The Jehovah's Witnesses must pay $35 million to a woman who says the
church's national organization ordered Montana clergy members not to
report her sexual abuse as a child at the hands of a congregation
member, a jury ruled in a verdict.
A judge must review the
penalty, and the Jehovah's Witnesses' national organization — Watchtower
Bible and Tract Society of New York — plans to appeal.
Still,
the 21-year-old woman's attorneys said Wednesday's verdict sends a
message to the church to report child abuse to outside authorities.
"Hopefully
that message is loud enough that this will cause the organization to
change its priorities in a way that they will begin prioritizing the
safety of children so that other children aren't abused in the future,"
said attorney Neil Smith Thursday.
Jehovah's Witnesses ordered by jury to pay $35M to abuse survivor
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