These concerns have been brought to light through a recent lawsuit against the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization shedding light on a former administrator’s horrific abuse. The suit centers around the experiences of a man named Hall, who served in multiple administrative positions. The suit claims that he took advantage of his position to sexually abuse a young boy, Barry Davis, for six years.
Hall first got to know Davis when they both were evangelizing for the Jehovah’s Witnesses door-to-door in New Orleans in 1990. At the time of the incident, Hall was around 24 years old and Davis was barely 9 years old. According to the allegations, Hall manipulated his roles as a ministerial servant and later as an elder to gain access to Davis. This unprecedented access provided him the opportunity and cover to perpetrate acts of rape and sexual abuse until 1996.
The lawsuit further alleges that Hall took advantage of his position of power. He even attempted to rationalize his behavior by informing Davis that she was partially to blame for the abuse, stating that the “age of accountability” was 12 years old. This claim shifts an unreasonable burden to the victim. More importantly, it reveals the kind of manipulation that Hall relied upon to prey on his victims.
Upon Davis’ reporting of this abuse, Hall was subjected to church disciplinary action and was ultimately disfellowshipped from the congregation. This suspension ended just 11 months later with his return to the classroom. Even after his return, Hall continued to captivate and inspire children. This went on even after the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization formally forbade him from doing so.
In a damning concession, Hall penned a letter to Davis admitting to an “improper relationship.” He characterized the interactions in disturbing terms, stating, “We fondled each other and played with each other sex organs and laid on each other buttocks.” His comments don’t just underscore how twisted our thinking is on the relationship. More broadly, they raise significant questions about the mantle of that organization’s responsibility in overseeing its members.
Hall triggered his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination during a deposition, pleading the 5th to over 100 questions. Notably, he answered questions about whether he authored the letter of his own free will and whether the letter was accurate with stunningly misleading and evasive responses. Hall stated, “There is no requirement to tell someone why you were disfellowshipped,” suggesting a lack of accountability within the organization’s disciplinary framework.
The allegations against Hall come at a time when scrutiny of the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ policies regarding child protection has intensified. This is the same organization that boldly proclaims, “children are our most sacred trust.” They unapologetically claim that defending them is their first, best, and their fiercest line of defense. Hall’s behavior and their eventual reinstatement paint a very different picture and pose great concern to the potency of their supposed protective practice.
Hall had represented himself during a deposition in March, which only added to the chaotic and strange legal wrangling that has characterized this case. Yet his answers have raised serious questions about the organization’s commitment to protecting children and holding abusers accountable.
Davis has brought this lawsuit against Hall and the Watchtower Society in order to find justice for the abuse. This case presents critical issues of the oversight and accountability mechanisms that govern the Jehovah’s Witnesses. It is symptomatic of a larger trend regarding how religious organizations deal with allegations of abuse within their ranks.