Expert: Ed Buckner - 5/3/2008

Question
If a church has established what offenses warrent expulsion but has not made a provision for one who does not practice wrongdoing that warrents expulsion, but simply no longer wishes to be identified as a jehovah's witness, Cancelling membership as it were with the organization:

1.)Would that be libelous, defamation of character, because wouldn't merely stating that one " No longer is a Jehovah's Witness"  then  label them under the false pretext of guilt of some known offence or offences that warrent expulsion?


2.)As for members coersed to treat that individual the same as those dishonarably expelled, is a form of  harrasement?
As there are no prior warnings  or informed consent to members that their leaving of free will would class them the same as "wrongdoers" worthy of expulsion.  

Members then discouraged to communicate with the former under penalty of expulsion would be harrased?


Answer
I'm no attorney, but it seems quite unlikely to me that the courts or the legal system at all would get involved with such matters. A private organization, including a religious one, is generally free to create and enforce rules for memebrship without governmental interference. The only possible exceptions might be if an individual could show that he was mistreated based on race or gender, etc.

Regards,

Ed B.