Religion and Politics

Child Sex Abuse Investigation of Jehovah’s Witnesses Fuels Speculation

Mark Scolforo and Peter Smith of the Associated Press report, “A Pennsylvania grand jury in recent months accused nine men with connections to the Jehovah’s Witnesses of child sexual abuse in what some consider the nation’s most comprehensive investigation yet into abuse within the faith.” The proceedings have focused on structural barriers to reporting child sexual abuse within the community, a problem that critics say has plagued the religion for years. Jarrod Lopes, a spokesperson for the Church, denies any wrongdoing. Commentators have compared the current inquiry to the 2018 Pennsylvania grand jury investigation into sexual abuse within the Catholic church which led to the first state-wide public report of its kind on the issue.

Read at The Associated Press

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