Jehovah’s Witnesses not reported 1,000 alleged child abuse perpetrators, royal commission hears

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has heard that the Jehovah’s Witnesses identified over 1,000 members as perpetrators of child sexual abuse since 1950 but did not report any of them to police. The inquiry revealed the church maintained records of these alleged perpetrators, dating back to the 1950s, and followed a scriptural approach to addressing abuse, which it condemned.

A 47-year-old woman, referred to in the inquiry as BCB, testified about being sexually assaulted by a family friend and church elder in the 1980s. She described the lasting emotional impact of the abuse, including a nervous breakdown and depression. Despite these effects, she still identifies as a Jehovah’s Witness. BCB expressed her hope that the church would take child abuse allegations more seriously and support victims who choose to report incidents.

BCB recounted her distressing experience of reporting the abuse to a group of men, including the perpetrator. She considered taking sleeping pills to cope with the ongoing trauma but chose not to for the sake of her family. Her testimony highlights the emotional and psychological toll of such experiences on survivors.

A Jehovah’s Witnesses elder, Max Horley, testified that he destroyed notes from a meeting about BCB’s assault. He stated that the church encouraged victims to report abuse but provided assistance rather than direct police involvement. When asked if he would destroy notes today if someone reported a serious allegation, Horley responded that he would follow the church’s guidance on how to proceed legally and scripturally.

Justice Peter McClellan questioned Horley about his awareness of the obligation to report serious allegations of sexual assault to authorities. Horley explained that the church would seek advice from its branch if there was any hesitation about how to proceed. His testimony underscores the internal processes the church used to handle abuse allegations, which did not involve direct police reporting.

The inquiry has highlighted the complex relationship between religious doctrine and the legal obligations of reporting child sexual abuse. The Jehovah’s Witnesses’ approach, which emphasized internal resolution and scriptural guidance, has been scrutinized for its potential impact on victims’ safety and the broader community’s trust in institutional accountability.

Source: Read the original report