"Hey, did you know that people are marching on Bethel later this month?"
Sister - rolles eyes - "Probobly a bunch of disgruntled DF people."
Since most JWs ignore the problem, don't know it actually exists, or discredit anyone speaking out against them, I understand why she knows nothing. I told her that the march was for abuse victims that felt they were wronged by the elders not handling the matter properly. I really couldn't throw in that the orders were coming from the GB, that would have ended the conversation.
Using "theocratic warfare" I admitted that the one elder is a bit outspoken (B.B.). She was mistaken in that she thought it was people who were DFd FOR child abuse who were protesting. I informed her that it was VICTIMS and SUPPORTERS who were protesting and that the DFd were young adults and elders who went to the police.
You may find the justification and reasoning for defending the JWs interesting.
1. "These people are just explioting the fact that child abuse is an "in" thing for the media, it's a way to get a lot of attention to discredit the Witnesses."
2. "A letter was read from the platform that stated that in abuse cases, ONLY ONE WITNESS IS NEEDED TO BRING CHARGES!" - I would love to see this letter! I'm sorry but this completely contradicts all the cases I've ever read. She admitted that there would not be any other witness to the act so only having one witness made sense to her. Has anyone else heard that a letter was read saying that a ONE witness policy exists?....I doubt it, not according to the GB policy.
3. "People generally hate JWs so they will try to make them look bad any way they can."
4. "There is a difference between non-JWs and apostates. Apostates can't accept they did something wrong and are mad at JWs so they try to make them look bad." - I'm sure there are going to be EX and NON-JWs at the march. Can you find the reasoning in this thinking? I can't.
5. "Witnesses are THE ONLY religion that does not tolerate abusers, Catholics just move the priests somewhere else and hide it." - I'll have to find some articles from news papers that shows convicted abusers who are still Witnesses in good standing.
In summary there was basically a denial of anything wrong. There may have been cases where the elders didn't handle it properly but their policy is effective and solves the problem. Self justification that in that they are being "persicuted". The abused are most likely lying and just trying to get attention. I find it amazing that the average JW just dismisses these claims, even though I told her there were over 5000 cases. She is going to ask my cousins who are at Bethel if they have heard anything about the march. Should be interesting.
Though in complete denial at least she now knows that there is something going on. A "march on Bethel" and other protests nation wide really got her attention. I believe that JWs are completely ignorant of the issue, maybe this march will get the attention of those who simply brush it off as persicution.