Quote from JW's response to Panorama

by Dacke 13 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

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  Dacke

  From JW's letter to Betsan Powys of Panorama (available at www.watchtower.org under "media"),on the policy of JW's handling of child abuse allegations:

  "In addition to making a report to the branch office of Jehovah's Witnesses, the elders may be required by law to report even uncorroborated or unsubstantiated allegations to the authorities. If so, we expect the elders to comply. Additionally, the victim may wish to report the matter to the authorities, and it is his or her absolute right to do so. In the United States, reporting requirements vary from state to state. It can be quite a challenge to keep abreast of the reporting requirements, but our Legal Department makes every effort to do so."
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  SYN

  Dacke, you know as well as we do that the Elders say one thing and do another. There is plenty of evidence of this on shows like Dateline and Panorama. "Wait on Jehovah" is the phrase commonly used, I believe. Despite what the Tower's publicity agent is trying to make us believe, we can't be fooled. Many here have even experienced first-hand the double-standards of the Society - they say one thing in public, then in private an entirely different system is implemented.
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  DazedAndConfused

  reporting requirements vary from state to state. It can be quite a challenge to keep abreast of the reporting requirements

  Not sure this quoting thing will work or not as it used to. But, it would seem to me that ANY religious organisation who wants to do the will of God would not EVEN consider how each state considers legal as far as reporting. It would seem to ME that there should be a zero tolerance policy where each and every case would be reported to the authorities. Yes, there would be false accusations...but for me, as a once abused child, for an accusation to be investigated by the authorities is much better than the current policy of going by each states policy.

  Our children are at risk! Do not poo poo their recollections of what happened to them. Granted, there are false allegations,...but aren't our children worth the effort to have each and every allegation investigated by people who are trained to do so? Why has it gone on so long to leave this "investigation" work to untrained individuals?

  Edited for typos

  Edited by - DazedAndConfused on 19 July 2002 6:21:40
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  Dacke

  //SYN:

  Have you read the letter of July-89 to the elders that is available on silentlambs.org?

  People claim that there is an unofficial world-wide policy that aims to protect the organisations name at the cost of abused children. When I read that letter mentioned above, I don't see that happening.
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  ItsJustlittleoldme

  From JW's letter to Betsan Powys of Panorama (available at www.watchtower.org under "media"),on the policy of JW's handling of child abuse allegations:

  "In addition to making a report to the branch office of Jehovah's Witnesses, the elders may be required by law to report even uncorroborated or unsubstantiated allegations to the authorities. If so, we expect the elders to comply. Additionally, the victim may wish to report the matter to the authorities, and it is his or her absolute right to do so. In the United States, reporting requirements vary from state to state. It can be quite a challenge to keep abreast of the reporting requirements, but our Legal Department makes every effort to do so."

  Hi Dack,

  That policy sounds like good lip service to me..

  However, if you watch Dateline, you'll see that Bill Bowen has recorded a conversation with Bethel Legal, and I don't here the Legal dept. telling Bill he shoudl report it to the authorities, all I hear them saying to do is ask if the brother did it. If he denies it, Legal suggests that Bill drop the matter, so as not to get into any more trouble!

  I didn't hear them say, "You might want to report it to the police for them to investigate".

  After all, Bill called legal to get advice on what to do (He followed the procedure outlined above -- call Legal first for advice, so therefor he must have felt there was enough to whatever he was investigating to start the process!!!!!!)...

  And, if you check this link on the Kentucky State Government's web site, you'll see clearly that ANYONE suspecting Child Abuse is REQUIRED BY LAW to notify the government!!!

  http://www.state.ky.us/agencies/gov/domviol/reprting.htm

  Here is part of what that page says:

  Mandatory Reporting of Child and Spouse Abuse

  Child Protection ActKRS 620 provides for the protection of children through the mandatory reporting of known or suspected child abuse. All states require similar duties of persons related to the reportage of child abuse.

  Definition of abused or neglected child (KRS 620.020(1)

  ­ means a child whose health or welfare is harmed or threatened with harm when his parent, guardian or other person exercising custodial control or supervision of the child:

  (1) inflicts or allows to be inflicted upon the child physical or emotional injury by other than accidental means; (2) creates or allows to be created a risk of physical or emotional injury to the child by other than accidental means;
  (3) commits or allows to be committed an act of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or prostitution upon the child;
  (4) creates or allows to be created a risk than an act of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or prostitution will be committed upon the child;
  (5) abandons or exploits such child;
  (6) or does not provide the child with adequate care, supervision, food, clothing, shelter and education or medical care necessary for the child's wellbeing.

  Definition of dependent child (KRS 620.020(2)) ­ means any child, other than an abused or neglected child, who is under improper care, custody, control, or guardianship than it not due to an intentional act of the parent, guardian or person exercising custodial control or supervision of the child.

  Definition of abuse and exploitation (KRS 620.020(3­7)) ­ means emotional or physical harm or sexual abuse as defined below:

  emotional harm means harm to the mental or psychological capacity or emotional stability of a child as testified to be a qualified mental health professional;

  emotional injury means an injury to the mental or psychological capacity or emotional stability or a child as evidenced by a substantial and observable impairment in his or her ability to function within a normal range of performance and behavior with due regard to age development, culture and environment;

  physical injury means substantial physical pain or any impairment of physical condition;

  sexual abuse includes, but is not limited to any contacts or interactions between a child and an adult in which the parent, guardian or other person having custodial control or supervision of the child or responsibility uses or allows, permits or encourages the use of the child for the purposes of the sexual stimulation of the perpetrator or another person;

  sexual exploitation includes involvement of the child in prostitution or acts of obscene or pornographic photographing, filming, or depicting of a child.

  Who Shall Report? (KRS 620.030) - Any person who knows or has reasonable cause to believe that a child is dependent, neglected or abused shall immediately cause an oral or written report to be made to a local law enforcement agency or the Kentucky State Police; the Department for Social Services; the Commonwealth's Attorney; or the County Attorney. Unless requested by law enforcement, the Department for Social Services investigates only those cases of abuse or neglect alleged to have been committed by a parent, guardian, or other person in care, custody or control of the child.

  Investigation Process (KRS 620.040) -

  If the report alleges abuse or neglect of a child, the Department for Social Services shall investigate the matter immediately and shall within 48 hours, exclusive of weekends and holidays, make a written report to the County or Commonwealth Attorney. If the report alleges dependency, the Department for Social Services shall investigate the matter not later than 48 hours after receipt of the report, but need not notify law enforcement or the County or Commonwealth Attorney.

  Interference With Reportage (KRS 620.040(2)) - School personnel and other agencies do not have the authority to conduct an internal investigation on lieu of the investigation process outlined above.

  Edited by - itsjustlittleoldme on 19 July 2002 8:29:37
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  hawkaw

  Well Dacke,

  I guess the problem is that it's not an "unofficial policy" but an "official policy".

  I have listened to what the police have to say. They tell me the elders have obstructed justice, investigate the crime and spoil the evidence and on and on it goes.

  In the Berry case where there was a reporting law did the elders comply? Nope.

  The reporting is just part of the problem. In states or provinces where there is no reporting law the elders are not and likely will not notify.

  From at least Nov 15, 1973 (WT QFR) until Feb. 2002 (WTS letter), the congregation could not go to the police and was required to keep this within the congregation or face sanctions. Since Feb. 2002, complainants don't face sanctions if they go to the police but, the elders must be told first and DO NOT encourage going to the police. Also if the complainant dares tell someone else of the abuse other than the police, the 1973 WT QFR applies and sanctions will be given.

  The policy is still extremely weak. If the policy is ever changed to the position of at least what the Catholics have done then they are on to something. But the leadership will have to enforce the policy properly to ensure it is not abused seeing they have "roted" all this present stuff in the elders and publishers heads.

  hawk
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  ItsJustlittleoldme

  Hey,

  While I was researching the law about reporting suspected Child abuse in Kentucky, I found this on their web page RE: Reporting Child Abuse:

  Child Protection ActKRS 620 provides for the protection of children through the mandatory reporting of known or suspected child abuse. All states require similar duties of persons related to the reportage of child abuse.

  It's at the very top of their web page (http://www.state.ky.us/agencies/gov/domviol/reprting.htm)

  Hmm, I wonder if all cases of Suspected Child Abuse in the USA need to be reported, and then legally, if the WT is obstructing justice by not turning over their 'list' ??? This statement sounds pretty cut and dry to me, ALL states REQUIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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  outnfree

  ItsJust...

  Unfortunately, it's "All States require SIMILAR..." Most states require health care workers, social workers and teachers, police officers, etc. to report. Many DON'T require clergy (JW elders) to report suspicions of abuse.

  Federally, however, PARENTS must report abuse allegations. So JW elders, even in cases of incest, should be informing the non-criminal parent of their duty under federal law to report their spouses' alleged crime to the authorities.

  Dacke,

  I am addressing your comments in a separate thread which deals with that July 1, 1989 BOE letter you seem to find reasonable, if not admirable.

  out
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  Robert_V_Frazier

  In addition to making a report to the branch office of Jehovah's Witnesses,

  The Society seems to imagine that there is something virtuous or commendable in reporting to the branch office. There isn't.

  the elders may be required by law to report even uncorroborated or unsubstantiated allegations to the authorities.

  The Society recognizes no obligation to uphold the law, punish the criminals, or protect the victims, current or future, JW or not.

  If so, we expect the elders to comply.

  If forced to against their will, they will grudgingly do the absolute minimum permitted by law to punish the criminals, or protect the victims, current or future, JW or not.

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

  Of course, she will be disfellowshipped and shunned by her family and the only friends she has ever known, but she has the absolute right to become an apostate and be killed by Jehovah at Armageddon.

  In the United States, reporting requirements vary from state to state.

  Remember, the Society is interested in doing only the absolute minimum required by law.

  It can be quite a challenge to keep abreast of the reporting requirements, but our Legal Department makes every effort to do so

  And under no circumstances will the Society EVER tell or advise the victim to call the cops. Grudgingly allow, maybe. But encourage, NEVER!!

  Their condemnation is just.

  Robert Frazier
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  Robert_V_Frazier

  See this thread (if one post counts as a thread) on the total refusal of the Society to advise calling the authorities in their own articles on child abuse:

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.asp?id=32439&site=3

  Robert Frazier