Suit Charges Jehovah's Witnesses With Covering Up Child Abuse

The Oregonian reports that yesterday a $10.5 million lawsuit was filed in state court in Oregon against Jehovah's Witness organizations claiming that they have a policy of covering up sexual abuse of minors by Jehovah's Witness leaders.  The suit was brought by a man and a woman, adults now, who claim they were molested as children by Daniel Castellanos, who held a position equivalent to an ordained minister of a congregation. Plaintiffs' attorney says that the Jehovah's Witness governing body does not disfellowship an alleged abuser unless he confesses or they have two eyewitnesses to the abuse. Even then the congregation is not told why the action occurred.