Posts by silentlambs

http://olive.flacoast.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:ArticleToMail&Type=text/html&Path=NHerald/2002/09/07&ID=Ar01704
A Bay County Jehovahs Witness has joined a growing number of the religious groups members across the nation who are speaking out against the way it handles allegations of child molestation.

By doing so, Steve Imhof, 54, most likely will be disfellowshipped, which means he wont be able to talk to family members and friends again. If Imhof violates that, church policies call for excommunication, too.

"We have a great love for the organization of Jehovahs Witnesses. We are saddened that we are forced to stand here due to the stubborn actions of prideful men who lead this church," Imhof said on Friday after being kicked off the premises of the Kingdom Hall on 19 th Street in Panama City. "The Jehovahs Witness leadership must change their policy and must apologize to the victims whose lives their policies have destroyed."

A 38-year member of the tightknit group, Imhof says he is concerned because child-sex allegations are generally not reported to the police. Furthermore, he said victims are not allowed to seek counseling.

Rather, he said, they are dealt with internally. Imhof said its because of the beliefs closed nature and its insistence on handling problems internally.

"I have had seven children cry on my shoulder," he said.

However, a spokesman for the Jehovahs Witnesses home base in New York said leaders, called elders, are not encouraged to condone molestation.

"People have absolutely every right to go to the authorities," said J.R. Brown, director of public information. "We are sorry about people feeling overlooked and certainly for the victims."

Jehovahs Witnesses are a reli- gious sect that shuns the outside world in many respects. They refuse to bear arms, salute the flag or participate in secular government.

Imhof said church elders hear sex-abuse allegations. He said if the accuser denies the allegations, little more can be done in a judicial way. Congregations will continue to view the one accused as innocent.

For the allegations to be heard, he said, it takes two eyewitnesses.

"How often do children being raped have people standing by watching?" Imhof asked.

He said there are many similarities between the crisis in the Catholic Church and the one he sees amongst Jehovahs Witnesses. However, Imhof says there is one major difference: Catholics are seeking to correct their mistakes.

On Sept. 27, Imhof and other angry Jehovahs Witnesses will partake in a march through New York that will end at the front door of the home office of the Jehovahs Witnesses in Brooklyn. The purpose is to put pressure on the organization to change its policies. Many of the marchers belong to a group called the Silent Lamb Organization and have been leaving symbolic lambs at Kingdom Halls across the country, representing victims who they believe were unfairly silenced.

Steve Imhof had a white lamb doll in his pocket Friday, and tried to leave it at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovahs Witness on 19 th Street. The Silent Lamb Organization uses the symbol to represent victims they believe are unfairly silenced.

News Herald Photos: Terry Barner Steve Imhof has spoken out against what he says is a cover-up of sexual abuse of children by Jehovahs Witnesses. Imhof says he will be cast out of the group for speaking out.

8

Florida Press Coverage of sl march

by silentlambs in

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friends

jehovahs witnesses speak out

silence: members want changes in the way the sect handles molestation claims.

kevin p orter the news herald

silentlambs

Jehovahs Witnesses speak out

SILENCE: Members want changes in the way the sect handles molestation claims.

KEVIN P ORTER THE NEWS HERALD

http://olive.flacoast.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:ArticleToMail&Type=text/html&Path=NHerald/2002/09/07&ID=Ar01704 A Bay County Jehovah's Witness has joined a growing number of the religious groups members across the nation who are speaking out against the way it handles allegations of child molestation.

By doing so, Steve Imhof , 54, most likely will be disfellowshipped , which means he won't be able to talk to family members and friends again. If Imhof violates that, church policies call for excommunication, too.

"We have a great love for the organization of Jehovahs Witnesses. We are saddened that we are forced to stand here due to the stubborn actions of prideful men who lead this church," Imhof said on Friday after being kicked off the premises of the Kingdom Hall on in Panama City . "The Jehovahs Witness leadership must change their policy and must apologize to the victims whose lives their policies have destroyed."

A 38-year member of the tight knit group, Imhof says he is concerned because child-sex allegations are generally not reported to the police. Furthermore, he said victims are not allowed to seek counseling.

Rather, he said, they are dealt with internally. Imhof said its because of the beliefs closed nature and its insistence on handling problems internally.

"I have had seven children cry on my shoulder," he said.

However, a spokesman for the Jehovahs Witnesses home base in said leaders, called elders, are not encouraged to condone molestation.

"People have absolutely every right to go to the authorities," said J.R. Brown, director of public information. "We are sorry about people feeling overlooked and certainly for the victims."

Jehovahs Witnesses are a religious sect that shuns the outside world in many respects. They refuse to bear arms, salute the flag or participate in secular government.

Imhof said church elders hear sex-abuse allegations. He said if the accuser denies the allegations, little more can be done in a judicial way. Congregations will continue to view the one accused as innocent.

For the allegations to be heard, he said, it takes two eyewitnesses.

"How often do children being raped have people standing by watching?" Imhof asked.

He said there are many similarities between the crisis in the Catholic Church and the one he sees amongst Jehovah's Witnesses. However, Imhof says there is one major difference: Catholics are seeking to correct their mistakes.

On Sept. 27, Imhof and other angry Jehovahs Witnesses will partake in a march through that will end at the front door of the home office of the Jehovahs Witnesses in Brooklyn . The purpose is to put pressure on the organization to change its policies. Many of the marchers belong to a group called the Silent Lamb Organization and have been leaving symbolic lambs at Kingdom Halls across the country, representing victims who they believe were unfairly silenced.

Steve Imhof had a white lamb doll in his pocket Friday, and tried to leave it at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovahs Witness on . The Silent Lamb Organization uses the symbol to represent victims they believe are unfairly silenced.

News Herald Photos: Terry Barner Steve Imhof has spo out against what he says is a cover-up of sexual abuse of children by Jehovahs Witnesses. Imhof says he will be cast out of the group for speaking out.

Edited by - silentlambs on 7 September 2002 13:10:39

27

Sexual Offender in my hall.

by PandaJ in

jw
friends

so my wife calls me and says, "my mom told me there is a sexual offender in our hall, but she won't tell me who!".

i have a small child, so i obviously want to know.

her mom tells her a website where she can search for sexual offenders, www.criminalfiles.info.

silentlambs

13 and 17 years olds do not use rape as a way to punish their step fathers. It is once again proof of how victims are called liars by congregation gossips. I would plaster his picture all over the parking lot anonymously and let the cards fall where they may at least the congregation coudl be warned and no one could come after you then. So it goes in the pedophile paradise, where you have to live in fear for trying to warn brothers and sisters to protect their children.

silentlambs

52

Seattle - Press Conference Success - Pics

by Trauma_Hound in

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friends

we had a total of 5 people show up, including myself, bruce baker presented the lamb, and left a press packet on the door, with copys of the new york times articles.

i got some pictures and video, and we had a reporter for the seattle times, and komo tv 4 show up, they both talked with us for almost an hour.

it was great to have a couple of people share they're personal experiences about being molested with the reporters.

silentlambs

23,720--child molesters not victims.

silentlambs

Edited by - silentlambs on 6 September 2002 13:3:42

15

silentlambs March Press Coverage

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http://www.courier-journal.com/localnews/2002/09/06/ke090602s271650.htm

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Seattle, WA

New Allegations Of A Church Keeping Quiet About Child Sexual Abuse

By Tracy Vedder

http://www.komotv.com/stories/20208.htm

- There are new allegations of a Church keeping quiet about child sexual abuse. But this time, it's a different church -- the Jehovah's Witnesses.

Members from and across the country are beginning a campaign to put pressure on Church elders to change.

They call themselves silent lambs -- Jehovah's Witnesses who say they were sexually molested and then forced by Church elders to keep silent.

"Both my sister and I were abused by my stepfather," says Betty, who only wants us to use her first name.

Jehovah's Witnesses require two witnesses to any alleged crime or sin. So as a child, Betty never told anyone. She kept quiet until she found out her little sister was also being molested.

"I knew that if I didn't speak up, nobody was going to help her," says Betty. "I kept having nightmares that she was being molested and I couldn't move, I couldn't help her so I had to do something."

But Betty says when she told church elders she was going to the police, they forced her to stay silent. Although that incident took place in another state, she says now that she is talking about it here in western , she will be kicked out and shunned by her friends and family.

"And it hurts," sobs Betty, "because I really believed in it."

Members of the Ravenna Kingdom Hall, where members of Silent Lambs gathered to protest, did not return phone calls. The Jehovah's Witnesses' headquarters says it is reviewing the situation. A spokesman referred us to their Web site, which says it is a victim's right to report abuse to police.

But former elder Bruce Baker says church attorneys pressured him not to report child molestation. He is now part of a national movement trying to force Jehovah's Witnesses to change.

"They basically, in a sense, have protected pedophiles within the group," says Baker. He says Jehovah's Witnesses simply excommunicate members who have molested, rather than turning them over to police and, he says, "they continue to molest children. They should have been reported years ago and they weren't."

The Silent Lambs group hopes Jehovah's Witnesses will take a lesson from the Catholic Church and deal with the issue of sexual abuse openly.

Silent Lambs announced plans Thursday for a nationwide march on Jehovah's Witnesses headquarters to protest policies on child rape cases. The march is scheduled for Sept. 27 in Brooklyn, NY .

Nashville, TN

WKRN.COM Home

http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=924294&nav=1ugBB5Z1

Sexual Abuse Allegations Within Jehovah's Witness Denomination

Reporter: Wisdom Martin

There are new allegations that a religious denomination is turning a blind eye to sexual abuse. This time, it is the Jehovah's Witnesses who stand accused.

"For me, it took away any concept of trust in religious figures, authority figures, and parental figures."

The woman who spoke to News 2 does not wish to be identified. She is a former Jehovah's Witness who claims she was abused when she was just 8-years-old by a congregation member. But when she spoke out, she said nothing was done. The women said she was also abused by a member of her congregation.

"They act like they are the law, they can take care of it. Something like this, it's abuse, and they shouldn't be the ones taking care of it."

Now, women like Barbara Anderson are ready to fight for change in thei eligion, so they've formed a victim's rights group called Silent Lambs. They believe the Jehovah's Witness sexual abuse polices are inadequate and harm children.

"We believe they are responsible for policies that make it possible for perverted people to come into this organization to get at Jehovah's witness children," Barbara said.

"We should of all persons, being Christians going by the bible, we should do the right thing for these abuse victims," said Joe Anderson.

Joe Anderson was a Jehovah's Witness elder for over 50 years.

"In the organization, you have to have two witnesses, and of course it's almost impossible to have two witnesses to a child molestation. So if a parent comes with their daughter to the elder, they ask and he says, no, I didn't do it, then that's the end of the matter."

"I would like to see them recognize it, take it to the civil authorities and professionals that are capable and qualified to help the victims."

News 2 contacted the Jehovah's Witness national office in , but they did not return our calls. The Silent Lambs organization will hold a march to bring awareness to their cause September 27th in Brooklyn, NY .

News 2 at 5

09.05.02

Nashville, TN

http://www.wsmv.com/Global/story.asp?S=923786&nav=1TcRB5AO

Former church members march in protest

Email story to a friend


People say they were molested as a child by a Jehovah's Witness

James Lewis

Sex and religion make for a potent mix. And Thursday, some Jehovah's Witnesses are being targeted by former members about charges of child sexual abuse. They claim elders are covering it up. The worst part is that women say it's been going on for years.

The best part is that it is now public, and they have hope that the problem may be addressed publicly by Jehovah's Witnesses. At the Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall in , former member Barbara Anderson left a small stuffed lamb. It's her symbol of innocence lost. As a writer for the organization in , says she discovered multiple charges of sexual abuse being hushed up.

"They're kind of isolated in their ivory tower and they do believe that all the world is controlled by Satan, that theirs is God's organization. They can make the rules," said Barbara Anderson.

Nationwide Thursday in 16 major cities, demonstrations like this called for change within the religious organization.

"It was from another member who was there," said "Lisa", who was abused when she was young.

Lisa, not he eal name, says as a 9-year-old child she was molested by a Jehovah's Witness. Despite telling the church - no one within the organization reported it to police.

"Now that you're an adult, Lisa, what would you like to say to your attacker?" asked Channel 4 Reporter James Lewis.

"I really feel sorry for him because as an adult I feel sorry that he has went through them because of his own way of trying to cover it up," said "Lisa".

Former member Joe Anderson grieves for his former friends, but he sees hope that recent exposures will correct some wrongs.

"Something is going to be done about it. And something has been done about it to a certain degree. But certainly more needs to be done but yeah I am happy to see them coming out with this," said Joe Anderson.

Channel 4 News attempted to contact the presiding elders at the Jehovah's Witnesses, but none of them returned our calls.

For more information about this cause, visit the Silent Lambs web site.

Tucson, AZ

WE'VE BEEN HEARING THE PAST FEW MONTHS ABOUT CONCERNS OVER COVER-UPS OF CHILD MOLESTATION IN THE .

TODAY, MEMBERS OF ANOTHER RELIGION ARE COMING FORWARD WITH SIMILAR ALLEGATIONS. THEY TALKED TO US DURING A DEMONSTRATION AT ONE OF SEVERAL JEHOVAH'S WITNESS KINGDOM HALLS NATIONWIDE

KINDRA HAS BEEN A JEHOVAH'S WITNESS FOR DECADES. SHE SAYS AS A CHILD, A FAMILY MEMBER MOLESTED HER. SHE TOLD HER PARENTS, AND HER PARENTS WENT TO THE ELDERS AT THEIR KINGDOM HALL. SHE SAYS JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES ARE TOLD NOT TO GO TO THE POLICE WITH ACCUSATIONS AGAINST A FELLOW MEMBER.

i was told not to do that i was supposed to leave it in the elders hands that they would pray and they did prayer when i was there and that jehovah would take care of it , and it kept happening, so as a child you only do what you're told.

TODAY, KINDRA AND ANOTHER JEHOVAH'S WITNESS CAME TO THE KINGDOM HALL AT 29TH AND ROSEMONT TO DELIVER A SYMBOLIC LAMB - REPRESENTING THE MANY CHILDREN THEY SAY ARE SILENCED BY JEHOVAH'S WITNESS POLICY. THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN NEARLY A DOZEN CITIES NATIONWIDE.

i have nothing against the religion - i still want to attend. i want to do this for the children and change policies so that someone doesn't have to go through what i went through.

JOHN BROWN SAYS THE RELIGION FORBIDS PUNISHMENT OF AN ACCUSED MOLESTER WHO DENIES ALLEGATIONS UNLESS THERE IS ANOTHER EYEWITNESS TO THE ABUSE.

but there never is unless somebody walks in on accident, a parent, while the perpetrator is committing the act.

THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESS REPRESENTATIVES WE TALKED TO DID NOT WANT TO GO ON CAMERA. BUT ONE TOLD US THE ALLEGATIONS ARE RIDICULOUS. HE SAYS JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES ARE ONE OF THE MOST LAW-ABIDING GROUPS IN THE WORLD. HE ALSO MAINTAINS THEY DO NOT HAVE A POLICY OF SILENCING VICTIMS.

KINDRA AND JOHN TELL US THEY CAN BE DISFELLOWSHIPPED, WHICH IS LIKE BEING EXCOMMUNICATED, FOR SPEAKING OUT - BUT THEY THINK IT'S WORTH IT. THEY ANNOUNCED A MARCH FOR VICTIMS, COMING UP SEPTEMBER 27TH IN BROOKLYN, NY, WHERE THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESS HEADQUARTERS IS LOCATED.

Edited by - silentlambs on 6 September 2002 10:51:54

15

silentlambs March Press Coverage

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, Pacific

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=134530329&zsection_id=268448406&slug=jehovah06m&date=20020906

'Silentlambs' speak out about sex abuse

By Christine Clarridge Seattle Times staff reporter

Several former Jehovah's Witnesses stood outside a Kingdom Hall church near yesterday with a tiny toy lamb whose mouth was covered with black electrician's tape.

The symbolically silenced lamb delivered to the door of the fellowship hall represented the 5,000 members of the 6 million-member church who claim to have been sexually abused by leaders or others in the church. They further claim to have been silenced or ignored when they sought the church's guidance and protection.

The news conference was one of about 16 across the country called to bring attention to "silentlambs," an organization planning a march on church headquarters in on Sept. 27.

Started by a former church member who said he was dismayed by the way the church covered up allegations of abuse, silentlambs is calling for changes in church policies.

"We want to open the doors, " said Bruce Baker, a former Jehovah's Witness leader in . "We want Watchtower headquarters to turn cases of abuse within the church over to the police and let the police handle it.''

National church leaders could not be reached for comment, but a spokesman recently told The New York Times that the church's policies on sexual abuse were based on the Bible and were exemplary.

"We're not trying to say we handled everybody in the right way and our elders are all-knowing, all-perfect. But we say, if you take what our policy is for keeping our organization clean morally, it far outpaces anybody else's," spokesman J.R. Brown said.

Jehovah's Witnesses is a Christian denomination that emphasizes biblical literalism and the imminent end of the world. Members are best-known in the secular world for giving out religious tracts and for not celebrating holidays and birthdays or allowing blood transfusions.

Former members said the church's policies and culture conspire to conceal abuse.

The small group of activists in included several ex-church members who have been "disfellowshipped" or excommunicated, as well as one woman who claimed the church did nothing to protect her and her sister when they came forward with claims of abuse.

She said she went to her church leaders to ask for help because her stepfather, who had also sexually abused her, was abusing her younger sister.

Her stepfather, who has since been disfellowshipped by the church, never paid a legal price for what she said were years of abuse.

The scope of abuse within the denomination is a matter of debate. The church has recently been sued by eight people in four lawsuits around the country including one filed in alleging abuse.

According to Bill Bowen, founder of silentlambs, there have been more than 5,000 current or former members nationwide who say that the church mishandled allegations of child sexual abuse.

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or [email protected] .

15

silentlambs March Press Coverage

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Local/Regional News Item

Group to march for molested children Jehovah's Witnesses want church to alter its policy, apologize

By Darla Carter [email protected]
The Courier-Journal

William H. Bowen of silentlambs, a group for abuse victims in the Jehovah's Witnesses church, left a stuffed lamb and a flier at Kingdom Hall on protesting church policies.

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL HAYMAN

Stuffed lambs, here at Kingdom Hall in southern , were left at Jehovah's Witnesses churches across the country yesterday.

An event being billed as the first national march for victims of child molestation within the Jehovah's Witnesses church was announced yesterday in and other cities around the country.

Silentlambs, a victims' support group, will hold the march at the Jehovah's Witnesses headquarters in , on Sept. 27, said William H. Bowen of , cofounder of the group.

''Abuse survivors and supporters will come from around the world to let the Jehovah's Witnesses leadership . . . know we will no longer be ignored,'' Bowen said in a statement.

He left a pink stuffed animal in the shape of a lamb on the door of a Jehovah's Witnesses church in southern as a symbol of victims everywhere that his group says have been silenced by church policy. The gesture was repeated in every city where the march was announced, from to

Bowen, a former elder who was recently ''disfellowshipped,'' or excommunicated, for causing divisions in the church, alleges that Jehovah's Witnesses keep incidents of child molestation secret, won't allow victims to warn other members of abusers in their congregations, and require alleged victims to produce a witness. Those who speak out are cut off from the church and shunned, he said.

''The Jehovah's Witnesses leadership (Governing Body) must change their policy and must apologize to the victims whose lives their policies have destroyed,'' Bowen said in the statement. ''On September 27th we arrive in good faith to make testimony to the public and testify before Jehovah's Witnesses Governing Body to give closure to victims and protect our children.''

Bowen, who helped found silentlambs in spring 2001, said his group has been contacted by 5,000 alleged victims, many of whom have said, ''I thought I was all alone.'' The group, which has a hot line and a Web site -- (877) 982-2873 and www.silentlambs.org -- provides emotional support, advice and a sense that someone believes them, Bowen said.

J.R. Brown, the director of the media office at the Jehovah's Witnesses headquarters, declined to comment through an employee who would not give his name.

In the past, officials with the Jehovah's Witnesses have said they abhor child molestation, report cases to authorities in states that require such reports and allow members to report fellow members to police.

Bowen said he plans to push for legislation in that would require clergy to report alleged abuse to police.

''I would like for every single child molester in the church to be turned in,'' he said.

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7

Press Conference Release-distribute freely

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silentlambs, inc.

public affairs office

for immediate release

silentlambs

Local/Regional News Item

Friday, September 6, 2002

Group to march for molested children
Jehovah's Witnesses want church to alter its policy, apologize

By Darla Carter
[email protected]
The Courier-Journal

http://www.courier-journal.com/localnews/2002/09/06/ke090602s271650.htm

William H. Bowen of silentlambs, a group for abuse victims in the Jehovah's Witnesses church, left a stuffed lamb and a flier at Kingdom Hall on Lower River Road protesting church policies.

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL HAYMAN

Stuffed lambs, here at Kingdom Hall in southern Jefferson County, were left at Jehovah's Witnesses churches across the country yesterday.

An event being billed as the first national march for victims of child molestation within the Jehovah's Witnesses church was announced yesterday in Louisville and other cities around the country.

Silentlambs, a victims' support group, will hold the march at the Jehovah's Witnesses headquarters in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Sept. 27, said William H. Bowen of Benton, Ky., cofounder of the group.

''Abuse survivors and supporters will come from around the world to let the Jehovah's Witnesses leadership . . . know we will no longer be ignored,'' Bowen said in a statement.

He left a pink stuffed animal in the shape of a lamb on the door of a Jehovah's Witnesses church in southern Jefferson County as a symbol of victims everywhere that his group says have been silenced by church policy. The gesture was repeated in every city where the march was announced, from Los Angeles to Orlando, Fla.

Bowen, a former elder who was recently ''disfellowshipped,'' or excommunicated, for causing divisions in the church, alleges that Jehovah's Witnesses keep incidents of child molestation secret, won't allow victims to warn other members of abusers in their congregations, and require alleged victims to produce a witness. Those who speak out are cut off from the church and shunned, he said.

''The Jehovah's Witnesses leadership (Governing Body) must change their policy and must apologize to the victims whose lives their policies have destroyed,'' Bowen said in the statement. ''On September 27th we arrive in good faith to make testimony to the public and testify before Jehovah's Witnesses Governing Body to give closure to victims and protect our children.''

Bowen, who helped found silentlambs in spring 2001, said his group has been contacted by 5,000 alleged victims, many of whom have said, ''I thought I was all alone.'' The group, which has a hot line and a Web site -- (877) 982-2873 and www.silentlambs.org -- provides emotional support, advice and a sense that someone believes them, Bowen said.

J.R. Brown, the director of the media office at the Jehovah's Witnesses headquarters, declined to comment through an employee who would not give his name.

In the past, officials with the Jehovah's Witnesses have said they abhor child molestation, report cases to authorities in states that require such reports and allow members to report fellow members to police.

Bowen said he plans to push for legislation in Kentucky that would require clergy to report alleged abuse to police.

''I would like for every single child molester in the church to be turned in,'' he said.

7

Press Conference Release-distribute freely

by silentlambs in

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silentlambs, inc.

public affairs office

for immediate release

silentlambs

silentlambs, inc.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE

For Immediate Release

Thank you for coming today. We are here to speak out for victims of child rape who have been silenced and now know they have a right to speak out. We call them silentlambs. Behind me stands a house of worship. It is directed by a group of 11 men who hold legislative, executive, and judicial power over a world-wide religious order known as Jehovah's Witnesses. These men, who are known as a Governing Body (leadership) for 6 million Jehovah's Witnesses world-wide, have chosen to defend an indefensible regulation that has led and continues to lead to unimaginable damage to children who have suffered or who are now suffering sexual abuse.

Today we are here to announce the first ever nation-wide march for Jehovah's Witness child rape victims. On September 27th at 2 P.M. at Jehovah's Witnesses' headquarters in Brooklyn, abuse survivors and supporters will come from around the world to let the Jehovah's Witnesses' leadership (Governing Body) know we will no longer be ignored. We are angry at being silenced when we tried to speak out about abuse; we are outraged that we were disfellowshipped when we spoke out to protect children. Jehovah's Witnesses' Governing Body policies have hurt thousands of children; by their actions they appear to have no remorse; they have made no apology, but instead have sent henchmen in congregations like this to excommunicate victims and advocates who spoke out for children. At least the Catholic Church has taken steps in the right direction for addressing abuse issues but Jehovah's Witnesses leadership, by their actions, appear to think they are above the law and will punish anyone who says different.

In a statement made to media dated February 7, the head of the PR Department for Jehovah's Witnesses, J. R. Brown states, "Our Governing Body is willing to resolve differences of opinion within the framework of the congregation and according to Scriptural principles." For these reasons we are asking that a board of key men be selected from within the church to serve as judges. On September 27, in Brooklyn, we will bring dozens of eye-witnesses to testify regarding the harm Watchtower policy has caused by requiring two eye-witnesses to verify child molestation allegations. How often does a child have an eye-witness when they are being raped? We ask them to hear our witnesses and if their testimony proves true the leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses (Governing Body) should either be sanctioned or dismissed from their positions.

Today I am here to represent those with many faithful years of service as Jehovah's Witnesses. We are here to deliver a message for the children. Earlier on Tuesday of this week twelve lambs were delivered to the Jehovah's Witnesses leaders known as the Governing Body. Today in Louisville, Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, Nashville, Portland, Seattle, Orlando, Tampa, St Louis, in these major cites across America a symbolic lamb is being left at a Kingdom Hall. This lamb stands as a reminder for those who have been silenced by Watchtower policy when they were raped.

It is bad policy that requires unauthorized untrained men to illegally investigate the crime of child molestation.

It is bad policy that appoints child molesters as elders after 20 years of not getting caught again.

It is bad policy that puts child molesters in a position to go to any home in on an annual basis accompanied by fellow members who do not even know what they have done.

It is bad Watchtower policy that remains unchanged due to the inaction of Jehovah's Witnesses' Governing Body after silentlambs, along with thousands of abuse survivors, have begged for almost two years now, for needed changes.

Each person in attendance at press conferences across America, at one time, had great love for the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses; we are saddened that we are forced to stand here due to the stubborn actions of prideful men who lead this church. The Jehovah's Witnesses' leadership (Governing Body) must change their policy and must apologize to the victims whose lives their policies have destroyed. On September 27th we arrive in good faith to make testimony to the public and testify before Jehovah's Witnesses Governing Body to give closure to victims and protect our children.

Victims who have been painfully conned and threatened out of their innocence by child molesters are now being conned and threatened into silence by the local representatives of Jehovah's Witnesses' leadership in Kingdom Halls such as this one around the world. These men consistently teach their adherents that humility is the course of wisdom yet they arrogantly stick to an unwise course that punishes their most precious members. On September 27th in Brooklyn, we begin a peaceful march at Pierpoint Place and Columbia Heights. We will end the march at the front door of home office of Jehovah's Witnesses. We officially invite any who decry the abuse of children to join silentlambs in this peaceful demonstration to push for a change in policy to protect the children. We encourage all abuse survivors to speak out and never allow anyone to make you a silentlamb.

silentlambs, inc.

Edited by - silentlambs on 6 September 2002 1:7:57