Legal Question in Personal Injury in Michigan

Can I sue the Wachtower Bible & Tract society for emotional damages?

I feel that the Wachtower, Bible & Tract Society (Jehovah's Witnesses) has ruined my family. I was baptized into the religion at the age of 10 although my father told the elders of the congregation that I was too young, knew at 12 or 13 that I did not want to be involved in the religion, and was disfellowshipped at 16 (12 years ago). My Mother, Sister, and Brother 'shun' me at the direction of their religion. My sister was disfellowshipped and speaking to me around the time I was, but has recently decided to become a Witness again, and let me know she will not be able to associate with me as a result.

How can a decision I made when I was 10 have such a lasting impact on my life? I feel that the elders never should have allowed me to be baptized at that age. If I had never been baptized, I would not have been disfellowshipped, and I would not be in this situation.

My father (divorced and remarried, with a major factor in the divorce being the religion) was never a Witness, so the entire family gets to talk to him (including me). I am denied access to my family, including nieces, brother, and sisters. Do I have any legal grounds?


Asked on 12/07/04, 10:55 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
William Stern William Stern, P.C.

Re: Can I sue the Wachtower Bible & Tract society for emotional damages?

There are cases where people have successfully sued for being ostracized by religious fanatics. Mostly, they arise in small town settings. You run into the problem that the family may shun you even without direction of the church for rejecting their beliefs. There is always the problem in the U,S. with freedom of religion for your opposition. I think you'd be better off seeing some professionals to aid you in establishing relationships that are not drawn to such beliefs. Really, it is their loss, not yours as they have this anchor around their neck that you don't. Bill Stern

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Answered on 12/08/04, 6:55 am


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