by steve2 15 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
In years past, the elders would NOT warn parents of persons in the congregation that might pose a danger to the children because...."It would bring reproach upon Jehovah's Organization!"
The Organization is everything to the elders, particularly if they are Watchtower "Company Men."
Protecting a child involves a lot of preventative measures, certainly. But the reasonable extension of that duty requires a parent to jump into action after harm has occurred.
If a parent were to take the lead in responding to the sexual abuse of their child by a member of the congregation by calling the police, removing the child from harm and warning other parents (who wouldn't, under those circumstances?), they would be crushed into oblivion by the congregational and organizational authorities for having pushed ahead and acted upon their own understanding.
"Parents have the main responsibility... but they had better not act on it!"
So basicly nothing has changed. If the Service dept says tell "no one" then no warning will ever be given
Yes lady Lee, my conclusion exactly. New fancy dressing dripping with pretend concern for the child, but the main concern is that lovely five letter word beginning with L and writ large: LEGAL.
If a parent were to take the lead in responding to the sexual abuse of their child by a member of the congregation by calling the police, removing the child from harm and warning other parents (who wouldn't, under those circumstances?), they would be crushed into oblivion by the congregational and organizational authorities for having pushed ahead and acted upon their own understanding.
Irondork you're absolutely right. They declare that parents have the main responsibility then direct all matters in the letter to elders. If parents were to take the main responsibility and it did not square with what elders have been instructed to do, the parents would be questioned very, very closely and "appropriate" action taken against them. In effect, JW parents are accorded no responsibility at all - except the "main responsibility" to obey the local body of elders who themselves are subservient to the Legal Department.
The child's welfare - yet again - is way down the list of actual concerns.
"Step One: Elders must call the Watchtower's legal department for direction".
New fancy dressing dripping with pretend concern for the child, but the main concern is that lovely five letter word beginning with L and writ large: LEGAL.
Why isn't step one "Call the 'Help for Vulnerable Children' Dept." . . . oh that's right, they don't have one . . . they're "Christian" . . .
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress . . . (James 1:27)
Ok so this paragraph restates the 1/1/97 W which says that a molestor DOES NOT qualify for privileges.
But the paragraph does not say that; it says a KNOWN molester, meaning if the CONGREGATION overall knows it. It does not say, if the elders know him to be a molester, or if he is a proven or confessed molester.
Consider the difference.
It says:
The expression “known to have been a child molester” has reference to how such a man is considered in the community and in the Christian congregation.
NO discussion of a confessed or proven molester; the deciding factor is how he is regarded in the community and in the Christian congregation.
They have made another huge mistake by sending this letter; this letter makes the situation worse, not better.
What I found interesting was the opening - DESTROY ALL PREVIOUS LETTERS ON THIS ISSUE
Can anyone say COVER-UP?
