jeannie
JoinedI am the mother and sister of incest survivors. My children were either sexually/mentally/emotionally/physically abused by their biological father,my husband at the time and also a ministeral servant.When my sister and daughter came to me and exposed their abuser I did as every good witness would do,I went to the elders for help and support.I was told they would not report the abuse to the authorities since they were not mandated in our state to do so. When I tried to have my husband arrested,I was told that the statute of limitations had run out, I asked the elders to help me, they held a committee meeting and since my husband was a good con artist as one of the elders on the committee called him, my husband was publicly reproved..not df'd..just reproved..although he finally confessed to the abuse, and the hall and the legal dept received two separate letters from two different victims..he still was not df'd. When I decided to warn the families in our hall about his actions in order to protect them, as they had young children and young teens, I was told if I did not stop warning people I would be marked and if I didnt listen to the elders and stop talking about sexual abuse,I would be df'd for causing division in the hall. There are so many times that me and my children have been hurt, sure there were a couple of loving and concened elders..one esp..but he moved out of state soon after the committee meeting.My husband(ex) was asked the most embarrassing,vulgar questions in front of me..some of which I may post,if I am allowed.The story goes on and on..until I could not handle it anylonger..I left the witness' a couple of years ago.