JW molester in the news

by silentlambs 15 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

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  Pathofthorns

  Bill,

  I find your use of this particular artical confusing. It would appear to show that an elder did exactly what you are encouraging elders to do, and he did so in a state that didn't require him to go to the authorities. But rather than applaud this man's actions you minimize them by stating he only did so because the victims were relatives of the elder.

  When the Society's website put up several articals dealing with the subject of child abuse, you also criticized them. While you might have felt some information you felt was valuable was left out of those particular articles, surely it was a step in the right direction.

  When the 02-02 BOE letter clearly stated individuals would not be discouraged from reporting abuse to the authorities - what appears to be a major addressing of at least some issues you raised - this also was minimized and criticized.

  My point is that it appears that the WT will never be able to do anything right in your eyes with regard to this matter. It would appear that hate for the WT has made it impossible for you to address this subject reasonably.

  Probation and less than a year in county jail with time off for good behavior. Does that seem like a fair sentence to you? What if it was your 13 year old daughter?

  This is the harsh reality that many victims weigh out as THEY decide whether to go to the authorities. Victims need to realize the system is not always "fair" and the difficulties and challenges surrounding crimes of this nature are huge. Victims are between a rock and a hard place as they struggle to decide what is the best for them and their emotional well-being and what is best for society and other children.

  Path
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  Bodhisattva

  Bill -

  Hopefully it is clear from my own post that I did not think having sex with the 14 year old was excusable, but rather that I was working to indict a system that stunts emotional maturation so that, possibly, this young man was less a monster and more a pathetic figure. Again, not excusable, but indicative of a flawed organization.

  I find some fault with the journalist in not indicating whether it is the current age of the girls or their age when the "relationships" started that is cited. If he started with the 17 year old when she was 17, the time range makes no sense, since she clearly would have been 18, and legally of age, for a portion of the time. This pushes this fellow toward the monster category. I'm sure the same paper would not be so obscure in an article about Roman Polanski, suggesting he molested a 37 year old, but rather that he molested a 13 year old in 1978, who is now 37.

  The lack of similar clarification for this brief report hopefully excuses some of us for miscalculating ages of victimhood. I for one am concerned about the entire issue of intermediate ages and levels of criminality, and so jumped on this story as a vehicle to discuss the issue. Clearly to me an adult of any age should not have sex with a 13-year old, but the crime should be different in the law books - and often is - than a person of 18 or 19 having sex with a 17 year old.

  As to the elder reporting to the police, we do not know if he first went to other elders, and if so if he was in any way dissuaded from going to the secular authorities. Obviously he did the right thing, but we can again be excused for questioning whether he would have done so in different circumstances.
• 

  Frenchy

  Silentlambs: “I find it absolutely stunning the stupidity manifested by some who post on this board…The term "his membership" certainly implies baptism”

  “Membership” may IMPLY baptism but given the ignorance of the general public of what constitutes a JW, it certainly does not establish it as fact. Did not the article use the word “temple” instead of kingdom hall? The article was not specific on the ages either. The way it’s worded one could assume that those were their ages at the time.

  It’s good of you to clarify the information but calling the posters stupid is really out of line. I suggest taking a few breaths and counting to ten before you reply.

  Silentlambs: “What do you think he would have done if WT legal had said to leave it in Jehovah's hands with someone else's child?”

  Answer: How could anyone of us KNOW what the man would have done. It’s bad enough when people do things that they should not but to PRESUME that they would have done something wrong is wrong in itself. There are enough legitimate injustices without fabricating more by imputing bad motives to individuals. The man did the right thing. Can’t we just leave it at that?

  I suggest that you take to heart Path’s post. It mirrors my own views as well.
• 

  ThatSucks

  silentlambs:

  A suggestion, when writing up these articles, please make sure that you address everything regarding your line of thinking. Sometimes we assume that other's mental prowess matches our own, and sometimes that is sadly not the case.

  I also agree with the French'ster that you should take a moment to calm down before lashing out, as it makes you look like a snake regardless of your motives.

  I disagree with Pathofthorns that you will never be satisfied with anything the org does. I realize that you want NO protection for child molesters, and I understand that completely. I don't find that an unreasonable request, because I've seen that if you give this "org" an inch they will take a mile just to get you off of their holier-than-thou backs.

  I appreciate you not allowing the WT to slap up some specious policy changes that SEEM to help your cause meanwhile letting the real problem lie unattended right under your nose.

  Thank you for all the work that you are doing to fight child molestation fostered by belief marketeers.
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  anewperson

  Bill is correct. We did gloss over this a bit. The girls were both 13 at the time, and the elder who went to the police only did so because it affected his own family. Still, it's good that he did do so.
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  silentlambs

  I just talked to a brother in the medford congregation. The child molester was a Bethelite!!!!!! Seems they forgot to mention that.