"Unscriptural to say a former child abuser could never enjoy exemplary privleges of service." Oh really?

by headisspinning 24 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

• 

  headisspinning

  It is a known fact that on average a pedophile will abuse as many as 200 children in his/her lifetime.

  With that in mind. Read an extract from an August 1, 1995 letter to All Bodies of Elders in the USA.
  I guess these untrained elders are somehow EXPERTS in this area and can determine if someone will reoffend even though law enforcement, psychiatrists and specialists cannot offer the same guarantee and in many cases will even suggest that these known sex offenders are very likely to reoffend when the opportunity presents itself...

  TO ALL BODIES OF ELDERS IN THE UNITED STATES
  August I, 1995

  "It would be appropriate to talk very frankly to a former child abuser, strongly cautioning
  him as to the dangers of hugging or holding children on his lap and that he should never be in the
  presence of a child without another adult being present. This may prevent putting that one in the
  way of temptation or unfounded accusation. At the same time, it is good to remember that the
  Bible, at Matthew 12:31 and I Corinthians 6:9-11, shows it is possible for a person to stop his or
  her wrongful course, repent, and thereafter live in harmony with God's righteous standards. This
  is true of all wrongdoers-s-even a former child abuser.
  
  While it is unscriptural to say that a former child abuser could never enjoy exemplary
  privileges of service in the congregation, certainly the elders will want to be very cautious, especially
  when one had repeatedly engaged in this kind of wrongdoing or had been disfellowshipped
  for such an offense. Before extending privileges, therefore, it is necessary that one would meet
  the qualification of having a fine testimony from individuals inside and outside the congregation.
  This means that he must have lived down the reproach which resulted from his wrongdoing.
  Generally, it will take a considerable number of years to achieve such irreprehensibility
  depending on the notoriety involved. So it would be up to the elders to determine whether such a
  one is extended privileges, taking into account all factors in each individual case. (J Tim. 3:7)
  At any rate, this should never be done hastily. Considerable time should always pass before a
  former child abuser is used, if ever."

  If makes me sick that there is even a CHANCE that such a person could serve in the congregation. It's terrible.
• 

  Mad Sweeney

  I would love to have a scan of that letter...
• 

  Shador

  I would love to have a scan of that letter...

  Seconded.
• 

  NewChapter

  especially when one had repeatedly engaged in this kind of wrongdoing or had been disfellowshipped or such an offense.

  And they love telling the public that once such a crime is proven against someone BAPTIZED, that person will NEVER have a position of trust or have special priviliges! As if it was always that way and they always had it under control. Their own letter accuses them.

  This was 1995-----the entire world knew that this kind of person habitually returns to this disgusting practice over and over. They have no excuse---it was NOT a gray area anymore.

  NC
• 

  headisspinning

  Mad Sweeney and Shador - you have PMs.

  And I agree... it was not a gray area in the slightest. And I doubt ANY of the ones who were appointed under that mentality have since been deleted. It makes me sick to my stomach.
• 

  Band on the Run

  Notice their concern is with the "notoriety" a pedophile has. So if you are on the front page of the New York Times and abuse once, you are forever barred b/c you of your notoriety. The typical abuser preys in secret. They know their behavior is reprensible to society. Undisclosed cases, without much publicity, will not have the notoriety and altho their victims be many are a okay with the Witnesses.

  I view this as even worse than homosexuality in people's eyes. Who would choose this lifestyle? Faced with prison and banishment from society, they reoffend again. To most people, the data indicates an almost uncontrollable sex drive is involved, not a conscious moral choice. Altho medication can lessen the drive. Proven statistics are mind boggling about the number of victims and reoccurrences.

  They have options. Medication is one. I don't know about castration. Life is hard. Children must be protected. It is rarely just one instance. I found out in my twenties that a brother in my KH who was much brighter than the other idiots was a pedophile. This was an accidental discovery and not within Witness circles. He also had a gay lover. This brother lost his job as a teacher at the arts high school b/c he preyed upon a youngster in a wheel chair. He spent time in prison. When I think of all the young, fatherless, poorly supervised boys in our hall, it infuriates me. I assume that the overseer and asst. overseer knew he lost his job. I view it as the Germans saying when the Allied forces liberated the concentration camps that they had no idea what was happening.

  Notice of such conduct would lead to liability in most instances. Some pedophiles will always exist. One case is enough to separate them from children forever. If a force is too strong, they can walk to an emergency room and see a psychiatric resident. The WT is belligerent. Many forms of service exist. The problem is not only in the hall but children encountered door to door and in normal life activities. I think written notice should be given to e very person who attends the hall. The notice should contain hot line numbers and phone numbers for lawyers to represent victims.
• 

  life is to short

  I know in the hall I was in if it were not for the fact that I knew this one person was a pedophile it would have been slipped under the rug.
  The elders never received a letter from his former hall only his wife and kid did. The elders were beyond pissed off at me for knowing of his past and asked me what proof did I have that he was indeed a pedophile. I was even threatened with being df'ed if I kept it up.

  So I went to the courthouse and got his court and then his police records. He was way worse then I had even thought the court records declared him an sexual psychopath highly likely to re-offend. Even with that only the COBE would take the records that I retrieved, none of the other elders would touch them.

  This guy conducted the meeting for service, held a baby show with his wife for a couple in the hall, what brother holds a baby shower in the first place? A former child rapist that is who and all with the elders blessing I might add. The COBE even came up to me and thanked me for putting aside my differences with the pedophile to go to the shower. I only went to try to get pictures of him hold a child.

  Because of this guy I found out we had two other pedophiles in the hall. Of these one of them an elder in his public talk called him a gentle giant saying he had been put back into prison unfairly. This guy was allowed to hold and take care of a little girl who was about three years old again with all the elders blessings. Taking this child outside alone and into the back room alone.

  So I guess what I am getting at this the elders are following this letter really well from what I have seen.

  LITS
• 

  headisspinning

  I have contacted the local government to ask what laws exist here in Canada. I don't have the resources or energy to launch a full legal case but I am ANGRY. My daughter is in the line of fire. She is 9 and lives with her JW dad. They are far too trusting and I am scared for her. I have done everything I can to educate her... but I am scared for other kids too... JW parents really let their guard down because they view other JWs as 'brothers and sisters'... it's truly a pedophiles paradise.
• 

  Aussie Oz

  Before extending privileges, therefore, it is necessary that one would meet
  the qualification of having a fine testimony from individuals inside and outside the congregation.
  This means that he must have lived down the reproach which resulted from his wrongdoing.
  Generally, it will take a considerable number of years to achieve such irreprehensibility
  depending on the notoriety involved.

  So how is one to live down the reproach if the congregation isnt even allowed to know a child abuser is in their midst?

  works for the WT don't it?

  oz
• 

  ThomasCovenant

  ''Matthew 12:31 and I Corinthians 6:9-11, shows it is possible for a person to stop his or
  her wrongful course, repent, and thereafter live in harmony with God's righteous standards. This
  is true of all wrongdoers-s-even a former child abuser.''

  Can they be faulted for this line of reasoning from a Biblical viewpoint?

  Or is this a Bible problem as opposed to a religious sect problem?