I like there to be two sided arguments! for personal reasons I'd like all pedophiles to be put on an island away from any contact with children but if the law can't do it niether can JW's.
In this case the 'always two elder' rule when visiting people is refreshing when other churches don't do it and the priests/vicars still visit parishioners alone, the pairing on ministry too and gathering in groups is also productive in protection.
Do you accept that if followed properly always two visiting rule and going on doors in pairs is a measure of protection to children?
I am one of 5 girls brought up as Jw's I was never molested or even approached as a child by a Jw pedophile and niether were my sisters, I was never even allowed alone with a boy/man without a chaperone even when I was 18, we went out in groups too cinema. My memories are the Jws are strict on morality so opportunity is limited of between sexes contact, thats why i'm not surprised that the Jw cases mostly follow the same numbers as outside cases thats is...most are within-family cases.
I recommend anyone do their own research on this and not let other people replace there own memories with theirs, there is definitely a feel of group memory on many of these subjects.
Do you know in england pretend santa's in shops are no longer allowed to sit children on their knee? My son is severely disabled and he went on an outing to an art gallery with me (he has the mental age of 3 and cuddles everyone even though he is ten) he grabbed a lady who was an art gallery attendant and cuddled her she recognised he was just being friendly and happily cuddled him back, there was a group of children with a teacher and he was going to cuddle the teacher but she back off almost frightenned, thats why I put the link up, it's to easy to let hysteria and paranoia form our opinions but recognise when we are taking an issue to far beyond what is normal.
I'm not saying that Jws haven't made mistakes in this area but my unbiased personal research and memories show this to be no better or worse than other organisations and religions, (the catholics actually do come up as unusual because their celebacy rules attracted men not interested in women/marraige to priesthood working alone in area's and so most of their cases are on boys this is also researcheable by anyone on google so don't take my word for it, look yourself)
a measure of if you are approaching this subject without bias is how you research it and type it on google...it is a search engine which will only search the parameters you put in, so if all you google is 'Jw pedophiles' then that is all you will find out about, I checked silent lambs and even they have had to widen there scope because they couldn't just focus on the one group without looking specific in their agenda yet professing caring for all victims.
Pedophilia is evil and personally I hope God shows no mercy to them but I think it is a world-wide issue that must be seen as such, from young girls in many countries sold into sexual slavery, to father's/step-fathers who think they can destroy their own children for their personal gratification, to internet groomers pretending to be children to gain access to other children. I say this only because I think there is a danger in thinking you only find pedophiles in one place whichever direction it is you are focusing.
we have a responsibilty as parents to look after our children and take that responsibility seriously.
I realise my words will have little impression on those who are using this subject as part of their agenda to discredit Jws but I only put what I have to those who are genuinely upset and worried, this is a subject we should be vigilant on in all it's aspects and not to let anyone's title whether it is elder/ms/Dr/Vicar/Priest/Manager/Teacher make you think they are safe but also not to be overwhelmed by hysteria either. Be careful but be realistic.
Reniaa
