Silent Lambs Reprimands the Watchtower Society

Kenneson

See "Group renews charge that Jehovah's Witnesses indifferent to sexual abuse" at

http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/04/03/48864503.shtml?Element_ID=48864503

Billygoat

Does the writer mean JR Brown??? Who is JR Ross?

Mary

J.R. Ross, a spokesman for the national Jehovah's Witness organization, said that while accusations had been made that the church was shielding pedophiles, they had not been proved. If members commit sexual abuse, they can be excommunicated, Ross said.

Oh vomit, vomit, vomit.........what kind of assinine statement is that to make?? And what planet is this asshole on?? There have been NUMEROUS cases that have gone to court, proved beyond any doubt that "upstanding" brothers in the congregation had molested underage kids and are now in prison. The fact that the victims are treated like shit from the rest in the congregation proves without a doubt that they like to harbour pedophiles.

The role of a church leader is to help a person spiritually, not prosecute someone for a secular crime, Ross said. Consequently, church leaders report to secular authorities only in states where they are required to do so by law, he said.

No, but they certainly don't hesitate to prosecute anyone within the Organization for a non-secular crime.............and when a secular crime DOES occur, they admit that they'll only report it "where they are required to do so by law". What about their "Christian conscience"??? Should the fact that they like to think that they're so much better than the average worldly person, mean that they would automatically report a crime, whether or not they were required to do so by law??? What kind of bullshit statement is that??

''Generally, the purpose of a cleric or minister is to entertain confessions of sin the person has committed and try to help the individual restore their relationship with God,'' Ross said.

Last time I checked the bible, that was Jesus' job, not a minister's job.

''I don't know of any religious organization that has required all of its ministers to report every case of child abuse.''

Surely J.R. Brown isn't comparing "The Trooth" to other "religious organizations".........aren't they all part of Babylon The Great?? Isn't the Society light-years ahead of all other religions when it comes to morality and responsibility??? I guess in a case like this when it's obvious to everyone that they're no damn better (and in this case, a hell of a lot worse) than anyone else, they like to shrug it off with "well not everyone else is doing it so why should we?"

What a f*cking moron this guy is..........I hope he burns in Hell.

hillary_step

Hello,

The WTS lawyers may be morons, but they have the 1st Amendment on their team and with that in place it will always be an uphill battle to bring these religions to the justice book. The WTS knows the 1st Amendment and its implications better than most Judges, and has used it as a protective shield around itself for many, many generations and will do so into the foreseeable future unless lobbying changes this legislation.

It would be neglectful of WTS Legal not to hide behind the 1st Amendment, for as soon as the step outside its protective boundaries their whole world, secularly and theologically will collapse on their pointed heads. The brief of WTS Legal is to prevent this happening at *all* and *any* cost.

The most effective way of bringing the WTS and other such religions to justice over such matters as child abuse and sucides due to shunning is for a clear paper trail to be presented to the courts that either implicate individuals within the WTS in a deliberate cover-up, or shows that the local elders have played a part in driving an individual to suicide. IMHO until such paperwork is uncovered, justice will continue to be frustrated.

I once again appeal to any DO's, CO's or elders within the WTS and who are sitting on such evidence to search their conscience and make an honest appraisal of whether they are actually serving the interests of their God in doing so.

My email address is [email protected]. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you wish to talk things over. I will *guarantee* your anonymity, whatever the outcome.

Best regards - HS

sf

[editing to make known that the correction will be made shortly and BROWN will appear, not ROSS; as I just spoke with Mr. Lewis on phone...in his notes BROWN is stated, yet he cannot say why he put in ROSS; he said he just had a mix up and will correct it]

Why is it stating ROSS as his surname?

Clearly this is false.

sKally

DevonMcBride

It's a very good article, thanks for posting

Devon

Kenneson

The sentence that "jumped" at me is "...church leaders report to secular authorities only in states where they are required to do so by law, he [Brown] said."

Then he hides behind the confession/confidentially of penitents. Sounds alot like Catholics, doesn't it?

orangefatcat

Mary I enjoyed what you posted.

And I agree whole heartedly with your statements. Yes isn't it just strange how they say that confessionals don't exist in the organization and yet that is what they are in fact doing, expecting persons to confess and then wham bam thank you maam your out the door. I want to know why is it that they have set themselves higher than the Christ ? They can't absovlve people of their sins anymore than they should be disfellowshipping person. We all answer in the end to God and Christ.

Orangefatcat.

PS I have such disgust for sexual predators they are the very vermin on this earth. May they all rot in hell. I know I am not the judge but if I were they would be forever obliterated.

sf

If you will please take notice, Mr. Lewis has corrected the article and it now contains J.R. Brown, not J.R. Ross.

http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/04/03/48864503.shtml?Element_ID=48864503

Friday, 03/26/04
Group renews charge that Jehovah's Witnesses indifferent to sexual abuse

By BRIAN LEWIS
Staff Writer

Local Jehovah's Witness leaders are ignoring requests to meet with survivors of sexual abuse and their advocates, an organization calling for change in the church's policies on sexual abuse said.

Bill Bowen, national director of Silent Lambs, said sexual abuse in Jehovah's Witness congregations is ''an epidemic that's got to stop. Jehovah's Witnesses provide an excellent example of policy gone wrong.''

He was speaking outside a west Nashville Kingdom Hall, as the Jehovah's Witness churches are called. Silent Lambs also is sponsoring a conference on combating ''ignorance and apathy when it comes to sexual abuse'' tomorrow and Sunday at the Sheraton Music City Hotel, 777 McGavock Pike.

J.R. Brown, a spokesman for the national Jehovah's Witness organization, said that while accusations had been made that the church was shielding pedophiles, they had not been proved. If members commit sexual abuse, they can be excommunicated, Brown said.

The role of a church leader is to help a person spiritually, not prosecute someone for a secular crime, Brown said. Consequently, church leaders report to secular authorities only in states where they are required to do so by law, he said.

''Generally, the purpose of a cleric or minister is to entertain confessions of sin the person has committed and try to help the individual restore their relationship with God,'' Brown said. ''I don't know of any religious organization that has required all of its ministers to report every case of child abuse.''

However, some religious organizations, including the Roman Catholic Church, do require clergy to report all cases of sexual abuse to the police.

Also at the news conference, Silent Lambs presented an award to Jeff Walden of Nashville for speaking out about the abuse that he suffered as a child in a Memphis Jehovah's Witness congregation.

''If you speak out in this religion, you have to leave your life behind you and move on,'' said Walden, who said his experience as a Witness had turned him off to organized religion.

Brian Lewis writes about religion, faith and values. He can be reached at 259-8077 or [email protected].

sKally

Kenneson

sKally,

Thanks for making the reporter aware of his mistake and for posting his correction.

Silent Lambs Reprimands the Watchtower Society

Share this