Wednesday, October 4, 2023
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
Homebuyer Weekly
  • Home
  • Market Trends
  • First-Time Home Buyers
  • New Jersey
  • Home Improvement & DIY
  • Celebrity Real Estate
  • Pennsylvania
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Market Trends
  • First-Time Home Buyers
  • New Jersey
  • Home Improvement & DIY
  • Celebrity Real Estate
  • Pennsylvania
Homebuyer Weekly
No Result
View All Result
Home Pennsylvania

Authorities charge 5 more in probe of child sexual abuse among Jehovah’s Witnesses in Pennsylvania

hbwadmin by hbwadmin
July 7, 2023
in Pennsylvania
0
Authorities charge 5 more in probe of child sexual abuse among Jehovah’s Witnesses in Pennsylvania
74
SHARES
1.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


You might also like

At least 5 shot at Morgan State University, Baltimore police say

Zack Wheeler strikes out 8, NL champion Phillies beat Marlins 4-1 in Wild Card Series opener

The best things to do in Pittsburgh, October 2023

PHILADELPHIA — A Pennsylvania grand jury investigating child sexual abuse in the Jehovah’s Witnesses community has charged another five people with raping or molesting children as young as 4, the latest developments in an ongoing probe that has identified 14 suspects.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry, at a Friday news conference, said that while the misconduct dates back years or even decades, “the trauma endures for these victims.”

Henry did not address the church’s handling of complaints, but said the investigation would continue.

Critics say that Jehovah’s Witnesses elders have treated child sexual abuse as a sin rather than a crime, documenting complaints in internal files but not reporting them to authorities. And they say the church often required a second witness to substantiate a complaint, a standard that can be impossible to meet when perpetrators often isolate their victims.

Mark Haugh of York Haven, Pa., a former elder who left the church in 2016 and now advocates for survivors of abuse in the church, applauded investigators.

“I hope elders are arrested who knew about child abuse and covered it up and then it happened again,” said Haugh, who testified to the grand jury about the church’s structure and about his own daughter’s abuse within a Jehovah’s Witnesses congregation.

He also hopes organizational leaders are called to account, “because it’s not just a Pennsylvania problem, it’s a national problem.”

Church spokesman Jarrod Lopes has challenged the criticisms, saying that elders comply with reporting requirements and that members are also free to report sexual assault to authorities. He has also said the second-witness rule applies only to internal church discipline. Lopes did not immediately return a message seeking comment Friday.

The grand jury probe of Jehovah’s Witnesses began with a referral from a county prosecutor who felt the state should take a broader look at the issue. Dozens of witnesses then testified before the secret grand jury in Harrisburg or provided information to the attorney general’s office.

In the charges announced Friday, Henry said that the men had groomed or gained access to the children through the church, sometimes when the child’s family took the person into their home. One person said that she was raped 50 or more times between the ages of 7 and 12 by a church member who was 18 when the assaults began. Others involved less serious charges of inappropriate touching.

The five charged were David Balosa, 62, of Philadelphia; Errol William Hall, 50, of Delaware County; Shaun Sheffer, 45, of Butler County; Terry Booth, 57, of Panama City, FL; and Luis Ayala-Velasquez, 55, of Berks County. Four were taken in custody, while Balosa was being sought. It was not immediately clear if any of them had lawyers representing them.

One of the nine earlier defendants killed himself before he was arrested, Henry said.

Attorney Matt Haverstick, who has represented Pennsylvania congregations in the state’s investigation, did not immediately return a call for comment on Friday.

In a case with some parallels, a state grand jury investigation into child sexual abuse by Catholic priests culminated in a lengthy 2018 report that concluded hundreds of priests had abused children in Pennsylvania over seven decades and church officials had covered it up. More recently, a similar report was issued in Maryland.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses, an international Christian denomination founded in the Pittsburgh area more than a century ago and headquartered in New York state, claims 8.7 million members worldwide, including 1.2 million in the United States.

Members will not bear arms, salute a national flag or participate in secular politics. Believers are known for their evangelistic efforts, including knocking on doors and distributing literature in public spaces.



Source_link

Tags: abuseamongAuthoritieschargechildJehovahsPennsylvaniaprobeSexualWitnesses
Share30Tweet19
hbwadmin

hbwadmin

Recommended For You

At least 5 shot at Morgan State University, Baltimore police say

by hbwadmin
October 4, 2023
0
At least 5 shot at Morgan State University, Baltimore police say

Suspect at large after 5 injured in shooting at Morgan State University, Baltimore police say Updated: 5:09 AM EDT Oct 4, 2023 HILLEN ROAD COMMUNITY. CORRECT. YESTERDAY, APPROXIMATELY...

Read more

Zack Wheeler strikes out 8, NL champion Phillies beat Marlins 4-1 in Wild Card Series opener

by hbwadmin
October 4, 2023
0
Zack Wheeler strikes out 8, NL champion Phillies beat Marlins 4-1 in Wild Card Series opener

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zack Wheeler struck out eight in a sensational effort, José Alvarado preserved the lead with a pivotal strikeout and the Philadelphia Phillies opened a resolute...

Read more

The best things to do in Pittsburgh, October 2023

by hbwadmin
October 4, 2023
0
The best things to do in Pittsburgh, October 2023

October is not all about picking pumpkins, sipping pumpkin spice lattes or monster pumpkins (though you should check them out too). Whether you’re looking for quintessential fall events,...

Read more

Multiple people Morgan State University campus

by hbwadmin
October 4, 2023
0
Multiple people Morgan State University campus

by: Lea Skene, The Associated Press Posted: Oct 3, 2023 / 10:56 PM EDT Updated: Oct 3, 2023 / 11:05 PM EDT BALTIMORE (AP) — Multiple people were...

Read more

Stephen Heck charged in murder of Delaware preschool teacher Cynthia Amalfitano – NBC10 Philadelphia

by hbwadmin
October 4, 2023
0
Stephen Heck charged in murder of Delaware preschool teacher Cynthia Amalfitano – NBC10 Philadelphia

A man is accused of murdering his girlfriend, a beloved Delaware preschool teacher who was found dead at a park in Wilmington last week.  Stephen Heck, 66, of...

Read more
Next Post
Madison area home prices increase again in June

Madison area home prices increase again in June

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related News

How To Buy a House with an ITIN Number, What You Should Know

How To Buy a House with an ITIN Number, What You Should Know

March 28, 2023
Police: Man killed during attempted carjacking in South Philadelphia

Police: Man killed during attempted carjacking in South Philadelphia

July 13, 2023
Baby names 2022: See what names were the most popular last year

Baby names 2022: See what names were the most popular last year

May 13, 2023

Browse by Category

  • Celebrity Real Estate
  • First-Time Home Buyers
  • Home Improvement & DIY
  • Market Trends
  • New Jersey
  • Pennsylvania

About Homebuyer Weekly

Welcome to homebuyerweekly The goal of homebuyerweekly is to give you the absolute best news sources for any topic! Our topics are carefully curated and constantly updated as we know the web moves fast so we try to as well.

Categories

  • Celebrity Real Estate
  • First-Time Home Buyers
  • Home Improvement & DIY
  • Market Trends
  • New Jersey
  • Pennsylvania

Recent Post

  • At least 5 shot at Morgan State University, Baltimore police say
  • Zack Wheeler strikes out 8, NL champion Phillies beat Marlins 4-1 in Wild Card Series opener
  • 5 Steps to Get ANY Home Offer Accepted (WITHOUT Being the Highest Bidder)
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Copyright © 2023 www.homebuyerweekly.com | All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Market Trends
  • First-Time Home Buyers
  • New Jersey
  • Home Improvement & DIY
  • Celebrity Real Estate
  • Pennsylvania

Copyright © 2023 www.homebuyerweekly.com | All Rights Reserved.

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?