Jehovah’s Witness Sex Victim Awarded $13.5 Million in Civil Suit

The San Diego Union Tribune reported this week that a San Diego judge has ordered the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, the governing body of the Jehovah’s Witness church, to pay $13.5 million to Jose Lopez, who was molested in 1986 at the age of 7, by Gonzalo Campos , a church leader and Bible teacher. In a statement, the Watchtower disputed that Campos held any responsibility within the congregation and said it would seek a full review of the case on appeal. Six other men and one woman have also sued the Watchtower but settled their cases out of court, for confidential amounts.