JW official web site article on molesters

by ballistic 7 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

  • ballistic
    ballistic

    The following link takes you to the official JW site and an article about how the "organisation" treats wrong-doing. I have pasted the relevant part about molestors here.

    I'm suprised by the over-all dumbing-down of the offenses and particularly astonished by expressions such as "struggle to avoid repeating his sin" while it admits that "Experience has shown that such an adult may well molest other children".

    http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/1997/1/1/article_01.htm

    What of a Child Molester?

    What if a baptized adult Christian sexually molests a child? Is the sinner so wicked that Jehovah will never forgive him? Not necessarily so. Jesus said that 'blasphemy against the holy spirit' was unforgivable. And Paul said that there is no sacrifice for sins left for one who practices sin willfully despite knowing the truth. (Luke 12:10; Hebrews 10:26, 27) But nowhere does the Bible say that an adult Christian who sexually abuses a child—whether incestuously or otherwise—cannot be forgiven. Indeed, his sins can be washed clean if he repents sincerely from the heart and turns his conduct around. However, he may still have to struggle with the wrong fleshly impulses he cultivated. (Ephesians 1:7) And there may be consequences that he cannot avoid.

    Depending on the law of the land where he lives, the molester may well have to serve a prison term or face other sanctions from the State. The congregation will not protect him from this. Moreover, the man has revealed a serious weakness that henceforth will have to be taken into account. If he seems to be repentant, he will be encouraged to make spiritual progress, share in the field service, even have parts in the Theocratic Ministry School and nonteaching parts in the Service Meeting. This does not mean, though, that he will qualify to serve in a position of responsibility in the congregation. What are the Scriptural reasons for this?

    For one thing, an elder must be "self-controlled." (Titus 1:8) True, none of us have perfect self-control. (Romans 7:21-25) But a dedicated adult Christian who falls into the sin of child sexual abuse reveals an unnatural fleshly weakness. Experience has shown that such an adult may well molest other children. True, not every child molester repeats the sin, but many do. And the congregation cannot read hearts to tell who is and who is not liable to molest children again. (Jeremiah 17:9) Hence, Paul's counsel to Timothy applies with special force in the case of baptized adults who have molested children: "Never lay your hands hastily upon any man; neither be a sharer in the sins of others." (1 Timothy 5:22) For the protection of our children, a man known to have been a child molester does not qualify for a responsible position in the congregation. Moreover, he cannot be a pioneer or serve in any other special, full-time service.—Compare the principle at Exodus 21:28, 29.

    Some may ask, 'Have not some committed other types of sin and apparently repented, only to repeat their sin later?' Yes, that has happened, but there are other factors to consider. If, for example, an individual makes immoral advances to another adult, the adult should be able to resist his or her advances. Children are much easier to deceive, confuse, or terrorize. The Bible speaks of a child's lack of wisdom. (Proverbs 22:15; 1 Corinthians 13:11) Jesus used children as an example of humble innocence. (Matthew 18:4; Luke 18:16, 17) The innocence of a child includes a complete lack of experience. Most children are open, eager to please, and thus vulnerable to abuse by a scheming adult whom they know and trust. Therefore, the congregation has a responsibility before Jehovah to protect its children.

    Well-trained children learn to obey and honor their parents, the elders, and other adults. (Ephesians 6:1, 2; 1 Timothy 5:1, 2; Hebrews 13:7) It would be a shocking perversion if one of these authority figures were to misuse that child's innocent trust so as to seduce or force him or her to submit to sexual acts. Those who have been sexually molested in this way often struggle for years to overcome the resulting emotional trauma. Hence, a child molester is subject to severe congregational discipline and restrictions. It is not his status as an authority figure that should be of concern but, rather, the unblemished purity of the congregation.—1 Corinthians 5:6; 2 Peter 3:14.

    If a child molester sincerely repents, he will recognize the wisdom of applying Bible principles. If he truly learns to abhor what is wicked, he will despise what he did and struggle to avoid repeating his sin. (Proverbs 8:13; Romans 12:9) Further, he will surely thank Jehovah for the greatness of His love, as a result of which a repentant sinner, such as he is, can still worship our holy God and hope to be among "the upright" who will reside on earth forever.—Proverbs 2:21.

  • outnfree
    outnfree

    OOOOOOOOKay!!!

    I was talking to my inactive JW friend the other day and we were discussing this "forgive the molester" idea which seems to be what every VICTIM and VICTIM'S family in the organization is pressured -- yes, pressured -- to do.

    So what I want to know is -- WHY?

    In the case of a married couple, if one commits adultery, the WRONGED MATE has the choice of forgiving or not forgiving. Yes, the elders will remind all concerned that "Jehovah hates a divorcing." But Jesus clearly said that adultery WAS acceptable grounds for divorce.
    Why was/is that so?

    Is it not because the wronged mate, who trusted his/her spouse to uphold the marriage covenant made before God, in which the two were linked as ONE, was BETRAYED? Betrayed, and hurt, and humiliated, and thus would find it very difficult to forgive the adulterer/ess?

    [i]HOW MUCH MORE SO[i] has a little child (or even a not-so-little one!) been BETRAYED when someone s/he considers as his/her protector -- be it babysitter, parent, elder or some other adult who is supposed to be a loving 'brother' or 'sister' in the faith -- sexually abuses her/him? Would it not be just as difficult, if not more so, a sin to forgive than adultery?

    In the case of adultery, the wronged mate often feels violated because of the breech of trust. In the case of child molestation the victim IS violated -- literally, emotionally and physically, in the most brutal way.

    The Watchtower Society should not demand that survivors of child abuse forgive their abusers.

    It is asking too much.

    outnfree

  • termite 35
    termite 35

    test

  • morrisamb
    morrisamb

    outnfree...what an excellent point. I hadn't thought of it that way...molestation is like a million times worse than adultery...yet isn't that one of the problems, to them it's not really.
    I have said this to my siblings before..."All four of us are toast and our abuser could act repentant and sit in the Hall and supposedly get everlasting life. I don't want to go where he's going!"

  • Bang
    Bang

    Blasphemy against the Spirit? If they only knew.

    Surely ignorance cannot be mercy.

    Bang

  • Pathofthorns
    Pathofthorns
    If he seems to be repentant, he will be encouraged to make spiritual progress, share in the field service,
    Experience has shown that such an adult may well molest other children.

    It is bizarre that they acknowledge the tendancy of molesters to continue to commit their crimes while at the same time encouraging them to engage in the ministry.

    Anyone familiar with JWs realizes hours spent in the ministry are often viewed as a sign of repentance and indicative of one trying to make spiritual progress. It is quite probable a "repentant" molester would actually spend more hours going door to door than your average publisher. The Society really needs tighter qualifications for people sharing in public ministry.

    Path

  • jesussaves
    jesussaves
    And the congregation cannot read hearts to tell who is and who is not liable to molest children again.

    Really? So NOW the Elders can't read hearts???? How can they tell who is repentant and who is not? I thought that the Holy Spirit guided them in such matters. They're admitting to being in the dark.

    But nowhere does the Bible say that an adult Christian who sexually abuses a child—whether incestuously or otherwise—cannot be forgiven.
    The bible may offer forgiveness for this person's repentant soul, but that does not mean that there are not consequences for the crime. 'Whatever a man is sowing, this he must also reap.' Sliding things conveniently under the rug is not forgiveness.

    Children are much easier to deceive, confuse, or terrorize. The Bible speaks of a child's lack of wisdom. (Proverbs 22:15; 1 Corinthians 13:11) Jesus used children as an example of humble innocence. (Matthew 18:4; Luke 18:16, 17) The innocence of a child includes a complete lack of experience. Most children are open, eager to please, and thus vulnerable to abuse by a scheming adult whom they know and trust. Therefore, the congregation has a responsibility before Jehovah to protect its children.
    So tell me why in the heck, The Borg tries to get children to accept baptism into their cult as early as possible. They lack wisdom on how to avoid child molesters, but are able to make a decision like choosing to be a lifetime member of a cult? How about using scare tactics on children, telling them that they'll die at Armageddon. Is that not also abuse?

    That's my 2 cents. I'm out.

  • ChristianObserver
    ChristianObserver

    Hello :o)

    When reading the excerpts, I was forcibly struck by the following:

    *Therefore, the congregation has a responsibility before Jehovah to protect its children.*

    From what I have read, Mr Bowen, Mrs Anderson and Mr and Mrs Pandelo, as members of that congregation, were endeavouring to COMPLY with that responsibility before Jehovah.

    When they were unable to make any headway within the Organisation, they felt morally obliged to take the subsequent courses of action which they have followed.

    How can the WTBTS legitimately *disfellowship* someone who was trying to fulfil his/her responsibility as set out by the WTBTS??

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