Bill: Please don't get mad because some of us question your numbers and sources. Path, xenu and MCcoullough have made some well-thought posts on the issue. Here is what your site says about the source of information:
I was contacted by three different sources who claimed to have connected with people inside the headquarters
So you are the third person down the line. Is that real proof? Your sources could have received bogus information and you are repeating this.
you have been given background that no one has known up to this point unless you were an elder
It's true that you give a detail description of the process taken by the elders when someone confesses or someone is accused of child abuse, but that does not make your number of 23,720 more credible. You say that the process is some sort of secret. Well, this is not true as the elders in my congregation explained this process to the entire congregation in a local needs part.
For those of you who wish to ignore the collective mountain of evidence and say you need more proof
You are right, there is evidence that some children have been abused sexually. But there is also evidence that were the law requires it, these abusers have been turned into the authorities. There is also evidence that judicial committees locally do scripturally discipline these wrong doers. Whether you agree with it or not does not erase these facts.
The 23,720 is real whether some of you like it or not.
Again, just because you say so does not make it true.
I do appreciate that you posted the process that the Watchtower has when dealing with a child abuser. This information is valuable to those that are investigating this issue as it shows that the brothers are doing something about these evil doers. I understand you don't fully agree with them and you want more done. Still, they are doing some things right. The elders calling the legal department to receive guidance is very important. Instead of leaving things in the hands of local elders, some of which do not have the abilities or knowledge to handle these cases, each case is given the amount of importance it neads to be handled properly according to human-law and divine law.
The trolls are hoping today
Just because someone disagrees with you, does not make him a troll. This is a bit childish, and I was surprised to see it coming from you. But I understand the emotions involved in these cases and your desire to protect little ones.