Erica's 98 Sentencing Hearing

by silentlambs 15 Replies latest watchtower scandals

silentlambs

Below are listed quotes form the 1998 sentencing hearing for Manuel Beliz, the man who molested Erica.
Do you see any similarity between this and the Berry sentencing? Why are Jehovah’s Witnesses so keen to have convicted child molesters keep their children? Also unique in this hearing Brother Beliz asks to speak. Though being disfellowshipped for child molestation he says he is not a sex offender. Four children have come forward with accusations of being molested by Brother Beliz. I encourage you to review this information and form your own opinions, it will be posted beside the Berry sentencing hearing on the home page of silentlambs later tonight.
I might mention the new sentencing hearing will be Sept 24th in Ritzville, I plan to speak there and put it on the record. I invite any who would like to attend to do so. Do you think JW’s will show up again and express their sadness at losing their baby sitter?
Silentlambs
JW #1:
“So I just wanted that to be on the record that I don't want the impression that our congregation in some way was protecting a child molester. We weren't. He was processed in our due time, and the matter was taken care of for our satisfaction. So when he was reinstated then evidently the committee that disciplined was satisfied. And as far as Erica being satisfied I can't say much about that. That's, that's a problem that she herself knows.”
JW#2:
“But if I had children, I know I most likely will, I would completely entrust them with my father. You know, I would completely trust their health, their safety, their lives in my dad’s hands, and I would even go as far as to say that of other children, or children of other parents. I would bet my life that he would take care of them, and he would not be a threat to them or anybody in the world.”
JW#3:
“When I have kids I’m going to trust him with my kids.”
JW#4:
“I've been recently married, and to tell you the truth I haven't got to spend a lot of time with my father-in-law, but in the short amount of time that I've ever had to talk to him I know that he's a wonderful person.”
JW#5:
“He loves his children with his whole heart, his whole soul, everything he has. He loves his wife. And, you know, you only need a few really good people in your life, and I know he's one of the best people I've ever met.”
JW#6:
“And I just trust Manuel, and whenever I have kids I know I could leave them with Manuel.”
JW#7:
“Well, I know I feel like my brother is dead right now because we're going to lose a very loving brother, but I hope that --well, God's with us, and I just hope he gives us, you know, the strength as well as Erica's family, too. It happened, and you know, I just hope everything—-God is forgiving, and I hope that he will forgive my brother. And I know he has because my brother has been reinstated in the congregation.”
Brother Beliz:
“So what I'm asking you, Your Honor, is that you please reconsider these sincere efforts. I also like to say that I'm still willing to do everything to make things right up to this minute. And I also like to say that at no time, Your Honor, I'm not a sex offender or a predator.”
felix a

I am simply amazed.
I can't believe the comments you've shared.
Simply Amazed, Stunned, Aghast and Dumbfounded
felix a
waiting

It happened, and you know, I just hope everything—-God is forgiving, and I hope that he will forgive my brother. - jw7

What? #7 admitted that he thought that Br. Beliz committed the crime of child rape? Even though Beliz said he didn't? Not a very good character witness for Beliz -- truthful.
And I know he has because my brother has been reinstated in the congregation.”
Yeah, yeah. The old fall-back. The Elders have Jehovah's spirit - and therefore, if the elders buy it - so does Jehovah. Therefore, the elders are rather infallible with their opinions and judgements.
But if the elders prove wrong, then the elders fall back on the idea that they're imperfect men and they "hope, feel, that we have Jehovah's spirit."
As #7 proves, the average jw tends to buy the first fall-back - as his quote proves. Reinstatement (visible) proved by invisible action (God's spirit) which is proved by visible action - man was re-instated.
Therefore, it's a jw truth based on assumption.
waiting
Grunt

"Therefore, it's a jw truth based on assumption." I think you hit the nail on the head again, Waiting. So many, many JW Truth's have been only their egotistical assumptions that as God's Favored they MUST be right. To have these fools volunteering to have this child molester and the other one on the other coast, watch their children, well, I can only hope it is empty posturing and that in fact they would flee before allowing this pervert near their children. His brother seems to come closest to facing the facts. I feel for him and hope none of his kids were ever left alone with this guy.
I hope Erica and the others are now able to put this as far behind them as it is possible to do. I also hope the OTHER elder that molested children in this case is also prosecuted and put in jail. You know, in a way this reminds me of the Israelites offering their kids to idols in Canaan. It seems to show support or get peer/cult approval too many of these parents like those, are willing to put their kids on the altar.
Tina

Hi sl,
I was alarmed and saw a big red flag waving when I read the beliz transcript regarding his 'babysitting'.
It's known in the mh field that molesters use this avenue as access to children.
I'm a Mom and I can tell you no man has ever offered to babysit my son. If he did, I'd be highly suspect of him.
Reading your post I see my suspicions are sadly confirmed. Thanks for the further insights! Love,Tina
Carl Sagan on balancing openness to new ideas with skeptical scrutiny..."if you are open to the point of gullibility and have not an ounce of skeptical sense-you cannot distinguish useful ideas from worthless ones."
anewperson

You were up late when writing so probably in a hurry to get this up and therefore you put in the heading Proof JWs love...; instead Proof the WTS love... would be better. There are plenty of our JW families & friends who don't love pedophile babysitters. Still, I know what you mean! Thanks for all your hard work.
waiting

Hello newperson,
Technically - the header is correct. These were all jw's saying these things being entered into the Court Record. That's definitely not like saying them across the fence or in back of the KH.
But I know what you mean - not all, not even many(imho), jw's love child molesters.
But Grunt's point is well taken:
You know, in a way this reminds me of the Israelites offering their kids to idols in Canaan. It seems to show support or get peer/cult approval too many of these parents like those, are willing to put their kids on the altar.
In order to help prove that the Jehovah's Witness Organization, and to live accordingly, parents have done strange things - such as no vaccinations, no tetnus shots, no blood transfusions, no organ transplants, allowing our children to be *watched* by strangers at the conventions while we went and got food, allowing our children to stay at the home of a *good jw family* overnight, etc --- primarily based upon their standing as a good jw. Also allowing our young boys to go in service with a group, or even one, brother.
We've also kept our children from medical people when we felt there was serious depression in question. We have shunned, even kicked our children out of our homes, for going to college, for dating a worldly person, for leaving the organization, for marrying someone they love.
Is it such a strange thing that we would have a man babysit our children if the elders said he was an innocent man - and this would help demonstrate our loyalty to our brothers - to Jehovah's Organization? I don't think it's such a stretch of jw imagination.
But I'm definitely NOT saying that all jw's would do this. I do think that SOME would.
waiting
silentlambs

Well it took a couple of days but the 98 sentencting hearing is now up on silentlambs website. It is located beside the Berry sentencing hearing. The first part becomes tedious as they are trying to get the charges straight, but when you get to the testimony of Erica, it is truly riviting. As I mentioned earlier, the JW testimony is beyond description, you just have to read and think about what they are saying, and the final comments by Brother Beliz himself show how remorseful he really is.
I started silentlambs website because the Society said the victims did not exist or were being untruthful. Hard evidence such as the above appears to argue who the untruthful ones are. As we wait for an iota of acknowledgement, remorse, or willingness to not hurt children by bad policy, the public and JW's are being educated by brave persons like Erica who tell of how their lives were devestated by the application WT policy. The longer WT waits, the harder the blows of reality will be when they realize no one will ignore, condone, or approve any religion who hurts children and does nothing about it.
I suggest the sooner they get their collective hats in their hands, the sooner WT can start to rebuild the soon decimated WT image. Will it happen? Time will tell. AS you may have noticed from the start each part of this issue has come in a series of stronger terms.
1. Last fall I tried to negoiate with Service and Legal for a more
reasonable solution. No Action.
2. Resignation as elder letter sent to Society. No Action.
3. First newspaper article exposing problem. No Action.
4. Succeeding news article featuring victims. No Action.
5. Website silentlambs with victims stories. No Action.
6. Civil Lawsuit attorney contacted, they are notified. No Action.
7. Victims forwarded to Attorney for interviews. No Action.
8. Dateline interviews victims, Society informed. No Action.
9. Datline interviews Barbara Anderson, Society informed. No Action.
10. First civil lawsuit filed on behalf of victims with many to
follow. No Action.
11. Barbara Anderson reveals publicly she has great knowledge and proof of wrongs committed by Society. No Action.
12. British BOE reveal purposeful commitment of Governing Body to protect pedophiles in USA. No Action.
Now I ask you, are these just innocent men who were not aware of a problem and want to protect children? If so WHY NO ACTION???????
The answer reveals the innocence or the wickedness of the Governing Body. Also another point might be mentioned, if the Governing Body thinks this is all we have in the works they do not know me very well do they.....
silentlambs

back up
blondie

After reading the comments, I can't say I am surprised. I have heard the victim accused of flirting or attracting the molester purposely. I have heard the victim accused of lying about the molesting out of jealousy of her own mother, or wanting attention from the father, or the mother coaching the child to make trouble for the father.
What is the illustration the WTS uses?
*** w82 7/15 14 Education-What It Costs, What It Offers ***
But consider, it is also true that not every child who plays on a busy street will get killed by a passing automobile. Some survive to grow up. But would you let your children play in the street in traffic because of that?
or this version
True, not every child who plays with a child molester will be molested. Some survive to grow up without spiritual, emotional, and physical scars. But would you let your child play with a molester because of that?

Erica's 98 Sentencing Hearing

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