Posts by Lizette55

In the late 60’s while pioneering I was sexually assaulted by a Special Pioneer brother, he had served for 20 years in Bethel and now served as a “Special Pioneer in our congregation. I went to the providing overseer and another overseer and was assured that the brother’s would deal with the situation. A few months later I moved from the area and lost contact. However, several years later when his wife committed suicide in a hotel leaving a letter stating he, her husband one of Jehovah Witnesses had molested and raped many young witness girls in the congregation and she could no longer live with the guilt; she committed suicide. The letter was in the local newspaper. The brother went to prison and was “finally” disfellowshiped, but only after it had become public knowledge. I was devastated and I felt guilty because I knew he was a predator and I should have done something more to protect other young girls. Obviously going to the brothers who were entrusted to shepherd and protect the flock was not the answer. Our sisters suicide and the molestation of innocent young girls in the congregation have weighed heavy on my mind to this day. The argument of the need for two witnesses does not apply in the case of rape and molestation, and surely after more than one young girl reports the inappropriate behavior of a “brother” would cover the need for two witnesses if they ignorantly held to that argument. Clearly the only concern of the “brothers” is outward appearances not the well being of the flock. It is “Organizational Policy” to keep the “dirty secrets, secret from the public and onlookers. This I too know first hand. Not only was I molested by a brother in the congregation, but my own father, while he was a witnesses in good standing molested me. As a child we are “groomed” to accept the behavior from our molester as some how our fault and something you do not talk about even among your siblings who too are being molested. We also knew our mother was very aware of the abuse and choose not to protect her children. A very common behavior of women married to pedophiles. When the suicide of the sister came to my attention I wrote a letter to the congregation my parents were attending to tell them about my fathers behavior, I did not think he bothered other children but how was I to know. I just knew I had to tell to prevent further abuse and even hoped that my father might get help. Again I naively assumed the “brothers” in charge of the flock did the right thing. 20 years later during a very difficult time in my life the congregation overseer asked to meet with me to let me know he had spoken with the elders in my parents congregation and my father for what ever reason confessed to molesting and raping me as a young girl. The elder wanted to let me know that the “brothers” had showed my father mercy and they were just letting me know I “had to respect” the decision of the body of elders. The warning to me was that if I spoke about what my father had done to anyone, (including authorities because he now finally admitted it) I would be dealt with judicially. How interesting in the Witness Congregation the “victim” becomes the one who will be “dealt with judicially” if they do not accept the decision of a “body of elders” even if what they are saying is against the law. For at the time I was told this in 1992 in the state of California’s law was that any doctor, school, teacher, minister etc. anyone who came into knowledge of evidence of child molestation was required to report it to the police. Not in the JW Organization; not only do they not report the abuse they forbid the victims from going to authorities. They say a family is as sick as it secrets, the JW Organization is as sick as their secrets, which is very sick.

Lizette55

Posts by Lizette55

How many were victims of child molesters who were members that are still members?!

Lizette55