Is this policy in writing anywhere?

Mulan

My mother and I have been continually discussing the pedophile issue, and the Dateline show. She insists that there is no official policy of going to the elders first, when this situation occurs in a family. She said she feels it is a family matter, and she personally, would go to the police first, and let them handle it. And THEN tell the elders.

Does anyone know if and where this is written? Is it in their Organization book, or is it just a custom, that everyone follows. I would LOVE to be able to show her this in writing. I have a copy of the Elder's book, if that helps.

Someone.........anyone??

Marilyn (aka Mulan)
"No one can take advantage of you, without your permission." Ann Landers

obiwan

Even if it was,why would you want to follow a so called policy.Protect
the child first.Then go to an elder for a ruling on a criminal matter.

WOW It's a wide open world,use your
own thoughts.

dungbeetle

This probably doesn't help you, but here it is anyway:

organized to accomplish our ministry, 1983 (someone check the 1989 please) pages 143-144

If someone in the congregation has committed such a serious sin against you personally, do not be hasty to turn to the overseers, or someone else, requesting them to intervene in your behalf. First of all...speak with the one against whom you have a complaint...the one who has sinned will certainly appreciate the fact that YOU HAVE NOT TOLD OTHERS ABOUT HIS SIN AND HAVE NOT MARRED HIS GOOD REPUTATION AMONG OTHERS IN THE CONGREGATION. You will have "gained your brother."

...This facat shows that, although serious, the ofenses here discussed were limited in nature to such as could be settled between the individuals involved. This would not include offenses such as fornication, adultery, homosexuality, blasphemy, apostasy, idolatry and similar gross sins that should be REPORTED TO THE ELDERS AND HANDLED BY THEM.

But if you are convinced that your brother has sinned against you...then you should report the matter to the overseers of the congregation.

HAVING DONE THIS YOU HAVE TAKEN IT AS FAR AS YOU CAN.

LEAVE THE PROBLEM IN THE HANDS OF THE RESPONSIBLE MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION AND TRUST IN JEHOVAH THAT IT WILL BE RESOLVED.

NO, WATCHTOWER DOESN'T TELL US NOT TO REPORT CHILD MOLESTERS TO THE POLICE...

I REPEAT:

you have taken the matter as far as you can.

this is NOT rocket science...

BEFORE YOU TRY AND REMOVE THE STICK FROM MY ARSE, REMOVE THE TELEPHONE POLE FROM YOUR OWN ARSE.

Southland

Obiwan,

Other posts by Mulan indicate that, while she is no longer an active Witness, her 90-yr old mother still is. Mulan and her mother have many great ideological discussions about JW-related things. Mulan and her mother have been debating the Dateline issue.

Mulan

Thank you. That helps, Dungbeetle.

I asked my husband (former elder). He believes it is more of an automatice response. Maybe a part of the mind control, and probably isn't specifically written anywhere. What the Organization book says is pretty good, though.

I will share it with her.

Marilyn (aka Mulan)
"No one can take advantage of you, without your permission." Ann Landers

mrs rocky2

The flock is so trusting of the elders and they have been trained to follow them and not think for themselves. The elders are so good at getting the congregation to look up to them for all things, especially problems.

BTW Mulan, don't know if I had a chance to tell you that my dad told us that the Othello elders didn't handle Erica's case properly, as if it were some kind of 'reason' why this has grown to scandolous proportions. He agreed with us that JW children are vulnerable to pedophiles but did not offer solutions to improving their protection. He went so far as telling me the elders are 'damned if they do and damned if they don't' as if that were an excuse. I wanted to smack him! You know how well respected he is in his little corner of the circuit. People trust him because he is a 'spiritual man.' My translation of that is that he follows the club rules almost perfectly. So even if it isn't written in the OM book, if it is 'suggested' he has made it law and the congregation will follow it. And that is why the congregation reports to the elders and not the police.

Thank you for letting me rant and rave...I get sooooo annoyed sometimes. [>:(]

dungbeetle

funny, I hadn't caught that before. You are specifically not allowed to speak to anyone else about 'the sin' in the first place, then you can speak of it to 'two or three BROTHERS' who preferably are eyewitnesses to the sin, but at least eyewitnesses to the evidence.

What I have heard pro-watchterites say on this site, and they know who they are, that this does not preclude someone from reporting a crime to the police. YES IT DOES. If you are not to speak of a crime to OTHER WITNESSES, then you certainly are not authorized to speak of it to a NON-WITNESS.

One is no less a stretch than another.

BEFORE YOU TRY AND REMOVE THE STICK FROM MY ARSE, REMOVE THE TELEPHONE POLE FROM YOUR OWN ARSE.

Mulan

Mrs. Rocky, your Dad said much the same thing Mom said. Maybe it's their generation, although Mom is a bit older, isn't she?? 20 years or so, but they think alike. She said "those elders blew it, so we have to wait on Jehovah." I just hate all that!!

Your Dad is a heavyweight all right, and the congregations around the area think he 'really knows'. Sad.

Did that package arrive yet???

Marilyn (aka Mulan)
"No one can take advantage of you, without your permission." Ann Landers

silentlambs

Please review my website on the "press" page uner "WT articles" review Why report what is bad?

The article plainly states all wrongdoing must be reported to the elders even in the case of crime. Not one word is mentioned about going to he police. A strange vacume that seems to exist in anything written by WT on this topic.

Come on Marilyn get out your CD and do a little research. Punch in "wrongdoing" and see how many articles come up. You should have everything you need to adjust your mother spiritually.

Mulan

CD? What CD? I got rid of all that crap. I'll gladly check your website though.

Bill, did you get my email?

Marilyn (aka Mulan)
"No one can take advantage of you, without your permission." Ann Landers

Is this policy in writing anywhere?

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