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Unfortunately, that is not always the case. I am an avid supporter of Silent Lambs, Link, and Snap-Up. There are usually not two observers to a case of child sexual abuse. It happens often. It is said that 1 in every 4 girls are abused, and 1 of every 6 boys are abused, sexually, by the time they are 18 years old. That's a very high number. 1 is a high number.
There *are* instances when a child will name a relative or friend as a sexual abuser, and that abuse has not taken place. Of that, there is no doubt. However, usually children under 10 do not do this because they are unaware of the "mechanics" of the law. They do not realize what allegations such as these will mean to their family. They are often not aware of what will happen if they report it. Such children are often threatened with the loss of their mother/father/family if they tell, so they are quite scared. Oftentimes, they actually do *not* report it for fear they will lose their family. They actually don't realize it until MUCH later.
However, when Dateline aired, the elder <Bill Bowen, who was, in fact, an elder at the time of the call> called headquarters, at their direction, and asked about a case of child molestation in his congregation. The advice of the elder in New York was "walk away from it. Jehovah will take care of it." If you don't believe me that he received this direction from the Society, you can see the clip at www.silentlambs.com. That said it all for me. It only shows their lax attitude toward child molestation. Another thing that really clinched it for me was when they followed a known abuser out in service. What the heck are they doing letting known and convicted child molesters go door to door? That's CRAZY!
Fortunately, I don't think I'd be as generous as you when attributing human characteristics to this organization. At least the Catholic church is acknowledging its problem and is trying to correct it by having open and honest conferences with the survivors, and paying out settlements, and trying to make its image a litle bit better. You cannot see that with the JW's. They are arrogant, stubborn and willful, something that should NOT be seen with an organization that touts itself as the mouthpiece of God.
God wouldn't ask that children be sacrificed to pedophiles while waiting on his just judgment. I like an old saying "God helps those that help themselves." That's a favorite in my book. You are saying that God will take care of it eventually, so let'sjust forget about it. I'm saying that we should Do something about it. I'm saying that ALL of the United States should require that people that suspect or even for a minute think that child sexual abuse should report, should. Are you saying, ethically, that they shouldn't even though, morally, they should? That's what the JW's response to Bill's call told me. If you don't have to report it, don't. The less media coverage, the better.
Sorry.. my mission in life is to save ONE child.. and if I can save ONE child that is what my life was worth.
Country Girl
