Expulsion suit dismissed

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A state appeals court has dismissed a $20 million lawsuit brought by two former Jehovah's Witnesses who charged the religious body with wrongful expulsion after one of them questioned Jehovah's Witnesses' handling of child sexual abuse claims.

Barbara Anderson, a former employee at the international headquarters of the Jehovah's Witnesses in Brooklyn, N.Y., and her husband, A. Joseph Anderson, a former elder of the religious group, were members of the Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses in Manchester, Tenn., before they were "disfellowshipped."

Jehovah's Witnesses officials argued that the complaint was an "intrachurch dispute" and the secular court should not interfere. The appeals court agreed.

The Andersons had asked the court to determine if their dismissal on religious grounds was really a pretext for secular reasons. But the court said making such a determination would result in "excessive inquiry into ecclesiastical matters" and violate the First Amendment.

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