Reader Jerry sent me some links to information that is startling to say the least.

Did you know that in 1990, Jeff Atkinson the chairman of the American Bar Association’s Child Custody Committee estimated that about 50% of all child custody cases under review by state appellate courts in the USA involved a Jehovah’s Witness parent? Many cases involved and still do involve a Jehovah’s Witness parent who refuses to allow their own child to have a life saving blood transfusion. Many of them have been so brain washed by the cult of the Watchtower Organization (Watchtower Bible & Tract Society), that they would literally watch their own child suffer to literal death, before approving of a blood transfusion. All because of the cult’s very wrongheaded teaching on the matter. Because of this, hospitals move to assume guardianship of the sick child quickly, in an effort to save the child’s life. Nobody likes seeing a parent’s right to make decisions for their child stripped away, but when the child’s life is in danger it’s right to save the child regardless of the parent’s protests. The child’s right to life is paramount! Too bad this is not an option for babies still in the womb, but at least for babies out of the womb, hospitals are refusing to just watch babies die.

Check out this first site, that list details from literally hundreds of court cases. They are all cases involving Jehovah’s Witnesses, that have an impact on children. I found this write-up from a man who is an expert at dealing with these sort of issues in court.

Having known some Jehovah’s Witnesses, I knew they had some issues with common events such as birthdays. I didn’t know how some Jehovah’s Witnesses go to court over it, when their co-workers give them a hard time about the issue. That among other employment issues specific to Jehovah’s Witnesses. Check out this other site that details many employment related cases.

To be a group that takes a hands off policy towards government, they sure seem to spend a lot of money and effort in the judicial branch defending their cult. They are viewed as the “favorite sons” of the ACLU.

When it comes to Jehovah’s Witnesses and court cases, before this you probably heard about how they’ve battled in court for the right to nag you at your doorstep. Maybe this additional information will help you gain a fuller perspective of what cults do in our legal system.

Related post: Jehovah’s Witnesses Exposed and How You Might Help That Person Who Comes to Your Door.

update 4/24/2007 1:19AM: Some might claim that JW policy on blood has changed, but here is what you will find right now on the cult’s official web site.

To please God, we must avoid blood transfusions, unclean habits, and unnecessary risks
…
6. Is it wrong to accept a blood transfusion? Remember, Jehovah requires that we abstain from blood. This means that we must not take into our bodies in any way at all other people’s blood or even our own blood that has been stored.
…

That’s right, they are even against you storing your own blood. They’ve taken a biblical prohibition against drinking blood and turned it into a ban against saving lives via blood transfusion.