Child Abuse

Recently, the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses managed by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has been found liable in a child abuse case.

What led to this is heavily based on instructions they provide in their own handbooks to the leaders (elders), which they place in charge of the congregation.  The following is taken directly from “Shepherd The Flock Of God”, chapter 12 paragraph 18:
 

 
"You should immediately call the branch office for direction if you learn of an accusation of child abuse, regardless of the age of the victim now or at the time of the alleged abuse, even if it occurred before the alleged perpetrator’s baptism. The branch office will then give direction based on the circumstances involved in each situation."


Elders are directed: not to call police promptly, not to report the crime through proper legal channels as soon as possible, but to immediately call the branch office.

Consequently, this means the Watchtower Society is in full knowledge of abuse events reported and responsible for the instructions provided to their local representatives (Elders), inclusive of  when the directions are to not alert the authorities that a member is molesting children.

The chain of events respecting this recent case is as follows:

-A child had previously come forward to Elders and said she was molested by a member. The matter was kept private and sealed with no action taken because there was no second witness present for that specific abuse (Per Watchtower policy).

-Another child comes forward to Elders and says she was molested by the same member; this is the second child to come forward against the accused. Yet, the Elders (Leader representatives picked by the Watchtower Society) allowed the person to remain in "good standing" before the congregation.

-The pedophile has since changed congregations, and a third child and her parents are unaware of the prior abuses as Elders instructed by the Watchtower Society's Legal Department were directed to not reveal or report anything to the authorities or anyone else. This third child ultimately became a victim to the same person and was sexually molested.

-Finally, after years have passed, the accused member was caught by authorities as being a child molester. The third child abused is the one who pressed forward, first in trying to get the Watchtower Society to change its policy, and when that failed, pursued legal action against them.


As a result of negligence by the Watchtower Society’s picked representatives (Elders), children were molested by the same member without action being taken to stop the pedophile.  Furthermore, the Watchtower Society itself did nothing to report the instances to authorities.

When you know that someone is engaging in flagrant illegal activity that is causing harm to others, and you do nothing about it, you could be named as a conspirator. The conspirator here found guilty is the Watchtower Bible Tract Society.

From this one cover up alone, several children were forever scarred.  This incident is not an exception either, please do the research.

Protecting the organization and assets of the Watchtower Society always comes first and abused children take no priority over it.  Legally, it is wrong.  More so, this moral and conscientious stance is disgusting and reprehensible. 

Notice this last piece of directions on the matter from the Watchtower Society taken from page 72, paragraph 39 of the same previously mentioned publication:

"If the accused denies the accusation, the investigating elders should try to arrange a meeting with him and the accuser together. (Note: If the accusation involves child sexual abuse and the victim is currently a minor, the elders should contact the branch office before arranging a meeting with the child and the alleged abuser.)  If the accuser or the accused is unwilling to meet with the elders or if the accused continues to deny the accusation of a single witness and the wrongdoing is not established, the elders will leave matters in Jehovah's hands."


You read that correctly:  Elders will try to bring the abused child and the one who molested them together for a meeting, but if that doesn't work out, or the molester refuses to meet or he just needs to deny the accusation, then "leave matters in Jehovah's hands". 

After all there was only one witness present (The child abused) and no one can confirm the abuse took place (As if expecting a 'real' pedophile to molest children in front of other people).  This is the actual policies of Jehovah's Witnesses as enforced by the Watchtower Bible Tract Society.

The entire arrangement is utterly and completely wrong and not from a supposedly loving God or a 'one true organization' serving him.  Protect the organization - That is *the* chief directive and concern.  Child abuse can and will continue to thrive under such conditions and attitudes among Jehovah's Witnesses.

Sins of the Elders

The new elder's manual, Shepherd the Flock of God, provided by the Watchtower Society, makes a few disturbing statements in just a couple of paragraphs.  Notice what is highlighted on page 38, paragraphs 19 and 20, respecting the past sins of an elder:

Paragraph 19 states:

"If it comes to light or an appointed brother confesses that he has committed a disfellowshipping offense years in the past: The body of elders may determine he can continue to serve if the following is true: The immorality or other serious wrongdoing occurred more than a few years ago, and he is genuinely repentant, recognizing that he should have come forward immediately when he sinned. (Perhaps he has even confesses to his sin, seeking help with his guilty conscience.) He has been serving faithfully for many years, has evidence of God's blessing, and has the respect of the congregation."


So if an elder has a serious sin, one worthy of being disfellowshipped and does not mention it, waits some years, and then confesses; the congregation will never be the wiser, as long as the other elder's believe that elder is sincere in his relatively recent display of repentance and regret. It will be like the sin never occurred and the man would remain an elder over Jehovah's Witnesses. He can continue to serve as an elder - No consequences are experienced.

Surely, they must draw a line at something as detestable as child abuse, no? Paragraph 20 informs:

"If the sin occurred before he was appointed as an elder or a ministerial servant, the elders will need to take into consideration the fact that he should have mentioned this possible impediment to his being qualified when elders interviewed him just prior to announcing his appointment. Moreover, the nature of the sin may reflect greatly on his qualifications to serve. For example, the sin may involve past child abuse, and this would likely disqualify him for many years."


According to the organization, and the directives elder's are provided, a gross sin, one worthy of disfellowshipping, only serves as a possible impediment for the man to be appointed. In fact, the Watchtower Society states that even if it involved past child abuse it would only likely disqualify a man.  It may reflect greatly on his qualifications to serve.

In fully understanding the consequence of this 'spiritual direction', let's paint a scenario.

A child abuser has been 'appointed' to an elder and has been one for many years. Finally, he comes forward and states he used to abuse children. The admonition is that he would likely be disqualified but not definitely as an elder; the same applies for any so-called brothers reaching out for ministerial servant or wanting to become an elder. Although abusing children in the past, but stating he has not done so for many years; that individual is not definitely disqualified or will never serve, only likely.

How would you like that individual to remain an elder? What if that elder is going door to door or whatever else with your child, brother, sister, niece, nephew, or any other family member? You'll never know, and there is nothing coming from the hierarchy of the organization stopping it. The so-called ‘appointment’ and keeping that man in such a position was made by a bunch of local men, who believe they are being guided by holy spirit with the nonsense spewed from the Watch Tower Bible Tract Society.

So keep that sin a secret, brothers! Wait several years, and in the meantime do works that prove how repentant you are and build a sterling reputation. Convince the congregation you are a fine character and an asset to the congregation. This will show "evidence" of "God's blessing" and you will likely be absolved of any consequence of that sin...Even past child abuse is possibly permissible...

Sickening to think the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses claims to be the only true religion composed of the only true Christians. It's more like a place where a devious and sneaky man's dream can come true. If you're a male, you just have to play the game.