ex elder sentenced to 14 years.
by ThomasCovenant 18 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse
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ThomasCovenant
His victims were banned from "gossiping" about the attacks by other church elders.
'No remorse'
One told the court: "I just felt totally crushed. It was as if he had this power over everyone and no-one could see the real him except for me."
Sewell was cleared of the complaints by a Jehovah's Witness judicial committee after the women reported his behaviour to the church.
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ThomasCovenant
After Karen first reported the sickening abuse as a teenager she was forced to face Sewell at three meetings organised by the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Respect church elder Sewell branded her a liar and avoided being disciplined.
“I think that’s probably the worst part about the whole thing. I would even go as far as to say that it’s even worse than what he did to me,” said Karen.
“To say I was crushed would be a bit of an understatement. The bottom line is no child should ever be made to sit in front of a person who has touched them and say what that person has done to them.”
She added: “I prayed about this whole thing before it began and I did for the duration while this has been going on, every day practically.
“I’ve not lost my faith – it’s not my faith that’s gone, it’s my trust in the elders that’s gone.”
(my bold)
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jgnat
No checks and balances, closed door sessions, and the two witness rule. Colossal failures to protect the vulnerable are bound to happen. A "clean" congregation? Don't make me laugh. The outside of the pot is washed, but....
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suavojr
Only 14 years?
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Frazzled UBM
also jgnat the male power structure that creates such fertile ground for the abuse. The whole structure of the organisation has created this plague and this cases which just keep coming because while they can tinker at the edges they will never address the organising principles of patriarchy and unquestioning obedience that create such a haven for paedophiles.
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blondie
Was he an ex-elder when he committed these crimes?
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InquiryMan
14 years is a very long prison term by European standards
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joe134cd
What saddens me the most here, is that Wt can now just wipe their hands of it, by using the law to back them up.
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GrreatTeacher
I don't know how pedophiles are regarded by the other inmates in the UK, but if it's anything like the US, he's in for a rough 14 years.