JW response to NBC news contradicts their support of Michael Porter

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Response to NBC
For the sake of the victims in these cases, we are pleased that a settlement has been reached. Our hearts go out to all those who suffer as a result of child abuse. Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide are united in their abhorrence of this sin and crime.—Romans 12:9.

We do not condone or protect child molesters. Our elders expel unrepentant sinners who commit this crime. (1 Corinthians 5:13) In the United States, over 80,000 elders currently serve in over 12,300 congregations. (Acts 20:28) During the last 100 years, only eleven elders have been sued for child abuse in thirteen lawsuits filed in the United States. In seven of these lawsuits against the elders, accusations against the Watchtower Society itself were dismissed by the courts. Of course, one victim is one victim too many. However, the incidence of this crime among Jehovah’s Witnesses is rare.

Congregation elders comply with child abuse reporting laws. (Mark 12:17; Romans 13:1) We do not silence victims. Our members have an absolute right to report this horrible crime to the authorities. The October 2007 issue of our monthly journal Awake! features the cover series, “Keep Your Children Safe!” These articles clearly show our concern for protecting children from sexual abuse.

Compare to this:

http://www.silentlambs.org/BroPorter.htm

The court heard that Porter was a respected member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Portishead and Clevedon, when he committed his crimes.

Parents trusted him to look after their children, and Porter regularly babysat for youngsters, took them away on holidays and invited them for sleepovers at his home.

"He was in a very high position. Children loved him and parents worshipped him," Ms Hughes said. "They thought he was God’s son on earth. He was the last man they would ever suspect of doing something so horrific.

"He abused dozens of children and even a baby. But he’s still free."

Mr Porter's current Jehovah's Witness Church has stood by him despite confessing to his crimes, according to his sister. He is thought to be an elder at the Mill Hill Kingdom Hall, in Barnet, north London. **(Mill Hill is where Bethel is located)

truthseeker

Notice how the Watchtower tries to justify itself:

During the last 100 years, only eleven elders have been sued for child abuse in thirteen lawsuits filed in the United States. In seven of these lawsuits against the elders, accusations against the Watchtower Society itself were dismissed by the courts.

Only eleven elders have been sued? Really? What about the dozens of ministerial servants and elders who have not yet been sued?

truthseeker

It's also interesting to note, that most "Top" JW news stories are about consciencious objectors in Asian lands or Russian persecution.

The only time this very sick, destructive and evil cult has a JW child abuse articles is when they are being accused or they've made it into the national papers.

The JW's are a reactionary cult.

sspo

For the sake of the victims in these cases, we are pleased that a settlement has been reached. Our hearts go out to all those who suffer as a result of child abuse.

Interesting statement now that the story came out. Why did they put a gag order on the victims if they were so concerned about them?

besty

as someone else said the number of elders sued is the wrong metric.

a better question which they have avoided is how many children have been victimised as a direct result of organisational policies.

buffalosrfree

Our elders expel unrepentant sinners who commit this crime. Now that is a bunch of bulls**t, the key word there is unrepentant, if they say they repent of their sins and ask the elders for help does this mean they aren't disfellowshipped? Probably from the way it sounds, repent and no expelling, no repent then expel, but only if you have two witnesses to the event. They are speaking out of both sides of their mouths. They should expel expel expel and prior to that warn congregation of the fact that there is a ped/molester in the congregation.

POs Son

Last I recall, all baptized members are "ordained ministers", since JW's do not have a clergy class. Yes??

This means that while only "11 elders were sued", numerous others who are ministers may have been sued or more importantly, charged, arrested or validly accused of abuse. The cover-up continues.

hillary_step

What they also cunningly omit is including the numbers of survivors of abuse whose cases were settled out of court, with gag orders attached.

Frankly, they have shot themselves in the foot with this PR statement, as the gates of litigation have been opened, and the settlement figure will serve as a precedent. I have no doubt that numerous survivors who have not as yet summoned up the courage to sue will now come forward and the now esclating figures of elders being sued will never be mentioned again.

The WTS has learned a lesson and one that at last has hurt them in the pocket to the tune of many millions of dollars. This, I suspect is just the beginning of the pangs of distress, to coin a phrase. ;)

HS

WTWizard

I would like to be empowered to remove the gag orders on those victims. I would also like to see those that "settle" out of court rat out the Tower anyway, and then have the Tower try to take them to court for violating the gag orders. If I was the judge, I would not only laugh the Witlesses out of the court, but I would invite the media to further expose the actual truth about these incidents on TV and in as many news magazines and newspapers as I could contact.

By the time the Watchtower Society came out of that, they would have zero money left to push the scam into Nigeria and other African and South American countries.

hubert

During the last 100 years, only eleven elders have been sued for child abuse in thirteen lawsuits filed in the United States.

This could actually be written.....During this year, only eleven elders have been sued......

What are they going to say the next time a law suit comes out? During the last two years only 200 elders have been sued.....

Hubert

JW response to NBC news contradicts their support of Michael Porter

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