I'm bumping this thread to the top because of the new call put out on another thread of this board to respond to the new upcoming Dr. Phil topic, "child sex abuse by clergy."
I think if we got enough VOICES (a.k.a. emails) going into the Dr. Phil Show about the predominant theme of sex abuse, period, in the Jehovah's Witnesses worldwide compound--er, congregation...somebody there will have to take notice.
We need to speak up about the sex abuse of JW children AND JW wives!!
I KNOW Dr. Phil would not agree with the content of the WT article copied below. And it becomes very relevant to discuss this in light of questions being asked by undecided unbaptized ones, such as dontknow, who started a thread asking, Should I Join? This becomes VERY relevant information indeed.
PLEASE, people...COME FORWARD!!!! Send emails to the Dr. Phil Show about your stories and/ or concerns.
Who here is willing to APPEAR on the show and speak of what they know/ have experienced of child sex abuse and wife sex abuse in the org.?
Who here is willing to WRITE to the show to say that they want to SEE those willing ones appear with their stories?
Let's get a big write-in capmaign going.
Anderson Cooper of CNN is another avenue thought of recently. Letters should go out there, too. Check out the CNN websites. I'll see if I can find the links for you later. If anyone else figures it out, feel free to post.
dontknow----------- First of all, welcome.
Second, I wasn't sure I was emotionally ready to answer such a question in an impartial way, that wasn't basically the same thing as TELLING you what to do...which would only be a mimicking the WT modus operandi (not letting you make up your own mind), so I left this thread alone.
...Till now. On another thread, someone posted an old WT article that I think speaks to the heart of my experience and your question. Below is the copy of the article and the response I posted on that thread. Do with the information what you will. Whatever decision you make, know this: You have every right to look after your own needs, welfare, and safety, period...and so do your loved ones. Good luck to you in figuring this one out.
J-ex-W
*** w83 3/15 pp. 30-31 Honor Godly Marriage! ***
Married Christians
How about sexual activity between married couples within the marriage bond? It is not for the elders to pry into the intimate lives of married Christians. However, the Bible certainly enters into their lives. Those who would “keep walking by spirit” should not ignore the Scriptural indications of God’s thinking. And they will do well to cultivate a hatred for everything that is unclean before Jehovah, including what are clearly perverted sexual practices. Married couples should act in a way that will leave them with a clean conscience, as they give unimpeded attention to developing “the fruitage of the spirit.”—Galatians 5:16, 22, 23; Ephesians 5:3-5.
What, though, if one mate wants or even demands to share with his or her partner in what is clearly a perverted sex practice? The above-presented facts show that porneia involves unlawful sexual conduct outside the marital arrangement. Thus, a mate’s enforcing perverted acts, such as oral or anal sex, withinthe marriage would not constitute a Scriptural basis for a divorce that would free either for remarriage. Even though a believing mate is distressed by the situation, yet that one’s endeavor to hold to Scriptural principles will result in a blessing from Jehovah. In such cases it may be helpful for the couple to discuss the problem frankly, bearing in mind especially that sexual relations should be honorable, wholesome, an expression of tender love. This certainly should exclude anything that might distress or harm one’s mate.—Ephesians 5:28-30; 1 Peter 3:1, 7.
As already stated, it is not for elders to “police” the private marital matters of couples in the congregation. However, if it becomes known that a member of the congregation is practicing or openly advocating perverted sex relations within the marriage bond, that one certainly would not be irreprehensible, and so would not be acceptable for special privileges, such as serving as an elder, a ministerial servant or a pioneer. Such practice and advocacy could even lead to expulsion from the congregation. Why?Norm-------- Thanks for sharing this. Note, too, how it gives WT permission to RAPE a mate..........and says victimized mate is scripturally in the wrong to protect herself/ himself by getting a divorce. Leaving the marriage under such circumstances is NOT deemed permissible for a faithful JW----and results in all kinds of public CENSURE from the congregation INSTEAD of help, support, and protection as is needed and deserved.
This is the kind of influence which, as many of you already know, has prompted my 18-year-old faithful JW son (active participant in circuit assembly parts, no less) to say to me: "Nothing short of dad being a SERIAL KILLER can justify you divorcing him."
THINK HARD, PEOPLE, ABOUT WHAT KIND OF ORGANIZATION THIS IS...THAT WOULD ESTABLISH THESE KINDS OF RULES AND GUIDELINES FOR ITS FOLLOWERS...REFUSE THEM THE NECESSARY HELP TOWARD SAFETY AND RECOVERY...AND TELL A HURTING VICTIM THAT WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IS
MORE PRAYER,
MORE MEETINGS, AND
MORE HOURS OUT IN SERVICE
--PERIOD. Been there...heard that...speaking from experience, unfortunately.