8-1-02, Addition to 7-31-02 PRESS RELEASE
JOE ANDERSON-DISFELLOWSHIPPED! Jehovahs Witness child advocate
WILLIAM H. BOWEN-DISFELLOWSHIPPED! Jehovahs Witness child advocate
BARBARA ANDERSON-DISFELLOWSHIPPED! Jehovahs Witness child advocate
WHY ARE THOSE WHO SPEAK OUT FOR CHILDREN BEING DISFELLOWHIPPED?
WHY IS JEHOVAHS WITNESSES GOVERNING BODY ORDERING CHILD
ADVOCATES DISFELLOWSHIPPED?
Joe Anderson-67 of , TN, husband of Barb Anderson and a faithful Jehovahs Witness for over 50 years, resigned as an elder of over 43 years in protest of Watchtower policy on child abuse in June, 2002. In his letter he humbly requests the church to make needed changes to protect children. On Wednesday, July 31, he was disfellowshipped at a judicial hearing, charged with, "causing divisions", members of the home office Service Department wrote accusations to establish the charges. While he plans to appeal, Joe comments, I" stood up for children and by the judicial committees actions directed by the Governing Body, they protect those who rape children."
William H. Bowen, of who is founder of the organization "silentlambs," (www.silentlambs.org) a support group for victims of child abuse who were molested as Jehovahs Witnesses, spoke out as a former elder on Dateline and Panorama about how children are being harmed by Watchtower policy. Last Thursday July 25, he was notified that he had been disfellowshipped in a secret hearing. He sent his appeal on Monday. Bowen comments: "The leadership has decided to silence anyone who identifies this problem by destroying families through disfellowshipping. Hundreds of abuse survivors have suffered a similar fate at the hands of these henchmen, this is a public evidence of how Jehovahs Witnesses directed by the Governing Body have created the "pedophile paradise."
Barbara Anderson, 62 of Normandy TN, was disfellowshipped by an announcement on Thursday July, 25 for speaking out on child abuse. She is a former researcher who worked for the Church's Writing Department, in , Brooklyn,NY she is featured on Dateline speaking out about child molestation cover-ups that go all the way up to the denominations Governing Body. Anderson said the church is acting ''so that Jehovah's Witnesses will feel that they are justified to say to others that we are liars.''
The above individuals represent over 130 years of active service as Jehovahs Witnesses, over 25 years in bethel service, and well over 40 years in full time service. They all three have been disfellowshipped for "causing divisions", yet not one person has left the faith because of their actions. What was the evidence against them? The committees produced letters written by members of the Service Department along with other elders. Watchtower has just created a new policy, that is, letters can now appear as eye witnesses to disfellowship in face of a denial. Is this really the proper application of Deut. 19:15? Could eye-witnesses in Biblical times just write there accusation on a scroll and that be used as a testimonial basis to stone a person to death? Are victims of abuse with accusations awarded the same autonomy?
"Let the reader use discernment"
Edited by - silentlambs on 31 July 2002 23:24:56
Edited by - silentlambs on 31 July 2002 23:50:54
Edited by - silentlambs on 31 July 2002 23:53:15