The other perspective

silentlambs

I recieved this email today. I certainly shows another perspective.

How would you respond?

silentlambs

I THINK THIS WHOLE SITUATION WITH THIS RODRIQUEZ LADY IS RIDICULOUS. I WAS MOLESTED BY THE PRESIDING OVERSEER IN THE CONGREGATION FOR SEVEN YEARS AND AT NO TIME WAS MADE TO BELIEVE THAT IT WAS MY FAULT BY THE ELDERS AND CONGREGATION WHEN I FINALLY TOLD. THIS MAN WAS DISFELLOWSHIPPED IN A MATTER OF 7 DAYS. AND 5 DIFFERENT BROTHERS FROM BETHEL CALLED AND ENCOURAGED ME AND TOLD ME TO DO WHAT I HAD TO DO AGAINST HIM, THEY NEVER TOLD ME NOT TO TELL THE POLICE, THEY NEVER HELD IT AGAINST ME, AND MY FAMILY. THEY HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT SUPPORTIVE TO ME AND MY FAMILY SINCE THE INCIDENT. SO THIS CLAIM THAT THE ELDERS THREATENED TO DISFELLOWSHIP HER AND TOLD HER TO HIDE IT IS VERY UNBELIEVABLE. ALSO IN THE JAN 97 WATCHTOWER, PAGES 28,29 IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT A CHILD MOLESTER CANNOT AND WILL NOT EVER HOLD A POSITION IN THE KINGDOM HALL AGAIN AND THEY WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO SAY A PRAYER AGAIN. SO FOR ALL THE PEOPLE CLAIMING THAT A LOT OF THE ELDERS, ANOINTED ONES AND MINISTERIAL SERVANTS ARE STILL HOLDING POSITIONS IS VERY UNLIKELY BECAUSE IT HAS TO GO THROUGH JEHOVAH'S HOLY SPIRIT AND BETHEL. I THINK THAT THIS LAWYER IS JUST TRYING TO MAKE SOME MONEY AT THE EXPENSE OF THE BROTHERS WHO VOLUNTARILY DONATE TIME AND MONEY TO KEEP THE ORGANIZATION GOING. BUT WHAT THIS LAWYER DOESN'T REALIZE IS THAT THESE BROTHERS ARE NOT EMPLOYEES SO THERE FORTH THE SOCIETY DOES NOT COVER THEM WITH INSURANCE. YOU KNOW WHAT A LOT OF YOU NEED TO DO IS PRAY TO JEHOVAH AND ASK FOR THE STRENGTH TO MAKE IT OUT OF A BAD SITUATION AND THROW YOUR BURDENS UPON HIM AND QUIT FEELING LIKE THE VICTIM AND GET ON WITH YOUR LIVES. JUST REMEMBER THAT JEHOVAH IS FOR US AND NOT AGAINST AND ANYTHING THAT IS WRONG WITH HIS ORGANIZATION WILL COME OUT...

gumby

I would have to say to this person that she would have to believe that ALL other stories that have come forth in which justice was not served such as in her case.....are ALL lies.

I would tell her of the "two witnesess or more" policy.

I would tell her that parents are not at liberty to pursue a molester of their child, once the molester denies it and the elders have dismissed it, or judicial action will be taken.

You know what to say bill.

Thanks for letting us help with input.

Seeker

I THINK THIS WHOLE SITUATION WITH THIS RODRIQUEZ LADY IS RIDICULOUS. I WAS MOLESTED BY THE PRESIDING OVERSEER IN THE CONGREGATION FOR SEVEN YEARS AND AT NO TIME WAS MADE TO BELIEVE THAT IT WAS MY FAULT BY THE ELDERS AND CONGREGATION WHEN I FINALLY TOLD. THIS MAN WAS DISFELLOWSHIPPED IN A MATTER OF 7 DAYS. AND 5 DIFFERENT BROTHERS FROM BETHEL CALLED AND ENCOURAGED ME AND TOLD ME TO DO WHAT I HAD TO DO AGAINST HIM, THEY NEVER TOLD ME NOT TO TELL THE POLICE, THEY NEVER HELD IT AGAINST ME, AND MY FAMILY. THEY HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT SUPPORTIVE TO ME AND MY FAMILY SINCE THE INCIDENT. SO THIS CLAIM THAT THE ELDERS THREATENED TO DISFELLOWSHIP HER AND TOLD HER TO HIDE IT IS VERY UNBELIEVABLE.

How very nice to hear such an account, and how nice it would be if all cases were handled that way. Sadly, not every body of elders acts this way, and until they do and get educated the way your body of elders seems to be, something needs to be done. Remember, just because something happened one way to you doesn't make it unbelievable that it could happen a different way to someone else. Local bodies of elders often act differently from each other, and there is a wide variance in the way brothers are treated from place to place.

ALSO IN THE JAN 97 WATCHTOWER, PAGES 28,29 IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT A CHILD MOLESTER CANNOT AND WILL NOT EVER HOLD A POSITION IN THE KINGDOM HALL AGAIN AND THEY WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO SAY A PRAYER AGAIN.

Sadly, what you may not be aware of is that this was rescinded in a later letter to the elders only.

SO FOR ALL THE PEOPLE CLAIMING THAT A LOT OF THE ELDERS, ANOINTED ONES AND MINISTERIAL SERVANTS ARE STILL HOLDING POSITIONS IS VERY UNLIKELY BECAUSE IT HAS TO GO THROUGH JEHOVAH'S HOLY SPIRIT AND BETHEL.

Bethel yes, but not holy spirit, as the brothers in Bethel will admit if you press them. And since many of us personally know current elders and ministerial servants who are molestors, the problem does exist.

I THINK THAT THIS LAWYER IS JUST TRYING TO MAKE SOME MONEY AT THE EXPENSE OF THE BROTHERS WHO VOLUNTARILY DONATE TIME AND MONEY TO KEEP THE ORGANIZATION GOING. BUT WHAT THIS LAWYER DOESN'T REALIZE IS THAT THESE BROTHERS ARE NOT EMPLOYEES SO THERE FORTH THE SOCIETY DOES NOT COVER THEM WITH INSURANCE.

I can't speak for the lawyers, and neither can you. But the problems are real, regardless.

YOU KNOW WHAT A LOT OF YOU NEED TO DO IS PRAY TO JEHOVAH AND ASK FOR THE STRENGTH TO MAKE IT OUT OF A BAD SITUATION AND THROW YOUR BURDENS UPON HIM AND QUIT FEELING LIKE THE VICTIM AND GET ON WITH YOUR LIVES.

Survivors of childhood sexual abuse cannot do this without gettting help. It's not like breaking your arm. You don't just get over this. If you have never been such a victim, count yourself most fortunate that you won't ever realize the pain such persons go through. A little empathy is called for here.

JUST REMEMBER THAT JEHOVAH IS FOR US AND NOT AGAINST AND ANYTHING THAT IS WRONG WITH HIS ORGANIZATION WILL COME OUT...

What do you think is happening now?

kenny2

JUST REMEMBER THAT JEHOVAH IS FOR US AND NOT AGAINST AND ANYTHING THAT IS WRONG WITH HIS ORGANIZATION WILL COME OUT...

Could it be likely that this is happening now? Anyone who states that "Jehovah will take care of it" or "Leave it to Jehovah to handle this" never seems to comprehehend that just maybe He is doing just that now.

Kenny

kenny2

Sorry Seeker, must have crossed in reply, but I have ALWAYS wondered that, even when I was a good little dub, many years ago.

Kenny

DanielHaase

To who wrote the letter: My heart goes out to you... but you're a f***king moron! You still continue to follow men? You still follow dogma by men who defile you? You belong to a sect strictly formulated by men, not G-d. Open your eyes and read the bible yourself! Your local elders must be tickled by the fact that you accepted this and remained a JW. It is your fault this is allowed to continue!

zev

JUST REMEMBER THAT JEHOVAH IS FOR US AND NOT AGAINST AND ANYTHING THAT IS WRONG WITH HIS ORGANIZATION WILL COME OUT...

uh - huh.

-Zev
Learn about the Wtbts and the U.N.
** http://www.geocities.com/plowbitch69 **

Frenchy

It must be remembered that there are instances where it’s handled properly. This should be acknowledged and due credit given where appropriate.

Seeker: “Sadly, what you may not be aware of is that this was rescinded in a later letter to the elders only.”

What letter was that and do you have a copy?

teenyuck

I WAS MOLESTED BY THE PRESIDING OVERSEER IN THE CONGREGATION FOR SEVEN YEARS AND AT NO TIME WAS MADE TO BELIEVE THAT IT WAS MY FAULT BY THE ELDERS AND CONGREGATION WHEN I FINALLY TOLD. THIS MAN WAS DISFELLOWSHIPPED IN A MATTER OF 7 DAYS. AND 5 DIFFERENT BROTHERS FROM BETHEL CALLED AND ENCOURAGED ME AND TOLD ME TO DO WHAT I HAD TO DO AGAINST HIM, THEY NEVER TOLD ME NOT TO TELL THE POLICE

Why did she not go to the police?! She does not say she went to the police!

Why is/was not this elder prosecuted?! He should be in jail for rape and molestation and every other violation of common law.

What ever arguement she has of repentance and praying....BULLSHIT!

The person who did this needs to be in jail. I hope she is encouraged to prosecute. If he did it for 7 years, he will do it again. He must be stopped!

Everyone has a photographic memory; some just don't have film.

Sam Beli

I’m sure this person is telling the truth about her experience. She said: “AND 5 DIFFERENT BROTHERS FROM BETHEL CALLED AND ENCOURAGED ME AND TOLD ME TO DO WHAT I HAD TO DO AGAINST HIM…”

How many victims get even one call from a brother from Bethel? This statement alone indicates that this is a very unusual case. Many of us know of JWs who have gone through extremely difficult encounters with “brothers” in a congregation, yet no phone calls are initiated from bethel to comfort the victims. Often letters sent to Bethel about the matter are not even answered! So, this person should consider herself very fortunate to have had such attention from Bethel. It is extremely rare in my experience.

Nevertheless, we are all pleased for her that the final outcome was so positive.

Sam Beli

I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind. What is crooked cannot be straightened and what is lacking cannot be counted. Solomon

The other perspective

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