...the dungbeetle way.
For the benefit of all the gazillion 'incoming wounded' we have here at JW.COM, here is the Watchtower molestation issue in a 'Dungbeetle' nutshell. And just to be fair, I will only deal with that information generally available to JW's. The internal Watchtower documents (BOE and Personal letters from Watchtower) are extremely revealing, but they are not available generally to JW's, let alone the public.
1)Much before 1985, an adult JW having raped or molested a child, even a very young one, wasn't considered important enough to devote much time and space in Watchtower's literature to the subject.
2)In 1985, in response I understand to a series of scandals that rocked Bethel and are documented elsewhere, Watchtower comes out with this gem:
Child Molesting
You CAN Protect Your Child
While generally this contains good information, this article OBVIOUSLY is directed at an INNOCENT PARENT. This article does NOTHING to help a JW child who is suffering present abuse at the hands of a JW parent. It does NOTHING to help other JW's become alert to the signs of abuse of another fellow adherent, so they can see the signs and intervene BEFORE there are more victims or before the victim is irreparably physically harmed or even is murdered or commits suicide.
3)Next came Watchtower 11/1/95, likely in response to incidents occuring before the courts, some of which are STILL in litigation. While the title is "Comfort for those with a stricken spirit" the content is anything but.
Consider this statement: "The faithful and discreet slave" has published information to help handle the spiritual and emotional hurt caused by child abuse."
NO IT DID NOT. Pray more, go out in field service, study the bible more. Go to elders who can do nothing except exhort your molester to repent, or better yet appoint him to better privileges of service.
Wathctower's advice: "Put on the complete armor of God".
Consider this:
During the time that the one experiencing "memories" is healing, awkward situations may arise. For example, an individual may have vivid mental images of being molested by someone he or she sees every day. No rules can be laid down for handling this. "Each one will carry his own load." (Galatians 6:5) Sometimes one may feel that a relative or a member of one's immediate family is involved. Remember the dubious nature of some "repressed memories" when it comes to identifying the one suspected of being a perpetrator. In such a situation, as long as the matter has not been firmly established, keeping contact with the family—at least by occasional visits, by letter, or by telephone—would show that one is trying to follow a Scriptural course.—Compare Ephesians 6:1-3.
What if the sufferer decides that he wants to make an accusation? Then the two elders can advise him that, in line with the principle at Matthew 18:15, he should personally approach the accused about the matter.
Or perhaps the one accused will confess, and a reconciliation may be achieved. What a blessing that would be! If there is a confession, the two elders can handle matters further in accordance with Scriptural principles.
If the accusation is denied, the elders should explain to the accuser that nothing more can be done in a judicial way. And the congregation will continue to view the one accused as an innocent person.
Even if more than one person "remembers" abuse by the same individual, the nature of these recalls is just too uncertain to base judicial decisions on them without other supporting evidence.
Ultimately, Jehovah God and Christ Jesus render everlasting judgment in justice.—1 Corinthians 4:5.
When dedicated souls endure in the face of great physical or emotional pain, what an evidence it is of their inner strength and love for God! And what a testimony to the power of Jehovah's spirit to sustain them!—Compare 2 Corinthians 4:7.
4)NEXT UP:WT 1/1/97
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.
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.
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...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.
5)So up untill recently, no information was given IN THE WATCHTOWER to the JW's what to do about child molestation in their congregations.
While making a bif deal about child molesters not having privileges in the congregation, how does wathctower go about identifying a molester?
a) two or three witnesses to the SAME EVENTS. Too absurd for words.
b) accuser must personally confront abuser. Too absurd for words.
c) untrained elders with zero zilch years of training and experience in matters of child molestation and abuse survivor counseling then decide if (a) accuser is telling the truth (b) accused is guilty or innocent. Too absurd for words.
Just this past week, Watchtower suddenly switches gears and says, in contravention of earlier WRITTEN POLICY "Oh, it's okay to use two witness two act rule with regard to child molesting"
AS tho it had been okay all along, which we can see it wasn't.
succintly:
1) Two witness two act rule. Two different witnesses see two differnet acts, that person can be "congregationally sanctioned." Smoking is the common example given. Elders are specifically forbidden, in writing, to apply this rule to child molestation accusations against an active JW. [/]
2) Two witness one act rule. . Pretty much used for child molestation. Has been used in the past for establishing adultery or homosexuality. This is the level of proof a victim must meet before an accused molester is even 'approached' by the elders.
3) One witness rule I am not speaking here of confession. In this case, some statement by a person is construed by the elders against that person. A woman who is raped and did not scream is the classic example, a policy in effect since 1965 at least.
As Watchtower points out, [b] their primary concern is the reputation of the congregation, and the spiritual recovery of the abuser
.Watchtower's supposed and professed concern for the welfare of the children first is EXTREMELY recent; say, the last few weeks.
HO HUM JUST ANOTHER DAY IN A CULT.
BEFORE YOU TRY AND REMOVE THE STICK FROM MY ARSE, REMOVE THE TELEPHONE POLE FROM YOUR OWN ARSE.
