Not all JWs are paedophiles! (page 3)

Brummie

I do not think all "23,720" are convicted child molesters but alleged child molesters

The alligations come from the Child, whether or not convicted is a fault in Watchtower cruel policy rather than the fault of the Child, I do agree with you IW that publishing ALL the names may be unwise, but those convicted should be named for all the congregations to know about it. In just a couple of instances it may be that the parent has put the child up to it to get back at say a spouse who has left etc. But that would bring the numbers down to 23, 718. Or maybe just a little lower. (I'm playing with the statistics just to demonstrate that even if the accusations were not true it would only be in a few instances, hardly noticable).

I believe these numbers are not accurate, they are the figures from almost 2 years ago. I guess they will be a lot higher now. These are the ones that have had the the accusations brought into the GB's notice, there are many more who havent been found out yet, there time will come.

Brummie

IslandWoman

Skully,

I'm really holding back from giving you a well-deserved blast, because there are so many people here - myself included - who were not believed and were basically told to shut up about what happened to them. Your attitude is just as invalidating.

Good grief, blast away woman! I despise pedophiles, my niece was sexually abused and not believed, so I know first hand what it can do. Don't come to me with your "you don't understand" stuff.

Now, this is where I come from, where I always come from: Truth is better than hyperbole. In my opinion, to tell abuse survivors that there is a list of names at Bethel and if only Bethel would release those names to the publishers things would be a lot better is chicken ca-ca. You must know that they would be unable to release the names to the public as you suggest they should. This is playing a game nothing more. A get the Tower and the hell with anything else stupid game. A game that plays with people's emotions.

I'll be damned if I ever tell my niece, "Hon, if only the Tower would have the elders announce the names of accused pedophiles in their area then other little girls would be safer!" I have too much respect for her intelligence and her feelings to suggest something that I know cannot be. They cannot release the names of all accused pedophiles to the public.

I am not going to discuss this with you any further.

Same here, babe.

IW

berylblue

Not all accused child molesters are guilty

This is most certainly true.

There are always going to be those who are accused of this heinous crime who are not guilty. However, in the not too distant past, children and survivors were routintely disbelieved (if, indeed, they had the support and courage to come forth in the first place). Perhaps we have swung too far in the opposite direction (and perhaps not, I myself can't decide); but despite the fact that some are unjustly accused (and have their lives ruined as a result) I for one would never want to go back to the days when children's accusations were routinely ignored. The price the falsely accused pays is high, but the price survivors pay when they finally (if ever) summon the courage to come forth about their abuse, and are demeaned and scoffed at and ultimately dismissed, exhorbitant.

Even though I hurt deeply for innocent persons accused of this horrible crime, I bleed more for the children who have been victims.

Rosemarie

Lady Lee

If they can give a talk about fornication, adultery, drinking, apostasy, smoking, bad associations, dining with apostates, etc and then annouce a disfellowshipping (ergo we all know what YOU did) then why are they so adamant about protecting the privacy of child abusers?

They shun the victims and let the perps roam free.

I don't know but I really really really really really really think this is backwards

berylblue

If they can give a talk about fornication, adultery, drinking, apostasy, smoking, bad associations, dining with apostates, etc and then annouce a disfellowshipping (ergo we all know what YOU did) then why are they so adamant about protecting the privacy of child abusers?

Good point, Lady Lee. I would like to think that it's because the crime is so heinous, it is unspeakable. But I suspect that is not the case.

Rosemarie.

Brummie

Truth is better than hyperbole

IW I always like your reasoning. With the above quote I agree for the most part, but something like this needs magnifying. Plus I think if a congregation knows who the ped is then it is a safer place.

If they can give a talk about fornication, adultery, drinking, apostasy, smoking, bad associations, dining with apostates, etc and then annouce a disfellowshipping (ergo we all know what YOU did) then why are they so adamant about protecting the privacy of child abusers?

Wow Ladylee! That just about sums it up for me. I'd like to hear a response to it.

Brummie

IslandWoman

Berylblue,

I for one would never want to go back to the days when children's accusations were routinely ignored.

I absolutely agree!

It should be up to the courts to decide who is guilty or innocent, not public opinion. The publishing of a list for all to read will play well in the court of public opinion but should it really be tried there? Also, with all the talk here about the Tower's fear of lawsuits etc., does anyone really think they will leave themselves open to even more lawsuits from the innocent who are so publicly slandered?

Lady Lee,

I agree, the Watchtower is turned on its head.

As far as the list is concerned the problem with publishing it is that pedophilia is a crime, and I do not think that anyone can simply publish a list (for public consumption) of people who have been merely accused. The Watchtower's two witness rule policy is abominable, it's handling of this problem is a crime in itself, but can they legally publish a list of accused?

That would be like CNN publishing the names of people accused of pedophilia before the police have investigated the crime or have even spoken to the victims! It cannot be.

IW

Lady Lee

The list needs to be turned over to the police - that is a criminal problem and needs to be dealt with as such

However within the congregation there needs to be some changes

when they do their little investigations (if they actually were to take the victim's word) they need to take action to protect that child and any and all others in the cong
when a person discloses a case of abuse they need to give one of those talks and warn people there has been an accusation
if there is enough evidence that the abuse did occur they need to at the very least mark that person as a warning to others. DFing would be great because everyone would stay away from him or her. Other cong would have to be informed in case he goes looking elsewhere for new victims - at least the elders need to know
they need to inform the cong that approriate legal action has been taken - report to police and other authorities as needed not as required
the victim's family must be permitted to warn others who come into contact with the accused perp

Just like in the real world the accused is arrested and loses their reputation so too in the WT world. - like why are they treated better there than anywhere else. If the accusation proves false he/she actually has a better chance of regaining their reputation in the cong than anywhere else so they get a break there that they wouldn't get in the real world.

If they can announce everything else under the sun to the cong they can announce this one too

Abusers rely on secrecy and silence. As it is now the cong gives them exactly what they need.

The victim needs honesty and openess. And that is exactly what they are denied

Francois

I would agree with the subject statement. However, I would add that many more JWs who are not directly pedophiles are guilty of pedophilia as accessories after the fact. In 95% of all cases of pedophilia, the spouse of the abuser is fully aware of the nature and frequency of the abuse taking place in the home.

Right this moment I know of an elder who has raped at least three little girls and his wife knows, his sister knows, at least one of the little girl's mothers knows, I know, God knows, and the three little girls know.

In fact the number of JWs who are accessories after the fact is far greater than the actual number of pedophiles.

HOW MANY bad apples is it that spoils the entire barrel?

Pork Chop

So Francois, does that make you an accessory after the fact, or have you reported this to the authorities? If you haven't looks to me like you're condemned by your own statement.

Not all JWs are paedophiles!

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