Thanks for posting this Jeff. This sums up their attitude, which
is the real problem, for me
Insular religions such as Jehovah’s Witnesses are communities closed to “worldly gaze,” who do not want others to know they are not how they portray themselves to outsiders. They are like dysfunctional families who keep family secrets out of a misguided sense of loyalty, not wanting neighbors to know what really goes on behind closed doors.
It is, and always has been, about protecting the "clean" image of the watchtower,
although that's looking increasingly tarnished these days as more and more
horror stories about child abuse emerge. Their written policy is a jumble of
meaningless words and phraes, like all their other literature, put out to fool
people into thinking that they have the interests of their members at heart.
Here's the "official" policy
When any one of Jehovah's Witnesses is accused of an act of child abuse, the local congregation elders are expected to investigate. Two elders meet separately with the accused and the accuser to see what each says on the matter. If the accused denies the charge, the two elders may arrange for him and the victim to restate their position in each other's presence, with elders also there. If during that meeting the accused still denies the charges and there are no others who can substantiate them, the elders cannot take action within the congregation at that time. Why not? As a Bible-based organization, we must adhere to what the Scriptures say, namely, "No single witness should rise up against a man respecting any error or any sin . . . At the mouth of two witnesses or at the mouth of three witnesses the matter should stand good." (Deuteronomy 19:15) Jesus reaffirmed this principle as recorded at Matthew 18:15-17. However, if two persons are witnesses to separate incidents of the same kind of wrongdoing, their testimony may be deemed sufficient to take action.
However, even if the elders cannot take congregational action, they are expected to report the allegation to the branch office of Jehovah's Witnesses in their country, if local privacy laws permit. In addition to making a report to the branch office, the elders may be required by law to report even uncorroborated or unsubstantiated allegations to the authorities. If so, we expect the elders to comply. Additionally, the victim may wish to report the matter to the authorities, and it is his or her absolute right to do so
http://www.jw-media.org/region/global/english/backgrounders/e_molestation.htm
And here's a link to a letter sent to elders in 2001.
http://www.watchtowerinformationservice.org/pedo.htm
Notice that there is no mention in the letter about
going to the authorities. There is little doubt, in light of all the recent court
cases and other revelations regarding child abuse in the watchtower, that this
letter to the elders outlines their real policy on handling child abuse, rather
than the one that the rank and file have access to.
