People who confide in their “clergy” have an expectation of privacy, except for the following case:
1) They confessed to child abuse
and
2) They are in a state that demands the “clergy” report what they know.

Thirty years ago, a minority of states required reporting. I think today it’s the majority of states, if not all. But the consequence of this “law” is that if someone has an expectation of privacy when talking to clergy or lawyer or therapist and they live in a state that does NOT require reporting, the abuser could take civil action against the person who reports. Jehovah’s Witnesses will always report child abuse where they are protected from litigation in a non-reporting state. However in that case, there is nothing stopping the victim or victim’s family from reporting and the elders would have no objection to that. They might even recommend it.

I work for a County Attorney’s Office as the database administrator so I know a few things about prosecuting child abuse, which is what you’re really talking about here. Most years, 55% of child abuse ARRESTS are refused by prosecutors. Why? Because there is only 1 witness. It’s not that our prosecutors don’t believe a crime has been committed. It’s that it can’t be proven in court. Jehovah’s Witness elders are not trained legal professionals. They simply follow the instructions they are given for handling problems in the congregations and the instructions for child abuse (and most any other issue) is that there needs to be two witnesses. I know this makes people mad, but if you really want to blow your stack, check with your local district attorney and ask them how many child abuse cases they refuse to prosecute.

Cindy, in the past when Jehovahs Witness children have been molested and there wasn’t 2 or more witnesses then the pedophile was not removed. I know this from personal experience. I know they recently changed this but it has been that way for decades. Currently today in 2021 still Elders do not contact the police when not required by law. Not all states require it. How is that protecting children? Show me any news article about a second person covering up a known pedophile being banned from a Kingdomhall. I’ve never heard of it.

I was a 3rd generation Jehovahs Witness. You state that “each person has the right to think freely and decide what to believe.” That is a flat out lie. I thought you pride yourself on being truthful. I know many who have been disfellowshipped from thinking freely and have had different beliefs from what is being taught. You label them apostates and Judas just like your comment above.

If your free to do your own research, have you ever read the book “Crisis of Conscience?” I didn’t think so.

Try being honest for once and stop lying for your religion.

It makes me sick that sexual abuse victims are attacked and put down by current Jehovahs Witnesses.

The Elders own manual, “Shepherding the Flock” states that pedophiles are allowed to hold positions in the Kingdomhall after a period of time has passed.

The policies in place from the Governing Body do not protect children from abuse. The 2 witness rule which had been in place for decades in cases of child sex abuse has allowed thousands of children to be raped without consequence.

Where is the apology for victims? There will never be one. They refused to help the thousand sex abuse victims in Australia with the redress scheme until their charitable status was threatened to be removed. It’s sickening.

To find the truth you have to open your eyes wide and investigate things well. Jesus said that the truth is proved righteous by his works. But although Jesus is the son of God and is the best teacher who has ever walked the earth, they did not believe him and he was also a victim of lies and prejudice, finally they killed him. He predicted that his followers would suffer just like him. If Jehovah’s Witnesses are hated and defamed as Jesus Christ was, that gives them a point in his favor.

So do not just repeat what others say about them, ask them directly about their Faith and they will be in a better position to discover the truth.

One point I learned from them is that Satan means Opposition and Devil slanderous or liar. So you will understand why everything that the Bible teaches, the devil contradicts him and confuses people so that he does not understand the Bible.
Example:
1-Hell according to the Bible is only the grave.
2-When we die we only cease to exist, death is the opposite of life. The soul dies.
3-Jesus will resurrect good and bad under the Kingdom of God and teach them to serve and obey God without obstacles such as sickness and death.
4-The Kingdom of God is a royal Government with Jesus Christ as King. The capital will be Heaven, but he will also rule on earth. JW.ORG

https://www.nwherald.com/2020/11/24/crystal-lake-man-church-elder-charged-with-failing-to-report-sexual-abuse-of-child/aqqnlcw/?fbclid=IwAR1lDZGQKpycQwXww-DUrdQYuiEXxJN35bm4roO-lkgHpjgQsiIvY7LLRBs