Press Release and Statement
May 11th, 2025
The following is the public statement of Mark O’Donnell, the editor of this website, JwChildAbuse.org.
RE: Civil Action Case No: 2:24-cv-0304-MRP
On Sunday morning, February 11th, 2024, I was served with a civil lawsuit by 11 congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Pennsylvania, suing me for several million dollars in relation to my reporting on the criminal Statewide Investigation of child sexual abuse within the Jehovah’s Witness Church. I am scheduled to go to trial in October of this year in Philadelphia.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses filed this case in Federal Court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
The JWs filed the case under seal, meaning the public had no access to this case. My attorneys and I were able to get the case unsealed on November 25, 2024. The case is now available to the public on CourtListener and Pacer.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses allege that in the course of my work as a reporter, I invaded their privacy and violated wiretap laws. My response to their complaint addresses these claims.
In the litigation, the JWs have demanded that I name every Jehovah’s Witness I have communicated with in the last five years regarding the faith of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Obviously, that would reveal my journalistic sources, and I will not do so.
As a reporter, protecting my sources is essential. Because of this, I have been forced to hire expert legal counsel for my defense, with costs expected to be more than $150,000.
The investigation and publishing of accurate information about child abuse within the Jehovah’s Witness Church is essential, and reflects similar reporting about other organizations and religious groups. Without this reporting, the cries of victims often go unanswered, and their stories buried beneath an illusion of justice.
My mission has always been to shed light on these crimes, force change, and do so without cost to the public. While I am limited in what I can say now, I am grateful that the public can see what has happened for themselves.
Mark O’Donnell
Here are a few of the key documents available for public review:
Media professionals and others with an interest in this case may contact my lead attorney, Mary Catherine Roper, of Langer, Grogan & Diver, P.C.
Site Contact: support@jwchildabuse.org
To Support Mark’s Defense:
This has been going on for much too long and it needs to be addressed.
My name is James Glaviano I was in Jefferson Ridge congregation of JW’s
I was threatened with Disfellowshiped status if I went forward with the evidence Of CSA by a CO that went on for years while the girls parents entrusted him to study the Bible with him. I was a MS when I was threatened with this and about 60 years old. Needless to say it shook my faith in the organization.
I was a survivor of 19 boys who were molested by a ministerial servant named Brent dalluge. I say… Fuck that mock religion .
You have my respect and support!!!
If you need donations for a go fund me account, please let me know.
I would gladly donate.
Thank you Tim for your words of support, they mean a lot. I am so sorry for what happened to you as a JW. As a survivor, you are an inspiration.
I am a SA survivor by a man named Fred Avis in Washington State – the cult needs to pay for what they did to children.
Mark O’Donnell, I w
ould love to know how to support you.
Thank you for the good work that you do Mark! I will support you!
From across the pond in the UK. Thank you Mark for all your hard work over the years, we have been following your work from the start and remember the first leaked files that found its way to your desk, the first major breakthrough! Glad to see the go fund me set up, its a chance for us all to show our appreciation and support that will hopefully spur you both on for the battles ahead.
I w ok t to says a really big thanks you for the hard work you do for make all this will be finally address to justice and make what watch tower gone paid for all these , toxic knowledge for Parents and transform in a Fanatic severe physical abuse from my mother and my father
Physical , Financial abuse, and bad and lived me with Hospital treatment for many medical problem I have in a child younger age , they don’t won’t to bring me at a doctor probably afraid the Doctor will discover some scratch or any evidence I was abuse by my parents now I am waiting in Quebec provincial to have access to lawyer cabinet for physical Child Abuse because it’s only for sexual abuse they don’t wo t to take case and I am really frustrated and I am actually seriously very disapointed my self what that’s done if you any information like the eventually arrival of the physical abuse will come in other country not only the USA case?
Mark Boisvert
Quebec JWO Child abuse
Help me please because my self health is on a hard pain now and probably is on a border line actually , and I don’t won’t to finally make my own Justice between my two abuser ,😭😭😭😭😭 sorry for my bad English
Marc:
https://www.mccarthy.ca/fr/action-collective-relativement-des-agressions-sexuelles-au-sein-des-temoins-de-jehovah