http://www.watchtower.org/library/g/1993/10/8a/article_01.htm
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I couldn't find word ONE on what to do if a victim is coerced to be quiet so as not to bring reproach on Jehovah's name.
TR
Official WTS Site - "Protecting Your Child...
by TR 6 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse
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Elsewhere
In various countries disturbing reports have surfaced about religious cults that abuse children with sadistic sexual practices and torture. Often, those who report that they were victims of such crimes are treated with incredulity, not compassion.
Hmmm, sounds familiar... didn't someone at the march accuse a member of the GB of this very thing? -
ashitaka
Aye.
Of course, that never happens in the Witness congregations.....they are spotless.
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Elsewhere
Many survivors suffer profound feelings of worthlessness and low self-esteem. Experts in the field have listed some common aftereffects of incest on girls, such as running away, drug and alcohol abuse, depression, attempted suicide, delinquency, promiscuity, sleep disturbances, and learning problems. Long-range effects may include poor parenting skills, frigidity, distrust of men, marriage to a pedophile, lesbianism, prostitution, and child molestation itself.
These aftereffects are not inevitable for a victim; nor could anyone rightly excuse wrong conduct solely on the grounds of having been assaulted in the past. Abuse does not predestine its victims to be immoral or delinquent; nor does it dissolve all their personal responsibility for the choices they make later in life. But these common outcomes for victims are real dangers.
This line of thinking is sick! They say it is very common for abuse victims to experience these effects resulting from abuse, but they are still INEXCUSABE! (Translation: If you do any of these things after being abused, you WILL be DFed!!!)
Ahhh yes! Can't you just feeeeeeeeeeeeeal the love?
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Elsewhere
"Don't ever tell. It will be our secret."
"No one would believe you."
"If you tell, your parents will hate you. They'll know it was your fault."
"Don't you want to be my special friend anymore?"
"You don't want me to go to jail, do you?"
"I'll kill your parents if you tell."
According to the article, these are things that the ABUSER commonly tells the abused... is it just me or are these the same things that the Elders tell the abuse victem durring the "investigation"???
Don't ever tell. It will be our secret. - Everything said in this meeting is to remain Confidential.
No one would believe you - Brother X has been an upstanding member of the congregation for N years, how could you slander him like that??? (Refer to Item #1)
If you tell, your parents will hate you. They'll know it was your fault - (Refer to Item #1 and #2)
Don't you want to be my special friend anymore? - If you tell anyone or bring reproach on Jehovah's organization, you will be DFed.
You don't want me to go to jail, do you? - You don't want to bring reproach on Jehovah's Organization do you?
I'll kill your parents if you tell. - If you tell anyone or bring reproach on Jehovah's organization, you will be DFed and your family will be required to shun you.
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TR
Elsewhere,
Good job. The info you just quoted is exactly why I started this thread. The WTS puts some good info on paper, yet they are too "good" to apply it to themselves.
"It has come to light that some perpetrators of child molestation have used 'protecting the Society' from bad publicity as an excuse for not going to the authorities".
I'm afraid that we just won't ever see the above words in WTS print.
TR
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SloBoy
Elsewhere,
I share your observation. I can't recall the exact moment when I realized that the Witnesses were one big "dysfunctional" family, but having lived one life that way already, I was now able to identify the dynamics. Your application of the molestor's coercive tactics fits most congregations, and the Society as a whole. Good work!