Hypothetical: a JW murders someone and the victim's spouse (also a JW) calls the police. The spouse and the perpetrator are the only witnesses, and the perp is admitting nothing. Could the person who calls the police be disciplined for not calling the elders first? Or for "taking a brother to court"?
The Limits on Taking Your Brother to Court
by NotFormer 1 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
-
-
EasyPrompt
I don't know about the "murder" situation, but I can speak about the "domestic assault" situation.
If the spouse (a JW) calls the police for help regarding abuse by the JW mate, the elders will frown upon it.
If the state prosecutes the perp and part of his restrictions are to be out of the home for a year, the elders will penalize the victimized spouse by withholding her "privileges" in the congregation and shun her socially (even though she is not disfellowshipped).
Even if the state says the perp isn't allowed to talk to the victim while the state restrictions are in place and the perp isn't allowed in the house, the elders will insist that the perp is still "head of the house" and will attempt to "deal with the victim" only through the perp.
The elders will also give aid to the perp so he has lawyers and they will also support the perp if he cuts off or restricts finances to the victim and any of their children.
If the victimized spouse attempts to make a fresh start in another congregation, Bethel will tell the elders of that new KH to send the victim back to the original congregation "to work on her marriage" even while the state restrictions are still in place.
When the victim allows the perp back home, if he is really mad and takes vengeance for having been arrested by continuing to be verbally abusive and threatening, the elders will support him even if they have video/audio of the verbal abuse as well as witnesses. Then the elders will disfellowship the victim if she continues to ask for help. But the elders will overlook anything the perp does (alcohol abuse, adultery, smoking, swearing, etc) as long as he "bows" to the elders.
It is the same if a victim reports an abusive person in the congregation, especially a perp on the elder body. The more the victim tries to get help, the more they will be silenced, restricted, and eventually disfellowshipped if they don't stop asking for help or warning others about what is going on in the congregation.