Organisation not responsible for sexual abuse in a non-institutional setting.

[GeordieGirl]

 

UK Supreme Court: Jehovah’s Witnesses Not Responsible for Rape Committed by a (then) Elder in a Non-Institutional Setting

 

Religious organizations should not pay damages for crimes perpetrated by their leaders or members in private homes outside of church-organized religious activity, the court said.

 

The case is of great significance not only for Jehovah’s Witnesses but for other religious organizations as well. While respecting that the notion of vicarious liability has been expanded to offer better protection to victims of sexual abuse, the decision reacts against the idea that, particularly when dealing with religious organizations, vicarious liability can be expanded ad libitum.

Religious organizations should bear responsibility for institutional abuse that happens during activities they promote and organize. They cannot be held liable for the behavior of their members and leaders in their private homes, in cases where, as the Supreme Court said, this “has nothing to do” with the activities of the religious group.

 

https://bitterwinter.org/uk-supreme-court-jehovahs-witnesses-not-responsible-for-rape-committed-by-a-then-elder-in-a-non-institutional-setting/

[Parale]

  

6 hours ago, GeordieGirl said:

UK Supreme Court: Jehovah’s Witnesses Not Responsible for Rape Committed by a (then) Elder in a Non-Institutional Setting

 

This was from last week, and is available via The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom website here:

• https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2021-0089.html

 

Watch the hearing:

• 13 Feb 2023: Video Morning Session (2 hours)
• 13 Feb 2023: Video Afternoon Session (2 hours)
• 14 Feb 2023: Video Morning Session (2 hours 20 minutes)

 

Watch the Judgment Summary:

• 26 April 2023: Video Judgment Summary (12 minutes)

 

Read the Judgment

• Full Judgment (32 pages): https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/docs/uksc-2021-0089-judgment.pdf
• Press Summary: https://www.supremecourt.uk/press-summary/uksc-2021-0089.html

Edited May 2, 2023 by Parale

[Parale]

The case revolved around what happened in South Wales, and the Supreme Court judgment was picked up by Media Wales who printed the same article (with the same headline and picture) in both the Western Mail newspaper and the South Wales Echo newspaper on Thursday 27 April 2023 - though only the Western Mail featured it on the front page, as below:

 

 

Edited May 2, 2023 by Parale