What is the goal of the silentlambs organization?

kenpodragon

I have followed the silentlambs issue for awhile now. I saw the special on Dateline, and read a few things on Newspapers and online links. I have a question though and wonder if someone could answer it for me, as this was asked to me by someone "outside of the organization" and I did not know.

What is the goal of the silentlambs organization?

Is the goal to have the society admit publicly that they made mistakes? In doing so, to what degree? Do they want financial retribution for the victims, much like what is happening in the Catholic Church. Are they looking to have a letter of public apology read or printed in the Watchtower or Awake, or some other public forum?

Is the goal to make changes to the way they handle things in the congregation? If so, has this not taken place already? I ask, as when I mentioned this to a good friend in Sacramento, he said they have changed their ways a lot on this. He credited Silentlambs with the change, as it brought it to the organizations attention ... basically, the embarrassment did something good.

Is the goal to take the Watchtower organization down? To use this as a means of taking the whole organization down and out of the picture? I ask this, as your average Witness would think this is the goal of all ex-JW's.

My aunt started a national organization for the support of woman and men with breast cancer. It is a "make a wish" style organization, that allows people with terminal cancer to do one last wish to do in life before cancer wins. Now the reason I mention this, is because in the beginning she only started small with a select group of victims. In time, her love for the people helped her to broaden the realm of help to include several different groups.

So what I was wondering. Couldn't the purpose of the silentlambs organization grow to include victims in other religions. This is after all a problem far far larger then the Watchtower. Victims are in all the churches of the world. I would love to see the purpose become a "world action group" for all victims of abuse at the hand of religion. I would love to see it set up with lawyers who specialized in these cases and support numbers and people in regions around the country. I say this, as I have seen the immensely positive love that has come from what I have seen my aunt's charity. Not that they should back away from the Watchtower, but rather show that this problem is everywhere now. I saw something mentioned "it is about the children" and I agree. I just think there are a lot of children suffering at the hand of churches and would love to see a large organization emerge to fight for all of them, whether they be JW's, Mormons, Catholics, Baptized, Seventh Day Adventist, etc.

My basic question then is this, "what is the purpose of the silentlambs, what results are wanted and where does the future take it?"

Just wondering

blondie

This is what I found under "My Story" on the Silentlambs site. It seems to be a two-fold goal: Change the WTS policy on handling child abuse cases and to give practical help to abused ones.

I encourage one and all to write, call, e-mail and by any other means let the Watchtower Organization know this policy must change, children are being hurt, it must be stopped now. Your voice can make a difference. If you do not know what to write just send them a copy of my letter or your personal thoughts to:
Watchtower
25 Columbia Heights
Brooklyn, NY 11201-2483
Call them at:
(718) 560-5600
Ask for J. R. Brown (Public Affairs)
We also would like to provide a resource for any victim of molestation to utilize and be able to find help. We have established silentlambs as a non-profit organization for the benefit of those who have been molested. We wish to provide resources to offer counseling, legal, financial and other assistance to those whose lives have been injured by molestation issues. If you would like to contribute your time or resources to assist this effort, please e-mail us at [email protected] .

kenpodragon

What specifically then do they want changed. Do they have a plan of how they want things done ... basically a list of demands? I am pushing this, so that I get a complete answer. That is how I am. I can not just say they want the way things handled changed, first question would be "changed how?"

Take Care

Dragon

blondie

Well, I would first read over on the site since I did not print everything. Then I would direct my question to Bill Bowen or any others that are officially assisting him. You can email him directly at the e-mail listed on the site or the e-mail he provides here.

Do I personally think he can change the policies at the WTS? Maybe if there is enough pressure, but it will never be attributed by the WTS to anything the Silentlambs organization has done. They will make it look like "new light."

But I do think it is important that people who have been abused as children by members of the WTS should know they are not alone and that there is practical resources available for them.

Tinkerbell4125

My take on it is, that the WTS change the policy of abuse. Another words, when the elders are informed of abuse, that they report it to their local authorities.

Simon

Given that whatever has already happened cannot be changed, however much we may want it, the primary motive must be to prevent these things happening again in the future - to protect children and prevent any more victims.

This would be the 'reform' bit - change hwo they work and what they do.

Beyond this, I'm sure some have designs on "bringing down the Watchtower" but I think that the next main 'goal' should be to secure some recompense for the victims.

We can't change the past but the ones responsibile can at least apologise and pay up for their part in things.

Pathofthorns

This was something that has bothered me for a long while as well. Having reflected on the issue for a while I would think their objectives would be for the Society to realize the limitations of their untrained elders.

Child abuse is a crime and along with many other issues such as marriage counselling, substance abuse etc. they are simply not qualified professions and need to refer these individuals to those who are. In cases of criminal matters, the elders need to contact the authorities personally.

After years of commenting on things they have no clue about, the Society should realize that they are way out of their league in so many areas. People have put their trust in these men, only to realize that so much guidance and advice was bad. And after having given such bad guidance they always beg off from accepting any responsibility for what they have strongly "encouraged" people to do.

I don't believe the existance of the WT Society is consistent with the ultimate objectives of Silentlambs. This is a religion that by what defines it ultimately harms people and creates victims. No matter what changes it makes, it will never be enough to make it stop hurting people.

Path

cellomould

Recently, a clever individual (I forget whom) on this board pointed out that the average JW, when faced with a potential child molester, runs STRAIGHT to the elders. The elders are certainly not police; occasionally they even acknowledge this.

Most definitely, JWs should be encouraged to confront the accused person first. This makes things really simple...if he/she denies the abuse, a formal investigation may settle the issue. And of course, the elders are not positioned to lead this kind of investigation. But they can provide safe mediation, as well as listening ears. That is really all they need to do...don't judge, just listen.

If they are going to continue to believe in the Bible, they should follow it as well.

'Don't go beyond what is written' indeed!

cellmould

kenpodragon

Does the society need to be destroyed or just corrected on procedures, so that they do not harm people?

Just wondering

Dragon

Pathofthorns

I would say if they corrected every procedure that was wrong with them, they would cease to exist since these things to a large extent define what they are. If you correct everything wrong with this religion you have nothing left, or certainly nothing that makes them everything they have claimed to be.

In addition, change in effect says we were wrong, or we were negligent which opens them to lawsuits and settlements. They could make changes but it would cost them dearly. It would seem they would rather the human costs than the financial ones.

I would have liked to see them make an effort to change when these things have been brought to their attention. I realize such changes would come at a price but it would be the right thing to do for a group that supposedly cared about the welfare of it's members. Their inaction or reluctance to make positive changes speaks volumes about their hearts.

Path

What is the goal of the silentlambs organization?

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