Posts by MicaSmith

23

Hidden Abuse Under Watchtower

by MicaSmith in

the center for investigative journalism whose website is now called revealnews.org, has an entire section on stories being investigated by their staff and others on how the watchtower is handling child abuse cases.. "the jehovah’s witnesses have systematically instructed leaders to keep child sexual abuse secret from law enforcement and members of their own congregations.

" https://www.revealnews.org/topic/jehovahs-witnesses/.

please share you thoughts on this issue because i really would like to know when the governing body and their lawyers are going to properly address this issue because i can't worship in a place that allows dangerous men in, that's what they accused the catholic church of doing and now here it is that they are caught doing the same thing but have not expressed any concern for the victims.

MicaSmith

Hi Incognito:

Thank you for your warm welcome. Yes. I am learning some of this information for the first time. I was aware of Silentlambs. I first learned of SilentLambs.com/org, on the news. I saw a news segment of them protesting outside the WatchTower. I learned they were victims of sexual abuse and the offenders were witnesses. I learned that the victims were discarded and the offenders played the game of repentance and were welcomed back, only to attack others again and again. It left me very distraught. I felt powerless.

You see when I was 18 a MS lured me into his home to pick up a document and then tried to attack me in the home he shared with his ailing mother who was also a witness. She was in the next room so I am sure she heard me screaming. I fought him off. I used everything around me to pound him. The moment I got free I ran out the door.

I later learned he had been disfellowshipped more than 20 times. And yet, it was a "mature" witness who told me it was ok to go to his home to pick up that document, that person knew he was a predator. How could they not know? When I called him to say I would pass by his work to get it he brought up his need to leave the job right away because he needed to get home to his ailing mother. Since I needed the document for the next day, I decided to go get it. When I reflect on the matter I realized that I should have trusted my instincts more. I didn't want to go to his home but I had no reason to distrust him.

Why was he given an MS position to begin with? He had violated many persons. Why was he still there?

The culture of an organization is determined by the persons at the top, the leaders, or organizers, in this case these 7 men have declared themselves the official representatives of God, on earth. The more I consider it, the more ridiculous it sounds. They claim to have God's blessing but I know that's not true. When I examine God's character I see the opposite of what they are doing.

Since then, I have made an effort to share any information I have that can aid others. I have also shared some of my experiences here, mostly those concerning my psychopathic JW mom. My point is this, I didn't know the problem was so pervasive because fellow witnesses behave as though it is not a "real" problem. They try to make you feel as though you are the problem and if you just shut up (put it behind you and let Jehovah handle it) it will go away. Well, it is not going away. And they cannot hide it any more.

The governing body does not equate predatory behavior to an epidemic but the Center For Disease Control And Prevention does. They have declared child abuse/child maltreatment, an epidemic. Who gave these 7 men the authority to ignore the health consequences of child abuse?

42

Trey Bundy: One Year of Reporting JW Child Abuse - Your comments please!

by AndersonsInfo in

http://watchtowerdocuments.org/trey-bundy-one-year-of-reporting-jw-child-abuse/.

trey bundy: one year of reporting jw child abuse.

it’s been one year since trey bundy first reported the watchtower’s child abuse problems.. twelve months ago the center for investigative reporting (cir) began publishing information about jehovah’s witnesses and their cover-up of child sexual abuse on their website, reveal.

MicaSmith

I deeply appreciate Trey's work. He is dedicated and genuinely wants to expose abuse of power. I've been following his work since his first article on this issue. Thank you for caring.

OrphanCrow, your comment about Barbara is so true.

You wrote: "Thank you for posting this, Barbara. It is your hard work that brought the child abuse issue into the public eye to begin with so that journalists like Trey Bundy could give the coverage."

I first learned about Barbara in a Dateline Documentary. I thought she was very brave. I still do. It was so incredible. I thought more would be done to stop the abuse but nothing significant happened. The media's interest faded.

One day I saw a demonstration outside Bethel on TV, and that's when I learned about the organization Silent Lambs and all those victims of abuse who were violated by other witnesses. It was so surreal. I kept thinking how could there be so many victims? I felt powerless. I didn't know so many people were suffering / had suffered horrible acts by fellow witnesses. It hurt so much to see them ignored by the WT. No one wanted to talk about it. I couldn't understand why.

Now here it is that an investigative reporter has decided that the story must be told again and again to restore the balance of justice, dignity, and integrity. Thank you both so much.

29

Jehovah's Witnesses 'ordered destruction' of notes which could have been used during child sexual abuse inquiry

by oppostate in

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/jehovahs-witnesses-ordered-destruction-notes-10848053.

jehovah's witnesses 'ordered destruction' of notes which could have been used during child sexual abuse inquiry.

06:21, 7 feb 2016. by huw silk.

MicaSmith

Hi Brandnew:
I just saw your post from a month ago. What you said is so incredible. I had to thank you for saying it because these are my exact sentiments.
You Wrote" I think there are paedos hiding at the top of the ivory tower.Thus the reason for destruction of any evidence.
I agree. This is what I believe. I think there is an "informal" pedophile ring starting at the top and making its way down. I think those men at the top, all seven of them are either directly involved or they are too deceitful to stop it, not to mention arrogant. It is the only thing that can explain why they refuse to do the right thing here. Also, it is has been my growing belief that they are psychopaths. I have a hard time believing that in the entire world 7 males, most of them of the same race were elected by God, to govern a global organization. I have always been troubled by that because it makes no sense to me. I do not trust them. Everything inside of me screams "something is wrong with this picture." No way are they representing God. It can't be. I will never relinquish my common sense. Never.
I thank you for your bravery and honesty.

23

Hidden Abuse Under Watchtower

by MicaSmith in

the center for investigative journalism whose website is now called revealnews.org, has an entire section on stories being investigated by their staff and others on how the watchtower is handling child abuse cases.. "the jehovah’s witnesses have systematically instructed leaders to keep child sexual abuse secret from law enforcement and members of their own congregations.

" https://www.revealnews.org/topic/jehovahs-witnesses/.

please share you thoughts on this issue because i really would like to know when the governing body and their lawyers are going to properly address this issue because i can't worship in a place that allows dangerous men in, that's what they accused the catholic church of doing and now here it is that they are caught doing the same thing but have not expressed any concern for the victims.

MicaSmith

Hi Iown MyLife:

You hit the nail on the head "a pedophile-protecting org" and I must add to that deceit tolerant. Any loving parent should take great care.

By the way, I made a discovery this morning. I went to The [Australian] Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, and was able to download all the evidence, and transcripts of the JW hearings. This is the hearing where the governing body representative had to answer questions about how victims were treated. It is called Case Study 29

I also learned that the Commission released a Best Principles Consultation Paper on how institutions should handle sex abuse complaints. It was released on March 21st. It's at this link.

23

Hidden Abuse Under Watchtower

by MicaSmith in

the center for investigative journalism whose website is now called revealnews.org, has an entire section on stories being investigated by their staff and others on how the watchtower is handling child abuse cases.. "the jehovah’s witnesses have systematically instructed leaders to keep child sexual abuse secret from law enforcement and members of their own congregations.

" https://www.revealnews.org/topic/jehovahs-witnesses/.

please share you thoughts on this issue because i really would like to know when the governing body and their lawyers are going to properly address this issue because i can't worship in a place that allows dangerous men in, that's what they accused the catholic church of doing and now here it is that they are caught doing the same thing but have not expressed any concern for the victims.

MicaSmith

Hi Heaven,

Really? What an interesting point I never considered that.

This would explain why when I was a child, and even as an adult, other witnesses minimized the brutality committed by my mother against her children. But here is the thing, if someone were to break into at kingdom Hall, and trash the place, the elders would contact the police.They would feel violated. It would be considered a crime. If someone were to deface the property at Bethel they would summon the police and that would be considered a crime. And if someone were to physically attack a member of the governing body, repeatedly, or even just once, that would be considered a crime. If the police did not respond properly the Watchtower would file a legal claim that their civil rights were violated. But if a child is raped, brutalized , or violated by a fellow witness it's a sin? The word crime may not be used in the bible but the bible does recognize crime and its impact. Cain was the second criminal in the bible to receive a death sentence, the first was his father, Adam. I distrust the governing body. Their handling of this matter and their treatment of victims is proof that they do not represent God. However,I believe in God with all my heart and soul.

23

Hidden Abuse Under Watchtower

by MicaSmith in

the center for investigative journalism whose website is now called revealnews.org, has an entire section on stories being investigated by their staff and others on how the watchtower is handling child abuse cases.. "the jehovah’s witnesses have systematically instructed leaders to keep child sexual abuse secret from law enforcement and members of their own congregations.

" https://www.revealnews.org/topic/jehovahs-witnesses/.

please share you thoughts on this issue because i really would like to know when the governing body and their lawyers are going to properly address this issue because i can't worship in a place that allows dangerous men in, that's what they accused the catholic church of doing and now here it is that they are caught doing the same thing but have not expressed any concern for the victims.

MicaSmith

Hello Everyone, thank you so much for your responses. Everything you wrote makes a lot of sense.

I am of the opinion that something is deeply troubling at the top. One of the attorneys representing a victim in another case I read about said that the The Watchtower treats victims as adversaries. He said at least the Catholic Church agreed that they needed to do something, but the witnesses are arrogant, they accept no responsibility.

My conscience tells me to stay away, and you know what that's what I must do. The more I read about these cases the more I see the KH as an unsafe place because it is not just bad men but evil women molesting children, and God knows what else they are doing. I read an article about how a young kid was violated and the mother took it to the body of elders, and the parent was told that she could not tell anyone about it. And, that's what she did so basically there is an automatic suspension of one's common sense which Jehovah told us not to relinquish. We must constantly try to ascertain if what we are being told is the truth. And if these men at the top are so arrogant and untruthful about this issue, what else are they not lying about? You can't help but ask yourself that question. It is a worthy question.

The book of proverbs advises us to act wisely. How then can a body of elders tell a mother whose child has been violated to put the matter behind her and not tell any one about it because "Jehovah will take care of it." This is wrong. This is enabling a crime. What will they do when the U.S. Department of Justice steps in? If the governing body continues on this path protecting bad people when they should be defending the lowly that is proof that they are not representatives of Jesus Christ and his father. It's just not possible. Jehovah has nothing to do with their decisions. I am sorry but he is never going to approve of this type of abuse of power. This is the very type of behavior that lead to him eliminating persons who represented him, wrongly. No one is going to convince me otherwise because I read those accounts in the bible and more importantly I didn't see Jesus handle others unfairly in the bible. He was loving and just. But here it is that the governing body's actions are duplicitous and egregious. This is why the KH is so corrupt. The culture of an organization starts at the top if the top is deceitful everything else will be. Sorry to rant but I am really tired of hearing them emphasize that they represent God. How could they represent him and allow such bad policies to exist? It's just not possible, not based on what I have read about God's character.

Thank you for allow me to share my thoughts.

3

JW Child Abuse News- UK

by Theburstbubble in

not sure if this has been posted before as it was in january, but none the less i'm glad news is getting out there.

the religion they try so hard to protect by covering up these horrible abuses is now the same religion which getting into the news for all the wrong reasons.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/484952/uk-jehovahs-witnesses-sex-abuse-cover-up.

MicaSmith

Hello, Theburstbubble:

Thank you for posting the article on Ian Pheasey. There is also another article on it in the Daily Mail, and it provided some additional information. What's shocking is that he committed these crimes for 20 years. The mother of the 14 year old girl broke my heart. The child told her about the attack and she opted to do very little. She took her daughter to the ER but nothing more. What a selfish decision.

23

Hidden Abuse Under Watchtower

by MicaSmith in

the center for investigative journalism whose website is now called revealnews.org, has an entire section on stories being investigated by their staff and others on how the watchtower is handling child abuse cases.. "the jehovah’s witnesses have systematically instructed leaders to keep child sexual abuse secret from law enforcement and members of their own congregations.

" https://www.revealnews.org/topic/jehovahs-witnesses/.

please share you thoughts on this issue because i really would like to know when the governing body and their lawyers are going to properly address this issue because i can't worship in a place that allows dangerous men in, that's what they accused the catholic church of doing and now here it is that they are caught doing the same thing but have not expressed any concern for the victims.

MicaSmith

The Center For Investigative Journalism whose website is now called RevealNews.org, has an entire section on stories being investigated by their staff and others on how the Watchtower is handling child abuse cases.

"The Jehovah’s Witnesses have systematically instructed leaders to keep child sexual abuse secret from law enforcement and members of their own congregations." https://www.revealnews.org/topic/jehovahs-witnesses/

Please share you thoughts on this issue because I really would like to know when the governing body and their lawyers are going to properly address this issue because I can't worship in a place that allows dangerous men in, that's what they accused the Catholic Church of doing and now here it is that they are caught doing the same thing but have not expressed any concern for the victims. They have done nothing to protect victims from harm, and once again I can't help but wonder if there is predator community at the top, because the culture of an organization starts at the top and works its way down. This is not something I can't ignore and anyone with a child in the KH should make it their business to learn what's happening and sit down with their child and ask them if anyone touched them inappropriately or asked them to keep secrets about things. This can't be allowed to go on. The mental and physical health of children are at risk. Abuse injures lives long after it happens.

18

Finding love as a witness

by RawrSaysTheLion in

hi i'm new.. i'm going on 2yrs as a baptized witness although i've just received a reproval on the grounds of living with a wordly man unmarried for 6 months.

long story short it ended messy and i ran straight back to the witnesses because i do love jehovah and i missed my family.

my issues were only with the actual organization.. i desperately want to find someone to share my world with but i feel like i'm too tainted to be loved by anyone worthy in the truth and my morals are to high to love another boy from the world.

MicaSmith

Hello, RawrSaysThe Lion:

You said "I desperately want to find someone to share my world with but I feel I am too tainted to be loved"

I am concerned about your feeling "desperate" it is a heavy word and you would not have used it if you didn't feel it intensely. So is it that you feel a great need to be loved? Can we start there? If that's the source of your angst that's quite normal because we all want to be loved. But if you have not felt loved for a long time then it makes sense that you would think of, or want to seek that in a romantic relationship. Love is a very powerful source of comfort. Just keep in mind that you can fulfill your need for love without delving into a romantic relationship. A true, loving, friendship takes time, and romantic relationships are more successful when they begin that way. Anything that starts quickly can end painfully, even with someone you think is morally superior to you. It might help to figure out what is under current for your desperation by writing about it in a diary or journal that only deals with that one issue. Why do I feel desperate for love?

I can tell you from experience that in the past I dealt with a great deal of misery. Everyone I knew had a normal parent. I did not. And, others actively advocated for my parent. So in a sense I get that two world feeling. I worked it out in my mind overtime and came here to share my concerns about how I was treated. You have everything you need within to resolve this challenge. And if you don't you can always develop it. You can do it.

The other thing I want to assure you of is no one in the Kingdom Hall is superior to you. Some may be more obedient to the construct of order, and chastity but no one there is in any way superior to others. You may be very surprised to learn that those who behave superior to others have done things that you would not dream of doing, and they have done it while giving talks about the issues they are guilty of, or answering questions boldly, and passionately, condemning the behavior of the person in the magazine when that is exactly what they are doing. Many have done these things in secret and have continued on without anyone discovering it. This is also the reason they behave so superior to others. They believe they are smarter than others.

You on the other hand are exposing your errors and speaking candidly about your needs. This is admirable. Now all that's left to do is to delve deeper within. Believe in you.

Wishing you the very best.

18

Child Abuse

by MicaSmith in

hello, i am new to forum.

i want to thank you for allowing me to post my concerns.. you are a lively, intelligent, empathetic community.

i have read many of your posts and comments.. i have two concerns that i would like to discuss here.

MicaSmith

Thank you.

I wish to thank everyone for their kind and encouraging comments. I want you to know that I am progress bound. I also like having the opportunity to help others and that's what I'll try to do here. I will continue reading about the experiences of others and offering support. It is amazing to me how much compassion is here. It is the opposite of what I got in the KH. Thank you all.