Poor Tink, well if you do throw up, maybe your system will be all cleared out for tomorrow's surgery
What JWs are passing out in response to Silentlamb
by Joyzabel 55 Replies latest watchtower scandals
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Swan
Is it just me, or does this read as being matter-of-fact and without compassion for the victims. They do mention this:
Child abuse is abhorrent to us. This is in harmony with the principle recorded at Romans 12:9. Even one abused child is one too many.
But then go on to tell of the articles they wrote about it. It sounds detached and clinical. Who uses the word "abhorrent" these days? It sounds like the only reason they are against child abuse is because of what it says in Romans 12:9. Many people they are giving this to have probably never read Romans 12:9, they just know it's plain wrong. Most people don't need to have the Bible tell them that this is a heinous act!
Then they go on to explain their convoluted procedures for handling it.
If the accused denies the charge, the two elders may arrange for him and the victim to restate their position in each other's presence, with elders also there.
Isn't that a wonderful thing for the poor little kid to look forward to? Can you believe that? What parent would let this asshole anywhere near their child regardless of whether there are two elders there or not? Nobody in the "world" thinks this way. They are not going to win any awards with this approach.
This really pisses me off too:
Suppose, for example, that a long time ago a 16-year-old boy had sexual relations with a consenting 15-year-old girl. Depending upon the U.S. jurisdiction where he lived when this happened, elders may have been required to report this as an incident of child abuse. Let us say that 20 years have passed. The child abuse reporting law may have changed; the man may have even married the girl! Both have been living exemplary lives and they are respected. In such a rare case, the man could possibly be appointed to a responsible position within the congregation.
They are equating child molestation with a case of statuatory rape where both partities were consentual, eager, and willing in the incident. What absolute trash! They are implying that it's wrong to condemn these guys because the victims got some sort of enjoyment from it too! Absolute utter HOGWASH! What an archaic and chauvanistic view that the victim enjoys the rape as much as the rapist!
Wouldn't it have been better to say something like,
Child abuse is sickening to us. That this could have happened in our past is very horrible. We are reviewing our procedures for handling these matters in the future so that they can be brought to the attention of the authorities immediately. We are going to cooperate with these authorities fully so that they can make the appropriate determination of guilt or innocence. We will abide by the decisions of the courts of the land. We are grieved that this has happened and hope to work with the victims to help them cope with this terrible tragedy.
This kind of stuff just burns me up. They just don't get it. Sadly, I don't think they ever will.
Tammy
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Joyzabel
red = what I thought was pretty disturbing in their reply
fusia = my thoughts about it
(sorry, the yellow highlighter didn't show up too well)
Jehovah's Witnesses and Child Protection
Child abuse is abhorrent to us. This is in harmony with the principle recorded at Romans 12:9. Even one abused child is one too many. (and yet there are thousands of cases where they didnt pay attention to what the child was saying)For decades The Watchtower and Awake! have featured articles to educate both Witnesses and the public regarding the importance and the need to protect children from child abuse. Among others, there was the article "Let Us Abhor What Is Wicked!" published in the January 1, 1997, issue of The Watchtower ; "Help for the Victims of Incest" in the October 1, 1983, Watchtower, "Your Child Is in Danger!" , "How Can We Protect Our Children?" , and "Prevention in the Home" , all in the October 8, 1993, Awake!, as well as "Child MolestingEvery Mother's Nightmare," in the January 22, 1985, Awake!
When any one of Jehovah's Witnesses is accused of an act of child abuse, the local congregation elders are expected to investigate. Two elders meet separately with the accused and the accuser to see what each says on the matter. If the accused denies the charge, the two elders may arrange for him and the victim to restate their position in each other's presence, with elders also there. If during that meeting the accused still denies the charges and there are no others who can substantiate them, the elders cannot take action within the congregation at that time. Why not? As a Bible-based organization, we must adhere to what the Scriptures say, namely, "No single witness should rise up against a man respecting any error or any sin . . . At the mouth of two witnesses or at the mouth of three witnesses the matter should stand good." (Deuteronomy 19:15) Jesus reaffirmed this principle as recorded at Matthew 18:15-17. However, if two persons are witnesses to separate incidents of the same kind of wrongdoing, their testimony may be deemed sufficient to take action.
However, even if the elders cannot take congregational action, they are expected to report the allegation to the branch office of Jehovah's Witnesses in their country, if local privacy laws permit. In addition to making a report to the branch office, 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.
If, when confronted, the accused confesses that he is guilty of child abuse, the elders take appropriate congregational action (what about criminal action? Report it to the authorities??). If he is not repentant, he will not be permitted to remain a member of the congregation. Even if he is repentantis cut to the heart and is thus resolutely determined to avoid such conduct in the futurewhat was stated in the January 1, 1997, issue of The Watchtower applies. The article said: "For the protection of our children, a man known to have been a child molester does not qualify for a responsible position in the congregation. Moreover, he cannot be a pioneer [full-time missionary of Jehovah's Witnesses] (who cares, what about being free from serving time for the crime?) or serve in any other special, full-time service." He would not qualify Scripturally. (1 Timothy 3:2, 7-10) We take such action because we are concerned with maintaining Bible standards and protecting our children. Everyone in our organization is expected to meet the same requirements, namely, to be clean physically, mentally, morally, and spiritually.2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 4:17-19; 1 Thessalonians 2:4.
In a few instances, individuals guilty of an act of child abuse have been appointed to positions within the congregation if their conduct has been otherwise exemplary for decades. All the factors are considered carefully. Suppose, for example(this example is not about molestation, its about two teens exploring sex! sheesh), that a long time ago a 16-year-old boy had sexual relations with a consenting 15-year-old girl. Depending upon the U.S. jurisdiction where he lived when this happened, elders may have been required to report this as an incident of child abuse. (Most states have laws saying unless the age difference of the two consenting people is greater than 3 years, you dontreport the incident) Let us say that 20 years have passed. The child abuse reporting law may have changed; the man may have even married the girl! Both have been living exemplary lives and they are respected. In such a rare case, (the double standards of young jws is that they are having sex already, its not rare) the man could possibly be appointed to a responsible position within the congregation.
Our procedures have been refined over time. (This is where Im holding the bucket for Timk so she can appropriately throw up. Now the WTBTs are authorities in molestation issues without professional help or counseling?)Over the years, as we have noted areas (usually not without people telling them they needed changes)where our policies could be strengthened, we have followed through. We are continuing to refine them. We do not believe that our system is perfect. No human organization is perfect. But we do believe that we have a strong, Bible-based policy on child abuse. Anyone in a responsible position who is guilty of child abuse would be removed from his responsibilities without hesitation. We certainly would not knowingly allow him to serve elsewhere, either because he moved or through a transfer.(Still avoiding the issue of sending anyone to the proper authorities to let them handle it)
The Bible teaches that individuals can repent of their sins and "turn to God by doing works that befit repentance," and we accept what the Bible says. (Acts 26:20) Still, the safety of our children is of the utmost importance. We take it very seriously. . (Statements like these, there needs to be examples to back up such comments and there are NONE)
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Joyzabel
I agree Tammie, that statement did sound too matter-of-fact without compassion for the victim!! (Obviously the victim is getting no support from that organization at all)
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metatron
Guys, guys, guys!
Don't so get bogged down in minutiae
that you miss the beauty of this moment.Everything they say associates them with child molesters!
If you pass a man on the street holding a sign that says
"I never molest children", WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO THINK
ABOUT HIM? You'll probably conclude that he did something
awful and got caught and is denying it!The more they deny, they more they discuss it
the guiltier they look,it's beautiful,man - they can't win!
metatron
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Joyzabel
<nodding head in agreement> OK, good point, metatron!
"Everything they say associates them with child molesters!"
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ballistic
Did you see in the Panorama footage that crony from the GB and the complete trash he came out with when asked about the pedophile policy of the org??? I agree with you, he made it look like they had something to hide.
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Joyzabel
Yeah, Ballistic, "they don't go beyond what is written."
That was Ted Jaracz. I agree that he looks like he's hiding something.
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Lady Lee
Joy you are such a riot - I can see that becoming your new signature LOL
I will come back later with my thoughts on this "policy"
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Englishman
The child abuse reporting law may have changed; the man may have even married the girl!
Unbelieveable! This is pure Grisham, read "The Rainmaker", where the defence expert, after being accused of statutory rape, is exhonerated because he marries the girl.
Englishman.