I read in the paper this morning that the Mormon church considers Elizabeth Smart to be "pure before God." I couldn't help but wonder if Elizabeth Smart were one of Jehovah's Witnesses, what the elders' reaction would be? Do they take the attitude that she was raped? If so, she didn't scream so she must have been "asking for it", so she would have to be disfellowshipped. She was kidnapped at night from her bedroom, so she surely wasn't dressed head to toe, so again she was "asking for it", and she should be severely counseled for dressing inapprpriately.
However, they could also take the tack that this was child abuse, in which case Elizabeth Smart would have to present two eyewitnesses to the "alleged" abuse, which would include the actual act of rape. Her sister only saw her being kidnappped so she doesn't count. So since no one actually saw the actual abuse occur (that we know of), it must not have happened, therefore neither Elizabeth Smart, nor her parents should talk about the kidnapping in public, or to police or to the media, since that would be slander and a true Christian should never spread slander against anyone. After all the kidnapper/rapist does have feelings too! And her grandfather should be severely counseled for slander since he spoke to the congregation about this "alleged" event and he should be required to offer up an apology to the kidnapper/rapist for slandering him.
Now, in no way am I trying to show disrespect for the horror this child has gone through and the agony her parents have experienced. However I am trying to point out the ridiculuous lengths Jehovah's Witnesses go to and the out and out evil of a couple of Witness policies. Can you imagine how much difficult on this child, and her family, this experience would have been if they were all baptized Jehovah's Witnesses?