The most recent one is last Fall's pathetic tract:
Where did the WTS condemn the Catholics for pedophilia?
by AK - Jeff 23 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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AK - Jeff
Interesting choice of words in that tract to me; Religion that tolerates immoral sex.
Child sexual abuse is not 'immoral sex' - it is violation, rape, criminal. Could the use of the wording be to cover the depth of the crime, and water it down within these churches that hide it [including the WTS?]. After all immoral sex is something for which 'love would cover the sins' in the minds of many. Most would not feel such quick forgiveness for rapists!
I had forgotten the tract till you mentioned it Mary and Darth Frosty.
Jeff
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Mary
Hey Jeff if you need more fodder showing what a bunch of hypocrites the WTS is when it comes to pedophilia, check out these articles directly from their own mouths:
Appeared in Awake! October 8, 1993
AFTER using children to satisfy perverted lusts, after robbing them of their security and their sense of innocence, child molesters still want something else from their victims—SILENCE. To secure that silence, they use shame, secrecy, even outright terror. Children are thus robbed of their best weapon against abuse—the will to tell, to speak up and ask an adult for protection........Tragically, adult society often unwittingly collaborates with child abusers. How so? By refusing to be aware of this danger, by fostering a hush-hush attitude about it, by believing oft-repeated myths. Ignorance, misinformation, and silence give safe haven to abusers, not their victims.................For example, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops concluded recently that it was a "general conspiracy of silence" that allowed gross child abuse to persist among the Catholic clergy for decades. Time magazine, in reporting on the widespread plague of incest, also cited a "conspiracy of silence" as a factor that "only helps perpetuate the tragedy" in families.
However, Time noted that this conspiracy is crumbling at last. Why? In a word, education. It is as Asiaweek magazine put it: "All experts agree that the best defence against child abuse is public awareness." To defend their children, parents must understand the realities of the threat. Don't be left in the dark by misconceptions that protect child abusers and not children.
Appeared in The Watchtower January 1, 1997
What if a baptized adult Christian sexually molests a child? Is the sinner so wicked that Jehovah will never forgive him? Not necessarily so. Jesus said that 'blasphemy against the holy spirit' was unforgivable. And Paul said that there is no sacrifice for sins left for one who practices sin willfully despite knowing the truth. (Luke 12:10; Hebrews 10:26, 27) But nowhere does the Bible say that an adult Christian who sexually abuses a child—whether incestuously or otherwise—cannot be forgiven. Indeed, his sins can be washed clean if he repents sincerely from the heart and turns his conduct around. However, he may still have to struggle with the wrong fleshly impulses he cultivated. (Ephesians 1:7) And there may be consequences that he cannot avoid.
Depending on the law of the land where he lives, the molester may well have to serve a prison term or face other sanctions from the State. The congregation will not protect him from this (ya, riiiiiight ) Moreover, the man has revealed a serious weakness that henceforth will have to be taken into account. If he seems to be repentant, he will be encouraged to make spiritual progress, share in the field service, even have parts in the Theocratic Ministry School and nonteaching parts in the Service Meeting. This does not mean, though, that he will qualify to serve in a position of responsibility in the congregation.
Appeared in Awake! October 8, 1993
In the Netherlands and Canada, researchers found that about one third of all women had been sexually abused as children. In Finland, 18 percent of the ninth-grade girls (15 or 16 years old) and 7 percent of the boys reported having had sexual contact with someone at least five years their senior............In various countries disturbing reports have surfaced about religious cults that abuse children with sadistic sexual practices and torture. Often, those who report that they were victims of such crimes are treated with incredulity, not compassion.(kinda like those that were disfellowshipped for reporting that they were molested by someone in the congregation? Or, like Barbara Anderson and Bill Bowen, DF'd for speaking to Dateline)
Some legal experts advise reporting the abuse to the authorities as soon as possible. In some lands the legal system may require this. But in other places the legal system may offer little hope of successful prosecution........What, though, when the abuser is one's own beloved mate? Sad to say, many women fail to take decisive action. To be sure, it is never easy to face the ugly reality of a mate who is a child abuser. Emotional ties, and even financial dependency, can be overwhelmingly strong. The wronged wife may also realize that taking action could cost her husband his family, his job, his reputation. The hard truth is, though, that he may just be reaping what he has sown. ( Galatians 6:7 ) Innocent children, on the other hand, stand to lose much more if they are not believed and protected. Their whole future is at stake. They do not have the resources that adults have. Trauma can scar and shape them adversely for life. They are the ones who need and deserve tender treatment.—Compare Genesis 33:13, 14 .
Parents must therefore make every reasonable effort to protect their children! Many responsible parents choose to seek out professional help for an abused child. Just as you would with a medical doctor, make sure that any such professional will respect your religious views.# Help your child rebuild his or her shattered self-esteem through a steady outpouring of parental love.
# For instance, when Jehovah's Witnesses are confronted with issues involving blood transfusion, they make sure that the doctor respects their religious beliefs.
I think this last footnote speaks volumes. Before you speak to any "professional", you have to make sure that the molestation was witnessed by two eye witnesses. It's of interest that all of these articles above were written long before the scandal broke in 2002. While these articles pay lip service to the trauma of pedophilia and its victims, there are many subtle and not so subtle statements in the above articles that shows why this problem became so prevalent in the Organization. Nowhere does it specifically tell the parents to call the authorities if they find out their child has been molested. It hints that in "some lands" it's required to report this and "some legal experts advise" reporting it. Given the Witnesses' disdain for "worldly" people, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what they're really trying to say. I also find it disturbing that they claim one of the reasons a wife might not report her husband is because she doesn't want to lose her financial security, yet I'm sure that that's happened a thousand times in the "Truth".
All in all, I can find no article where they've specifically stated that a Christian should phone the police or get the child some psychological help when they've been molested yet they've pointed an accusing finger at the Catholic Church for decades for condoning the exact same thing. This is what boggles the mind: How could the Governing Body members write this sort of propaganda, all the while knowing full well that they were coverning up thousands of cases of sex abuse?
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AK - Jeff
Well stated and documented Mary. Thank you.
I recently sent this letter to a long time friend of over 40 years - he [though an elder] had been one of the few who did not shun me after the annoucement that I 'was no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses', last October. Then, recently I sent a 'Letter to the Editor' that highlighted the sex-abuse scandal within the organization. He refused to speak with me for that reason. So I called his hand;
Dale -
Following my ‘shunning’ by you last week, an interesting curiosity arises in my mind and heart.
You clearly view my revelation of ‘deep secret’ sins of the Watchtower Society as proof that you have the ‘Truth’, and are being persecuted for it. Yet it is entirely factual and supported by thousands of news-reports around the world. [See my letter to the editor; May 22, 2007 News-Sun]
The great irony is that you view your organization’s attack on the Catholic Church for similar sins, as justified, and a clear indication that God does not bless that religion. [See virtually thousands of Anti-Catholic articles in the Watchtower publications over the past 100 years].
Curious indeed! I doubt Jesus would have persisted in covering over the sins of his early church - while instructing his followers to be mean and hateful to those who knew of those sins. If sexual abuse within one religion condemns it - why not in another? I don’t see how it can be otherwise! If you do, please explain it to me. I welcome that.
I feel no need to shun you for your attachment to the organization that has perpetuated such sins, yet you feel a need to shun me for revealing the matter. Whose sin is greater? All I can say is ‘Unbelievable Hypocrisy’. Sadly, you can’t even see it.
[Matthew 15:12-20]
My love remains unconditional. Truth is wherever it is to be found - pretty or not. That is what I stand for - ‘Truth’. Sorry if that offends you. Did you not know me to be a man of character - that I would have to stand for what is right in the eyes of God?
I always have stood for truth. I always will. But you toss out nearly 50 years of friendship because I dare to do what is right? Odd indeed. I suppose by that measure, you would have more respect to those who cover over the sins of others? Sorry, I cannot do that. I will continue to greet you in public, though I am deeply ashamed of your religion’s actions, and indeed your willing hatefulness toward me - a man that you know has integrity to truth and righteousness, which is why I left the faith of Jehovah’s Witnesses to follow the Lord of the Bible, Jesus, to begin with.
I say as did Stephen “Forgive them, Lord, for they know not what they do.”
Your friend -
I have no hope, nor intention, of changing his view of me. I am hoping that I can jar his paradigm slightly though. Thus the key to this thread. I wanted to have info handy to rebut his likely claim that Jw's have taken such a duplicitious standard to new levels. I doubt I will get the chance - but one wants to be ready when engaged in 'spiritual warfare'.
Jeff
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TopHat
Thanks for posting this very good topic.
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rebel8
Check their current web site for more!
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youllneverknow
Can't believe Dale still talks to you...tell Dawn hi.
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AK - Jeff
Youllneverknow - You have a PM. I seem to be at the disavantage here. Welcome to the board.
Jeff
PS - Dale isn't talking to me at the moment, actually. I am now being shunned by him also.
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golf2
I guess the org. never noticed that when you point, three fingers are pointing back at you !!!
Golf -
youllneverknow
I think 'ol Jimmy Olsen would be giving you a big thumbs down right about now AK Jeff.