JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES RESPECT THE PREFERENTIAL RIGHT OF PARENTS TO RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OF CHILDREN
Press Service of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, 7 August 2015
The incident that has received publicity in news media connected with the attendance of a 10-year-old girl at a worship service in Volzhsk (Mari El) is the result of a misunderstanding. As law-abiding citizens, Jehovah's Witnesses do not invite children to worship services without being accompanied by their parents.
As we have managed to establish, a woman who is not a Jehovah's Witness but who attends their worship services came for a religious celebration of Jehovah's Witnesses along with her granddaughter and her girlfriend. The retiree was assured that the girl had asked permission from her parents. The woman regrets that she thoughtlessly permitted the child to accompany her. In connection with the incident, an administrative case was opened against the woman and a fine was imposed.
The Family Code of the RF (article 63) establishes that parents have a preferential right to teaching and training children ahead of all other persons. They are obliged to exercise care for the spiritual and moral development of their children. This is completely in accord with the Bible, a sacred book for Jehovah's Witnesses, which specifically lays upon parents the responsibility for instruction of children.
"The incident in the city of Volzhsk does not give a basis for saying that Jehovah's Witnesses allegedly enticed a child into their religion," says Yaroslav Sivulsky, a representative of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. "Our meetings are open for all people, and we do not control their life. We have never encouraged anyone to invite to our services children without the consent of their parents. Therefore, we ask all news media that are disseminating information about the incident to supplement it with our official position."
With respect,
Press Service of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
(tr. by PDS, posted 8 August 2015)
Background article:
Jehovah's
Witness fined for taking ten-year-old to church
August 6, 2015
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