WT Public Information-Position On Murder (page 2)

rmayer32

hehehehe... That sounds about right unfortunately

-Rick
"Keeping an eye on the Watchtower deviants"

silentlambs

Excerpt from PI "Position on Child Abuse":

In a few instances, individuals guilty of an act of child abuse have been appointed to positions within the congregation if their conduct has been otherwise exemplary for decades. All of the factors are considered carefully. Suppose, for example, that a long time ago a 16-year-old boy had sexual relations with a consenting 15-year-old girl. Depending upon the U.S. jurisdiction where he lived when this happened, elders may have been required to report this as an incident of child abuse. Let us say that 20 years have passed. The child abuse reporting law may have changed; the man may have even married the girl! Both have been living exemplary lives and they are respected. In such a rare case, the man could possibly be appointed to a responsible position within the congregation.

Excerpt from 97 WT on Child Abuse:

*** w97 1/1 29 Let Us Abhor What Is Wicked ***
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.

So a molester can serve as an elder when every JW has been swearing they would NEVER serve. Did somebody tell a fib?????

Perry

"Suppose, for example, that a long time ago a 16-year-old boy murdered a worldly person before he was baptized. While we admit that only Jehovah has the right to take life, one must take into consideration that the victum was in a sense already dead, outside of God's Spirit directed Organization.

The murder in this case could be simply viewed as "running ahead of Jehovah". While this person would not qualify for a position of oversight, if he is repentant and humbly waits on Jehovah to do all the killing, then certainly we should welcome this brother into our homes and lives.

Scully

WT Dept of Public Information:

Suppose, for example, that a long time ago a 16-year-old boy had sexual relations with a consenting 15-year-old girl. Depending upon the U.S. jurisdiction where he lived when this happened, elders may have been required to report this as an incident of child abuse. Let us say that 20 years have passed. The child abuse reporting law may have changed; the man may have even married the girl!

Not only is this a lousy illustration - it's generally accepted that consensual sexual activity between teenage peers is not considered "child abuse", but "puppy love" - but it's like saying that murdering someone is ok because they were going to die eventually anyway.

Love, Scully

stocwach

I consider the letter that WT observer has posted abhorrent, and I cannot believe a bigger deal hasn't been made about the WT position on that.

I would love to get JR Brown in a radio interview and have him explain the letter!

Pathofthorns

I agree with Cygnus. His questions are very good too.

Path

hannibal

silentlambs,
"did some tell a fib"

am I missing something?

Didnt it say that anyone that abused children would not
have any responsibility.

Nathan Natas

Hannibal, what, exactly, constitutes "responsibility" in the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses?

It's a term the WTS PR department likes to use because it suggests something significant. Is it? What are the "responsibilities" a person would be kept from?

As a member of the congregation, they would still have an obligation to spend time in the door-to-door ministry. How much time? As much as they wanted to. They could spend 150 or more hours a month going door-to-door in search ov ~~victims~~ converts, and nobody would interfere with them.

They could not have the priviledge and responsibility of being "pioneers":

they could not get literature at a discount.

I suspect that in their search for ~~victims~~ "converts" while in the guise of engaging in the "ministry," magazine placements (and their cost) woould not be a major concern. "Do you have a little girl? Woould you like for me to study the Bible with her? Take me to the little girl's room."

They could not have the priviledge and responsibility of being a "ministerial servant":

they would not be able to walk around the Kingdom Hall during meetings handing Mr. Microphone to people who wanted to read a sentence from The Watchtower.

they would not be able to stand in the back of the Kingdom Hall during meetings and tell women and younger people to sit down and shut up.

they would not be able to stand behind the book counter and hand out magazines and books to publishers.

They could not have the priviledge and responsibility of being an elder:

They could not sit in judgement of other child molesters.

They could not harangue the congregation for imaginary sins.

They could not hob-nob with their fellow elders at special secret meetings.

Yes, the WTS, by restricting "responsibilities" is doing a LOT to protect the congregation and the community at large.

one

Cygnus,

Just a quick review shows that wt is not interested in resolving pedo cases as much as a murder case.

why?

Even the actions do not match the written policies regarding pedo, which obviously are more lax.

Did you notice tha the murderer must be CONFRONTED with the victim's family etc.

Why not CONFRONT the pedo with the victim(s)

What about being obedient to the SUPERIOR AUTHORITIES?
In many states it is REQUIRED to report pedo cases AND, i am sure, states that do no require reporteing will LISTEN to any report, althought no required.

Plus the fact that there many more cases about pedo in wt land than murder cases. Such a situation calls for ACTION, EFECTIVE action.

How efective/good has WT policy been so far, THAT is what COUNTS.

wT "SCRIPTURAL" polciy is not f*** working!!!!!

D wiltshire

I personally know a congregation that appointed a convicted child molester(who served prison time for it) as a MS.

Join the Watchtower or you will die.
Only Jehovah's Witnesses have the TRUTH all other religions EVIL and from the Devil.
You must beleive the Watchtower or you're going to die a painful death forever, isn't that really GOOD NEWS?

WT Public Information-Position On Murder

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