by drew sagan 23 Replies latest jw friends
>>The history of the Elder arrangement (as we know it today) does not stretch back 100 years
That's an interesting point.
By saying "elders", they allowed themselves to exclude ministerial servants, pioneers, and anyone else that might be deemed an "official" in the congregation. Of course, the public doesn't know about all these other ranks...
"Weasel words" -- You know less after reading them than before.
Dave
How do you spell damage control ? CYOA . Peace out, Mr.Flipper
Next WT response:
During the last 400 years, only eleven elders have been sued for child abuse in thirteen lawsuits filed in the United States.
I guess this number works just as well...................oompa
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.
Speaking of a hundred years, as I mentioned on another thread, this statement is a blatant attempt a deceitful manipulation of data, a dishonesty that the WTS has turned into an art form over the past hundred years. They are equating successful court action against them as the basis on which figures about the "rarity" of this crime within the Congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses are based.
This information leaves out two obvious issues that completely undermine this statement:
1) No mention is made of the numerous cases dealt with in the past hundred years that were settled before they even reached the courts.
2) No mention is made of the thousands of cases that have been handled internally and which have been kept from public, let alone legal eyes, for the past hundred years.
Blatant dishonesty from an organization that views survivors of child abuse within its ranks and who demand some sort of justice, as enemies of the people.
HS
HS
Blatant dishonesty from an organization that views survivors of child abuse and their advocates within its ranks and who demand some sort of justice, as enemies of the people.
Sorry H.S.
I just had to add that after watching what Barb Anderson, Laurie Fitzwater et. al. went through and are still going through.
hawk
I wonder: if during the last 100 years, only eleven elders have been sued for child abuse, does this include the prominent ones that Watchtower Jan 1st, 1986 mentions on p 13 when it says:
Shocking as it is, even some who have been prominent in Jehovah’s organization have succumbed to immoral practices, including homosexuality, wife swapping, and child molesting.
: Congregation elders comply with child abuse reporting laws.
And ONLY where those reporting laws are required. In places where those laws don't exist, the WTS does nothing except sweep everything under the rug and tell people to shut up. This is yet another case of the WTS telling the truth without actually telling the truth. If the WTS REALLY cared about the children, they would take steps to protect them whether there were any "laws" or not.
Farkel
Yes, and if they are required they use a phone booth and do not give any details. But they report. Because they are required.
Everything the Society does is with a knee jerk reaction. Forget about doing the right thing. Take action only when it's necessary. ($$$$$$$$) There's no true love.
The very fact that the October Awake magazine was timed to come out dealing with" parents protect your children from abuse " right before this NBC network announcement came out about the child abuse scandal lets you know the watchtower society is quite aware of what is going on behind the scenes as far as potential media coverage showing their blemishes. Now , the million dollar question is , how much real damage will it be able to do to the Watchtowers credibility with the public, as well as inside the congregations? You know how witnesses gossip ! Time will tell
