Well folks, ever since the end of 1999, when the issue of child abuse among JWs was raised, things seemed to have moved slowly ... at least too slowly for those who need and want to see justice done for the vctims. In 2000, Bill Bowen, who was teaming up with those of us already working on the topic, finally emerged in public to start SilentLambs, and brought in NBC Dateline, etc. for much welcome attention. To his credit, he accelerated this issue to a level of attention that we could not dream possible. While many of us were interviewed by the news media, and the initial attention was appreciated, it was only the beginning of a long path to justice.
Since that time, much work has been done by many. In fact, I have no idea of how many or who all are involved, even though I have been with this issue from day one. Media attention has been largely confined to newpaper reports of more JW molesters arrested, or sued, and of course, there have been, and continue to be, lawsuits against the Watchtower Society.
The recent court rulings in California have been most interesting, and are important in the progress of this issue. I wish I could begin to explain all of the hard work and time consuming efforts during the pre-trial phase of this issue. But, it will have to wait until the trial is past, or a settlement is reached. But, please know that much is being done, and the Wheels of Justice continue to turn. You may want to see my first posting after my meeting with Watchtower attorneys in March of 2004: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/22/68146/1.ashx
The following is my most recent meeting held just last week. It is not very exciting, and I am limited in what I can reveal about the molester, it is still fascinating to see how the Watchtower operates:
On Wednesday, December 13th, I met in Chicago with three attorneys, one from California representing the Watchtower Society in that state (he is not a JW). The second with him is a Watchtower staff attorney (a JW of course) from New York. The third was the plaintiff attorney from Texas. This was my second deposition with these attorneys.
The deposition lasted less time than my previous deposition and preservation testimony. (See:http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/22/68146/1.ashx) The session was taken under oath, which is normal. It is recorded by a court reporter and videotaped. The conference room was much smaller this time, making it more "cozy" if you enjoy being in a tightly packed room with a bunch of lawyers, two of which represent the Watchtower Society. (Technically, the Watchtower staff attorney from New York does not represent the Society, as they are in a defendant position.) While the Watchtower New York attorney does not ask questions, he can, and does pass notes to their California Attorney. Yes, he passed a note this time ... but, I do not know excatly what was in it. Judging from the question that followed, I got the drift. During the previous deposition, his note was read by the California attorney, asking me if I was an apostate. What made it humorous is that the California attorney did not know how to pronounce apostate. He used four syllables, instead of three, and he sounded it out as "a'-po-sta-te." Both of the Watchtower attorneys that were there last Wednesday were the same ones from the previous deposition.
What I found fascinating is how the Watchtower attorney hammered me regarding my being disciplined by the Elders for smoking while a JW. He also spent much time on different places I have lived, and what congregations I was a member. This was also done in the first deposition, so I wondered to myself why they went over the same ground. It seemed rather silly to me to be focusing on such things, as it pales in comparison to the topic at hand, which was a particular child molester in one of the California cases. The purpose of deposing me is that I am a fact witness in that case. He eventually asked me about the molester in the case, and related facts. In my first depoistion and preservation testimony in March of 2004, I gave testimony in other related California cases.
The plaintiff attorney is Greg Love, of the law firm Love and Norris. He likewise deposed me on behalf of the victims. His set of questions focused on the molester and what I knew about the person, and other related facts. During his deposition the Watchtower attorney interrupted with objections, mostly because some fo the questions were the same as he asked me earlier. I answered anyway, as that is the proper protocol. In the previous deposition, the Watchtower attorney objected many more times, for other reasons, which likewise seemed rather insignificant to me.
In the first deposition in March of 2004 the Watchtower staff attorney from New York shook my hand and greeted me at the opening. Once it was established that I am an "apostate" from the Watchtower organization, then he ignored me. Oddly enough, this time around, while he did not greet me at the opening, he waved and said goodbye at the end of the deposition. I waved back, and smiled. I am still pondring that turn of events.
This time the process was less monumental for me personally. I think that is because having done this before, I was familiar with the nature of this type of deposition, and what to expect. Secondly, I have an evolving perspective as the months and years go by which puts more distance between me and the Watchtower Society. My changing perspective reminds me of driving east down I-84 in Oregon, watching Mt. Hood gradually fade into the distant background. That is a good thing.
The good news is that the molester in the case currently wears an orange jump suit and lives in the grey-bar hotel where he belongs. I would give more specific details about the case and my testimony, but I think that should wait until after the trial. I do not want to inadvertently compromise the case. The focus here is to make sure the victims receive justice. What I can say is that the problem is systemic and far more serious than JWs can possibly imagine and more serious than even many ex-JWs can believe.
In addition to giving testimony, I have given sworn affidavits and reviewed and commented on other depositions. It is utterly shocking to look back on the JW mentality and realize that at one time I thought as they did. It is even more shocking still to see all of this finally coming out in the courts, as I never would have believed it possible 15-years ago when I was still a JW ... and even 7-years ago, when this issues was first raised.
I have no doubt that I will be giving more testimony, and that much of what I have stated in depositions and preservation testimonmy will be heard in court. I am anxious as anyone to see these cases get to trial and see the fruit of all the labor. 90% of a trial is done in pre-trial and the rest at trial. So, when this all gets to trial, just know that it does so with a mountain of work. I feel that it is important for you all to know that excellent work and much effort continues to go forward to seek justice for the victims ... and that it will not end until justice is received.
Jim Whitney