Silent Roar

by silentlambs 12 Replies latest watchtower scandals

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  silentlambs

  I received another call tonight; this person was given the silentlambs site about an hour ago. How can I convey the feeling when you hear the same tearful words over and over again? “I thought I was the only one.” This person was molested at age seven by a ministerial servant, raped at age fifteen by an elder. No congregation action was taken. They have lived with the pain for over twenty years, defending the organization whenever confronted, always feeling somehow they were wrong to have negative feelings toward the leaders who perpetrated this policy that hurts children. After twenty years of being inactive, living in mental anguish, with ten years of therapy, yet defending the “truth” I believe the blinders finally came off after reading my website. She saw the truth about the “truth.” That truth states there are people in leadership positions of the WT who perpetrate a policy that hurts children. When they were confronted years ago with the need for change, they arrogantly and wickedly chose to do nothing. Why? Victims are easily silenced after all they are children who will believe them, and of course the parents are easy, as they will do what they are told.

  What person could possibly stand before God and justify taking the innocence of a child? What brother or sister could stand before God and justify protecting those who would take the innocence of a child? What religion could stand before God and justify a policy the hurts children, saying they are protecting God’s name? How could they continue to have the unmitigated arrogance to deny any wrongdoing with no adjustment being considered to WT policy on child molestation? It is madness.

  About one out of five will put their story on the victims page when they talk to me, about one in ten are willing to talk to the press, about one in fifteen are interested in legal action. When you consider the quantity of stories cited the numbers become staggering. I have only communicated on H20 and JWD. How many Witnesses even have a computer, yet the few that do would be brave enough to defy wt policy about Internet surfing? I think we are just starting to scratch the surface. The silentlambs are learning they were not the only ones, they can speak up, they can press charges, and they can sue the pants off the elders who silenced them. How sexy do you think being an elder will be when homes and Kingdom Halls start going up for auction to satisfy settlements for victims? How faith strengthening will the field ministry be when publishers have to overcome the conversation stopper, “Why do you encourage child molesters to go door to door?” What scripture will defend that WT policy?

  Could the GB be waiting on Jehovah? How would Jehovah speak to them? Could Jehovah be speaking by using “Ceasar” to remind them that they are not above the law? What position is required of righteous men when they clearly see corruption going on in God’s name? Do you remember the story of when Jesus saw moneychangers taking advantage of God’s people? Did he wait on Jehovah or did he pick up a strap and use it as a reasoning tool for greedy men? You see sometimes the wrong is so outlandish and so obscene, it requires action. Waiting actually brings more reproach on the name of God. So the question that begs to be answered is, if WT brings reproach on Jehovah by hurting children, could He be using silentlambs issues to honor his name? While I choose not to venture an answer, the fact remains, victims are starting to learn they are not alone, they have a voice, and they will be a force to be reckoned with as this matter progresses. Much like the recent settlement in California, we would like to see three basic requests honored by WT.

  1. A video taped apology to all victims to be played at all congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
  2. A written statement in the form of a letter to be read to all congregations. If you are molested go to the authorities first.
  3. Anyone who has ever molested a child should be forbidden to go out in field ministry for life.

  Do you think it will happen? Get your straps ready, with proper “reasoning” time will tell.
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  COMF

  Get your straps ready

  As in, to administer a strapping?

  COMF
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  Prisca

  It must be heart-breaking to hear story after story, experience after experience, situations arising all over the world, not just in one congregation or one country.

  The silentlambs out there need to know that they do not need to stay silent any longer. They now have a voice if they wish to speak up.

  Will the Society ever apologise? Could they ever be forgiven? Only God knows.
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  Had Enough

  Hello Silentlambs:

  As I read your post and the questions you asked, my gut did a complete flip-flop as it always does with this subject.

  A friend and I were just discussing these questions yesterday. How can anyone in a congregation hiding these atrocities expect to stand before God and have His blessing?

  How can any member of the GB who wants change but has been too afraid to fight harder to bring it about, expect God's blessing on the WTS and himself?

  How can they stay with the org while all this is happening, and close their eyes to it by waiting and just hoping for changes? Perhaps they should be the ones to hear the tearful gut-wrenching story you just described and see how they can sleep at night.

  I well know how passive and non-questioning we were all taught to be, and it has been detrimental to many peoples' happiness in this short life we have. Too many people have let themselves be manipulated by guilt, and it has to stop.

  Especially your question about God's hand in this exposure, hit home. That specifically was a point my friend and I discussed. We too could not answer it...how can anyone know the answer? But I'm glad that others are thinking in that direction as I have to admit, my faith, and even belief, in God is really being put to the test right now.

  Additionally, you mentioned the settlement in California recently. I'm sorry but did I miss something? Can you say more here on it, or direct me to where this was already discussed on another thread?

  As for a public apology on a video, I'm sure we will all settle for nothing less than a complete apology, no-excuses, no subtle hint of it being anyone elses' fault but theirs, no more double-speak BS.

  Thank you for sharing this with us.
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  Maximus

  Just received a communication regarding a case brought to my attention involving the abuse of power of both a circuit and district overseer, and of course direction from On High.

  Victim has had the case reviewed by a highly experienced attorney who was quite eager to get the case. Details eventually .... In a phone conversation the victim was as ecstatic as a human can be, the result of "complete liberation that came from telling the truth, and being heard at long last."

  Make ready for yet another refugee at the Silentlambs camp, Bill.

  Sweat, Watchtower, sweat.

  Our hearts go out to the walking wounded whose circumstances still leaves them in fear and anguish. Hopefully they will see Silentlambs as safe harbor.

  Maximus
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  Maximus

  Had Enough,

  The only child these men revere is GOD'S CHILD, the ORGANIZATION.

  They protect it fiercely in their malignant stupidity. They don't shield molesters, they protect the organization, keep it free from reproach!

  Maximus

  Perhaps the reference is to the enormous pre-trial settlement in the Southern California Catholic Church diocese and archdioceses, where a case that seemingly did not have sufficient evidence was settled anyway. Threads were from Ray Skyhorse and CPiolo, someone else can provide the links or you likely will remember them.
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  Had Enough

  Thank you Maximus:

  I remember that reference now to the Catholic Church settlement.

  Those 3 basic requests for the WTS to uphold that silentlambs listed are the least the Society should do. I understand what you mean about how they think, or perhaps convince themselves, they are actually protecting God's organization from reproach. But I guess they are so far removed from reality they cannot hear the cries of these children and the cries of ones who have lost a loved one, a child, wife, husband, parent, any family member or friend to the policies of blood.

  Perhaps if they had to listen first hand, face-to-face to any of these victims, just perhaps their own eyes and hearts would be opened.

  We all hope that more of the "walking wounded" you describe, will come forward and feel that ecstasy of the latest one, who has communicated with you, that now will be heard and acknowledged as a victim.
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  VeniceIT

  WOW, I wonder how long it'll take before there are no more stories to report, probably never. I would NEVER have dreamed how extensive this problem was. It's Horrifying. I would like to give a great big BRAVO for all those who have had the strength to come forward. And for all those helping behind the scenes to make this possible.

  Keep us posted Bill and thanks.

  Ven

  "The best way to convince a fool that he is wrong, is to let him have his own way."---Josh Billings
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  Nicodemus

  In some ways, it seems the organization has a very similar mentality to certain countries when it comes to suppression of bad news to make the entity, be it political or religious, look to be better than it is.

  For example, I recall that it was hard to get a handle on how bad the catastrophe at Chernobyl was, because information was so tightly controlled and managed by the former Soviet Union.

  Similarly, articles are now starting to appear regarding the extent to which AIDS has become a problem in China. One of the difficulties in determining the extent of the problem is that the Chinese government, similar to the Soviets, has worked at keeping the information "under wraps."

  I'm saddened that the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses seems to have that same mentality. When a large part of your message centers around condemning other religions, it sure is helpful to be able to pretend that your own is "above" such problems. When it turns out that this is not the case, however, credibility and image take a beating.
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  RedhorseWoman

  The three basic requests you list are so small, and yet can mean so much to those that have been forced into silence and who have had to live with the feeling that they, as victims, were somehow guilty of wrongdoing.

  There is no price that can be put on the inner peace these lambs might derive from an acknowledgement of their pain, and the assurance that something is being done to prevent these heinous acts in the future.