Jehovah’s Witness Sexual Abuse

For decades, survivors of sexual abuse within the Jehovah’s Witnesses say church leaders turned a blind eye, protecting abusers instead of children. The consequences have been deeply felt, leaving generations of individuals and families affected by the harm.

A Jehovah’s Witness sexual abuse lawsuit gives survivors the chance to fight back, hold the organization accountable, and demand transparency. It’s about more than compensation — it’s reclaiming your voice, seeking justice, and helping prevent future abuse.

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Understanding Sex Abuse in the Jehovah’s Witness Community

Jehovah’s Witnesses and their parent organization, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, have faced scrutiny for how they’ve handled allegations of sexual abuse. Survivors say the organization fostered a culture of secrecy and protected abusers.

Over 1,800 reports of child abuse by more than 1,000 suspected abusers within the Jehovah’s Witnesses have been documented by the organization itself, according to an investigation.

Jehovah’s Witness sexual abuse lawsuits claim:

Church elders failed to report abuse to law enforcement, choosing instead to handle allegations internally
A database of accused abusers was kept hidden from authorities and the public
Abusers were able to access children through congregation events, church duties, and home visits
The “two-witness rule” prevented perpetrators from being held accountable unless two people directly witnessed the abuse
Survivors were silenced or discouraged from coming forward

“The details of these crimes are sad and disturbing, facts which are made even more abhorrent because the defendants used their faith communities or their own families to gain access to victims.”
– Michelle Henry, Former Pennsylvania Attorney General

To date, over $100 Million has been paid out to survivors of Jehovah’s Witness sexual abuse.

If you or a loved one was harmed by a member of the church, we may be able to help you hold both the individual and the institution that enabled them accountable.

Jehovah’s Witness Sexual Abuse Settlements & Verdicts

$40 Million to a woman who was sexually abused at age 12 by Kenneth Apana, a Jehovah’s Witness elder in the Makaha congregation. The abuse occurred at sleepovers at Apana’s house in 1992.
$35 Million to a 21-year-old woman who alleged that a relative sexually abused her in the 1990s and 2000s. After multiple reports were made to church elders, the abuser was expelled from the congregation in 2004 but reinstated the next year, allowing the abuse to continue.
$28 Million to a California woman who was sexually abused at ages 9 and 10 during door-to-door ministry by Jonathan Kendrick in the 1990s.
$13.5 Million to California survivor Jose Lopez after finding that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society failed to protect him from abuse. Lopez was sexually assaulted in 1986 at age 7 by Gonzalo Campos, an adult mentor recommended by Linda Vista Spanish congregation elders.

Jehovah’s Witnesses Abuse Statistics

Jehovah’s Witnesses have a widespread presence across the United States, with more than 11,850 congregations nationwide. This has raised concerns that sexual abuse may be both more common and more hidden than previously acknowledged.

Jehovah’s Witness abuse statistics help highlight the scope of this problem:

In Pennsylvania, the birthplace of this religion, an ongoing investigation that started in 2019 has led to 17 arrests and 11 convictions.
A British watchdog group reported that Jehovah’s Witnesses organizations were aware of at least 67 allegations of child abuse between 2009 and 2019.
In Australia, a national government inquiry found that the Jehovah’s Witnesses failed to report more than 1,000 instances of child sexual abuse to law enforcement.
In the United States, the church has paid over $100 Million in Jehovah’s Witnesses sexual abuse settlements and trial verdicts to survivors.

“You realize it’s not just a seed, and it’s not just a little personal thing — it’s rooted all the way up to the headquarters.”
– Jehovah’s Witness Abuse Survivor

Many survivors remain silent out of fear, shame, or distrust — but coming forward can be a powerful first step toward healing. Our sexual abuse lawyers believe every survivor deserves justice.

How the Watchtower Handles Abuse by Jehovah’s Witnesses

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has come under intense scrutiny for its handling of child sexual abuse allegations. Rather than protecting survivors, the organization has been accused of enforcing policies that prioritized secrecy and protected abusers.

Key internal practices that kept abuse hidden include:

Internal database of suspected abusers: Elders were directed to report abuse allegations to the Watchtower headquarters, not to the police. Using this information, the organization kept a database of suspected abusers but failed to take action to prevent future abuse.
Judicial committee: Elders held closed-door disciplinary hearings where survivors were forced to confront their abusers face to face. These proceedings retraumatized survivors and rarely led to consequences.
Two-witness rule: This rule requires two eyewitnesses to an incident before elders will take disciplinary action. It allowed abusers to go unchecked, as sexual abuse rarely occurs in front of others.

“The way that Jehovah’s Witnesses handle matters within the congregation, it’s a closed shop. I know for a fact now that there are parents that haven’t done anything about the abuse of their children by others because they don’t want to bring reproach on Jehovah’s name.”
– John V., Jehovah’s Witness Abuse Survivor

Many survivors were shamed or ignored, while abusers stayed in the congregation, sometimes in leadership roles. These internal practices are central to Jehovah’s Witnesses sexual abuse cases seeking accountability from the organization.

Get Help from Jehovah’s Witness Sexual Abuse Lawyers

At VoicesThatMatter, we’re committed to giving a voice to those who have been silenced and providing them with access to the justice system.

If you or a loved one is a survivor of Jehovah’s Witness abuse, you may be entitled to compensation. Our legal team is here to listen with compassion and fight for you every step of the way.

We understand how difficult it is to come forward. You are not alone — and we’re here to help.

Frequently asked questions

What's the Jehovah's Witness sex abuse scandal about?

The Jehovah’s Witness sexual abuse scandal refers to widespread allegations that the organization mishandled and even deliberately covered up reports of child sexual abuse for decades.

Internal policies, like the “two-witness rule,” often prevented elders from acting on abuse claims unless there were two eyewitnesses, making it difficult for survivors to be believed.

Investigations also revealed that the organization kept a confidential database of known abusers and failed to report allegations to law enforcement, allowing some perpetrators to reoffend.

Who can file a Jehovah’s Witness sexual abuse lawsuit?

Anyone who was sexually abused by a Jehovah’s Witness elder, ministerial servant, congregation member, or other trusted figure within the organization may be eligible to file a lawsuit, even if the abuse happened years ago.

Who can be sued for sex abuse by a Jehovah's Witness?

Survivors may be able to file lawsuits against the individual abuser, their local Jehovah’s Witness congregation, and the national organization — the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York.

These lawsuits often claim that church leaders failed to protect victims, concealed reports of abuse, or allowed known abusers to remain in positions of power.

Written by: Voices That Matter

At VoicesThatMatter, we believe survivors deserve to be heard — especially when it comes to their health and safety. Too often, individuals and institutions abuse their positions and impact our lives without accountability. We’re here to change that. We work with trusted legal partners who are deeply experienced in holding powerful companies accountable. But more than that, we’re here to remind survivors everywhere that their pain is real, their experiences matter, and they deserve justice.