I'm hoping that Dick Kelly is able to get recordings or links to recordings for some of these radio shows he's been on recently. If so I will gladly see that they are available online on my sites and his.
While most of us have been focusing on the child abuse issue thanks to the Candace Conti court case, Dick has made the treatment of women within the organization his focus point.
I think we often forget about the sisters in the organization. If they grew up in the religion, as Dick and his sister did, young women are often at the mercy of their parents and/or husband because most only have a basic high school education (or less, as is often the case) to work with. Because the Watchtower constantly pushes their doctrine that women should be submissive to their husbands in all things (hubby speaks for Jehovah in the household), any show of independence on their part will often lead young women to very unpleasant choices. I think we all know what those are.
Do they stay with an abusive husband? Or do they take their case to the elders for help and face possible reproof themselves? If their husband either denies them their marital due (or worse, is into rough and violent sex), the answer they'll often get is that they "should try harder to please their husband."
Here is a recent quote from an email I got that was sent in response to the article on this link http://ex-jw.com/sick-of-it :
"I read the article by the young woman who suffered abuse by her own father. I could relate to her experience. My father was abusive to me as well. I complained to my mama and all she would tell me was 'you should be thankful that your daddy doesn't do to you what he does to me.' I asked her if I should go to our congregations servant (this was in the early 70s) and she told me that I would best be quiet about it all and not make trouble. She told me that if I made trouble daddy would take it out on her and demand that she keep me in control.
"I guess I don't have to tell you that I got out of that house as soon as I could and married a nice witness boy named Carl. Before we got married I told Carl what my daddy was doing to me. He told me that he would be a good and loving Jehovah's Witness husband and love me and protect me forever even into the new world. We got married in the KH and everybody thought we were going to be so happy. We were I guess for about two months and then ever thing changed.
"It didn't take Carl long to become just like my daddy. He'd ignore me for weeks at a time telling me that he didn't want to get a baby before Armageddon came in 1975. He was too tired working and going out in service. When I complained that we had no money because we were both working parttime jobs, he slapped me over and over again and told me to shut my mouth. He had bruised me all over my face and had to put on a lot of makeup before going to the KH. I know every body noticed that my face was puffy and bruised and I lied and told them that I just had a bad cold and my face always got puffy when I had a cold.
"I have to say that was the best part. When Carl would want to have sex he would try to do to me what my daddy did to my mama. I won't describe what he would do, but you can guess. I hated sex and soon didn't want him to touch me. You know what he did! He complained to the elders that I was denying him sex and he wanted them to talk to me. I thought good this is my chance to tell my story. But no they didn't listen to me. They said this is not about Carl this is about you. He is your husband and he has his rights over you.
"I couldn't take it very long after that and you can guess what happened to me. I got disfellowshipped even though I knew that Carl was doing it with another sister but she denied it the lying bitch. I had no other choice so I divorced Carl and then tried to move back with my mama and daddy. They told me I could not come home because I was df. They did not want to bring Jehovah down on their house. I know that mama did not agree but what else could she do. I finally got a little job and rented a room from an old lady who needed some help around.
"A few years later a JW came to my door and witnessed to me. When I told him that I used to be a JW and had to leave he said tell me your story. I did. I told him everything. He soon got up and said he had to leave because I was obviously still a wicked person for lying about what happened to me. He told me to my face I know that no elders would ever do that and disfellowship you for that so you are lying. You need to come to the KH and ask for forgiveness and tell the truth and maybe they will let you back in. You have no other choice or else you will face destruction at Arm."
As you can see, this poor woman's story covers all five of Dick Kelly's high points he lists above. The sad thing is that I get emails that are very similar all the time. I'm sure that many on JWN have lived through similar stories themselves or know someone personally that has been through this type of situation.
So although many of us are dedicated to stopping child abuse within the JW congregations and will not stop, we must not forget the wives and sisters who are also trapped and abused by the insane rules and policies that not only protect child abusers, but also promote, support and create an environment that treats women in the congregation in unfair, unlawful and yes - unscriptural ways.
It's time to speak up on this subject. Dick Kelly's sister Marilyn lived through all of it herself and it ended up dying from its results.
You can read the full story about Dick's sister Marilyn on his website at RichardEKelly.com (link is in the previous post). I feel it is so important that I have decided to serialize Marilyn's story on WatchtowerWatch.com as well. (part 1 is online now and part 2 wiil be online on January 15).
I'm telling you - this is some serious s@%t!
JV
