The problems with WTS are well documented by Barbara Anderson and others. WTS is not a pedophile haven like the RC priesthood argueably was, but it is a bit of a haven in other ways. It is not necessarily the elders who are the problem like the Catholic priests, but it is almost entirely men who are the problem. WTS is a Men's Club. Anything a child or a woman says against a man in the WTS is questioned. But that's normal almost anywhere. And certainly, serious accusations need to be questioned.
But WTS questions some little girl as if she is ready to take down Watchtower itself without sufficient evidence. It's not about comforting the alledged victim when elders question them, it's about finding out how much people know and how much evidence there is and how they can make the whole problem disappear as quickly as possible. No elder is going to hold her hand as she bravely goes forward to the authorities. After being raked over the coals by the people she thought were supposed to be the shepherds who cared the most for her, it is doubtful that she would want to go to strangers outside of the congregation afterward.
WTS rules to call "Mother" before anyone else, so that she can cover her ass legally, are the biggest of problems. This rule is not to make sure the victim gets the best emotional and psychological help or some kind of victim services if the abuser is a caretaker. This rule is not to make sure the elders do their best for all parties, alledged victims and alledged perpetrators. This rule is to minimize the number of people who know about the situation and to tell the elders what the minimum requirement is according to their local laws. I don't know about their current following of the law minimums, but in years past, WT lawyers told elders that a minimum requirement to report suspicions meant they could go to a payphone and call the authorities anonymously and simply report that there is an accusation against 'John Smith of Springfield, Illinois.' Imagine the difference if the elders first offered to go to the authorities with the victim, not saying the adult is guilty for sure, but just supporting her and knowing she needs care and understanding and professionally trained people.
The two-witness rule has been explained very well by Barbara Anderson (and today by Life Is Too Short). The rules and guidelines help the pedophile to avoid trouble. If he only has one victim at a time and doesn't take on a second until he's sure they won't talk, then if some mistake is made, he can typically count on WTS to keep the authority involvement to a minimum if at all, and he can typically count on them to hush his victim.
I am not saying anything new, but apparently these things need to be said.
