I believe there was also an issue in Roman Catholicism of the seal of confession

independent.co.uk/…/washington-state-child-abuse-…

The new law adds religious leaders and priests to a list of professions that can be criminally charged if they do not report suspected abuse or neglect, alongside teachers, doctors, nurses, childcare providers, and many others.

Previously, priests were only required to report if the suspected perpetrator was someone they had authority over, and were exempted from doing so if they learned about it through a “privileged communication” such as confession.

trump friendly federal judges are blocking that new law (in the state of Washington)

However a significant difference there is that was only for someone confessing with the expectation they weren’t confessing to a person, but to God. Hence wouldn’t confess to the crime if they knew they’d be turned in.

Mesrih applies when anyone (including the victim) is the one disclosing it, especially if it’s ongoing.

No idea about Jehovah’s Witnesses, but in general the more insular a religious sect is, the worse the problem is.

And no religion is more insulat then one that requires it’s followers to call their own version of police where a religious leader gets to decide if actual secular authorities are involved.