Thanks for all the replies ! I appreciate it. Got back from work awhile ago so I have time to reply now.
JHINE- Lisa Rose's statement was accurate- if just Campos the molester had confessed to the elders it would have been a clergy penitent privilege due to pastoral confession- but once the victim Lopez and his mother brought it to the elders it should have been reported to police. And as On The Way Out states the WT Society LOSES the clergy confidentiality once they blab it across the United States to the WT legal department and service committee - it ceases to be confidential anymore and ethics and justice require WT elders to report it to police. Especially in California as it IS a reporting state. As are many other states within the United States.
DRIVING FORCE- Yeah, I've been thinking more and more about the Stockholm Syndrome thing applying to many JW's the longer I've been out of the organization ( which is almost 12 years now ) because the elders are mind controlled to be SO complicit in upholding ANY decision out of WT legal - even if it's unethical, inhumane, or downright illegal.
STILL TOTALLY ADD- Thanks for sharing that conversation you had with the C.O. when you told him about all the child abuse cases you were aware of. I bet his face turned pale. It's amazing how quickly they will try to change the subject once we bring up the child abuse scandals because it causes them such cognizant dissonance that their brains get fried or overloaded as it shakes their perfect little world view of how WT leaders and elders are SUPPOSED to be as opposed to what they REALLY are doing and hiding behind the scenes. As you state if the WT Society had just faced this child abuse thing head on and apologized admitting error as the Catholic Church did- perhaps people wouldn't be in such an uproar about it- but the maddening thing about WT leaders is their unwillingness to even admit FAULT at all ! So it pisses all of us off even more as well as pisses off child abuse victims and their families who are now out for WT leaders heads on a platter. But WT leaders are TOO arrogant to ever admit fault. I don't see that happening any time in our lifetime.
ON THE WAY OUT- Exactly, I agree elders are totally mind controlled by the WT Society's instructions to elders - yet- that being said they are still complicit and guilty in instances like the Lopez molestation where for YEARS these elders knew Campos was molesting more children and they still appointed him as an elder while he was doing these crimes. Which is aiding and abetting a felony crime. Mind controlled or not. If even ONE of those 3 elders had a shred of conscience during those years and years where 9 more children got molested - it would have put a stop to Campos molesting more kids if one elder went to police. So that's what my point is - is that the elders are complicit with the WT Society in covering up crimes such as child abuse- per the court report. They are just as guilty.
Like yourself - I agree that the WT Society should make it MANDATORY for elders to first report child abuse to the police - THEN report it to WT legal. They have it backwards- they are putting the carriage before the horse. And therefore WT leaders set themselves up for more of theses child abuse lawsuits to come streaming in to them from victims. WT leaders are too prideful to change or listen to ANYBODY else's advice. So I don't see this changing anytime soon.
LISAROSE- Good points you make about the clergy penitent privilege not applying in this Campos case as it was not confidential from the get-go. The victim and his mom approached the elders, then the elders sent all the information to WT legal and the WT Service committee- that blows the confidentiality clause right there. As you state- it's interesting that the WT Society keeps records of all these 23,000 pedophiles and all the judicial congregation committee cases in dealing with JW molesters- but the WT legal department refused to turn over those documents in this particular court case and would not obey the laws of the court to do so. Thus they paid out 13.5 million $$$$ to Lopez . WT leaders are a bunch of classless idiots.
HEAVEN- Thanks for sharing the discussion you had with your dad about WT child abuse. It is incredible how so many JW's STILL to this day are not aware of how huge the child abuse problem is within the WT organization. WT Society has done a good job of sweeping it under the rug like comments made by Stephen Lett calling it " ridiculous " that people would say they put children in danger of child abuse. So Stockholm Syndrome mind controlled JW's lap those comments up like kittens lapping up cream so they won't have to face reality. Then they stick their heads back in the sand and go about their business. Pretty weird if you ask me.
PUNK OF NICE- Exactly, I agree. WT leaders protect these perverts WAY too much. It does make you wonder who at the top is involved in this child abuse mess . There were rumors about Jaracz when he was alive, then Chitty and Greenlees of course, but once again those allegations were hushed up really quickly and some of these guys were shipped out on special assignments to different countries or locations to get them out of the " molester limelight " - I know this for a fact as I've talked to some who had first hand information on it. But I keep my sources confidential for obvious reasons. But as you stated it's a corporation and the organization needs come first- not individual JW needs - and if that means trampling upon the rights of molested children- the WT leaders views are " oh well ". Disgusting
