Posts by UnDisfellowshipped

29

JESUS CHRIST -- I AM WHO I AM

by UnDisfellowshipped in

(exodus 3:13) and moses said to god, behold, when i come to the children of israel, and shall say to them, the god of your fathers has sent me to you; and they shall say to me, what is his name?

(exodus 3:14) and god said to moses, i am who i am: and he said, thus you shall say to the children of israel, i am has sent me to you.. (exodus 3:15) and god said moreover to moses, thus you shall say to the children of israel, jehovah the god of your fathers, the god of abraham, the god of isaac, and the god of jacob, has sent me to you: this is my name forever, and this is my memorial to all generations.. (john 8:24) i said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins: for if you do not believe that i am, you shall die in your sins.. (john 8:28) then jesus said to them, when you have lifted up the son of man, then you shall know that i am, and that i do nothing of myself; but as my father has taught me, i speak these things.. (john 8:53) are you greater than our father abraham, who is dead?

and the prophets are dead: who do you make yourself?.

UnDisfellowshipped

That was a Great Post Joseph!

Thanks!

11

Can You Support Press Conferences In Your Area?

by silentlambs in

jw
friends

we have arranged for press conferences in the following cities, if you wish to support the effort to get the word out on the march please support those who are doing the conferences.

if you can just show up and stand with the group it will help make a stronger statement.

if you would like to be part of this please let me know and i will forward the local representatives email to you.

UnDisfellowshipped

Here are some Local NEWS TV Stations you can E-Mail about the Press Conferences:

Kansas City, MO Local NBC News Affiliate: [email protected]

St. Louis, MO Local NBC News Affiliate: [email protected]

Dallas, TX Local NBC News Affiliate (English): [email protected]

Dallas, TX Local NBC News Affiliate (Spanish): [email protected]

Los Angeles, CA Local NBC News Affiliate (English): [email protected]

Los Angeles, CA Local NBC News Affiliate (Spanish): [email protected]

Sacramento, CA Local NBC News Affiliate: [email protected]

Seattle, WA Local NBC News Affiliate: [email protected]

Portland, OR Local NBC News Affiliate: [email protected]

Tuscon, AZ Local NBC News Affiliate: [email protected]

Atlanta, GA Local NBC News Affiliate: [email protected]

Orlando, FL Local NBC News Affiliate: [email protected]

Panama City, FL Local NBC News Affiliate: [email protected]

Dayton, OH Local NBC News Affiliate: [email protected]

Louisville, KY Local NBC News Affiliate: [email protected]

Here is the Website Address where you can see a List of all of the Local NBC News TV Stations and Affiliates: http://www.msnbc.com/news/affiliates_front.asp

Here is the Website Address where you can see a List of Local CBS News TV Stations and Affiliates: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/07/31/utility/main517034.shtml

Here is the Website Address where you can see a List of some Local Newspapers: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/resources/us_newspapers.asp

Here is the Website Address where you can see a List of some Major News Wires: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/resources/major_news_wires.asp

Here is the Website Address where you can see a List of different News Websites: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/resources/other_news_services.asp

Also, I think http://www.worldnetdaily.com would be interested in the silentlambs, you can E-Mail WorldNetDaily at [email protected]

Here are some more News/Media Websites and E-Mail Addresses:

GOOGLE LIST OF TONS OF NEWS WEBSITES -- http://www.google.com/news/

CNN -- http://www.cnn.com/feedback/

ABC News -- http://www.abcnews.com

CBS News -- http://www.cbsnews.com

NBC News -- http://www.msnbc.com

C-SPAN -- http://www.c-span.org/about/contact.asp

FOXNEWS (A List of ALL of FoxNews' Reporters' E-Mail Addresses) -- http://www.foxnews.com/foxfan/contact.html

NEWSMAX.com -- http://www.newsmax.com/contact.shtml

NEW YORK POST -- http://www.nypost.com/contact/contactus.htm

NEW YORK TIMES -- http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/infoservdirectory.html

WASHINGTON POST -- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/interact/longterm/stfbio/wpemail.htm

USA TODAY -- http://www.usatoday.com/marketing/feedback.htm

CUTTING EDGE CHRISTIAN NEWS -- [email protected]

News.com -- http://news.com.com/

U.S. News Wire -- http://www.usnewswire.com/

Canada News Wire -- http://www.newswire.ca/

Internet News Wire -- http://www1.internetwire.com/iwire/home

Prime Zone Media Network News Wire -- http://www.primezone.com/

PR News Wire -- http://www.prnewswire.com/news/index.shtml

AP (Associated Press) News Wire -- http://wire.ap.org/

Christian Science Monitor -- http://www.csmonitor.com/

WILLIAM COOPER -- http://www.williamcooper.com

IDG News -- http://www.idg.net/

Internet News -- http://www.internetnews.com/

NPR News -- http://www.npr.org/

The Nation News -- http://www.thenation.com/

WOW! Bill Bowen, Barbara Anderson, silentlambs, and all of you other helpers and supporters are doing an unbelievable HISTORY-MAKING job to protect the children! THANKS TO EVERYONE!

Edited by - UnDisfellowshipped on 4 September 2002 4:49:58

Edited by - UnDisfellowshipped on 4 September 2002 4:50:50

4

Emergency Little Rock AK - Blood

by Lee Elder in

jw
friends

we have an emergency situation developing in little rock arkansas.

if you are nearby.

and are familiar enough with the blood policy and willing to help, please contact.

UnDisfellowshipped

Hi Miner,

I definitely do not want to hijack this Thread either.

I think I got most of that information from Lee Elder's Awesome Website, http://www.ajwrb.org

18

Is independent thinking a disphelowshipping offens

by In_between_days in

jw
friends

yes, i know, im back........ kind of - it was a short retirement wasnt it?

well, i had a discussion with a jw friend not long ago and i need some info.

is independent thinking a disphellowshipping offense?

UnDisfellowshipped

THANK GOD THE GOVERNING BODY CANNOT READ MINDS!

18

Letter from society

by TweetieBird in

jw
friends

after the wt study yesterday, the conductor read a letter from the society about the subscriptions.

i knew that they had cancelled the subscriptions to the magazines, but now they have discontinued almost all forms of subscriptions, i.e.

watchtower/awake on tape, large print wt, etc.

UnDisfellowshipped

blondie said:

Of course, they can still refuse to give you literature at their whim just like they can have you blocked from attending meetings if they feel you are disruptive.

That is very true! Just look what they did to Bill Bowen BEFORE Dateline ever aired -- supposedly "losing" or "giving away" his Publications.

4

BLOODGUILT

by UnDisfellowshipped in

jw
friends

the watchtower november 1st 1971 issue, page 647:.

the watchtower november 15th 1973 issue, page 693:.

the watchtower november 15th 1995 issue, page 15:.

UnDisfellowshipped

Thanks everyone for your comments!

Francois -- I totally 100% agree with you, the Watchtower Society is using Mosaic Laws ("2-Witness Rule", "Must Scream when Raped", "Bloodguilt", etc.).

However, the Society seems to "pick-and-choose" which parts of the Mosaic Law fits their purposes better.

For example, the Society has their infamous "2-Witness Rule" for all sins, taken from Deuteronomy 19:15, however, they completely ignore Deuteronomy Chapter 22, which shows that a woman who was raped only needed 1-Witness (herself).

They also quote the Mosaic Law and say that Jehovah's Witnesses should not have Tattoos, and yet then they go against the Mosaic Law and say that Jehovah's Witnesses should not have Beards.

The Society could not live with the idea that Jesus Christ NAILED THE MOSAIC LAW TO THE CROSS!

The reason I posted these Bloodguilt Quotes is because I wanted to show the Jehovah's Witnesses that the Society teaches that if anyone is part of ANY ORGANIZATION that is guilty before Jehovah God, that they MUST LEAVE!

4

Emergency Little Rock AK - Blood

by Lee Elder in

jw
friends

we have an emergency situation developing in little rock arkansas.

if you are nearby.

and are familiar enough with the blood policy and willing to help, please contact.

UnDisfellowshipped

I'm just posting this to let people see what the Watchtower Society now allows (I originally posted this on another Thread):

I don't know 100% what the Society's Current Blood Policy is (I don't know if even the Governing Body and Elders do anymore).

However, here is what I have heard is now ALLOWED by the Society:

Vaccinations (Shots) even if they contain Blood!

Organ Transplants even though the Organs contain Blood! (Probably a large amount of Blood too!)

Bone-Marrow Transplants

Hemophiliac Blood Treatments

All sorts of Blood Fractions

Here is a Pharisee-Like List of the "Acceptable Blood Fractions" which Witnesses are now allowed to accept (at least this is what I have heard, not 100% sure):

*Factor VIII
*Gamma Globulin
*Blood Plasma Proteins
*Albumin
*Immune Globulins
*Rh Immune Globulin
*Hemophiliac Preparations
*Clotting Factors
*Synthetic Hormone EPO (Erythropoietin) (contains only "a small amount of Albumin")
*Autologous Blood (Autotransfusion) (Where your own Blood "flows out through a tube to the Artificial Organ that pumps and filters (or oxygenates) it, and then it returns to the patient's circulatory system")
*Hemodilution
*HemoPure (Cow's Blood)
*PolyHeme

Also in a 1960's Article the Watchtower Society said that Jehovah's Witness Doctors CAN GIVE Blood Transfusions to those evil "Worldly People!" (However Witnesses are not even allowed to give Blood to their PETS -- Does this seem odd? I guess the Watchtower Society is basically saying that "Worldly People" are so wicked that it doesn't matter if you give them Blood, yet your Pets are better than Worldly People)

29

JESUS CHRIST -- I AM WHO I AM

by UnDisfellowshipped in

(exodus 3:13) and moses said to god, behold, when i come to the children of israel, and shall say to them, the god of your fathers has sent me to you; and they shall say to me, what is his name?

(exodus 3:14) and god said to moses, i am who i am: and he said, thus you shall say to the children of israel, i am has sent me to you.. (exodus 3:15) and god said moreover to moses, thus you shall say to the children of israel, jehovah the god of your fathers, the god of abraham, the god of isaac, and the god of jacob, has sent me to you: this is my name forever, and this is my memorial to all generations.. (john 8:24) i said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins: for if you do not believe that i am, you shall die in your sins.. (john 8:28) then jesus said to them, when you have lifted up the son of man, then you shall know that i am, and that i do nothing of myself; but as my father has taught me, i speak these things.. (john 8:53) are you greater than our father abraham, who is dead?

and the prophets are dead: who do you make yourself?.

UnDisfellowshipped

First of all, I want to sincerely Thank all of you for Posting your Comments!

I would like to clarify a few things:

My only goal and purpose in studying the Bible is to arrive at the TRUTH and to have a closer relationship with God and to do His Will.

I try to keep a very open mind about things.

I do not believe that this Thread was a "waste of time", because, apparently, there are several people who believe that Jesus used the "I AM" statement as a Name for Himself, and there are several people who think He was just saying that He existed before Abraham.

So, this Thread can be used as a sort of "Resource Page" for everyone who has questions about the "I AM" statements.

Also, I do not believe that any study of the Bible is a "waste of time".

JosephMalik, you have made very good comments, and it does appear that Jesus was simply stating that He existed before Abraham in John 8:58.

You will also notice, that in the Links I posted, there were some Websites that were saying that "I am" meant that He was not using it as a Name.

I will now give some of my own personal beliefs, ideas, and opinions on some of your Comments:

JosephMalik said:

Calling Jesus our God is not a problem. This term is not a name and can be used for anyone in authority, like a ruler or King. That is something that Trinitarians do NOT want you to know. They keep saying that this makes two Gods when the context determines what is said or meant. Context is something not grasped by many as it is a quality in the text that must be discerned.

You are definitely correct, "God" is a Title, which can be used for Rulers. However, according to the Scriptures there is only ONE ALMIGHTY GOD, correct? I believe that Jesus Christ is called the ALMIGHTY GOD in the Scriptures:

(World English Bible)

Jeremiah 10:10: But Yahweh is the True God; He is the Living God, and an Everlasting King: at His wrath the Earth trembles, and the nations are not able to abide His indignation.
Jeremiah 10:11: Thus shall you say to them, The gods that have not made the Heavens and the Earth, these shall perish from the Earth, and from under the Heavens.
Jeremiah 10:12: He has made the Earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom, and by His understanding has He stretched out the Heavens:
Jeremiah 10:13: when he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the Heavens, and He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the Earth; He makes lightnings for the rain, and brings forth the wind out of His treasuries.

Isaiah 44:24: Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb: I am Yahweh, who makes all things; who stretches forth the Heavens ALONE; who spreads abroad the Earth (who is with Me?);

Hebrews 1:10: (The Father speaking to the Son) And, "You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the Earth. The Heavens are the works of YOUR HANDS.
Hebrews 1:11: They will perish, but You continue. They all will grow old like a garment does.
Hebrews 1:12: As a mantle You will roll them up, And they will be changed; But You are the Same. Your years will not fail."

Colossians 1:15: (Jesus Christ) who is the Image of the Invisible God, the Firstborn of all creation.
Colossians 1:16: For BY HIM WERE ALL THINGS CREATED, in the Heavens and on the Earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; ALL THINGS HAVE BEEN CREATED THROUGH HIM, AND FOR HIM.
Colossians 1:17: He is before all things, and in Him all things are held together.
Colossians 1:18: He is the Head of the Body, the Assembly, who is the Beginning, the Firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.
Colossians 1:19: For all the Fullness was pleased to dwell in Him;

Colossians 2:9: For in Him all the Fullness of the Godhead (or Deity) dwells Bodily,
Colossians 2:10: and in Him you are made full, who is the Head of all principality and power;

Philippians 2:5: Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus,
Philippians 2:6: who, existing in the Form of God, didn't consider it robbery to be equal with God,
Philippians 2:7: but emptied Himself, taking the Form of a Servant, being made in the likeness of men.
Philippians 2:8: And being found in Human Form, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the Cross.
Philippians 2:9: Therefore God also highly exalted Him, and gave to Him the Name which is ABOVE EVERY NAME;
Philippians 2:10: that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in Heaven, those on Earth, and those under the Earth,
Philippians 2:11: and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father.

John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2: The Same was in the beginning with God.
John 1:3: All things were made through Him. Without Him was not anything made that has been made.

Joh 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn't recognize him.

I will be Posting a New Thread on this subject soon.

JosephMalik said:

And the deity of Christ does not mean the Trinity of Christ. The word deity simply does not mean what they say it does. Will someone please show us all the scriptural definition of Deity. Show the verses and all. Show why Deity means trinity? I have tried to get such a definition for years now and still no one has shown me one. Trinitarian use of Deity is a LIE pure and simple.

Here is a Verse that shows Jesus Christ's Deity, or "Godhead":

Colossians 2:9: For in Him all the Fullness of the Godhead (or Deity) dwells Bodily

Here is the Biblical Definition of the word "Godhead", according to some different sources:

Thayer's Greek Definitions:

G2320
θεότης
theotēs
Thayer Definition:
1) deity
1a) the state of being God, Godhead
Part of Speech: noun feminine
A Related Word by Thayers/Strongs Number: from G2316 (theos)
Citing in TDNT: 3:119, 322

Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries:

G2320
θεότης
theotēs
theh-ot'-ace
From G2316; divinity (abstractly): - godhead.

Here is the Webster Dictionary's Definition of "Deity":

1-A: The rank or essential nature of a god : DIVINITY
1-B: Capitalized: GOD (1st Definition Listed under "God"), SUPREME BEING
2: A god or goddess 3: One exalted or revered as supremely good or powerful

Here is the Webster Dictionary's Definition of "God":

1: Capitalized: The supreme or ultimate reality: as A): the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshiped as creator and ruler of the universe B): Christian Science: the incorporeal divine Principle ruling over all as eternal Spirit: infinite Mind
2: A being or object believed to have more than natural attributes and powers and to require human worship; specifically : one controlling a particular aspect or part of reality
3: A person or thing of supreme value
4: A powerful ruler

Here is the Webster Dictionary's Definition of "Godhead":

1: Divine nature or essence: DIVINITY
2: Capitalized A): GOD (1st Definition Listed under "God") B): The nature of God especially as existing in three persons used with the
-------------------------------------------------

Jesus Christ's Deity does NOT prove that there is a Trinity, it proves that the Father and the Son are God (the Son being in subjection to the Father, and I believe that is why Jesus said the Father was greater than He was, because the Father's Position, not His Nature - I read somewhere that the word "greater" means higher in position, but the word "better" means higher in nature, I don't know if that is correct though).

However, it is when you consider the Holy Spirit that you arrive at the Trinity. I am curious, what do you believe about the Holy Spirit?

JosephMalik said:

The present dual nature of the Christ is something no one wants to understand and Trinitarians attempt to deny but it is there in scripture. This dual nature will be maintained at least until the final test is completed. The earthly Kingdom and Rule by Christ is something that the WT denies but it is there in scripture for all to read. Such battles rage on and on because it is not reason but the view of organizations that rule the Faith at present.

Could you please explain further about the dual nature of Christ, I'm not sure I understood your comments about it, and also please explain your comments on the Earthly Kingdom.

Thanks again everyone for Posting!

Edited by - UnDisfellowshipped on 3 September 2002 1:19:42

17

THE SILENTLAMBS - QUEST TO PROTECT CHILDREN

by UnDisfellowshipped in

jw
friends

here's john larson.. john larson (dateline reporter) reporting:.

but bill bowen says many others in the church accused of sexual abuse have never been reported to police.

america's most watched, most honored news magazine, dateline, will be right back.. announcer speaking: from our studios in rockefeller center, here is stone phillips.. stone phillips speaking: she was just 5 years old when she says she was first molested by a respected member of her jehovah's witnesses congregation.

UnDisfellowshipped

Here are MORE Newspaper Articles and Website News Articles:

Guardian U.K. Newspaper - June 10th 2002:

Sect demands biblical proof

Stephen Bates, religious affairs correspondent, Guardian

Elders of the Jehovah's Witnesses in the have been given instructions to deal with pedophiles after a series of damaging revelations.

But its critics say that the sect's decision to accept accusations only if the abuse has two independent witnesses is unlikely to solve the problem.

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, its headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, is used to implicit obedience and is struggling to regain its battered authority.

In a letter to be read at services, it says: "We abhor the sexual abuse of children and will not protect any perpetrator of such repugnant acts ...

"However, we must bear in mind the Bible's clear direction: '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 )."

The church, which has 6 million members around the world, has been convulsed by the revelation that its elders have protected sex offenders, refused to report accusations to the police, and even punished children and families making accusations.

Two members have been charged with "disrupting the unity of the congregation" and "undermining confidence in Jehovah's arrangement" foepeating their accusations on an NBC television program.

Barbara Anderson, a former headquarters employee who claimed to have seen hundreds of suppressed files of accusations, was expelled after a private hearing held in her absence. The case against the second, Bill Bowen, a elder, has been postponed.

Mr Bowen was so alarmed by the suppression of allegations that he created a website, silentlambs.org, to investigate the scale of the problem.

He told NBC: "It's a pedophile's paradise within the organization. I believe that. I believe it with all my heart."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE FOLLOWING GERMAN NEWS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED BY BILL BOWEN ON JUNE 13th 2002:

"This is a rough I repeat rough translation of the article. This is the German equalivant of 'Time' magazine according to the reporter.

silentlambs"

SPIEGEL ONLINE - June 12th 2002:

URL: http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/0,1518,198436,00.html

Child abuse with the Jehovah's Witnesses

The Silence of the Lambs

By Alexander Schwabe

Weighty accusations are being raised by Jehovahs Witness against their own religious community. The organization protects child molesters from prosecution by legal authorities. Some of the critics are being disfellowshipped for speaking out.

Hamburg -Since his birth for 44 years William H. Bowen from Calvert City Kentucky was a faithful Jehovahs Witnesses. For many years he pioneered for the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, spending thousands of hours placing literature at the homes of his neighbors. As he went from door to door his purpose was the assist his fellowman to serve Jehovah and have the hope of living forever in Gods kingdom. As a young man, Bill Bowen followed the usual expectations, served two years in "Bethel", defined as the "house of God", Bethels are located around the world, it is an institution, in which according the a booklet called Dwelling together in Unity from 1990, it provides the following regulations, any woman who becomes pregnant is sent home, all doors are locked to the outside world, only one telephone to the outside is provided, which may be used only with the permission of superiors, and at Bethel all members must work daily eight hours for the interests of kingdom for the benefit of Gods work.

Bowen, who makes a living by the production of fragrance candles, had many privileges within the organization due to his long years of service. He served in many managerial and administrative functions within the church. He had participated in well over one hundred judicial committees, in which of the failure of brothers and sisters were judged in one of his last administrative capacities he had to face a decision: Should he stick to the theocratic rules of the Watchtower that were required to be followed, or should he make public that there were sexual crimes in Jehovahs organization.

"Leave it in Jehovah's hands"

In the year 2000 Bowen was faced with a problem involving a fellow Elder in the Congregation, it was discovered in records that this elder had molested a child on multiple occasions. The chairman of the original committee within the local witness community decided to keep the case hidden. Bowen contacted the Circuit Overseer, which wanted to keep matters quiet also, according to Bowen.

When the man from Kentucky called the Legal Department at headquarters of Watchtower in Brooklyn New York, the accused elder was finally removed, but Bowen however was tacitly instructed to leave the reporting to police, "in Jehovahs hands.

The candle maker decided not to follow the instructions from Brooklyn. Instead to protest Watchtower Policy by resigning as Presiding Overseer and elder at his congregation in Draffenville, Kentucky, and take the case public to bring attention " to the public the fact that children were being hurt and Watchtower policy must change."

In order to increase the pressure on leadership within the Watchtower home office to act "in the interest of the flock, Bowen created the website www.silentlambs.org , in the course of the last year more than one thousand Jehovahs Witnesses tell their stories of sexual crimes within the church. "The lambs were silent for a long time", says Bowen. Now they have a place, where molestation survivors can speak out and take legal action against those who hurt them.

"Thousands are sexually abused"

Erica Rodriguez had been raped as a child from the age of four to eleven years on a weekly basis. In the January she filed a lawsuit for how she was treated when she came forward about her abuse. The elders encouraged and supported not Erica but the former best friend of her parents, Manuel Beliz, 49, who was sentenced in the fall of 2001 to eleven years prison for molesting her. In the civil action submitted in the Federal Court for the State of Washington raises similar issues against the Watchtower as Bowen. She accuses them that, child molesters find on a routine basis "refuge, protection, sympathy and support", and often escape prosecution. The 23-year old estimates that the Watchtower organization has "thousands" of children and young people that are sexually abused.

This is basically untrue, says the Watchtower Public Information response in Brooklyn. The Governing Body of Jehovahs Witnesses claim an outward appearance of having a proper and progressive approach when it comes to sexual misconduct. "If church elders learn of child abuse, they proceed strictly in accordance with local laws, if it is required they report it", in a statement of the Brooklyn office for Public Information from January 2001. It is neither forbidden to the victims or their parents nor is it discouraged to report child abuse to the authoritys even if the accused one of is a Jehovahs Witness.

"God will kill you"

The truth according to Bowen is quite different. Hundreds of abused were afraid of making statements because they were intimidated and threatened. Should one dare nevertheless to open their mouth they could count on sharp punishments to the point of disfellowshipment. When a person is disfellowshipped the organization requires that no one of the faith including immediate family will even speak to the individual who is being punished. Bowens father was forced to state on a video, which was passed on the press, his son is a liar - although Bowen father was not even aware of the case he was dealing with. His fellow brothers and sisters spread malicious rumors about his personal conduct and his family. Bowens parents and his mother-in-law want to have nothing more do in the meantime with their grandchildren. In letters they have communicated: "God will kill you for your point of view."

They are obviously holding to the Jehovahs Witness theology that is to always protect the image of the organization at all costs. Bowen says: "The sad truth is that no Jehovahs Witness is allowed to criticize Watchtower leadership."

"Pedophile Paradise"

Bowen criticized it. In a letter to the Governing Body of Jehovahs Witnesses that world-wide has approximately six million followers, on the surface they claim to have a world wide brotherhood," Bowen accuses the brotherhood of protecting child molesters by a "code of the silence". The Watchtower organization has became a "Pedophile paradise," due to directives, which are authorized by the Governing Body.

It would be considered traumatic to have the victim, through church directives, to be required to face the molester in a meeting, in which parents and victim describe in detail before the elders, how they were raped. The elders decide if a crime has been committed instead of allowing the police to investigate first. In the event the accused denies the allegation the victim is then required to produce at least one witness to the act of abuse - which is often not possible in the case of child molestation. If the victim pursues the matter by telling fellow congregation members then they could face disfellowshipping.

John Robert Brown, director of the office of Public Information at the home office in Brooklyn, rejects what Bowen says. Brown states they do not confront molested child with the accused in presence of parents and three elders. Also they never threaten anyone with disfellowshipping. Even persons, who were found guilty of serious sins in the organization, could remain a Jehovahs Witness, if they were found repentant by a judicial committee. If an individual was found guilty of child molestation, he cannot under any circumstances serve as an elder. "Elders are religious leaders, says Brown.

The most hated man within the organization

"All lies!" says Bowen, which became in the meantime the most hated man within the organization. It is very likely he will be disfellowshipped. At the end of May he appeared with Erica Rodriguez, California, married couple Carl and Barbara Pandello, New Jersey, and Barbara Anderson, Normandy TN, - all together as Jehovahs Witnesses-on NBC. The program "DATELINE" reported a problem with the way child molestation is handled within the church.

The Pandellos reported, their daughter had been molested by her own grandfather Clement, a Jehovahs Witness, for several years. In 1989 Clement Pandello was sentenced to undergo therapy and received five years probation through the court. Pandello was disfellowshiped for only 18 months when he was reinstated as a Jehovahs Witness in good standing. When the determinations suggested the suspicion that Clement had molested little girls for four decades - among other things also another grandchild -, in 1994 again he was disfellowshipped but in 1996 he was again reinstated and once again accepted back into the Jehovahs Witness community.

Anthony Valenti who appeared in court at the hearing of the Pandellos had stated under oath, as an elder he had encouraged the victims to not report the matter to the police regarding Clement Pandello. The record of the court shows Valenti justified his advice with a reference to the Bible verse, which stated not to take your brother to court.

Disfellowshipping Unrepentant Sinners

Erica Rodriguez repeated to DATELINE the way she was treated when she reported her molestation. When she informed the elders at her congregation in Sacramento of the sexual abuse of Beliz who was not yet disfellowshipped, the elders told her to not report the crime to the police. They went on to threaten her with disfellowshipping if she tried to report the matter: "if you go to the police, you will be condemned by God."

The Governing Body in Brooklyn meanwhile has appointed committees, to provide a solution on how to deal with this problem. A decision has been made on how to deal with those who have spoken out and are considered traitors. The Pandellos have already been disfellowshipped. The reason has nothing to do with them speaking out publicly, says the world headquarters. Also it has no connection with the NBC program. A Judicial hearing is also moving against Barbara Anderson, who served ten years in the world headquarters at Bethel and now assists in Bowens project "silentlambs" she also is being disfellowshipped. When asked for the basis Brooklyn says the procedures are confidential. Anderson was delivered a letter, in which the disfellowshipping was announced. Anderson is in the process of appealing the decision.

A judicial hearing arranged against Bill Bowen was canceled with no notice according to his statement, after he appeared for his hearing with 20 witnesses, who supported his position. Erica Rodriguez to date has not been summoned for a judicial hearing for appearing on Dateline according to Bowen, due to having filed civil actions against the organization.
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Newsweek Magazine; New York; June 24th, 2002; Julie Scelfo;

Witness to shame

Volume: 139
Issue: 25
Start Page: 81
ISSN: 00289604
Subject Terms: Scandals
Sex crimes
Religion
Child abuse & neglect
Companies: Jehovahs Witnesses
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society
Abstract:

Full Text:

RIPPLE EFFECTS

Another religion faces a scandal of its own

As Roman Catholic bishops issued a mea culpa last week, Jehovah's Witnesses, a cloistered group of 980,000, moved closer to facing a sex-abuse scandal of their own.

In January a woman from Sacramento, Calif., filed a lawsuit charging that church leaders knowingly failed to notify civil authorities that she was raped by a member of her congregation.

A former church leader in Maryland was indicted in February for sexually assaulting three women who saythey were told by elders not to report the abuse, and were excommunicated when they did.

After additional stories aired recently on TV, a victims' support group run by William H. Bowen was deluged with e - mails and phone calls. "Catholics only protect the priests. Jehovah's Witnesses do it for any member of the church," says Bowen, a former elder from Kentucky.

Sara Poisson says that prior to her husband's conviction for sexually abusing her daughters, church elders told her to "pray more and be a better wife."

Church spokesman J. R. Brown says the group instructs local leaders to notify police when required by law. They also conduct their own investigation: "That consists of going directly to the accused." If someone confesses, says Brown, he will be prohibited from going door-to-door-unless accompanied by another Witness. Brown points out that people who accuse the church are often lapsed Witnesses, and "open prey" for exploiters. But victims like Poisson's daughter, Heather Berry, 20, say it's the church that does the exploiting. "They're letting the kids down. I don't think there's anything Christian about allowing abuse to continue." [Photograph]
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I will Post more soon.

17

THE SILENTLAMBS - QUEST TO PROTECT CHILDREN

by UnDisfellowshipped in

jw
friends

here's john larson.. john larson (dateline reporter) reporting:.

but bill bowen says many others in the church accused of sexual abuse have never been reported to police.

america's most watched, most honored news magazine, dateline, will be right back.. announcer speaking: from our studios in rockefeller center, here is stone phillips.. stone phillips speaking: she was just 5 years old when she says she was first molested by a respected member of her jehovah's witnesses congregation.

UnDisfellowshipped

Thanks Grits for that Great Post!!!

I had never even seen or heard of that German TV Story before!

I'll try to add more News Stories on this Thread soon.