What do I do about this?

by dissonance_resolved 84 Replies latest members private

• 

  losingit

  Steve-- she is not the police, a judge, a detective or any sort of figure in the criminal justice system. The only way it would present a problem is if she opened a piece of mail. That is a felony. Otherwise, finding evidence in a folder hidden in a briefcase is not a legal matter. She did not go thru that briefcase or folders looking for evidence of sexual abuse in the congregation, ie looking for probable cause. Her intent was basically to find "bochinche" , Puerto Rican slang for extreme gossip. In fact, if she does not report, as someone else has stated-- she becomes ACCESSORY TO A CRIME.

  Why is there even debate about what she should do?

  REPORT THIS CRIME IMMEDIATELY.
• 

  Frazzled UBM

  You may also point out your concerns for the safety of your kids.This is an invidious position you are now in. As villagegirl has said - there is an obligation to report this. Your father and the other elders could potentail be prosecuted for obstruction of justice for not reporting it to the police and not taking any further action. I think you need to confront your father - maybe as Searcher suggested talk in the hypothetical - may be raise other cases where elders have been prosecuted for covering up allegations of sexual abuse within the congregation and ask him whether he has even been in that position and ask him what he would do in that situation. You may also point out your concerns for the safety of your kids if there are known child abusers in the congregation. You might want to point out that current organisation guidance is to report such things to the police. If push comes to shove you will need to admit you know and that you feel an obligation to report it to the police and that he should do so first.
• 

  losingit

  I will repeat: IF YOU ARE TOO SCARED TO REPORT THIS TO THE POLICE, PM ME THE INFORMATION AND I WILL DO IT MYSELF!

  We need to know that you've taken the responsibility of reporting this crime to the police. There really is NOTHING to debate.
• 

  Splash

  I wonder what Candace Conti's advice to you would be.

  Splash.
• 

  Frazzled UBM

  losingit - dissonance resolved is in a very difficutlo position becasue of the potential imapct on her father and the way she learnt this information. She needs to engage her father and get him and the victim to report it. Besides it will have a lot more credibility if the victim herself reports it. He as an elder has a responsiblity to let the victim know that he supports her in reporting it to the police. If dissonance resolved reports it, it may not go anywhere fi the victim herself does not report it or corroborate it when the police go to her. While it si critical that it gets reported, it needs delicacy for a successful outcome to be achieved against the perpetrator and also to limit the damage to dissonance resolved's relationship with her father.
• 

  Pistoff

  No matter now she got the information, now she knows, and as a responsible adult, she has an obligation to protect her own children and REPORT the issue, let the professionals sort it out.

  There will be consequences if it comes out how she found out, but there may be ways around it.

  Fax the information to authorities; copy and send it anonymously.

  The father/elder has shown he will not report it, or he would have already. It also shows that elders and WT policy has not made the change they say they have, which is to report credible accusations to the police.
• 

  talesin

  Your very foundations have been shaken. As a mother and daughter, as a woman, your father's participation in these cover-ups is a betrayal of magnitude I get it. I'm so sorry you have been put in this position. You *will* get through this. You *can* do this.
  
  So take a deep breath. As many as you need.

  Now, as a mother, as a woman, as an adult who is responsible to protect every child, do what you need to do. You can call a local rape crisis line or help line - they will help you to report this in the best way. You don't need to go it alone. I worked on a rape crisis line and with youth at risk, and these people are trained to deal with situations like yours. They will also understand the feelings you are having right now, and not as intimidating as just 'going to the police' or calling CPS.

  For the sake of the children. Just do it.

  There is a reason it's called 'soul murder'.

  xx
• 

  NVR2L8

  Nugget...thinking you can protect the children by establishing rules cannot prevent them from developing a relationship with the "nice brother" who is out in service with daddy...young kids are not suspicious in nature and it only takes one slip for a catastrophy to happen. I wouldn't want my children to be in the vicinity of or even talk to this pedophile who is currently enjoy a fine reputation in the congregation...
• 

  losingit

  Bumped

  I would like to know what you decided to do, dissonance resolved.
• 

  metatron

  I'm not completely clear on the details here but some of it sounds really alarming.

  Was this victim a child at the time or a teenager? More than one molester was involved ????!!! Was there collusion? Any sort of deliberate pedophile partnership? Multiple acts committed against a minor? Over what period of time?

  On the surface, this sounds like a serious criminal matter that could put some people behind bars for a long time. And the Elders covered it all up?

  If this is as bad as it sounds, I know what I'd do but let each judge for themselves.

  metatron