silentlambs

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Posts by silentlambs

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  9

  The Only One

  by silentlambs in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  dedicated to those who thought they were the only ones.... the only one.

  a troubled child with vacant eyes sits quietly alone with not much to say,.

  he killed her puppy and said she would be next if she told her friends at play.. a father who betrayed her trust, violated her innocence and left her emotionally numb,.

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  silentlambs

  back up
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  9

  The Only One

  by silentlambs in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  dedicated to those who thought they were the only ones.... the only one.

  a troubled child with vacant eyes sits quietly alone with not much to say,.

  he killed her puppy and said she would be next if she told her friends at play.. a father who betrayed her trust, violated her innocence and left her emotionally numb,.

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  silentlambs

  Dedicated to those who thought they were the only ones...

  The Only One

  A troubled child with vacant eyes sits quietly alone with not much to say,

  He killed her puppy and said she would be next if she told her friends at play.

  A father who betrayed her trust, violated her innocence and left her emotionally numb,

  To afraid to confide or tell anyone, she cries inside, thinking she is the only one.

  One day in a moment of trust she tells her mom the atrocity that happened to her,

  The one person she needed to believe her the most instead increased the hurt.

  Her mommy cried, then said she lied perhaps it was all just harmless fun,

  She wonders did it really happen or am I just crazy? I must be the only one.

  As she grows older with courage mustered to the elders she now goes,

  The men she trusted for justice call her a liar so no one will have to know.

  With a pedophile’s denial she’s told to be silent or she will be shunned,

  Her heart is crushed she feels so alone she believes she is the only one.

  With pain so great she thinks she will burst, confides in a friend who turns her in,

  While the child molester is an elder she is told she has committed the greater sin.

  Charged with slander as the announcement is read she sits in the audience stunned,

  Her friends are gone, her parents turn away, why am I the only one?

  A silentlamb she’s been for years as the pain continues it’s hard to face her fears,

  One day she learns she is not alone by reading of victims who share her tears.

  With righteous outrage a roaring lamb to help the children her healing has begun,

  To finally be believed and given support with slow realization she’s not the only one.
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  35

  Abuse BOE Now At SL

  by silentlambs in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i now have links to the abuse boe letters.

  they are not scans of the originals but as all know they are completely authentic and accurate.

  you go to them from the "wt letters" button on the front page.. enjoy,

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  silentlambs

  I now have links to the abuse boe letters. They are not scans of the originals but as all know they are completely authentic and accurate. You go to them from the "wt letters" button on the front page.
  enjoy,
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  15

  Am I the only chicken ....

  by BobsGirl in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am having a really tough time with fear.

  mine is one of the stories on bill bowen's silentlambs site.

  i have survived more than 14 years of abuse, left the "borg", married a man that is amazingly supportive and not a jw, sought counseling and recovery, given birth to a newborn baby boy ...... every one of which has required courage and intestinal fortitude.

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  silentlambs

  You are one of the true hero's of silentlambs website. Your story took a great deal of courage to tell and it is another meaningful piece of the picture wt has tried to hide. You should feel no guilt, you had enough of that as a witness. With the silentlambs issue no one needs to feel any pressure to do anything. You do what your heart moves you to do. We are greatful for whatever is offered and would never think ill of you not being able to do more. As I mentioned earlier, one out of five never are able to tell their story, but just making contact showed they cared.

  May you have peace and love, thank you for your brave step, know that as with all silentlambs we hope for your healing.
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  12

  Silent Roar

  by silentlambs in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i received another call tonight; this person was given the silentlambs site about an hour ago.

  how can i convey the feeling when you hear the same tearful words over and over again?

  i thought i was the only one.

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  silentlambs

  I received another call tonight; this person was given the silentlambs site about an hour ago. How can I convey the feeling when you hear the same tearful words over and over again? “I thought I was the only one.” This person was molested at age seven by a ministerial servant, raped at age fifteen by an elder. No congregation action was taken. They have lived with the pain for over twenty years, defending the organization whenever confronted, always feeling somehow they were wrong to have negative feelings toward the leaders who perpetrated this policy that hurts children. After twenty years of being inactive, living in mental anguish, with ten years of therapy, yet defending the “truth” I believe the blinders finally came off after reading my website. She saw the truth about the “truth.” That truth states there are people in leadership positions of the WT who perpetrate a policy that hurts children. When they were confronted years ago with the need for change, they arrogantly and wickedly chose to do nothing. Why? Victims are easily silenced after all they are children who will believe them, and of course the parents are easy, as they will do what they are told.

  What person could possibly stand before God and justify taking the innocence of a child? What brother or sister could stand before God and justify protecting those who would take the innocence of a child? What religion could stand before God and justify a policy the hurts children, saying they are protecting God’s name? How could they continue to have the unmitigated arrogance to deny any wrongdoing with no adjustment being considered to WT policy on child molestation? It is madness.

  About one out of five will put their story on the victims page when they talk to me, about one in ten are willing to talk to the press, about one in fifteen are interested in legal action. When you consider the quantity of stories cited the numbers become staggering. I have only communicated on H20 and JWD. How many Witnesses even have a computer, yet the few that do would be brave enough to defy wt policy about Internet surfing? I think we are just starting to scratch the surface. The silentlambs are learning they were not the only ones, they can speak up, they can press charges, and they can sue the pants off the elders who silenced them. How sexy do you think being an elder will be when homes and Kingdom Halls start going up for auction to satisfy settlements for victims? How faith strengthening will the field ministry be when publishers have to overcome the conversation stopper, “Why do you encourage child molesters to go door to door?” What scripture will defend that WT policy?

  Could the GB be waiting on Jehovah? How would Jehovah speak to them? Could Jehovah be speaking by using “Ceasar” to remind them that they are not above the law? What position is required of righteous men when they clearly see corruption going on in God’s name? Do you remember the story of when Jesus saw moneychangers taking advantage of God’s people? Did he wait on Jehovah or did he pick up a strap and use it as a reasoning tool for greedy men? You see sometimes the wrong is so outlandish and so obscene, it requires action. Waiting actually brings more reproach on the name of God. So the question that begs to be answered is, if WT brings reproach on Jehovah by hurting children, could He be using silentlambs issues to honor his name? While I choose not to venture an answer, the fact remains, victims are starting to learn they are not alone, they have a voice, and they will be a force to be reckoned with as this matter progresses. Much like the recent settlement in California, we would like to see three basic requests honored by WT.

  1. A video taped apology to all victims to be played at all congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
  2. A written statement in the form of a letter to be read to all congregations. If you are molested go to the authorities first.
  3. Anyone who has ever molested a child should be forbidden to go out in field ministry for life.

  Do you think it will happen? Get your straps ready, with proper “reasoning” time will tell.
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  29

  draft letter - editorial comments?

  by wasasister in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the following is the first-draft of a letter i would like to send to the society.

  any and all suggestions would be appreciated.

  (don't worry, i've developed a thick-skin.

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  silentlambs

  EXCELLENT!
  Well written and to the crux of the issue. You are welcome to sign my name as I would be proud to support your thoughts.
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  14

  WHAT/WHERE DO WE WRITE LETTERS TO NEWS & WT??

  by waiting in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  how - what - to whom - & where can addresses be found for various newspapers & wtbts?

  ok, this has been pointedly mentioned by barbara anderson, maximus, larc - and actually done by zazuwitts - and others fine people here.

  i've asked this before, and so have others (thankfully so i don't feel like the only simple one).

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  silentlambs

  Watchtower
  25 Columbia Heights
  Brooklyn, NY 11201

  You may then address your letter to whatever department you wish. Just write it in the lower left corner of the envelope.

  Service Department
  Legal Department
  Writing Department
  Governing Body
  Public Relations Department

  or why not write all five? Also if you do not know what to write, just go to my website and print out my resignation letter and send that. All the points are there and with postmarks from all over the US you make your statement anonymously.
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  16

  How Would You Respond?

  by silentlambs in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i know this is kind of like shooting fish in a barrel, but i just have to share this email i got a few minutes ago.

  i think it encapsulates the response many will have, no matter what is said about the molestation issue.

  i invite you read it, put yourself in my shoes, and see how you might offer a response.

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  silentlambs

  I know this is kind of like shooting fish in a barrel, but I just have to share this email I got a few minutes ago. I think it encapsulates the response many will have, no matter what is said about the molestation issue. I invite you read it, put yourself in my shoes, and see how you might offer a response. The email goes like this:

  "After reading your site I can only say that you outline your concerns but dont give any solutions. I dont know of any organization that employs the 'thought police' to eliminate any undesireable. Get real. There is no way to stop this and your objections to their structure show how much you dont know about society in general. Nobody has an answer to this and you cant go around making accusations because a 10 year old says so.
  
  What would you do if Johnny 10 year old got it wrong and you just humiliated a persons reputation and family? There is no right answer to this because we cant read minds. This will happen but your solution is just as man made and would lead to another problem.
  
  You must pull your own wieght and be responsible for your kids. Or are you saying we should all be reminded about your faults and explore your past so we can blackball you. Newsflash! We all have sinned and done stupid, senseless things to each other! And still will even after reading your web.
  
  I think you were victimized and want to blame everybody else for not stopping it. Sorry guy but this life sucks and even JWs dont have the perfect solution. I can come up with a million things that go wrong in any organization. If it is run by mortal men than you will get burned. The important thing is to stick with what God wants. First century Christians had wolves in the congregation but did not leave. If you are thinking that you will support only the perfect organizations than you are going to be one lonely chump. They dont exist in this system and never have.
  
  Grin and bear it and wait for the new system."

  Well, I am open to suggestion.....
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  77

  JW Child Abuse: An Insider's Insight

  by silentlambs in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  i post the following at the request of barbara anderson.. .

  as a result of the newspaper report calling attention to my actions i feel compelled to provide further information that has come to light and deserves full exposure.. the society is very much aware of my intentions, because of a private e-mail i innocently wrote someone was forwarded to the society without my permission.

  you can read it in its entirety, below.

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  silentlambs

  I post the following at the request of Barbara Anderson.

  As a result of the newspaper report calling attention to my actions I feel compelled to provide further information that has come to light and deserves full exposure.

  The Society is very much aware of my intentions, because of a private e-mail I innocently wrote someone was forwarded to the Society without my permission. You can read it in its entirety, below. I wish to provide some background first, as to the reason for writing in the first place.

  I learned that a male Jehovah’s Witness raped the daughter of a “Witness” friend when she was nine years old. Last year, the then 18-year-old victim pressed charges and in February 2001 the pedophile went to jail.

  The case is typical. Years earlier when the mother of the victim found out about the rape, she went to the elders as she was instructed to do. As any good Witness would, she believed that they would do the right thing. Did they?

  There is no record of a report by the elders to the authorities, even though the state they live in requires reporting molestation by anyone, including ministers. This lack of follow through served to protect the perpetrator, and he continued molesting before relatives of another victim notified the authorities.

  Phoning my friend and hearing the whole sordid molestation story, I decided to break my long silence and told her of my decision to talk to NBC Dateline about pedophilia (child molestation or abuse) within the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses. Later, I decided to write an e-mail suggesting my friend to also speak to Dateline.

  Soon after, our local circuit overseer was somehow informed of my involvement with Dateline. The CO called my husband, suggesting he stop me from talking to Dateline, clearly telling him that he would lose his position as an elder if he did not stop me.

  Within a few weeks, my private e-mail was sent to the Service/Legal Department of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, which problem previously would have been handled by the Watchtower Society of New York Inc. Without permission, a relative of my friend, an elder, had sent the Society, the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses in Patterson, NY, a copy of the e-mail. A full copy of that e-mail is reproduced below for you to see its contents.

  “The Society” acted by means of the Christian Congregation. A copy of my e-mail and a letter of inquiry were sent to the congregation elders where my husband serves as an elder. The letter of inquiry asked the elders whether I had propagated my views locally. The only answer and reply from the body of elders had to be a very clear “No.”

  Last week, when I was at Erica’s trial, another letter arrived from the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses requesting that local elders arrange to meet with me. For the record, I refused that invitation. Also, my friend turned down the invitation to appear on Dateline.

  Would you like to know what heresy could prompt such heavy-handed responses? Read for yourself. Publishing this once-private e-mail I hope will also be informative to others who have been injured by policies of Jehovah’s Witnesses through their hierarchy of overseers and corporate entities such as the Christian Congregation of JWs, the Watch Tower Society of Pennsylvania and Watchtower Society of New York, whose inadequate and unenlightened sexual abuse policies result in the protection of pedophiles, even if unknown or not deliberately.

  Its purpose is also to entreat individuals who have been harmed to come forward and demand change.

  I urge you to write letters or make phone calls to the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, and to news media and to anybody who will listen, to protest the Watchtower policies which gravely injure children, their families and at the same time protect criminals.

  I believe that Elders of Jehovah's Witnesses have no business deciding who is criminally guilty or not guilty of the charge of molestation, or to access the genuineness of a child’s charge, or that of a family member in a child’s behalf. They are simply not qualified, no matter how many counseling sessions they have had with their traveling overseers or in their training sessions.

  The first order of business is the protection of children, not the “purity of the congregation.” The Society’s press releases have called molestation a “serious crime.” They have not acted consistently with that clear recognition. Their actions belie their words. They must ACT accordingly. They must treat this matter as they do other “serious crimes.”

  Crimes should be placed in the hands of Caesar, the Superior Authorities, of Romans 13:1-6. “For it is God’s minister for you.” Secular authorities quite properly view it as their prerogative to examine charges and judge matters. Elders must not under any circumstance interfere with the absolute right of the family or family members to report to the proper authorities. Rather, they should proactively encourage such reporting. The Authority of Romans 13 could extend to the family physician, social services, school officials, health officials, including authorized mental health specialists—and obviously the police.

  I believe there are those at bethel who have similar feelings but are afraid to speak up for fear of lack of support.
  
  Herewith is the e-mail forwarded to “the Society” that prompted the actions above from the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The text below is entirely unaltered from its original other than the names.

  --------------------------------------------------------
  Dear -------,
  
  Maybe you don't want to talk to me after reading the newspaper articles I e-mailed you. [About Bill Bowen's resignation as an elder because of disagreement with how Jehovah's Witnesses deal with the problem of pedophilia within its ranks.] Perhaps what I have embarked upon is frightening to you. After all, we were trained not to run ahead, or to criticize God's organization. The training was meant to control us, to think for us. Is this the theme of the Bible? Do we allow injustice because we are told that it is not for us to be involved in the fight for
  truth and righteousness. I can't help but remember what Jesus told the seven congregations in the beginning of the book of Revelation. He condemned some of the congregations for allowing wickedness to exist. He scolded, he berated Christians for their apathy. We have this example of how not to be, so It is time we stand up and be counted by Jehovah God as fighters for righteousness and for justice for his little ones.

  Remember Matt. 18:1-6. Read those verses in different translations and the same thought comes through loud and clear: those who cause the little ones to stumble or sin will have a mill stone tied around their neck and be thrown into the sea. Children who are molested, who are raped, are stumbled. They have lost their innocence and it affects them for the rest of their life.

  When I was fighting for a change in the WT's policy regarding molestation in the organization in 1991-92 in Bethel, your dear child was being molested by a man who would never have been trusted by you if the Watchtower's secret policy was not in existence.

  I know that you and all the other JWs who might watch Dateline interview me will be shocked by what I have to say about the indifference and outright hostility by the leaders of Watchtower towards the victims of sexual abuse that I saw in Brooklyn. I can say before God that these men have blood on their hands for the misery and suicides that took place because of their protection of pedophile elders and ministerial servants.

  I can prove what I say. If all of the details don't make it on Dateline, because there will be so many others speaking out, I guarantee you, my information will make it into Time or Newsweek. Watchtower is in deep trouble and they were warned over and over that something like this would happen, but their arrogance knows no bounds.

  They will reap what they have sown and they sowed a whirlwind that shortly will begin to blow back in their faces.

  I gave your phone number to the Dateline producer who I'm working with. Please think how important it is for you to speak out about the damaging effects the policy of the WT caused in your family and all the other families in your town. I hope you read Silentlambs.org. [site on the Internet.] When the camera crew from Dateline read the victims' stories, two of them cried.
  
  The last thing in this world I wanted was to go public about the results of an awful policy that certainly God has to hate. I can't imagine a loving mediator, Christ Jesus, not caring what happens to the children all in the name of protecting God's organization from reproach.

  If you decide to speak publicly about your girl's nightmare of a childhood, Dateline would accommodate you and hide your identity, if you desired. Here is your chance to expose horrific wrongs that were done by predators and some misguided people. Think of all of the children you will have helped if you speak out. If the elders had done the right thing so long ago; if they had obeyed State law and the law of the Bible in Titus 3:1 "Continue reminding them to be in subjection and be obedient to governments and authorities as rulers..." so many children in your congregation wouldn't have lost their innocence during the past ten years.

  You're a gutsy gal. Stand up and be counted for your child's sake. If you don't, in the future you may live with regrets. Take the power and control in your hands that is offered you, which was taken away from your daughter, and talk to [producer’s name excised] from Dateline. His number is [name snipped for privacy].

  I spoke up and I anticipate the loss of loved ones over this, but I'm doing it for the victims. I'm doing it for my grandson, xxxx. To think he is not safe from being molested by cunning predators within the organization is more than I can bear. I will not go to my grave knowing that I could have spoken up and saved more children from molestation, but didn't. I made my choice, now it's up to you to make one too.

  My heart goes out to you and if I have put you in an awkward position, I apologize. But my Bible trained conscience made me do it.

  Love,

  Barb
  -------------------------------------------------------------------

  This thread also offers opportunity for you to express your thoughts on this issue, and to say anything you wish to me as I will be following it closely the next few days.
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  3

  silent lambs

  by ballistic in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i found this page but somehow, some sad bstd has posted loads of messages with porn links.. .

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  i was too far out... and not waving but drowning - stevie smith

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  silentlambs

  i checked the link it is working properly now as far as i can tell.