by dawg 31 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse
Blondie, I've read what you said about that pay phone once before, you are a good man that you let that bother your conscience, but they are hypocrites.
HUM, just so you know, i'm a she.
Here's what i'm dealing with...http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/9/164191/1.ashx
Dawg..It`s all about making the WBT$ look good..As far as the WBT$ is concerned,if kids get molested so what?..Just don`t make the organization look bad!..Cover it up and Stonewall the Authorities!..That will make it all go away!.........Bastards!...................
...OUTLAW
Why hadn't they already turned that bastard in?
Because the elders' main concern (at the behest of Crooklyn), is the reputation of the congregation in the eyes of the world. If they report all pedophiles to the authorities, then the pedophile will be charged, it'll be in all the newspapers along with the fact that they were a Jehovah's Witness and that would be extremely embarassing for The Happiest People on Earth. How would they hold their heads up going door to door when the neighbourhood has just read that one of their very own is the lowest of the low: someone who rapes children for kicks.
So if they have to choose between protecting innocent children and protecting their own reputation, they've decided to go with the latter.
Surely this is another fine indication that no one is blessing this Organization.
Sorry Blondie.... I agree with what most of you said, this is really crazy and proof positive that they care only about protecting image.
Taken from the perspective of the Elders: The man confessed, was repentant and therefore under the jurisdiction of God's Clean Organization. This requires that all aspects of the judicial committee remain confidential. Jehovah's Organization says that the member of the congregation who molests and repents is clean before God and can now move forward with their life without the stigma of others knowing of their sin just as someone who may have stolen something or gotten drunk once. Remember, it is a "practice" of sin that is the measure of whether they are hardened in sin. If he were unrepentant he would have been DF'd and they would have NO problem telling the world because Jehovah kept his Org. clean and they are off the hook. So, yes... they are protecting the reputation of the organization but this is the mind set they are coming from. No one seems to talk about this when it is what is the basis for their actions. Screwy I know. W.Once
From the perspective of the victim. You think that Jehovah's organization is perfect and loves you. You tell the elders that a grown man (an elder) has been molesting you throughout your early teens. It takes a while to realize that this is inappropriate behaviour, because elders are chosen by holy spirit as shepherds of the congregation, so why would they do anything to harm you. You've been taught to trust everyone that is JW, and distrust everyone not JW. Most of all to trust an elder.
You embarrassingly go and tell your story. They listen, with blank looks on their faces...like they don't want to hear what you are saying. They offer NO support, NO acknowledgement, nothing. That's it. You've bared your soul...and nothing. You see the brother/elder giving talks, walking around the assemblies with their "attendant" labels on. You feel exposed. You feel disbelieved.
Was this man repentant? Was he dealt with privately? Was anything done? Did he deny the whole thing? WHAT HAPPPENED??
You're never informed, because that's confidential information. Being the victim gives you no "in" to this confidential information. Then, they tell you to not speak about it to anyone else in the congregation. If you do, you will face df'ing, because it's going against theocratic order. In the end, the victim wonders if she/he is crazy. Did it even happen? Because if it did, surely Jehovah would see to it being made right. But, NO...
....because at all costs, the reputation of the organization comes before the sanity of the victim.
Rose
Because the elders' main concern (at the behest of Crooklyn), is the reputation of the congregation in the eyes of the world. If they report all pedophiles to the authorities, then the pedophile will be charged, it'll be in all the newspapers along with the fact that they were a Jehovah's Witness and that would be extremely embarassing for The Happiest People on Earth. How would they hold their heads up going door to door when the neighbourhood has just read that one of their very own is the lowest of the low: someone who rapes children for kicks.
Mary I'd agree with you, but also just as important to them (much moreso than the victim) is money. If they report a guilty man the local congregation, the elder body and WTS as a whole has legal exposure to litigation. And we can't have that.
The procedure to call Brooklyn Legal first has been in place since at least 1989 (maybe late 1988). I remember being shown the BOE letter then. I know it's been emphasized verbally (so as to avoid a paper trail) several times since then.
WTS Legal's main responsibility is not to do what's right, it is to weigh options and choose the option that offers the most protection and benefit for their client. This is any lawyer's job. Law is not about justice, law is absolutely about how to argue your case. How can you spin law to your client's benefit. This is what lawyers do and why they get paid so much as a good one who knows how to manipulate law, how to argue/spin his case can set a rich and guilty man free and in the process the lawyer's reputation is enhanced and therefore his pocketbook is as well.
Meanwhile the one person who needs an advocate the most, the abused child, is the one that has no voice whatsoever.
dawg, I remember the shock I felt when the knowledge that this sect is not only just like any other religion (just as corrupt, just as selfish and just as uncaring about its principles), it is also just like any other big business. With a board, a CEO and financial obligations and desire for profit. This is how this sect is run -- as a business and the child abuse policy is simply there to keep problems at a minimum so the profit margin is not affected and the reputation of the company is not affected.
Look at that way and their conduct and rules makes more sense. Cold and evil, yes, but consistent with big business.
Chris
Rose that was a very good post. Thanks.
I'm sure people understand that what I was presenting was the ingrained mindset of the hardcore JW's. They really believe if you are forgiven and repentant that a molester is just like a thief or someone who was drinking in excess. The committee has decided things already written in heaven, remember? They have no concept that it is a mental aberration. I honestly do not think the average JW or elder thinks in terms of lawsuits. That's why the Society makes them call legal, because they are clueless as to the repercussions. Though in practice it is pure CYA on the WT's part, I think they are exploiting the true believers who honestly think this mumbo jumbo has credibility. As an elder I was concerned about "Jehovah's name" and wanted to keep all reproach from it. I never thought about the financial aspect of lawsuits. When I was advancing in the structure towards CO I saw the duplicity and legal ass covering and it sickened me. Lawsuits running how the elders handle matters? yes, because of word from on high. Locally its because they think they are stars in Christ's right hand. This is how insidious it all is. I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS SYSTEM. W.Once
Wasa
No it's cool. I got what you were saying. You were being Devil's Advocate. It's all good.
Chris
