from the WTS that proves that the "2 witness" rule applies to victims of pedophilia and that matters of this nature are to be handled w/in the congregation?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Does any ex-Elder have a document...
by sweetface2233 5 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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AllTimeJeff
Elder handbook. Pg 111 par 3
“There must be two or three eyewitnesses, not just persons repeating what they have heard; no action can be taken if there is only one witness. (Duet 19:15; John 8:17)”
Pg 111 pars 8 and 9
“If there are two or three witnesses to the same kind of wrongdoing but each one is witness to a separate incident, their testimony can be considered.”
(Jeffs comments: Such testimony can only be considered after the judicial committee consults the CO and Service and Legal Depts. In cases of pedophilia, the Service Dept has relaxed this somewhat. But if the acussed molester insists they are wrong, it is still difficult to prosecute. At best, such a molester might be removed from offices of oversight.)
“Such evidence may be used to establish guilt, but it is preferable to have two witnesses to the same occurrence of wrongdoing.”
(Jeffs comments: From an elder school, “repressed memories are not to be considered in charges of molestation.” This has often been taken by non qualified elders to mean that an adult who brings up a charge of abuse that occurred while he/she was a child cannot be admitted because it could be repressed. )
Hope that helps. That is directly from the flock book. I didn’t copy the letters I read. (should have though…)
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AlmostAtheist
Not an ex-elder here, but this is from the book "Pay Attention to Yourselves and to All the Flock", the secret elder's manual: (Pages 108-109)
"Other cases of serious wrongdoing require special atten- tion by the elders in order to determine what is needed to help the repentant wrongdoer and to preserve the spiritual health of all in the congregation.
These include such sins as adultery, fornication, apostasy, and drunkenness. (See Unit 5 (a), pages 92-6.)
Before forming a committee, elders determine if the accu- sation has substance.
It must Scripturally be an offense serious enough to result in disfellowshipping.
There must be either two witnesses or a confession of wrongdoing."
Hope it helps!
Dave
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sweetface2233
Thank you, thank you! Is there anything discussing keeping the matter in the congregation and not reporting it to the authorities? Anything about it being a matter of disfellowshipping for "slander against a brother"?
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AllTimeJeff
Thank you, thank you! Is there anything discussing keeping the matter in the congregation and not reporting it to the authorities? Anything about it being a matter of disfellowshipping for "slander against a brother"?
It has nothing to do with slander. It has everything to do with liability. Each time a molestation case comes before the elders, one or two of them is to call the Legal Dept. In fact, if you are to call the Service Dept, they will transfer you to the Legal Dept first! The lawyers there will tell you whether or not the state that you live in requires them to contact the police. If you don't, you will be told that the elders are not legally obligated to inform the police, but that they may inform the parents of the minor that they can contact the authorities. As well all know, the elders here the information that the molester for obvious reasons may not share with the parents....
Elders have been very guilty in the past of threatening to disfellowship members of the congregation if they were to spread what they knew about a molester. That is slowly going away now, CO's are instructing elders to not do that, unless they are Barbara Anderson of course.
The main point is that the GB does not want the elders to involve themselves in the legal prosecution of molesters any more then absolutely necesarry.
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Atlantis
sweetface2233:
Not reporting to authorities?
Not sure if this is what your looking for but it might help.
Elders Manual 1991-p.137 "If the elders learn of illegal activity or of some serious crime on the part of a member of the congregation, they may not be obliged by law to report the offender or the offense to secular authorities." http://m1.freeshare.us/view/?170fs781223.jpg Murder Letter, December 24, 1992 paragraph 2: "You explained that you have received information indicating that this brother "committed several murders and crimes before his baptism." paragraph 3: "As elders, you have no obligation to reveal information of this type to the authorities." http://m1.freeshare.us/view/?170fs784194.jpg Cheers! Atlantis-
