Montana Court says Jehovah’s Witnesses need not report child abuse
The Montana state Supreme Court has reversed a jury verdict of $4 million in compensatory damages and $31 million in punitive damages awarded to two children who were sexually abused by a member of a local congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The children had claimed that the Congregation had a duty to report the abuse to the state when it was reported. The Court said that reporting is not required if a communication is required to be confidential by canon law, church doctrine, or established church practice. Several members of a single family reported to an elder of the Congregation that they had been abused by a family member over a period of years. In the first case, because the girl had...
The full text of this article is available to paid subscribers only. Login or subscribe to read more