LDH and Path,
I agree with both of you but would like to suggest that sometimes people do make these things up. My opinion is that most of the posts I have read are not made up. The "true believer" could argue to the contrary. Hence the importance of always refering these accusations to the local authorities to be investigated outside of the congregation. Then the facts are available to all.
Perhaps a very small percentage of wittnesses are guilty, even a much lower percentage than a cross section of the general population. But this is not really the issue as just one individual, protected by a congregation, can do a lot of damage. This never should have been hushed up and this needs to be addressed by those who have done so. A public apology might help some of those who have been wronged to reach some type of closure, and perhaps to help them forgive not the individual that wronged them, but the organization that failed them.
Pedophiles Among Us - (H20 post)
by waiting 57 Replies latest jw friends
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OrangeVale Bob
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RedhorseWoman
I just received silentlamb's rebuttal to many of the posts objecting to his orginal letter on one of my mail lists. I have cut and pasted it here:
(As you will recall...silentlamb...is the JW elder who just resigned and
posted the letter on the web. Well, he just sent me this post this morning.)silentlambs-rebuttal
I have watched many responses from those within the
organization that endeavor to defend the current
watchtower policy toward pedophiles. The most common
response seems to be that any accused child molester
is reported to the watchtower legal department and
then reported to local authorities with cooperation
from the local elders.Â
Sad to say this is total misinformation from persons
who are either ill informed, misguided or outright
lying.ÂThe BOE letters of 7-20-98, 3-14-97, 8-1-95, 2-3-93,
3-23-92, all state that when the accusation of child
abuse is made, the legal department of the watchtower
should be contacted for direction as to what to do.
Since 1992 that has been the requirement, so there has
been no current change when it comes to child
molesters, that is old news. What is the purpose in
contacting the legal dept? Is it to find a way to
help the victim? Sadly, the answer is to find what
the law requires only and nothing more. The wt will
comply with local laws to a point that keeps them from
being prosecuted for the criminal act of not reporting
child molestation. You may think this is well and
good, but allow me to offer a few variables.1.  The victim comes forward after becoming of legal
age. No report to authorities.
2.  The child is not clear as to times dates and places
and the elders make it appear he/she is unsure. No
report to authorities
3.  Another person brings forth minor evidence that
another child may be being molested after a pedophile
has molested children in the past. No report to
authorities.
4.  The local state does not require church officials
to report the matter. No report to authorities. Â
5.  The victim is of legal age the pedophile confesses
and is repentant. No report to authorities.
6.  The victim is of legal age the pedophile confesses
and is disfellowshipped. No report to authorities.
7.  The victim is of legal age the pedophile outright
lies, no action taken. No report to authorities.
8.  The local elders give an incomplete report to wt
legal to protect a friend. No report to authorities.The wt legal dept is just that, a group of lawyers who
protect the watchtower and legally have little
interest in the victims. If you were to review the
BOE letters from 92-98, in not one place does it state
that elders should encourage victims or parents of
victims to go to local police.  Instead they are
cautioned about discussing the matter with anyone.
Elders will invariably discuss the bringing of
reproach on the congregation or Jehovah, thus
discouraging any report being made to authorities. In
the event a report is made the wt legal will advise
zero cooperation from church officials using
“ecclesiastical privilege†as a basis to offer nothing
in the way of support. If any in the congregation are
approached they will be advised from the reproach
angle and will often back away from any help. Hence
the victim is victimized again and left on there on
with little support or help from the congregation.ÂOnce again it does no end there. The 7-1-89 BOE
letter advises confidentiality at all costs. Again
this is a legal maneuver to protect the wt. No one is
to be informed of the pedophile whether confessed or
not. If the man has remarried, his new wife is not to
be informed much less anyone else in the congregation
who may have children. Confidentiality is clearly
stated and there are no accommodations made to warn
those who could be in danger. Nothing, nothing,
nothing, in the way of communication for potential
victims is stated in any BOE letter for protection,
only the confessed pedophile is spoken to and
cautioned as to his conduct around children with
elders keeping an eye on him. How good an “eye†will
elders be able to keep when often times the only times
they see the pedophile is at the meetings? Few elders
know what is going on in the congregation much less
what a pedophile is doing on his on time.  ÂThe only “change†came about in 1997, this was stated
to the public in watchtower articles and was addressed
in the 3-14-97 BOE letter which asked for a report to
be given on any “known pedophileâ€. Again the question
that begs to be answered is: What is a “known
pedophile� You might apply the simple logic, what is
a known rapist, murder, or thief? Generally speaking
it is a person who has been convicted of a crime or
has confessed to doing so. 99% of child molesters
never confess.  If you review my letter you will
find the 11-1-95 wt plainly states the basis for
establishing charges against a pedophile is to have
two witnesses, otherwise he/she is viewed as an
“innocent manâ€.
So just think about it, 1997 policy states a “knownâ€
child molester will never have any position within the
wt organization. This is well and good but sadly,
once again, does little to address the 99% who do not
confess and are given BOE protection as an “innocent
manâ€. An “innocent man†can be a pioneer, ministerial
servant, elder, co, do, bethel member, missionary, or
member of the governing body. You probably have an
“innocent man†in your congregation and you will never
know it, even if you are an elder. If you did not
serve on the investigation or committee you are not
entitled to confidential information if wt protocol is
followed.Knowledge is power, now that you know what are you
going to do about it?I gave up everything I worked for in the wt
organization to come out publicly on this issue. Use
this knowledge to let others know, let the Watchtower
know and force the Watchtower to change this misguided
unethical danger that is being perpetrated on innocent
children. Not one more child should be molested if
something can be done to stop it. I am so sorry for
those of you who choose to not believe this and pray
that your children are never molested and have to
experience what real watchtower policy is. -
Pathofthorns
Thank you Red for sharing that. How disappointing really. Actually it almost makes me sick to read that. Once again its a case of the WT putting forth a policy that appears one way to the general public, but in the end it only serves their own interests.
I find it really sad and disgusting that they have become what they have, to see it come down to lawyers guarding it's assets and interests at the expense of true Christianity. I really hope that all those who have been hurt by this can find some peace in their life.
Path
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larc
Path,
Your last statement about finding peace, In this place where you and I are writing is giving peace and I hope that more come here and we can help give them a measure of peace as we have given a measure of peace to each other.
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thinker
Frenchy,
I feel that was a very succinct description of what really exists in the organization and on a congregational level.
I was molested more than once. Once within the org. and once out. My parents reported neither, no doubt at the elders advice. And even kept the one incident from me until a couple of years ago when I finally nailed my mother with it. She said "Your father and I thought you were too young to remember it". This is definitely JW'ese. I should have had counseling way back when. But of course that is frowned upon. When I finally got counseling of my own accord a few years back, the elders thought it necessary to warn me against it. Only one elder recognized its value. When their advice didn't work, I was called in again. Their reason? My counselor hated JW's, they thought it could have an effect on my faith.
I am sure now, I am just a case in point.
This is Thinkers Wife -
larc
I don't know what to say, but I feel compelled to say something. So many tragic stories, yet so many people alive. We grew up through the concrete, like stuborn weeds, and we are alive to help each other and help the new ones that come along, I think that is our blessing. Our time in that place we had to leave was not waisted. Our time gave us our new found wisdom to help others.
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Frenchy
To Mrs Thinker:
Thank you. There is so much of this going on that it is appalling. I'm glad that this elder posted his letter on H20 and that our beloved waiting posted it here for us. My heart goes out to all who have had such a terrible experience(s).-Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it-
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waiting
Hey Thinker's Wife,
My parents reported neither, no doubt at the elders advice.
Perhaps, but that's speculation on your part, imo. Very few parents, authorities, back then - even now - report rapes/molestations. Seven gave us the url to the FBI www. site. Two thirds of all molestations/rapes are not reported - by society at large - according to recent FBI statistics. A decade or two ago, even less raping of children was reported.
And even kept the one incident from me until a couple of years ago when I finally nailed my mother with it. She said "Your father and I thought you were too young to remember it". This is definitely JW'ese.
Not necessarily. This is how society at large deals with molestations/rapes. Out of sight - out of mind. The majority of persons still feel that if a child doesn't actively remember the incident - no great harm is done to the child. No one, imho, knows how the memory of persons works at this date. And, out of consideration for your parents - perhaps they wanted to put it out of their minds also. It's hard to be parents - no one tells you what to do when you're child is raped. And back then, trust me, the advice from doctors, clergy, and police varied from what it is today.
I'm sorry it happened to you. Sad to say, it's more common than makes us comfortable - and we usually know the rapist. True, the handling of molestations is done awkardly by the WTBTS - hurt is further caused the victim and future victims. But society at large is to blame also. The WTBTS didn't invent this problem - they just don't know how to handle it any better than society at large. So the WTBTS tried to keep it quiet, made us as parents think it didn't happen in Our Spiritual Paradise. Well, as we're witnesses, it does.
waiting