his criminal sentencing hearing.
In addition to "failure to report suspected child abuse," the defendants
are also charged with deceit, battery, negligence, and breach of fiduciary
duty. The suit seeks unspecified monetary damages.
Three elders of the Wilton congregation, Bob Ward, Jim Hilton and Robert
Michalowski, are mentioned in the legal complaint. Sarah Poisson, the Berry
girls' mother, allegedly talked several times with the men, explaining her
fears about her husband's abusive behavior. "None of the elders reported
the suspected abuse...to any designated authority," claims the lawsuit.
The Berry sisters "continue to suffer extreme, permanent emotional
distress and psychological harm with accompanying physical manifestations,"
their attorneys say. Because they felt "shame, guilt, and depression" and
doubted whether they would be believed, the two were "unable or unwilling" to
report their abuse sooner, according to the lawsuit.
Holly Berry, now 22, is a student in Berkeley, CA and Heather Berry, now
18, lives in Charlestown, NH.
Attorneys Janine Gawryl of Nashua, N.H. and Jeffrey Anderson of St. Paul,
Minn., represent the sisters. Anderson has handled more than 400 cases of
abuse by religious figures across the countries.
While virtually every faith group has experienced similar abuse
litigation, this is believed to be one of only a handful against the Jehovah's
Witnesses.
A support group for men and women victimized by Jehovah's Witness members
and leaders is being formed and can be reached at silentlambs, inc, PO Box
311, Calvert City, Kentucky 42029 (Telephone: 270-527-5350 or 270-559-5345). |
