Brother Fitzwater is serving a 20 year sentence and has yet to meet with a judicial committee, oh yes, I forgot to mention the other 15 little children who only had one "witness" to each event.....
silentlambs
JoinedPosts by silentlambs
-
6
Fitzwater Case-Seeking Information
by silentlambs inthe story below describes a case we are looking into.
if you know of any elders or former elders who have any knowledge whatsoever of this case please have them contact me through email.. silentlambs.
march 16, 1998 .
-
-
-
6
Fitzwater Case-Seeking Information
by silentlambs inthe story below describes a case we are looking into.
if you know of any elders or former elders who have any knowledge whatsoever of this case please have them contact me through email.. silentlambs.
march 16, 1998 .
-
-
silentlambs
The story below describes a case we are looking into. if you know of any elders or former elders who have any knowledge whatsoever of this case please have them contact me through email.
silentlambs
March 16, 1998
Former church elder convicted of lewdness with minor
YERINGTON, Nev. (AP) - A former Jehovah's Witnesses church elder was convicted of lewdness with a minor for a 1992 incident with an 8-year-old girl at his home.A Lyon District Court jury returned the verdict Thursday against Daniel Steven Fitzwater, who faces up to 20 years in prison when he returns to court for sentencing April 20.
During the trial, Chief Deputy District Attorney John Schlegelmilch said Fitzwater used his position as a church elder to gain the trust of the victim's family before the incident.
The girl, now 13, was left in the care of Fitzwater's wife when her parents went on a deer hunting trip, and the sexual molestation occurred when Mrs. Fitzwater made a trip to town, the prosecutor said.
"He was supposed to be looking over the flock," but he committed a "crime against nature and Jehovah," Schlegelmilch said.
The girl went on to develop behavioral problems, experience nightmares and attempt suicide at the age of 10, he added.
But court-appointed defense attorney Jeffrey Morrison questioned the girl's credibility, saying she has accused others of the same crime.
"It will be your task to determine what is fact and what is fantasy in the mind of a troubled young girl," he told jurors.
Fitzwater took the stand during the trial to deny the charges, but two women supported the prosecution's case by testifying he inappropriately touched them when they were young.
One was his stepdaughter.
Fitzwater lived in Weed Heights, a mining community near Yerington, when the crime occurred. He has since moved out of Lyon County.
Yerington is 80 miles southwest of Reno.
-
4
The Burning Issue
by silentlambs inpage 13a .
clergy dilemma: save lives or keep secrets .
by gerald l. zelizer .
-
-
silentlambs
USA TODAY
7-30-01
Page 13A
Clergy dilemma: Save lives or keep secrets
By Gerald L. ZelizerWhen former FBI agent Robert Hanssen was in the throes of spying 20 years ago, his wife, Bonnie, told federal authorities that he confessed his activities to a Catholic priest who kept the crime confidential, advising him to contribute his payment to charity. Priest-penitent privilege is absolute in canon law and has been incorporated into the statutes of all 50 states. If Hanssen had been Jewish and shared his treason with me, I would have immediately informed him that I was obliged to report his crime. In Judaism, the saving of a life is superior to clergy-penitent confidentiality. In fact, two men spying for America whose names were disclosed by Hanssen were later executed. Hanssen pled guilty this month to spying for Russia and will receive a life sentence without parole. But his case is fueling a broader trend that questions whether the laws on priest-penitent privilege are too absolute. And with good reason, because some recent cases -- one this month in particular -- illustrate how the privilege has put others at risk: * A New York teenager, Jesus Fornes, in 1989 revealed to the Rev. Joseph Towle a murder he had committed, for which two other men, Jose Morales and Ruben Montalvo, were convicted. While the conversation was not in confession, and Towle suggested that Fornes make public the truth, the facts of the case never came out until Towle decided to testify in U.S. District Court as part of an appeal by Morales. The judge freed both Morales and Montalvo last week after more than a dozen years of wrongful imprisonment. * French Bishop Pierre Pican kept secret his knowledge of sexual assaults on boys by a priest, Rene Bissey. Pican is on trial for violating the law that requires French citizens to report suspected sexual abuse of minors. It is the first time in France that the Catholic Church's secrecy defense has been challenged in court. The increasing scrutiny of priest-penitent privilege brings into focus how the two clerical goals are in conflict. Clergy encourage repentance and rehabilitation of the penitent, which depends on absolute trust and open lines of prayer and communication, without fear of disclosure by either party. But at the same time, clergy, as citizens, are responsible for the collective welfare of society and preventing possible physical harm to others. For this reason, the first goal should suffer a bit because of obligation to the second. Already, some religions see the danger in an absolute privilege and are limiting it: * While the Presbyterian Church USA forbids its pastors from revealing anything told to them in confidence, the church does make an explicit exception for child abuse or ''when there is risk of imminent bodily harm to a person.'' * The United Methodist Church encourages its pastors to make an ethical judgment on a case-by-case basis. ''This is the kind of dilemma that defies uniform standards imposed from the outside,'' says Robert Kohler, assistant general secretary of the Division of Ordained Ministry. * John Dreibelbis, associate professor of Christian ministry at the Seabury-Western Seminary (Episcopal) in Evanston, Ill., says that, as a parish priest, ''I gave the penitent at the outset a printed card with the warning that if you confess something that is an ongoing injury or has the potential to harm, it is not a secret.'' * The Catholic archdioceses of Louisville and Indianapolis require priests to report suspected child abuse except when they learn of it in confession. Prosecutors and lower courts, too, have made a few attempts to whittle away at the edges of the privilege: * In New Jersey in 1971, a Catholic nun was found to be in contempt of court for refusing to divulge information shared with her by the alleged perpetrator of a homicide. The court ruled that Sister Margaret Murtha could not assert the privilege because she acted as a teacher rather than in the normal sacramental capacity of a priest. * Because the church did not have a formal rite of confession, a Tacoma, Wash., trial judge ruled that the privilege did not apply to Evangelical Reform pastor Rich Hamlin and his parishioner, Scott Martin, who confessed that he shook his infant to death. The judge's decision later was reversed. * An Idaho court held recently that a conversation between a hospital chaplain and a father regarding his son's injuries was not protected because the communication was not sufficiently private. Hospital staff could be seen and heard through the open door, it was reported. State laws, which vary widely, need to mandate more disclosure. Confidentiality of the Catholic confessional is protected by law in all states. But in many states, priest-penitent confidentiality is broadened to conversations beyond the confessional. Alabama, for example, includes all conferences -- in the broadest sense -- where the clergyman is consulted in his professional capacity of spiritual activities. New Jersey views privileged communications as including ''confessions and other communications made in confidence among the cleric and individuals . . . in the exercise of the cleric's professional or spiritual counseling role.'' While some states -- such as New Hampshire and Kentucky -- limit the clergy-penitent privilege in the case of suspected child abuse, South Carolina and Oregon maintain the privilege even in the case of sexual abuse of minors. Rabbi Sharon Brus, a rabbinic fellow at B'nai Jeshurun Congregation in New York, suggests that the clergy-penitent privilege be modeled more after the guidelines for psychotherapists, mandating confidentiality but requiring disclosure under such compelling circumstances as ''danger to oneself or others.'' Clergy-penitent privilege is indispensable in protecting both the parishioner and the clergy. Ministers, for example, must not be hauled into court in divorce or child custody disputes on behalf of one parent or the other. But many of today's laws have gone too far in requiring absolute confidentiality. Protecting a penitent or another person in imminent danger is more of a religious value than the potential repentance of a sinner. In those instances, the laws should not only allow, but mandate, that clergy report what they know. Gerald L. Zelizer, the rabbi of Neve Shalom, a Conservative congregation serving the Metuchen-Edison, N.J., area, is a member of USA TODAY's board of contributors.
-
94
Meet Silentlambs In Person!
by silentlambs ini am going to be at a trial in ritzville, washington.
the town is about an hour southwest from spokane, wa.
i will be there on august 14th, which will be on a tuesday.
-
-
silentlambs
I am going to be at a trial in Ritzville, Washington. The town is about an hour southwest from Spokane, Wa. I will be there on August 14th, which will be on a Tuesday. Why? Read the story of Erica below. In the first trial only three sat on her side of the court room, while the other side was filled with jw's supporting the pedophile. It is alleged the man admitted he was guilty. This time I wish to fill Erica's side of the courtroom. It is my understanding wt has taken a personal interest in this case and is working with the child molesters defense attorney to get him off. If you want to make a statement about this issue, support a silentlamb, and make wt know this is just the beginning. I welcome you to come to Ritzville. I will be glad to meet you and I am sure the real hero of all this, Erica will also. You may email me for further information.
silentlambs
I would like to briefly summarize my experience as a victim of molestation as a child. The difference from other molested victims is that it happened to me as one of Jehovah's Witnesses(JW). Most of the rapes/molestations occurred by a Jehovah's Witness elder who incidentally also happened to be my father's good and trusted friend. The sexual assaults started at age four and continued until I was eleven. The perpetrator is presently a JW in "good standing" which means he is accepted by JW's and he can preach from door-to-door without hindrance.
Not so long ago, I attempted to resolve this situation in accordance to JW policy, which meant approaching JW elders who would exercise justice and fairness as outlined in the Bible. Instead, these group of men did everything they could in order to cover-up and dismiss the serious crimes against me. It became apparent to me that these Watchtower representatives were only interested in protecting the organization and cared little about my individual circumstance. This came to a head when one elder told me, "never repeat what happened to you (the numerous molestations), or you will be disfellowshipped(excommunicated)."
I am now relieved that I did not maintain silence and went to law enforcement officials so that these sex crimes would be made known and would cease. I finally at the age of 19 related these sex crimes a peace officer who also happened to be one of JWs. I had come to "my wits end," in that another JW elder had molested me from age twelve to sixteen. This is what prompted me to divulge to proper authorities what was occurring to me in the present and what had happened to me in my childhood. Little did I realize how calculated the organization would be in encapsulating and deflecting the responsibility in this matter. In one judicial meeting, I was appalled because my parents were verbally attacked and later ostracized for not going along with the "code of silence" adhered to among JWs.
Meanwhile, the child molester, for months continued to evangelize, preach from the platform at the Kingdom Hall, and enjoy "special privileges" as an ordained JW minister. Finally, in 1998 he was forced to appear before a jury in a superior court to answer for his crimes. That jury unanimously convicted him on two counts of child rape and two counts of child molestation. This trial could have been avoided if he had truthfully confessed to his crimes against me and accepted the plea bargain offered to him by the state. However, the pedophile hired a private attorney and lost; he was convicted and later sentenced to eleven and a half years to State Prison. Interestingly, by the time he was sentenced he was reinstated as a JW member in good standing so that he could escort his daughter at her wedding in a Kingdom Hall of JW (a privilege reserved for approved JW's). At the trial, the pedophile’s side of the courtroom was filled with JW's who were in support of him. On my side, only three sat. During this time period, two other JW victims came forward, but it would be ineffectual as far as the trial was concerned because of the statutes of limitations pertaining to them. At the sentencing three elders stood up to plead for mercy in his behalf along with nine other fellow witnesses. The judge just shook his head in disgust. When the judge sentenced him to eleven and a half years, a pioneer sister yelled slut and whore at me across the courtroom. I have to wonder what part of the “spiritual paradise” I was experiencing at this point.
Sadly this is not the end of it, recently, the pedophile was prematurely released from state prison due to a technicality; a technicality favors a new trial. This is not because there was insufficient evidence, but that jury selection was tampered with. (My case is not the only one up for retrial, but many others in that time frame.) This means I now have to go back through my entire testimony all over again. To go through this ordeal again is extremely traumatic for me. But if this prevents him from continuing his pattern of sexual abuse, it is all worth it. If any of this that I have related seems embellished, please access court transcripts that will verify my account in xxxx County Superior Court in xxxxxxx. My hope is that another JW involved in a similar situation will find my experience helpful and a stepping stone to do whatever is in their power for true justice. -
3
The Day The Lambs Roared
by silentlambs inpicture if you will, going for a walk in a beautiful forest along a winding path.
as the graveled walkway gently descends you realize you are coming to a picturesque mountain valley.
as you get closer to the clearing you notice a broad field covered by thousands of sheep.
-
-
silentlambs
Picture if you will, going for a walk in a beautiful forest along a winding path. As the graveled walkway gently descends you realize you are coming to a picturesque mountain valley. As you get closer to the clearing you notice a broad field covered by thousands of sheep. From a distance it looks almost like a paradise, the rolling green meadow with the towering mountains all about, it seems like it is almost perfect. As you amble closer to the flock you sense something is not right. It is one of those things that you feel at first but then a slow realization prickles down the back of your neck. What is it? Throughout this valley with literally thousands of lambs there is a total silence. How could this be? You draw closer and then you notice other things. The lambs appear to be abused. Some are underfed and appear to be weak, others seem to have massive scars across their bodies, yet others just lay there and do not move, it is as if they have lost a will to live. What is even more bizarre is that you notice many have destroyed their lives by trying to swim a large river that runs through the valley and its banks are strewn with small lifeless bodies.
Then you see them, well dressed, clean cut and well fed, it is the shepherds. They have an air about them, they seem firmly in command. It is not long after this discovery you find the reason the lambs are silent. Across the valley comes a small bleat, a lamb has managed to pin itself between two rocks, it is in trouble and needs help. It seems to be almost in an instant that three shepherds rush over and begin beating the lamb with their staffs. You try to shout stop! Don’t do that! But it is to no avail, this one will not make it, it is to late. It is then you realize the shepherds heard your shouts and are moving toward you, now you fear for your own safety. You begin a swift walk to get away, but they sped up their pace. You begin to run but they are gaining and then at that moment something happens. A small ram steps between you and the shepherds and with all his might makes a sound that betrays his anger, his pain, and frustration for living a life of fear. The shepherds are startled at first and the other sheep look at the little ram like he is crazy, but the shepherds quickly move to end the problem and gather around him, this is surely the end, but across the valley comes another sound much like the first except this one is even more piercing, it has the sound akin to a woman’s scream and again the shepherds divide their number to address the problem. But then there is another but it is deeper and has the sense of rage unleashed at that very moment. Then another weaker but no less angry, then another, another, another and soon the sound is reaching across the valley. Each lamb starts lending their voice and the sound starts to become deafening. The shepherds are rolling on the ground holding their ears in pain, but the sound continues to rise, louder and louder until the mountains around start to shake, rocks and boulders come tumbling down and yet the sound continues to grow. Trees are shattered and the river is dried up as the mountain begins to fill it. Yet still the sound continues to grow. You fall to the ground and hang on for dear life as a massive earthquake rocks the entire valley. Everything is flattened and you think it is never going to end. As the earth moves you are hit by a tree branch and knocked unconscious.
Finally, you awaken and are amazed to see what lies before you. No barriers, the mountains are no more, the shepherds are gone, swallowed by the earth and no longer a threat, the river is just a gentle stream now with easy access. Then you notice the lambs, they were a bit worse for the wear, battered, bruised, and still scarred, but different. They moved freely now among one another on a long level plain. It was not just the movement it was the sound, soft bleats and gentle baas waft across the land. They seemed to have a sense of direction as the flock moved away as one. It was true they were not cured of their ills, they do not have great security as before, as to what their new life would be, they did not know, what they do know is that they would never live again as a silentlamb.The lambs are roaring, can you hear them wt?
-
32
Message From Faithful And Discreet Slave
by silentlambs ini recieved a phone call last night from a brother who i was able to verify was of the anointed.
he stated he represented a large group of anointed from within the organization and they wanted to send me a letter.
the anointed remnant.
-
-
silentlambs
To give you a little more background, I was contacted about two months ago by a JW who said they were of the anointed. I was able to check out their background, as I knew many of the same persons that they did. This person has regular pioneered for over 20 years. They put me in touch with several others who were jw's who all partake but disapprove of the GB and how they have handled the child molestation issue. The letter was sent to me electronically. They appear to be scared to death of what WT will do to them if they are caught, but they wanted to do something. This group also has other anointed friends around the world that they communicate with. This certainly is not in the thousands range, more than likely less than one hundred. Yet they wanted to collectively make a statement. Their statement I graciously accept.
As I have mentioned before by any means necessary the truth must be known about this issue. I do not doubt their sincerity and as with all who help on this issue I do not judge their motives just as I do not judge anyone else who wants to assist with helping children. They committed to doing something and I gladly accept the effort. Each person doing what they can contributes to a collective that will have to be recognized by wt. A person running an ad in a paper may not seem like much, but it is something. Putting up a poster, passing out a card, talking to your neighbor, offering documentation, speaking to the press, speaking to attorneys, just posting your story on the victims page or guest book, no matter what your personal effort is, it is SOMETHING IMPORTANT. It makes this cause real; it puts the fist of despair in the face of the governing body and says we will not be ignored. So I say THANK YOU faithful and Discreet Slave, thank you to all who do something no matter how small. You will be part of the success in destroying this wicked wt policy that hurts children. We all have our problems, we all may be messed up in the head a little bit, but we all know one thing, you do not hurt children and claim to have God's blessing. The outrage fuels the fire that unites us as one to do what we can to stop this madness. Your effort helps the silentlambs today and the innocent children who will someday never know how hard we fought for their future.
-
32
Message From Faithful And Discreet Slave
by silentlambs ini recieved a phone call last night from a brother who i was able to verify was of the anointed.
he stated he represented a large group of anointed from within the organization and they wanted to send me a letter.
the anointed remnant.
-
-
silentlambs
I recieved a phone call last night from a brother who I was able to verify was of the Anointed. He stated he represented a large group of Anointed from within the organization and they wanted to send me a letter. The following is what was sent to me:
THE FAITHFUL AND DISCREET SLAVE
THE ANOINTED REMNANT
CHRIST’S BROTHERS
JOINT HEIRS
July 28, 2001The Faithful and Discreet Slave
From the four corners of Jehovah’s EarthBrother Wlliam Bowen
Paducah KY, USAGreetings to our Dear Brother Bowen,
As a large group of the Faithful and Discreet Slave, a part of the anointed remnant of Christ’s Brothers from around the world, we wanted to commend you for your fine work that you have done. This is a letter of support. We know that it is not easy to go against the policies of the Governing Body. You are courageous and bold. We appreciate the work that you are doing on behalf of the lost sheep that have been neglected and abused by elders and indirectly by the Governing Body for not putting proper policies in place to assure the safety and security of all members old and young alike.
Your hard work of community service with the silentlambs website and the 800-WT-ABUSE, phone number has helped many that have been wounded and scarred by representatives of the WATCHTOWER Society.
THE PROTECTION OF PEDOPHILLES HAS NOT ONLY HURT THESE YOUNG ONES SEXUALLY, PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY BUT WORST OF ALL, SPIRITUALLY!
So many have lost their love and trust in Jehovah God. This is a crime in itself! Parents and other family members have lost faith because of the hypocrisy and the deception carried on by brothers in the back room with secret meetings. Unfortunately, the outcome of these meetings has hurt so many innocent lives yet protects the criminals in this circus of a pedophile paradise.
How can this be? What is going on? What does our dear master, Jesus Christ have to say about this? How would secret meetings in the back room be conducted if He were there in person? What about the thoughts and feelings of our dear heavenly Father Jehovah? Have any of these men thought about our spiritual family in the heavens?
Jehovah, Jesus Christ, and the angels all see and hear everything. God will bring judgement against these perverted hateful wicked evildoers! What bloodguilt has been heaped upon their heads!
Are their decisions based on the Bible or on demonic influence?
How disgusting for Jehovah to look down and see homosexuality running rampant at Bethel while out in the congregations a pedophile paradise exists. So many parents are grieved over their children being victims of these activities “sponsored” by the direction of the Governing Body. While it may not happen in every congregation, even one is one too many! Do we have 100 cases? Could we have more?
Churches of Christendom earth wide are dealing with pedophiles in their midst! Are we any different? NO! With the exception that Watchtower Corporation, wants to keep their dirty little scheme a secret! So we ask: ”What are they hiding?” Why don’t they admit guilt, make amends, pay restitution, forgive, go to the authorities and then implement new policies pertaining to these perverted people that are in our ranks.
The Anglican Church of Canada read a letter to all of their congregations on Sunday, May 28, 2000, stating that they could be in financial ruin because of litigation from over 100 cases of proven child and sexual abuse. Their sex offenders are in jail. What about our children and those who prey on them? Are our perverted sinners still speaking from the platform, still going door to door, still in good standing? Are our frightened children told to be quiet and do as they are told? We should learn a serious lesson from the Anglican Church. Their ministers are taking the right steps to get the authorities involved, to quit hiding, to admit guilt, say they are sorry and make restitution. Instead of pointing a finger at them, the Governing Body needs to take a hard look at the repentant behavior of the Anglican Church and learn from their example!
If we do not take action can we say we are any better than these churches? News reports and TV coverage of pedophiles, homosexuality, adultery, bribes and payoffs as well as lawsuits dominate the front page and national news in countries around the world. Will we be next? If so what would that do to our clean image? Have we become like the Pharisees? We are shocked and appalled at the breath and depth of this horrendous problem. We are unable to make suggestions to the Governing Body and the Legal Department. They have turned a deaf ear to us. Do they think they are above the LAW of Christ and of the local authorities? (Romans13)
What would Jesus Christ do?
How would Jesus Christ handle these sensitive matters?
When will these atrocities stop?
Where do we go from here?
We as Jehovah’s Witnesses who are part of Faithful and Discreet Slave, Christ’s Brothers, Joint Heirs, the Anointed Remnant stand on the side of justice, wisdom and love with Jehovah and Jesus. We do not condone or wish to share in the sins of the Governing Body. We do not agree with the policy of two witnesses and hiding the pedophile. The leadership of the Governing Body has disappointed us and let us all down. They seem to be more concerned about the Organization’s image, protecting assets and distracting from the real issues. The Governing Body deserves censure. JUSTICE must be served. Jehovah will punish them severely for this and other crimes. This letter serves to remind the Governing Body of the Faithful and Discreet Slave members that have tried to intervene and been ignored! Jehovah will see that the truth comes out! Whether or not the Watchtower cooperates with the authorities we have to wait and see. The record shows that they are guilty of destroying evidence and creating appalling spin stories of blame and denial. They have been known “to evict brothers and sisters from Bethel for trying to speak out”. It is a mockery a terrible reproach on Jehovah’s name. If other honest-hearted brothers and sisters really understood these matters, they would be appalled. Is this what Jesus had in mind when he said, “By this all will know you are my disciples, by the love you have among yourselves?” Are we really adhering to this standard set by our Master?
”You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood a holy nation, a people for a special possession…called out of darkness into the wonderful light…. Have love for the whole association of Brothers.” (1Peter2: 9,17)
“You should all speak in agreement, there should not be divisions among you. But that you be fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought.” (1Cor. 1:10)
Do we all maintain a high level of moral cleanness among our members according to the direction offered at 1Peter 1:15,16 and 1Cor. 5: 9-13? Are we truly doing all things for God’s Glory? (1Cor.10: 31)
In Titus 2:11,12, it mentions being instructed by God, “to repudiate ungodliness and worldly desires and to live with soundness of mind and righteousness and godly devotion.” You and your family are certainly obeying the scriptures and applying the fruitage of the spirit in your lives. Jehovah will bless your efforts for taking a stand for righteousness sake and helping your fellow brothers and sisters in their time of great sorrow and need of true understanding.
Brother Bowen, you have the compassion in your heart to help our heavenly Father’s children. You have created a place of refuge for the distraught and depressed. You are truly a Brother in every sense of the word. You have given hope when there was only despair. You have given a light when they saw only darkness. You were finally a listening ear at the end of a telephone line when no one else cared. You were the light that gave direction, understanding and reassurance. Confidence, freedom, and trust have been taken away from all of the victims. You have lovingly found a way through your perseverance and kindness to restore these to those that have lost them.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the work you have done.
May more righteous hearted brothers join you in this endeavor to allow the healing and reconciliation of these poor souls to begin. May the truth come out, no matter how much it hurts so we can all become complete in our hearts toward Jehovah. May your family find peace and strength in staying close to Jehovah, in this time of difficulty. We realize that you may have lost friends and loved ones over these issues. But know that true friends will stick closer than a brother. Please do not neglect to forgive those persecuting you by praying for them. We know that your heart is pure and it will move you to do what is right in the face of adversity. We respect and honor you for being one of our dear brothers.
A P O L O G Y
At this time, we would like to take this opportunity to make a public APOLOGY to all of those that have been hurt and stumbled by the pedophiles that have been allowed to continue in our midst with the holy blessing of the Governing Body. We are shocked and stunned by these increasing horrendous true to life accounts. We wish we could tell you how deeply sorry we are in person. This should never have happened to any of you. This is a heavy Burden to bear.
Clearly, we are greatly saddened by these atrocities. We love you and want the best for each and every one of you. Some of us also have been molested and or raped as children, teens or as adults. We feel your pain: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Please remember that Jehovah loves each and every one of you. He will not turn his back on you the way humans have done! Please pray to him and establish a close relationship with him. He truly cares for you.N E E D F O R R E F O R M
We see that the time for reform is long overdue. We have wanted it for a long time. Unfortunately, we have no power. We do not make the rules. The suggestions we have offered have fallen on deaf ears by those in Brooklyn.
As a collective body of the Faithful and Discreet Slave Class throughout the world, we want to wholeheartedly suggest the following directives be implemented by the Organization:
1. Pedophiles that engage in heterosexual and/or homosexual acts be disfellowshipped and leadership privileges be taken away for life if reinstated.
2. The authorities should be called first if molestation occurs.
3. The elders as well as congregation must be more supportive of the victim and family.
4. We need a zero tolerance policy regarding child molestation and sexual abuse.
5. Both professional and spiritual training should be conducted to enforce these proactive policy changes. There must be a program especially designed around this issue in the next Kingdom Ministry School for elders and ministerial servants.
6. Access to Rape Crisis Centers and Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Centers for professional counseling in local congregations.
7. Brothers and sisters from every congregation should be trained to assist the young ones in this situation.
The message needs to be clear: There will be no sympathy, no hiding place in our midst for those hurting our children. The loving course of action should be followed. Is not this how Jesus would show love and support?
May we thank Jehovah, for giving us a glimmer of hope with the silentlambs website. Yes, we believe that Jehovah answers prayers and we pray that as time goes on the punishment will fit the crime to those who deserve it. In the mean time, may you brother Bowen find comfort in knowing for those in need, you are accomplishing Jehovah’s work. Thank you once again for helping these fragile victims to become strong victors in fighting this cruel battle.
May we all have the peace of God and may Jehovah bless each one of us as we continue to serve Him faithfully now and forever!
You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Agape Love,
Your True Brothers in Christ,
The Faithful And Discreet Slave -
20
JW Pedophile Goes To Jail
by silentlambs inpoor wt after spending all that money on the pedophile's defense.
man convicted of sexual assault without church testimony.
associated press newswires .
-
-
silentlambs
Poor WT after spending all that money on the pedophile's defense. One down 5,327 to go.....
Man convicted of sexual assault without church testimony
07/27/2001
Associated Press Newswires
Copyright 2001. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
NASHUA, N.H. (AP) - A Hollis man has been convicted of molesting twin
sisters although his apparent admission to church elders could not be used
in the trial.
A jury deliberated two hours Tuesday before convicting Gregory Blackstock,
45, in Hillsborough County Superior Court of three counts of rape. He
already was serving a five- to 10-year sentence for sexually assaulting a
9-year-old East Kingston girl in that town.
Blackstock's lawyers have moved to have the latest verdict set aside. No
date has been set for a hearing on the motion or sentencing.
"We're fairly confident that the verdict will be set aside," defense lawyer
Paul Garrity said. "The evidence was insufficient to support the verdict. "I
think the judge will take a close look at it."
Assistant County Attorney Roger Chadwick said prosecutors believed the
evidence supported the charges.
"Obviously, we're very satisfied," Chadwick said.
He said it was "a tremendous relief for me given the work that went into the
case to see the jurors believe these girls, who were so courageous to get up
and testify."
The girls, now 10, testified in open court.
More charges are pending against Blackstock in an unrelated case. He was
accused of sexually assaulting a Hollis girl, who is now in her teens,
between 1989 and 1996. A trial has been scheduled in October.
Judge William Groff ruled that Blackstock can't be sentenced under the
state's "three strike's" law although he was convicted of three counts of
rape. However, he could face an enhanced minimum sentence of 15 years for
each charge because of his earlier conviction in Rockingham County.
Earlier, Groff found that elders in Blackstock's Jehovah's Witness
congregation could not be made to testify about Blackstock's statements to
them. He cited the "religious privilege" rule, which holds that religious
leaders can't be required to disclose a confession or other statements made
in confidence in their capacity as spiritual advisers.
Prosecutors wanted to subpoena a minister and elders from Blackstock's
congregation to testify about meetings at which they discussed the
allegations.
Blackstock became acquainted with the girls' families while living in East
Kingston and attending a Jehovah's Witness church there. He worked with the
parents, and lived with the family for a period of time, Chadwick said
during the trial.
The sisters' mother contacted her church elders after one of the girls
disclosed the abuse, Chadwick said. One of the elders then contacted elders
in the Hollis congregation.
Blackstock was accused of molesting the twins between October 1998 and June
1999 at his mother's home in Hollis.
The defense argued the girls' mother inadvertently misled them into making
up the abuse charges by repeatedly questioning them and sharing with them
her experience of sexual abuse.
The mother spoke to the girls in general terms when she began to have
concerns about Blackstock's relationship with them, Chadwick said. When she
read them a children's story about sexual abuse - "No-No the Little Seal" -
the girls confided to her about the abuse, Chadwick said.
"She did what any mother would do," Chadwick said, adding later, "I'm glad
the jury found that acceptable." -
14
TO ALL THOSE IN HIGH PLACES
by silentlambs inthis morning i received this story in my email:.
i am now 36 years old i type that in caps because i feel 100, my body and mind have been broken over the years by the " brothers.
" my story starts at a very young age when my father an elder in the congregation raped me.
-
-
silentlambs
It appears those in high places are responding, I have been on the phone for two solid days getting new information to add to the story. Keep it coming we need all that can be provided, key pieces have been provided recently that were thought to be unimportant. Your contributions are like the pieces of a puzzle, when they all come together, the picture is clearly seen. These men who have perpetrated this wickedness are going to be thrown down. spin wt spin.....
-
9
Question for Silent Lambs
by cnn77 insl (bill),.
as someone with one toe still dangling in the truth i have a question for you.... if you had not gone through the pedophile experience and started your crusade....how would you have felt with regard to boards such as this one?
obviously most other jw's believe this place is overrun by disgruntled apostates and would want nothing to do with anyone here.. i am just intrigued to know what you would have felt about this place prior to your experience (also about freeminds and ray franz).
-
-
silentlambs
i guess it is all in how you define an apostate...
i have yet to meet one.