Posts by truthseekeriam

10

Guess what pops up first when I googled Jehovah's Witnesses?

by truthseekeriam in

jw
friends

zalkin law firm .

Lett briefly addresses the child abuse issues in new JW.org video

by Richard_I in

jw
friends

i just read about this on the ex-jw subreddit.

link to the video (10m06s).. skip to 7:35 where he says: "another way we can contribute to the oneness - rejecting false stories that are designed to separate us from jehovah's organization.

as an example, think about the apostate-driven lies and 'dishonesties' that jehovah's organization is permissive toward pedophiles.

truthseekeriam

Can't begin to tell you how much this angers me!!

I clearly remember the last Circuit Assembly my husband and I attended before leaving. We both could have fell out of our seat when the speaker was up there saying that the media lies. This of course was in reference to the media coverage of a local ex elder being tried in court for molesting multiple victims.( one being ours ) We left that day and knew we could never go back.

What they are doing is Willful!! They are abusing victims over and over again by refusing to acknowledge the truth but instead call them liars. I truly can't even tell you what I feel they deserve, but it's not good.

56

PBS program

by wannaexit in

jw
friends

watching the pbs program as i write...........

truthseekeriam

Really good piece, I hope more networks pick this up and run similar stories.

I have so much respect for Candace Conti and what she is doing to help change the insane policy's of the WT. I especially loved when she mentioned at the end how important it is to give the parents the information so they can protect their children. I couldn't agree more!!

42

Conti Respondent’s Brief - Can AnnOMaly’s theory Rescue Simons’ CRITICAL FACT ?

by 4rationality in

simons critcal fact = defendants assigned candace to perform field service with kendrick.

martinez testified that she saw candace and kendrick in field service together.

was candace ever assigned to anyone else?

truthseekeriam

So right on Ding!

I have personally been effected by this and every time I hear the apologists protect the organization against the victims it feels like a personal attack.

I just wish they could embrace the victims and support them and their families openly with the support of their leaders like you see in other religions. Unfortunately I don't see that happening anytime soon. Instead I see them vilify anyone who stands up for themselves and push them away. It's really sad and completely willful.

39

IMPORTANT: Please note on your calender that on MONDAY, Feb. 16th, there will be a segment on a TV NEWS PROGRAM discussing JWs

by AndersonsInfo in

on monday evening, feb. 16th, on the pbs newshour, there will be a segment discussing jehovah's witnesses.

generally, the newshour airs at 6 p.m. in different time zones across the united states..

please don't miss it.

truthseekeriam

Thank you Barbara I just set my DVR so I won't miss it.

29

Attacking the elders, can that bring down the cult??

by Crazyguy in

the borg has left out in the cold the victims of child molesters all to save their reputation and have used the elders to do their bidding in these evil works.

they have even made changes to their policies to put more of the responsibility on the elders.

so if the lawyers of these molestation victims which normally go after the money ie the borg were to also aggressively go after these elders in these cases could this not start a ripple effect where by elders find out and start resigning en mass to protect themselves knowing the borg not going to help them?.

truthseekeriam

I totally agree with Magnum there are some elders that will completely embrace the idea of being a martyr. I've seen it.

12

Woman sues Jehovah's Witness elders over lack of protection from sex attacker

by truthseekeriam in

http://www.loughboroughecho.net/news/local-news/woman-sues-jehovahs-witness-elders-8579862.

a woman who claims jehovahs witness elders failed to protect her from a predatory sex attacker who repeatedly abused her as a child is now battling for 500,000 compensation.. the woman, in her 20s, was molested by ministerial servant peter stewart over a five-year period in loughborough, leicestershire, in the 1980s and 90s, londons high court heard.. the trauma she suffered derailed her education and career, and led to harrowing nightmares and recurring thoughts of suicide, her barrister, james counsell, said.. matters came to a head after she passed out on her bed next to a pile of paracetamol while on holiday with her husband, having left him a suicide note, he added.. soon afterwards, she had a bad panic attack - triggered by seeing a collection of jehovahs witness literature.. that led to tense discussions with her husband, and her final decision to take legal action, mr counsell told the court.. the woman - who cannot be identified - is suing the trustees of the watchtower bible and tract society, alleging they are vicariously liable for stewarts crimes.. stewart was convicted of entirely separate offences of sexually abusing a schoolgirl and a young boy in 1995, said mr counsell.. he died in june 2001, aged 72, shortly before police arrived at his home to arrest him for sexually abusing the claimant.. stewart was an apparently respected and devout member of the congregation in loughborough, the court heard.. however, he repeatedly preyed on the girl between the ages of four and nine, using his position as a ministerial servant to commit these acts.. he molested her in a variety of situations - including both before and after and sometimes during watchtower study sessions, mr counsell claimed.. his attacks took a catastrophic toll, leaving his victim prone to vomiting at the memory, and with complex feelings of guilt and shame.. stewart forced her to keep silent by telling her that what she was doing was fornication and that she was sinning, the barrister explained.. he warned her that when armageddon came - a regular topic for general discussion at group and congregation meetings - she would not be saved because of what she was doing.. it was precisely because much of the abuse took place at public - and at jehovahs witness events - that she could not always avoid him, added mr counsell.. the woman first mustered the courage to disclose her abuse in 2000 - after hearing of stewarts imminent release from jail for his offences against the two school children.. stewarts former jehovahs witness congregation began an investigation but failed to contact the police, said the barrister, adding that the inquiry appeared to go nowhere.. that alleged inaction intensified her feelings of anger and the woman finally went to the police in may 2001.. but when the police went to stewarts home to arrest him they discovered from neighbours that he had died, added mr counsell.. the barrister alleged that jehovahs witness elders had known about stewarts activities with young girls since the very early days of the claimants abuse and had failed to prevent it continuing.. it was stewarts authority as a ministerial servant which allowed him to gain contact and befriend his victim, said mr counsell.. the abuse was committed while he was performing tasks to further the interests of jehovahs witnesses.. lawyers for the trustees are defending the case, insisting that proper steps were taken to protect its members and that stewart was not performing a pastoral role.. their counsel, adam weitzman, said he disputed that the elders were negligent and denied that the trustees could be held legally responsible.. he pointed out that, from 1991, stewart and the woman ceased to be members of the same congregation.. stewart was never an employee of the jehovahs witness congregation and the trustees owed the woman no legal duty of care, he argued.. mr weitzman said: while it is accepted that, from august 1990, the elders knew (stewart) had sexually assaulted another child, there was not sufficient proximity between them and the claimant to impose such a duty.

nor would it be fair, just and reasonable to do so.. the high court hearing continues.. .

truthseekeriam

Is it any surprise why they refuse to turn over the files they have? Could you just imagine how many names and how many crimes against children that were never reported to the authorities?

12

Woman sues Jehovah's Witness elders over lack of protection from sex attacker

by truthseekeriam in

http://www.loughboroughecho.net/news/local-news/woman-sues-jehovahs-witness-elders-8579862.

a woman who claims jehovahs witness elders failed to protect her from a predatory sex attacker who repeatedly abused her as a child is now battling for 500,000 compensation.. the woman, in her 20s, was molested by ministerial servant peter stewart over a five-year period in loughborough, leicestershire, in the 1980s and 90s, londons high court heard.. the trauma she suffered derailed her education and career, and led to harrowing nightmares and recurring thoughts of suicide, her barrister, james counsell, said.. matters came to a head after she passed out on her bed next to a pile of paracetamol while on holiday with her husband, having left him a suicide note, he added.. soon afterwards, she had a bad panic attack - triggered by seeing a collection of jehovahs witness literature.. that led to tense discussions with her husband, and her final decision to take legal action, mr counsell told the court.. the woman - who cannot be identified - is suing the trustees of the watchtower bible and tract society, alleging they are vicariously liable for stewarts crimes.. stewart was convicted of entirely separate offences of sexually abusing a schoolgirl and a young boy in 1995, said mr counsell.. he died in june 2001, aged 72, shortly before police arrived at his home to arrest him for sexually abusing the claimant.. stewart was an apparently respected and devout member of the congregation in loughborough, the court heard.. however, he repeatedly preyed on the girl between the ages of four and nine, using his position as a ministerial servant to commit these acts.. he molested her in a variety of situations - including both before and after and sometimes during watchtower study sessions, mr counsell claimed.. his attacks took a catastrophic toll, leaving his victim prone to vomiting at the memory, and with complex feelings of guilt and shame.. stewart forced her to keep silent by telling her that what she was doing was fornication and that she was sinning, the barrister explained.. he warned her that when armageddon came - a regular topic for general discussion at group and congregation meetings - she would not be saved because of what she was doing.. it was precisely because much of the abuse took place at public - and at jehovahs witness events - that she could not always avoid him, added mr counsell.. the woman first mustered the courage to disclose her abuse in 2000 - after hearing of stewarts imminent release from jail for his offences against the two school children.. stewarts former jehovahs witness congregation began an investigation but failed to contact the police, said the barrister, adding that the inquiry appeared to go nowhere.. that alleged inaction intensified her feelings of anger and the woman finally went to the police in may 2001.. but when the police went to stewarts home to arrest him they discovered from neighbours that he had died, added mr counsell.. the barrister alleged that jehovahs witness elders had known about stewarts activities with young girls since the very early days of the claimants abuse and had failed to prevent it continuing.. it was stewarts authority as a ministerial servant which allowed him to gain contact and befriend his victim, said mr counsell.. the abuse was committed while he was performing tasks to further the interests of jehovahs witnesses.. lawyers for the trustees are defending the case, insisting that proper steps were taken to protect its members and that stewart was not performing a pastoral role.. their counsel, adam weitzman, said he disputed that the elders were negligent and denied that the trustees could be held legally responsible.. he pointed out that, from 1991, stewart and the woman ceased to be members of the same congregation.. stewart was never an employee of the jehovahs witness congregation and the trustees owed the woman no legal duty of care, he argued.. mr weitzman said: while it is accepted that, from august 1990, the elders knew (stewart) had sexually assaulted another child, there was not sufficient proximity between them and the claimant to impose such a duty.

nor would it be fair, just and reasonable to do so.. the high court hearing continues.. .

truthseekeriam

http://www.loughboroughecho.net/news/local-news/woman-sues-jehovahs-witness-elders-8579862

A WOMAN who claims Jehovah’s Witness elders failed to protect her from a predatory sex attacker who repeatedly abused her as a child is now battling for £500,000 compensation.

The woman, in her 20s, was molested by “ministerial servant” Peter Stewart over a five-year period in Loughborough, Leicestershire, in the 1980s and 90s, London’s High Court heard.

The trauma she suffered derailed her education and career, and led to harrowing nightmares and recurring thoughts of suicide, her barrister, James Counsell, said.

Matters came to a head after she “passed out on her bed next to a pile of paracetamol” while on holiday with her husband, “having left him a suicide note”, he added.

Soon afterwards, she had a “bad panic attack” - triggered by seeing a collection of Jehovah’s Witness literature.

That led to tense discussions with her husband, and her final decision to take legal action, Mr Counsell told the court.

The woman - who cannot be identified - is suing the Trustees of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, alleging they are “vicariously liable” for Stewart’s crimes.

Stewart was convicted of entirely separate offences of sexually abusing a schoolgirl and a young boy in 1995, said Mr Counsell.

He died in June 2001, aged 72, “shortly before police arrived at his home to arrest him for sexually abusing the claimant”.

Stewart was an apparently “respected and devout” member of the congregation in Loughborough, the court heard.

However, he repeatedly preyed on the girl between the ages of four and nine, “using his position as a ministerial servant to commit these acts”.

He molested her in a variety of situations - including “both before and after and sometimes during Watchtower study sessions”, Mr Counsell claimed.

His attacks took a catastrophic toll, leaving his victim prone to “vomiting” at the memory, and with complex feelings of guilt and shame.

Stewart forced her to keep silent by telling her that “what she was doing was fornication and that she was sinning”, the barrister explained.

He warned her that “when Armageddon came - a regular topic for general discussion at group and congregation meetings - she would not be saved because of what she was doing”.

“It was precisely because much of the abuse took place at public - and at Jehovah’s Witness events - that she could not always avoid him,” added Mr Counsell.

The woman first “mustered the courage” to disclose her abuse in 2000 - after hearing of Stewart’s imminent release from jail for his offences against the two school children.

Stewart’s former Jehovah’s Witness congregation “began an investigation” but failed to contact the police, said the barrister, adding that the inquiry “appeared to go nowhere”.

That alleged inaction “intensified her feelings of anger” and the woman finally went to the police in May 2001.

“But when the police went to Stewart’s home to arrest him they discovered from neighbours that he had died,” added Mr Counsell.

The barrister alleged that Jehovah’s Witness elders “had known about Stewart’s activities with young girls since the very early days of the claimant’s abuse and had failed to prevent it continuing”.

It was Stewart’s authority as a ministerial servant which allowed him to “gain contact and befriend” his victim, said Mr Counsell.

“The abuse was committed while he was performing tasks to further the interests of Jehovah’s Witnesses”.

Lawyers for the Trustees are defending the case, insisting that proper steps were taken to protect its members and that Stewart was not performing a “pastoral role”.

Their counsel, Adam Weitzman, said he “disputed that the elders were negligent” and denied that the Trustees could be held legally responsible.

He pointed out that, from 1991, Stewart and the woman “ceased to be members of the same congregation”.

Stewart was never an “employee” of the Jehovah’s Witness congregation and the Trustees owed the woman no legal “duty of care”, he argued.

Mr Weitzman said: “While it is accepted that, from August 1990, the elders knew (Stewart) had sexually assaulted another child, there was not sufficient proximity between them and the claimant to impose such a duty. Nor would it be fair, just and reasonable to do so.”

The High Court hearing continues.

Also on the Echo

16

Send money to KH in lieu of flowers.

by Jack Miller in

"in lieu of flowers send money to the kingdom hall"..... wow.... this young woman's jw servant husband was caught cheating on her again with another jw "sister", but when she told her husband she wanted to forgive him again and continue with her marriage, he told her he didn't want that.

he wanted her to simply move on with her life.here is how she moved on: she put on her wedding dress, got into her car in the garage and started it.

do you think finding her this way spoke louder than any suicide note?

truthseekeriam

So very sad.

21

Elders refused to help police investigation into the rape of a teenage girl

by Gadget in

church leaders refused to co-operate with a police investigation into a sex attack by one of their congregation on a teenage girl.. jehovahs witness paul atkin has now been jailed for five years after he admitted sexual activity with a 15-year-old.. a court heard the south shields based branch of the church carried out their own investigation after the allegation came to light and atkin was booted out.. but when police came knocking, church officials refused to help what was then a rape allegation, on the grounds of confidentiality.. prosecutor deborah smith told newcastle crown court: it would appear there was some form of investigation by the church.. we know the defendant was disfellowshipped as a consequence of that investigation but there has been no disclosure of any minutes of meetings with the defendant and the elders have refused to provide statements to the police, despite the fact the defendant is no longer a member of their congregation, on the grounds of confidentiality.. atkin, of east moffat street, south shields, was initially accused of rape but the charge was dropped when he admitted sexual activity with a child.. the court heard his victim was 15-and-a-half when he had sex with her.. miss smith said: she did not wish to have sexual intercourse with him.. the crown accept, having discussed matters with her, the defendant may reasonably have believed that she did.. she did not fight back or shout out at the time of the incident.. the court heard the woman is still on anti-depressants and says her self confidence has been shattered by the ordeal.. in a statement read to the court, the victim, who is now an adult, said: this has had a major effect on me and i cannot trust men.. i bottled everything up and as a teenager i turned to drink and drugs.. i hope he gets sent to prison and gets what he deserves.. judge simon hickey jailed atkin for five years and said he must sign the sex offenders register for life and abide by the terms of a sexual offences prevention order for five years.. the judge told him: this has had a huge effect upon this young lady.. gavin doig, defending, said atkin has a good, supportive family and partner and said his family describe him as a hard working man with a job who will face devastating consequences if sent to jail.. he added that it was atkin himself who had brought the matter to the attention of police.. mr doig told the court: this defendant made a very bad mistake a number of years ago.

he has not made any further mistakes.. he is extremely sorry he committed this offence knowing, as he did, the complainant was under age.. http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/south-shields-jehovahs-witness-jailed-8567927.

truthseekeriam

They completely fail the most innocent when they stand on the side of the abuser. They may claim the don't take sides but the moment they fail to cooperate with the authorities they clearly take a side.

Just imagine what it feels like for the victims when elders their Shepard who they most likely have known most their lives refuse to help them?