Jerome -
Not many people will tell you that they are not individuals that nothing that the Watchtower does will ever be veiwed as positive because it is a known fact.
I'm sorry, but I don't understand this sentence.
The same is true for some active Jehovah's Witnesses themselves who cannot find anything positive to comment on about the WT critics.
I think I need to understand your first sentence before attempting to understand this.
It was done1) Not out of concern for abused children but to protect organisational immage.
Who cares, as long as the information is available. And since they did write that article in the first place, I would have to argue that they have some interest in the topic and looking out for our children.
2) It still does not focus on the real problem which many have pointed out to be the policy which requiers two witnesses to be available to the molestation before action can be taken.
First of all, I don't think that is the "real" problem. I believe the "real" problem is getting the active parent to involve the authorities ASAP, even before the elders.
Second, I have no problem with the elders taking no action on just one witness. They are not investigators, and I don't want them to be. If there is only one witness they should say they can do nothing and encourage the victim to go to the police for action. Then if a court of law finds the person guilty, the elders can equally punish him on their findings. In addition, if people do accuse someone of molesting and are unwilling to go the police, they should remain silent and not slander, unless they are willing to prove what they are saying in a court of law. If they give up their right to involve the authorities, they give up the right of labeling the accused as a molester to others. The major flaw is the numerous elders who have discouraged people from going to the police. I hope these are local problems as WT policy has clearly stated their should be no sanctions on those that do go to the authorities.
3) The pervailing attitude which serves only to protect the name of the organisation rather than to protect the child. Namely that which prevents the abuse from being reported to the propper authorites [law enforcement] when a case is verified simply because it may bring reproach apon Jehovah's name.
I agree that all cases of child molestation brought to the elders should be reported to the police. However, their current policy of not reporting in certain states does not PREVENT the abuse from being reported. The primary responsibility is still on the active parent involved. They are ALWAYS obliged to report them to the authority. Either way, this has little to do with the articles on the web page as these articles have little to do with identifying and punishing the perpetrator. They are more to do with spotting the problem and preventing it in the first place. I'm all for that.
4) Something should had been done along time ago while people were protesting. Their pleas were left unheard for many years so they had to take it to the media and only now is any effort being made to even begin to asses the problem.
Again, this has little to do with attacking the good information they have put out about child abuse. And I believe the policy has been changed so that it has been clearly stated that no sanctions are to be held on those that do go to the authorities.
Another poin WT appologists have made: Bill Bowen is seeking the demise ot the Watchtower Society.
I certainly stand corrected on this. I thought about what I posted about him on this thread and searched some of his older postings where he has clearly stated he has no issues with any other beliefs by the WT, only their policy on child molesters. If he has bothered reading this thread, I hope he accepts my apology for misquoting him.
I will not respond to the rest of your post as you seem to be ranting about someother topics.
By the way, are you the same poster who was dating a JW but have never been one?
