the first step is to ask if anyone has written in to the society requesting that pedophiles (both convicted and self confessed) should be banned from engaging in the door to door work? If they have - what was the reply and would you be prepared to share a copy of the reply?
should child abusers be allowed to go door to door
by soft+gentle 35 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse
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soft+gentle
but the above is not necessary as I have my own evidence of a different nature.
It sounds very simple to me to start an e-petition about this subject. but there may be hidden problems and I would be grateful if you guys could remind me of any problems and legal ramifications that could result.
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sizemik
It would depend entirely on the intended recipient of your petition s+g . . . if you're lobbying the all powerful overlords in Brooklyn then it's going to beat a very distant drum I believe. They are only ever bowing slightly under fairly heavy pressure on this issue . . . and they hide the identities of pedophiles at their whim anyway. The great majority haven't been caught and are still under the radar. WTS will never spill the beans on them now . . . their reputation wont allow it.
Personally, I feel an e-petition directed at an appropriate secular authority, along with some e-mails to politicians, child commissioners etc., perhaps with some media lobbying, can pay better dividends. It's becoming a hot topic most places . . . and the incidence is still very high (here in NZ anyway). WTS will only bend to a strong arm on this from outside . . . it's not easy, but that's what needed IMO.
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soft+gentle
sizemik I would be intending to lobby in the UK as we do have this e-petition resource. I don't know if the US, australia, NZ does.
I don't expect the WTS to spill the beans on pedophiles and I agree with you that they are never going to do so. I just want to work towards banning them from door to door activity. How the WTS implements this, if the e-petition is successful, is up to them.
Meanwhile the e-petition regarding the charity commission can continue to go ahead. But I think it may be possible to get many more signatures if the public felt that they were being put at risk via pedophiles being told to focus on the evangelising work to take their minds off of their predilictions (without creating a panic of course).
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cantleave
I am at work at present, and can't focus on this but my initial thoughts are as follows:
Even when all other "privileges" are removed from one accused of child abuse in the congregation, they are still able to go on Field Service. It is argued that they are supervised, but they are not obligated to tell anyone else in the congregation, let alone those they call on, that they have an accusation made against them.
Unlike many other volunteer roles in the UK, there is no need for a CRB check on Witnesses, whether they serve in responsible positions or simply going from door to door preaching. These checks are required for sales people who may come into contact with vulnerable people, but not JW's.
I think the concept of a petition is a good one, the wording will need to be carefully crafted and I think the scope need to be broader than just JW's.
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Phizzy
Good points Cantleave, it will be much easier to gain signatures if the petition applies to all who could be a threat to the vulnerable.
At present the situation is dangerously open to Paedopliles to misuse. When I was a youngish JW a lady asked that I study with her young teen son, who was going a bit wild, she thought the Bible might sort him out. Had I been a paedophile it would have been an opportunity. As it was I always took my wife with me on the study, not that any thoughts about child protection came to me at the time, she hated DtoD so it was easy time for her to report.
The situation though shows what could happen, trusting parents have been duped many times in the past.
I'll sign an e-petition.
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Band on the Run
I don't know about an alleged pedophile. He should not go door-to-door without several brothers who are aware of the charges. I am certain that the Witnesses have lawyer up against liability if the pedophile abuses while door to door. I would be interested in the practice of the other churches, particular groups similaar to the Witnesses.
What is worth the risk of creating criminal havoc going door to door? The pedophile can write letters, do clerical work, visit inmates to get a feel for prison. The WT is obsessed with statistics rather than the quality of the ministry for the believer's life and the potential victims.
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The Quiet One
Just thinking about Avengers post... How about petitioning those in power to enforce a law whereby anyone who either goes door-to-door or publicly distributes literature (including leaflet distributors and postmen etc. if need be, due to technicalities such as Jw's not being salesmen/representatives and so on..) must wear a badge (as the Mormons do, not that that's relevant) with at least their full name displayed.. Then, using Megans Law in the US or any equivalent in other countries, the householder could at least look Jw's names up to see if they have a conviction.. Or better still, make them have a CRB pass displayed on the badge in the UK if they have one.. Probably a bit of a pie in the sky idea, but I read somewhere even authors going into a school need to get a background check just to read to a large group of children, on a one-off basis with virtually no chance of being alone with a child! Let alone regular visits to the childs home (if it's a return visit or bible study). To be honest, I don't think the government in UK or US would do anything though..
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Amelia Ashton
Having a CRB check or each country's equivalent should be mandatory for all persons who go door to door and they should have a life-time ban on such work if they have ever been convicted of abusing children.
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Phizzy
I agree Amelia, I think too it would be great if the Elders of the church (or equivalent) were made responsible directly to see that no potentially dangerous person engages in DtoD.
As BOTR points out, other forms of evangelising are open to them.
I was thinking of a case I know of where, when a minor, a boy abused some small children, due to his age and mental state no criminal proceedings ensued.
The Elders know that, now some years later, he presents a strong potential danger , but hardly anyone else does. No one so far has taken full responsibility to see that he does not re-offend.
He has now left home and lives with a relative in another congregation. Worrying.