Elder's manual or similar from early to mid 1960s re sexual abuse issue

by Lee Marsh 11 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

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  Lee Marsh

  I am looking for any information given to elders during the early to mid 1960s on how to deal with child sexual abuse within the congregation.

  It could be in letters or in some version of an elder's handbook or a letter to the elders that specifies how elder were to deal with the issue of sexual abuse within the congregation; not going to elders, silence about the issue, how to handle it with the minor and the accused.. If there was any direction to the elders that precedes this time period that would work too.
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  DisgruntledFool

  I'd be interested in that, also. My mother brought a family into the religion in the early 1960's and it was an open secret that the father was molesting his oldest daughter. He was never disfellowshipped or reproved and could go out in service and be involved in the ministry school.
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  was a new boy

  p31

  'While a person is under surveillance, periodically, say

  every month, the congregation servant or one of the committee

  would check with the person under surveillance to

  see that he is conducting himself properly and offer counsel

  and help that Will build him up. This applies to all probations

  of surveillance, including probations that a marriage

  mate or parent is allowed to institute.'

  
  

  A 'confessed' child molester from the 1960's said he had to report to elders every month, for a period of time. Within a year or so, he was made an elder. He's passed now.

  
  

  Silence was the rule, don't mention it, and it won't happen.
  

  
  

  The 1st mention of child sex abuse would be in the 10/22/67 p29 Awake, according to 1930-1985 Pub. Index.

  
  

  Heard of a Judicial Committee case, decades ago, where a girlfriend of a brother was in one for petting . One of the Elders must have done his own 'under surveillance' of this sister. She was so hot; he stole her from the boyfriend, left his wife and kids and married her.
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  BluesBrother

  I have only got my memory to go on , but I believe there was very little on the subject bar the criticism of other churches where it was reported.

  The first I heard was a letter to elders between 1995/1997 where the subject was discussed and we were told to send up to Bethel the details of any cases we had handled. I gather that was the origin of the infamous “ secret list of pedos”

  We were shocked to think that such things could happen “ in God’s organisation “
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  Beth Sarim

  In 1995/1997 isn't this around the time when the elders in the congregations were instructed to put the names of the local pedophiles in these "" bkue envelopes"" ?
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  Lee Marsh

  hmmm. So it sounds like it might default to the issue of rape and putting the blame or responsibility on the victim.

  But not reported to the police and dealt with it within the congregation.

  And "surveillance" ???? How stupid. Just ask him if he did it again and when he says no enough times, make him an elder.

  To be historically correct society didn't want to talk about it in the 60s. The first books and serious research wasn't done until the early 80s.

  However, when I was 11, in 1963, I walked into a police station by myself and reported my father for molesting me. (pre-JW). They interviewed me, and when they realized I knew what I was talking about and there was medical proof, they got a woman, who I suspect was a social worker, to continue with the interview. Then the police drove me home and we sat in the car down the street and watched as they took my father out of the house in handcuffs. I did not see him again until the court case. At least someone was taking this seriously.

  One year later, in 1964, when my mother was studying with the JWs, my step-father was reported to the elders and not the police. My mother walked in and saw him with me, so I sure wasn't lying. Not a she said, he said sort of deal. My mother chose to keep him in the home and send me to foster care. With the elder's blessing. It seems everyone blamed me for this. He was in his 40s and I was 12.. I weighed under 100 lbs maybe 5' tall and he weighed over 200 lbs and was 6'4". And they expected me to stop him.
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  Biahi

  I’m so sorry, Lee Marsh. Is your abuser still alive?
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  was a new boy

  Child sex abuse was lumped in with 'sexual immorality involving other persons' in the 1967 book.

  https://files.accessjw.org/s/dWt76ALH9rTBGKA

  
  
  
  
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  was a new boy

  Did they learn anything from Ted Jaracz' months? long probation?

  
  
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  was a new boy

  In the 60's women did get to supervise the probation, if she forgave her adulterous husband.