You know this problem is a lot bigger than just going to the police. That is a huge part of it but there are other pieces.
First the two witnesses rule is absurd. If you don't recognize that then you are absurd.
Secondly the gag order placed on victims is absurd.
---- scenario----
A girl is sexually abused and goes to the elders. Because she doesn't have 2 witnesses and he denies it there is nothing the elders can do. She and her family are instructed to remain silent so as not to tarnish the perp's reputation or she will be disfellowshipped for starting rumors, gossiping, or going against the elders decision not to do something about the abuser. Elders do not make a note in the abuser's file of the allegations because there weren't 2 witnesses.
------end------
Ok in this scenario the girl can now not go to the police to see if perhaps a professional investigator can get to the truth. The elder's inept attempts at getting to the truth have warned the perp that the victim has talked. He could be very anry and vengeful on her and if the abuser is a relative she might be in serious danger so the elders have made the problem worse
He figures that he is safe because nothing is done so he is free to wander around and find more victims. Because the elders are more invested in protecting reputations than people they have now put the cong and public in danger.
Because they are not professionals and do not know how to do these interviews properly they have now contaminated the evidence - the victims memory. She may now be confused - feel even more guilt and shame and be unwilling to talk to the authorities. The elders have also shown her that she will not be listened to and will not be protected, meanwhile his rights come first.
Because of the silence order the victim cannot talk to others in the congregation to warn them about the abuse and that he could do it again and sadly most likely will because he has seen that as long as he is not caught by 2 people he is free. So the whole congreagation is in danger and now no one knows who has a history of abuse.
The public is in danger because he is going from door to door. And despite their silly rule that he must go with someone who exactly is going to stop him from taking his bag and going out on his own. Not letting the congregation know means that if he shows up at a service meeting or the book study and is the only make he takes the lead - over all those sisters who do not know about him. He can also offer to generously study with the children of some of the single sisters. Or marry one of them and abuse the children.
The victim is not encouraged to go for the badly needed counsel she needs as a result of the abuse itself but now for the secondary abuse by the elders who do not help her. In all of the information we have seen and heard how many times have you seen the victim encouraged to go for help. They are encouraged to go to the elders - only the elders can help and when they don't there is no where else to go. Outside counseling while suggested in the magazines is not really encouraged - another double standard.
So the victim is encouraged to go to Jehovah go to the organization go to the elders but there isn't one person there who is trained to deal with these traumatic situations. No amount of prayer or going in service or to meetings is going to fix this. They need PROFESSIONAL HELP. That means the police, social workers, counselors, and yes prayer too but the rest MUST be there.
ALL of it!!!!!!
A not-so-silent lamb
Aspire to inspire before you expire