UPDATE: Protest Rally for TUESDAY , October 19 at the Queen's Bench

by Dogpatch 40 Replies latest jw friends

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  Happy Guy :)

  Sorry ,but ive thought about this for ages now.There is no way on earth that the Witnesses i know or knew,would allow a known Paedophile to go un-reported and to be free to be around Kids.It wouldnot happen.That means the Elders too.Im not denying abuse happens.Clearly it has happened,but not to the extent some People say. Many testimonials from credible people support this abuse IT, at least to a highly significant extent. Many of us have had different experiences than you IT. You are very fortunate to not have had these types of bad experiences. * Practicing some cut and paste
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  outoftheorg

  FOR EVERY ONE PERSON WHO FINALLY TELLS OF THEIR ABUSE, THERE ARE SEVERAL WHO NEVER DO.

  THEY FEEL GUILTY AND WERE PUT IN A STAGE OF FEAR BY THE PERP.

  MY TWO DAUGHTERS, SAID NOTHING TO ME FOR MANY YEARS. ONLY WHEN ONE OF THE COUSINS AT HER MID TWENTIES TOLD MY SON OF THE ABUSE SHE EXPERIENCED.

  THEN THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS WERE UP AND MY GOING TO THE POLICE RESULTED IN THEIR TAKING THE INFORMATION, BUT NO PROSECUTION. IT ALSO RESULTED IN THE ELDERS TRYING TO TELL ME NOT TO INVOLVE THE POLICE.

  THEY ALSO TOLD ME IT WAS UP TO ME, TO MAKE MY DAUGHTERS ACCEPT THE ACTONS OF THE WBTS.

  IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT A PEDOPHILE ALMOST NEVER QUITS. I FORGET THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF VICTIMS PER PEDOPHILE, BUT IT WAS OVER A HUNDRED IF I RECALL CORRECTLY.

  PUT ALL THESE FACTS TOGETHER AND THEN TELL ME AGAIN THAT CERTAINLY THE ELDERS WOULD CALL THE POLICE.
• 

  IT Support

  fleaman,

  There is no way on earth that the Witnesses i know or knew,would allow a known Paedophile to go un-reported and to be free to be around Kids.It wouldnot happen.That means the Elders too.

  Actually, it does happen, and more often than you might think. Although I would agree with your general assertion that most JWs, including elders, abhor child abuse. However elders do have to follow Society rules. Consider the following scenario: an adult sister approaches an elder and tells him as a child she was abused by her JW father (or any other male JW).

  The elder tells her he must phone Legal for advice. They tell him the sister has to approach the alleged abuser, along with the elder for support if she wishes, in line with Matthew 18:15-17. If she refuses, even if out of embarrasment or fear, the elder is told they can do nothing more. He is told to call back to let them know what happens.

  The elder speaks to the sister. As expected, she is terrified at the prospect of confronting her abuser and refuses. She tells the elder she only told him of the abuse because she needs spiritual help and encouragement.

  The elder calls back to Legal and tells them the sister won't speak to the alleged abuser. He is asked if there are any other witnesses to the alleged abuse. He says no, not that he knows of. He is asked are there any other allegations of abuse against this brother. He reples no, not that he knows of. He is told that there is nothing they can do, as there is only a single witness. He is also told to write a full report and send it to Legal so they have a record of the allegations.

  That is a typical scenario, and it happens regularly. (I've no reason to doubt the figures Uzzah suggested of around one case per week in Canada and the UK, and around ten per week in the US.)

  So the situation thus far is that the alleged abuser is known to the elders, or at least the PO and one other elder, but they are not allowed to do anything.

  The real problem comes when you realise that abusers cannot be 'cured': they rarely, if ever, abuse only a single child. (NB: does anyone know actual statistics? How many children does the average abuser molest? I looked to see if there were any authoritative figures, but couldn't find any...)

  Therefore, each abuser has probably already molested another, say, 10 or 20 or 50 children. And will continue abusing yet more children. It's just that none of the others has yet had the courage to tell anyone about it.

  However, in spite of this clear danger, and of knowing of the presence of the alleged abuser within their midst, the elders continue to do nothing about him, under the specific instructions of the WT Legal Department. There is nothing to stop the alleged abuser associating with children (in or out of the congregation), being trusted by the rest of the congregation and pehaps babysitting for other families: goodness knows what happens when he comes across a young child home alone while out in field service...

  To rub salt into the wound, if the sister who was abused confides in a couple of her friends in the congregation and this leaks out, then the sister herself could be disfellowshipped for slander or for causing divisions.

  Regards,

  Ken
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  IT Support

  Happy Guy :)

  Sorry ,but ive thought about this for ages now.There is no way on earth that the Witnesses i know or knew,would allow a known Paedophile to go un-reported and to be free to be around Kids.It wouldnot happen.That means the Elders too.Im not denying abuse happens.Clearly it has happened,but not to the extent some People say.

  Many testimonials from credible people support this abuse IT, at least to a highly significant extent. Many of us have had different experiences than you IT. You are very fortunate to not have had these types of bad experiences.

  Thanks for your post. I fully agree with you--I was actually quoting from fleaman's post, but somehow my post was prematurely posted: I've now deleted the post you read and the finished post is now posted.

  Happy posting.

  Uzzah,

  Hope the case goes well, and you get fantastic support for the rally.

  Best wishes,

  Ken
• 

  LittleToe

  Fleaman:

  Im aware of the Panorama programme.A nasty piece of doorstep Journalism.But of course i felt for the poor Girl in Scotland.Please read my posts carefully.I am no fan of the Organization ,but i feel they would not (99%of the time any way)knowingly allow Child molesters in their midst.

  You'll excuse me if I ask you why you feel it was "a nasty piece of doorstep Journalism"?
  They accurately portrayed what happened.

  I knew the Elders from that congregation personally, given that I was in the same Circuit. I never thought for one minute that anybody would get let down by such "mature" brothers. The facts speak for themselves, however. There was a conflict of interests between the needs of one wee lassie and "Jehovah's name" (AKA - the reputation of the organization).
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  LittleToe

  Three times for emphasis...
• 

  LittleToe

  Three times for emphasis...
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  fleaman uk

  Morning Little Toe

  You'll excuse me if I ask you why you feel it was "a nasty piece of doorstep Journalism"?
  They accurately portrayed what happened.

  Sorry but i hate the kind of Tv programmes where People are surprised with allegations pertaining to a organization or movement they are involved in.Im talking about the Guy(sorry,i forget his name)who had a Microphone shoved up his nose and asked to comment on the figures of paedophiles in the religion just as i think he was about to take the stage.it just smacks of sensationalism to me.Again tho,i felt for the individual cases involved.

  I re-iterate my support for anyone who has been horribly abused or even gagged to prevent "divisions"in the Congregation.Maybe,i have said too much,im certainly no expert in Congo matters(only ever made it to Ms)and apologise for any ignorance.Im just going by my Personal Experiences of never knowing 1 case involving molesting and also being aware of how everyone knows everyones business!
• 

  LittleToe

  Fleaman:

  Im talking about the Guy(sorry,i forget his name)who had a Microphone shoved up his nose and asked to comment on the figures of paedophiles in the religion just as i think he was about to take the stage.it just smacks of sensationalism to me.

  It was after the guy had left the stage.
  Unfortunately they wouldn't arrange a proper interview. For some reason they were unavailable for comment. Hence Panorama went the extra mile. Go figure...
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  fleaman uk

  Little toe

  Ive been polite to you.I have just given my thoughts on a subject that is extremely delicate to say the least.I know full well that they wouldnt give an interview.Dont be condescending to me by saying "go figure".