The Offender Database reported that the Jehovah’s Witnesses Paedophile Child Molester Scandal had led to over 20 former Jehovah’s Witnesses litigating against the organisation for historical sexual abuse they endured.
The organisation maintains a policy of refraining from penalising reported child sexual assault unless corroborated by a second witness or a confession from the perpetrator.
It says its elders “comply with child-abuse reporting laws even if there is only one witness”, though, and always tell police if a child is in danger.
However, one former elder stated that it had been failing to involve the authorities.
John Viney, who says he was abused between the ages of nine and 13 by “a distant family member who was an active Jehovah’s Witness”, added that children were still being abused, and the religious organisation was “inadvertently” protecting their abusers.
“The way that Jehovah’s Witnesses handle matters within the congregation, it’s a closed shop,” he told the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme.
“I know for a fact now that there are parents who haven’t done anything about the abuse of their children by others because they don’t want to bring reproach on Jehovah’s name.”
Mr Viney’s own daughter, Karen, was abused as a child – and has since spoken out about it publicly.
But when she left the organisation, Mr Viney disowned her – something he has regretted ever since.
“When I was an elder and a dad, I put being an elder absolutely first,” he said. “And that was a mistake.”
Mr Viney said he had eventually reported his own abuser to the police in 2019, after years of being too “ashamed”, only to be told the man had gone on to abuse other children and died in prison.
“What would have happened if I had had the courage and common sense to come forward [at the time]?” he said.
Thomas Beale, a solicitor representing some of the former members, said they had decided to seek compensation after asking the group for an apology, only to find it “denying what has happened or refusing to engage”.
Those taking the legal action say the organisation is “vicariously liable” for the abuse they say they suffered. Some claim it was negligent.
One woman, Emma – not her real name – said after she had been abused, she had been visited by elders who had repeated scripture “about why we should keep it in-house, not follow the laws of the land”.
And she had been asked to recount explicit details, with the elders “glaring at me”.
Several former members have also told BBC News they were made to discuss their allegations with elders at a “judicial committee”, while their alleged abuser sat next to them.
Emma’s abuser was jailed for two years.
But, she said, following his release, he had been welcomed back into the organisation.
Labour MP Sarah Champion stated that elders in the Jehovah’s Witnesses believed child abuse should be addressed “internally” within the organisation.
Labour’s Sarah Champion, chair of a cross-party group of MPs examining adults who suffered child sexual assault, had “very serious concerns” regarding a convicted child abuser being permitted “to reintegrate into a community where they have access to vulnerable individuals.”
She stated that she had encountered seniors who “believe that there is ample safeguarding in place… [but] could not recall an instance when they would report their concerns to the police”.
The group perceived child abuse as “a transgression that they must address internally.”
“That is quite troubling to me,” she remarked.
The Charity Commission has been conducting an investigation into the Jehovah’s Witnesses group since 2013.
A spokesperson stated that the investigation is still ongoing but declined to provide any further comments.
A Jehovah’s Witnesses spokesman said: “The only way that a child abuser can gain access to children in a religious organisation like ours, which does not have any programmes that separate children from their parents, is through parents themselves.”
He said that for “decades”, the organisation had educated parents “about the dangers of child abuse and how they can protect their children” and parents and victims were informed they had the right to report the matter to the authorities.
“If a congregant has been guilty of child sexual abuse, our elders inform parents with minors so that they can take measures to protect their children,” he added.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.