NEW JW POLICY POSTED!!!

by amac 67 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

• 

  amac

  I don't know if anyone has posted on this already but there is a new press release at http://www.jw-media.org/releases/default.htm?content=bg_molestation.htm that defines the current JW policy and I believe it has taken a step in the right direction!

  Although they have not literally changed it to require reporting to the authorities in all states, they have finally put into print the following: "Additionally, the victim may wish to report the matter to the authorities, and it is his or her absolute right to do so."

  I am glad to see, straight from the WT, acknowledgement that the adults involved have every right to go to the police. I believe this is a step in the right direction and this clarification in print is a result of the recent exposure.

  I would still like to see reporting by elders in all states, however, the WT has now clearly stated that those approaching the elders have an absolute right to report this themselves.

  I hope everyone that is critical of the WT is pleased with this clarification, I know I am. It will certainly work for the benefit of any future allegations. Especially since I'm sure this release will circulate the witness email ring.

  Cheers,
  amac
• 

  Valis

  Uh the term "right to go to the authorities" is ambiguous at best. It is also every brother and sister's 'right" to get disfellowshipped, chastised, looked down upon, disassociated, slandered, gossiped about, etc...they left that part out.

  Sincerely,

  District Overbeer
• 

  amac

  Valis, I'm sorry that you see it in that way. Although it has happened due to bonehead elders and stupid people in the congregation, there is not a whole lot we can do to change people, that's up to each individual.

  The important thing is that it is now documented from the society that there are to be no sanction against witnesses who report allegations and that it is their ABSOLUTE RIGHT to do so.

  What this means is that with all present and future allegations, Witnesses can safely report these to the authorities and if anyone (elders or fellow witnesses) holds this against them, then they are clearly going against WT policies, and THEY are the ones sinning.

  I see this as an added benefit to children who have been victimized. I see this helping locate and punish child molesters, as compared to the mindset in most witnesses prior to all of this.
• 

  Xander

  it is their ABSOLUTE RIGHT to do so.

  You are reading too much into this. This has always been their policy. This is the standard WTBTS cop-out for when they don't want to take the blame for something.

  Just ask a JW whose decision it was to let their loved one die because they needed a blood transfusion? Yeah, sure, they have 'the absolute right' to get one. What happens if they do, though? Every JW knows this.

  I take this statement as an enormous LEAP in the wrong direction. They are putting the 'reporting pedophiles' issue in the same pile as voting and blood. You'd better off be dead than doing it, but if someone asks, we sure didn't tell you that. In fact, we aren't saying you can't do it at all. But, we will make it clear you will die at Armegeddon if you do

  (EDIT: I'd be amazed if an actual change in behavior happened in the local congregations. As proof, I offer this test. As investigated by Dateline, to date, the WTBTS has reported 2 sexual offenders to the authorities, both worldly. Let's see if that numbers goes up any now. I'm quite confident it won't.)

  Xander F
  (Unseen Apostate Directorate of North America - Ohio order)

  A fanatic is one who, upon losing sight of his goals, redoubles his efforts.
  --George Santayana
• 

  dungbeetle

  That's the same old lie they have been saying for years. I'll believe it when I see it in the watchtower.

  Nothing will change untill the gb goes to jail.

  And if that's what they want, that's what they should get.

  quote from J.R.Brown: "We don't change for anybody"
• 

  Xander

  The more I think about it, the more I realize that even in the absolute best case, this response is utter trash.

  Read closely.

  the victim may wish to report the matter to the authorities, and it is his or her absolute right to do so.

  See how they dodge the bullet? The put the burden back on the victim. How many 6 year old molestation victims go to the police themselves? Let's assume it was their parents who molested them. They need help, who do they go to? The police - strangers? Or the elders?

  It's well documented that almost ALL molestation cases are by people who are trusted by the victim. How high are the odds, you think, that a molested little kid would report the incident to the police? They will report it to the elders who - even under the society's "new and improved" policy, still don't have to report it to the police.

  This is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. And the argument "well it's the states' responsibility to require it" is just such filthy trash, I can't imagine the ulcerous mouth that spills it forth.

  If I see someone activate a countdown on a atomic bomb at the peak of the Empire State Building, should I not report it because I'm 'not required to'? And, when New York City is flattened, is it the state's fault for not providing me with an itemized list of common sense things that I should report, and those I don't need to report?

  How stupid are these people? I mean, my god, that's just the bottom of the barrel idiocy.

  Xander F
  (Unseen Apostate Directorate of North America - Ohio order)

  A fanatic is one who, upon losing sight of his goals, redoubles his efforts.
  --George Santayana
• 

  amac

  You are reading too much into this.

  How can I read too much into a statement like "it is his or her absolute right to do so." ?

  You compare this to the blood issue, but it is completely different. On blood, the elders and HLC ACTIVELY discourage witnesses from using blood, and it is a common belief among JW's to not take blood.

  There is no common belief about NOT reporting child abuse and the elders are NOW instructed to NOT discourage JWs from reporting. This is COMPLETELY different than the blood issue.

  I take this statement as an enormous LEAP in the wrong direction. They are putting the 'reporting pedophiles' issue in the same pile as voting and blood. You'd better off be dead than doing it, but if someone asks, we sure didn't tell you that. In fact, we aren't saying you can't do it at all. But, we will make it clear you will die at Armegeddon if you do

  I'm sorry, but I believe THIS to be reading too much into that sentence. You are adding theories to the misapplication of this statement.
• 

  amac

  I can't believe that I am having to argue that the fact that WT have documented that it is OK for JWs to report allegations to the authorities IS A GOOD THING!!!!

  Please be careful not to become a "professional apostate" to the point where you go from seeing the good and bad to just the bad. This IS a step in the right direction. A lot of JWs are going to learn through this press release that it is OK TO REPORT MOLESTATION ALLEGATIONS TO THE AUTHORITIES, EVEN IF THE ELDERS DON'T. THAT IS GOOD! THAT WILL PROTECT CHILDREN! It is NOT a final solution but it IS a step.
• 

  lisaBObeesa

  Amac, you said,
  ***********************
  "You compare this to the blood issue, but it is completely different. On blood, the elders and HLC ACTIVELY discourage witnesses from using blood, and it is a common belief among JW's to not take blood.

  There is no common belief about NOT reporting child abuse and the elders are NOW instructed to NOT discourage JWs from reporting. This is COMPLETELY different than the blood issue."
  *****************************

  Did you SEE Dateline??

  -LisaBObeesa

  edited to say: I heard that the JWs said this was their policy ('free to report..') BEFORE Dateline. I don't think anything has changed.
• 

  amac

  Xander
  

  How high are the odds, you think, that a molested little kid would report the incident to the police? They will report it to the elders who - even under the society's "new and improved" policy, still don't have to report it to the police.

  Bollocks! How many 6 year olds are going to approach an elder about their problems? Very few, unless he happens to be a relative or close friend. Otherwise do you think a 6 year old will just trot over to the elders after the meeting and say "we need to talk."?

  In the scenario you depicted, with a 6 year old victim, there is usually an adult involved that has become aware of the problem. I think a blanket statement like "victim may wish to report the matter to the authorities" infers that this can be done directly or indirectly by an adult working in the child's interest. The WT is not going to lay out every possible scenario in a news release to say that each is OK or not OK.

  lisaBObeesa,
  Yes I did see it, I even have it on tape. Again, for present and future allegations, this is a step in the right direction. With the recent clarifications in interviews and press releases, it will be very hard for any elders to get away with the trash that was covered on Dateline. This clarification will help put a STOP TO THESE KIND OF THINGS, ALLOWING FOR MORE JW's TO REPORT THESE ALLEGATIONS FREELY. Is that NOT a good thing?

  Edited to reply to lisa's edit:
  I know they said it was policy before, but it wasn't being put into practice because it wasn't clearly stated in print. Now it is, so it will be harder for bonehead elders to pull stupid cover up tricks.