This is the personal decision the parents, can make, and the local branch have no autority in these personal matters., and will not take action, against these parents...
This may be the official policy currently, but it's not like the Watchtower would ever publicly state they protect their own interests over that of the victims. The point is, what happens in actual practice? Do you have actual experience where the Watchtower reported to authorities where they weren't legally obligated to?
The call at the Branch is to inform them, they will give you advice how to handly in such cases with respect with the local laws, and who has experience in handle such cases...this is the interpretation here in Europe about this policy of sexual abuse of minors..
Yes, we know the Watchtower will want to give direction, but is it to really to protect the victim? Changes made after the Candace Conti verdict seem to be intended to protect their own legal interests, not the children involved.
if neccesary they could get help from elders with brains,
Who are these "elders with brains" ? I don't know about Europe, but here in the US most elders have no more than a high school education. Does the Watchtower have any one on staff with education and certification in these matters available for the elders to consult with? A licenced clinical social worker? A psychologist or anyone with training and experience in the field?
Most religions require anyone who directly gives counsel to have a education in the field and many require an advanced degree. Do you really think a few weeks training in elders school gives them the necessary training to deal with sex abuse? If the original interview with the victim is not handled correctly it can make it impossible to ever determine the truth. And we still have reports of victims being made to sit with the abuser in the same room to tell their experience. This is absurd, no child should have to go through that, it's just being abused again. I don't know if I could even do that.
But there is a difference between internal procedures thus a Congregational matter, and going to the local authorithies that can never be discussed, and is the most important thing for the savety, and the protection of the victim against the abuser..
Yes, they do require confidentiality, but from what I have seen, it's more to protect the Watchtower than the victim. I know personally of a case where an adult JW reported that her elder father abused her as a child. He denied it, nothing was done to him, but she was given council for talking about it to others and she was threatened with a JC if she continued.
I know most elders are well meaning and want to do what's right, but they are sometimes doing more harm than good. It's a very difficult thing to confront someone you know with an accusation like that, the average elder is just not qualified to determine the truth in these matters. They may feel an abuser is repentant and think the problem is solved, but even when they are repentant they are at high risk of abusing again, and the reality is most abusers are good at deception.
Years before this case the Watchtower said publicly that it would be very rare that a child abuser would ever be given privileges in the congregation again, but Campos was made an elder after being caught more than once. It's obvious that their official polcy is not always what actually happens. The two witness rule makes it almost impossible to prove abuse took place, and even with a confession, confidentiality rules ensures that others in the congregation may not know that there are predators in their so called "spiritual paradise".
This is not a case of individuals making mistakes, or an isolated incident here or there, this is a direct result of policies and practices that are there because the WTBTS and the governing body will protect themselves and their own interests above that of any victim. They have publicly berated the Cathoic church over their abuse issues, while they were paying off victims and insisting on confidentiality. They are hypocrites of the worse sort.
