Once again, Jehovah’s Witnesses hit the headlines regarding the covering up of child sex abuse.
This most recent case concerns Ian Pheasey, who was a member of a congregation in Warwick. The court was told how Pheasey attacked a 7-year-old girl while working as a volunteer librarian at the Kingdom Hall in the 1990s. He was charged with offenses that occurred between 1989 and 1994, and he pleaded guilty to 3 offenses.
Pheasey’s offenses are unusual in nature as he obtained sexual gratification from strangling children. His first victim was a 7-year-old girl who had gone to get a book from the library in the Kingdom Hall. His second victim was a 14-year-old girl who he grabbed around the neck and threw to the floor where he straddled her and squeezed her neck.
The poor girl fell unconscious twice and was crying out, “Jehovah help me.” Pheasey told the girl he would kill her if she told anyone, and he also said if she ever had daughters he would rape them as well.
She ran home screaming and crying to her mother, but sadly her mother told her to clean herself up. She was taken to the hospital for the bruising to her neck, but was told by her parents that she must never say anything about it. Furthermore, the matter was “swept under the carpet” by the congregation, according to the prosecutor.
Pheasey admitted fantasizing about strangling the girl, and that he had lured her over with the intention of strangling her and becoming sexually aroused.
His third victim was only 6 years old when he was carrying out some work at her parents’ house. As the little girl sat in his van, he got in and started tickling her and then moved his hand up her skirt. He only stopped when she kicked out and screamed.
Nicholas Taplow, prosecuting, stated: ”He was a man who had a particular sexual fascination with the act of strangulation. He derived sexual gratification from strangling children, and many children were strangled in this way by him during what he described as horseplay.”
Pheasey was jailed for 5 years after he pleaded guilty to assaulting one girl, causing her actual bodily harm, and indecently assaulting 2 others.
A spokesman for the Jehovah’s Witnesses said the church deplored Pheasey’s behavior and denied it was involved in a cover up of his crimes. The spokesman said, “Jehovah’s Witnesses abhor child abuse, and view it as a serious crime and sin. The safety of our children is of the utmost importance. Any suggestion that Jehovah’s Witnesses cover up child abuse is absolutely false. We are committed to doing all we can to prevent child abuse and to provide spiritual comfort to any who have suffered from this terrible sin and crime.”
This case is particularly shocking as some of the offenses happened at the Kingdom Hall. Not only is the nature of the crimes particularly disturbing, but also the reactions from the parents and the congregation. Sadly, this is a common occurrence, and one we are becoming all too familiar with. What I found particularly interesting in this case was the statement released by the Jehovah’s Witness spokesman.
In two sentences within the statement, they mention child abuse as a sin and a crime. It baffles me that they still can’t seem to understand that if something can be described as a “crime,” this far outweighs whether or not it is perceived as a “sin.” Have you ever heard Witnesses describing murder, kidnapping or burglary as a sin? Of course not, because they are crimes. As an abuse victim myself, I find it offensive that they effectively minimize the seriousness of the crime of child sex abuse in this way.
The other interesting point is that they claim to provide “spiritual comfort” to any who have suffered child abuse. I would love to know what this comfort consists of. I imagine it to involve three old men sitting with a victim reading scriptures from the bible.
Although in my case, both myself and the other victims didn’t even get that! When will the Governing Body realize that victims don’t want “spiritual comfort.” They want to be believed and supported. They want to know that if they report the matter to police, the elders will be right by their side. They want to know that others in the congregation are going to be protected because of their bravery in coming forward.
Sadly this is not the case. In case after case we are seeing more support for the abuser and their family than for the victim. I don’t know the victims in this case, but in case they read this article I want to just say this:
What you have done has taken great bravery and determination. I know what it’s like to live with something for over 25 years and feel like you will never get justice. I can only imagine what you went through with elders at the time, and maybe even recently, but you are not alone. There is a huge, loving community out there full of ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses who all understand how you feel. Each brave person who comes forward shines another light on to the organization and its unwillingness to protect children.
Further reading…
I think the organization uses child use as a weapon to hold the victims in the cult as elders will play their shoulder to cry on:
How JWs hypocritically seem, in their publication, to advacate for children protection and act differently?
*** g94 5/8 p. 29 Watching the World ***
About 29 percent of the children murdered by a father, an uncle, a brother, or a stepfather were raped before dying. O Estado de S. Paulo reports that in Brazil about 90 percent of all cases of domestic violence against children go unreported.
Why are they judge the world before their judge themselves?
*** g93 11/8 p. 29 Watching the World ***
The Dublin Rape Crisis Center says that the number of reported cases of sexual child abuse in Ireland has risen from 408 in 1984 to 2,000 in 1992. A brutal case of incest there has sparked a national furor. A father, addicted to a hard liquor called poteen, raped and assaulted his daughter repeatedly over a 16-year period and fathered a child by her. He blinded her in one eye by beating her with a stick. As is not uncommon in such cases, the victim’s mother knew of the incest but lied to the police to protect her husband; neighbors likewise knew of the girl’s plight but did nothing. Although the man pleaded guilty to charges of rape, incest, and assault, the judge considered the matter to be incest. The father was sentenced to seven years in prison, the maximum for incest, and he could be released after four. Outraged over the case, many Irish Catholics are calling on their church to make a specific pronouncement against incest.
They are “Watching the World” the world!!
Well said Karen Morgan…how do they keep getting this so horribly wrong? I still find it amazing as part of a congregation of Jehovahs Withesess that I would be allowed to have contact with a ‘repentant’ abuser but not with his disfellowshipped victim… I have awoken pretty abruptly over the last two years after a life time of lies…pretty devastating at 57… I sometimes want to take the easy way and just give in…my entire family would shun me if I left dramatically… your article reminds me of why Im fading… I hope you have found some peace after your ordeals…thank you
I am in exactly same position fading so as not to loose family. What beats me is 1993 awake march or may article on what to do if raped. First thing CALL THE POLICE second GET MEDICAL HELP preseve the evidence .get the victim to place of safety. Almost last on the list call the elders. WHY OH WHY dont they follow their own advice ???
That was march 8 awake page 9 .its all there good advice .what went wrong ?? It just makes me so angry .they have ” two sets of stone weights “
I have found peace. Of sorts. I have started a new job which I love and I left all EX JW Facebook groups. I rejoined 1 group 2 days ago as my Mum has recently woken up and left the religion and I wanted to support her. Once my Mum is settled in with everyone I will probably leave again. I find I’m much better when I’m completely away from it all. Thank you for your concern xxxxx
That must be so difficult for your Mum Karen only waking up now…. I hope you dont stop writing for this site as your insights are revealing as a survivor… Im so glad you have a job you love and I know aside from this site I dont really delve into many other ex jw sites so I understand why its easier just to concentrate on real living… I am just trying to get over the bitterness of lost opportunities because of the cult control…the things I have missed out on because of it… Im trying to make a life outside but its not easy.. guilt still rears its ugly head sometimes… and my husband and children are entrenched… I love him to bits… unconditionally…. as I do my kids…. Im just realising thats normal… all good wishes to you Karen Morgan.
Just tell them they are following a fictitious God and get shunned… It hurts to lose family as i know too well, but worth it to not live a lie. .
He only got 5 years? THAT is a crime.
And that’s the one who got caught!
What about all the ones who’ve got away with these heinous crimes?
These elders dealing with these incidences are supposed to be elected by Jehovah!!!!! What a total lie.
It’s elders with privilege in the congregations who also do these disposable acts on vulnerable children etc., disgusting.
I believe the amount of Paedophiles in the congregations of JWs worldwide, is approximately, 30,000.
So glad I’m out of this false prophet religion.
Great write up Karen …
He wouldnt survive prison here in America. Any crime against a child here and the inmate is usually found dead….and rightfully so.
Would you ever put someone like that back on the streets
…after 5 years?
…ever?
This thug needs a proper lesson. But our UK courts are so soft as to be useless. Wish our prisons were like that Garrett!
What upset me was that little girl crying to ‘Jehovah’ for help! Where was the bolt of lightning? He doesn’t exist. Poor child.
That upset me too. “Jehovah help me” and how does he respond to this child’s desperate plea for help?….He ignores her and turns his attention to the young couple who wants to pioneer and blesses THEM with the perfect part-time job. The child can wait for a future time when jah will wipe their memory of all abuses and of the times her pleas were ignored. By God and his org. Isn’t that wonderful?
I believe it was Christopher Hitchens who said that a God who won’t help, or can’t help, is as worthless as no God at all.
I agree with the other commenters and I was always disturbed by Jehovah’s Witnesses who bragged that God blessed them with a new house, car or vacation while someone else was dying of cancer.
It just doesn’t make any sense at all.
Just tell them they are following a fictitious God and get shunned… It hurts to lose family as i know too well, but worth it to not live a lie. .
Did ‘Rhonda’ help the beach boys…?
One would have to ask themselves “Who really is Jehovah?” The answer is obvious. If he was the real God then certainly He would have sorted this problem out with “His” people. There is the true God but it appears not to be ‘Jehovah’.
It’s things like this that seem to me to warrant the death penalty to put such ones out of their misery. The rate of recidivism is so high for such people that it is a crime to put most of them back out onto the streets after five years, or ever.
Excellent point. And who’s to say, down the line, their crimes won’t become even MORE violent, leading to actual murder. It happens. A lot. If not fry them, at least lock them up for LIFE.
They can enjoy a lifetime of free sex in prison.
The elders’ crime is that they silence the victims. Stating they do not cover up crime in this way is a lie. Parents are taught to believe elders know best and thus will downplay the child’s hurt.
The problem is the belief that if there is only one witness, that witness is considered a slanderer is he tells anyone else. Thus abused persons are not able to warn others. This dreadful belief must be exposed for being devastatingly harmful and wrong.
So sorry for all victims and I’m working hard to try to expose other secret, unlawful, activity of the organisation.
Lets stop playing the watchtowers game. We act like nothing can be done-We should just all walk out from this crap.Why do we stay in a cult religion? Call an ace an ace. It is a wicked cult and it is a book selling company. No more playing the watchtower game. If this is the truth then I want no part of the so called truth. The whole chain of command is wicked and self serving. Those little window washers walk around like a rooster and a brief case in their hand they feel like they are so important. Important? Tell me one thing that is important about them. Give a window washer a little authority and they go nuts. I want no part of this crap- Its all a game and they have 8 million zombies world wide that that goes along with it. As for me I am free.No more of this crap–I am gone.
Right on!!!
I can’t imagine this guy being at a kingdom hall strangling little girls and no one noticing. If the girls were there, shouldn’t their parents be there as well? How did the people react when they saw a girl passed out on the floor in front of the literature cabinet? That is simply disturbing.
I thought the exact same thing
Well what did Christ said about the selfrihgteous Pharisees.He called them white washed graves full of every sort of plunder and lawlessness. Such is the organization.with them its all about the white wash of purity while beneath the surface lies piles of vile and disgusting things.men who stymied their conscience to retain egotistical power and prestige to the detriment of the flock.
I, too, was raised as a witness. I left about 3 yrs. ago. Fading is what I’m doing, as I also have a brother, sister and daughter that are still in. My wife knows about my feelings and, metaphorically speaking, puts her hands over her ears and goes “la la la la la la la”…. I can’t help but think that the reason the girl was told by her mother to downplay it was to “not bring reproach on Jehovah’s name”. I told my wife that this brings more reproach than if it was immediately reported to the police. Most people in “the world” would respect the congregation for taking it to the authorities right away.
And that whole Australian Commission totally blew my mind!!
The Royal Australian Commission was the final nail in the coffin for me…. I didnt believe any more so felt mentally free and hadnt been on door to door preaching for some time …. after listenibg to all the Australian Commission hearings I realised not only was this religion false…it was sick…sick to its bootstraps…. I have not been to a meeting for 3 months and have not put in a report last month for the first time in my life… its hard as my spouse is totally entrenched as are my children and their partners… they are in fact the only reason I dont disassociate… I love my partner and cant imagine life wthout him… his feelings would change towards me and I dont know if I could take that at the moment… Im coping but its hard sometimes to walk the path Iv chosen… but at least I have chosen it.
@idon’tknowwhatodo.
I had the same situation and I slowly faded. My 2 boys faded also and they are upset over many things the WT has done and still do but at least they were young when faded. I have faded over 20 years now. Will never go back. EVER! It is a religion of pain and mental torture.My wife is 110% brainwashed and aythng they do is “Progressive Revelation” as she likes to call it. I call it Progressive BS and flip flopping every few months.She left me a few months ago after over 35 years and never working a day in her life and robbed the savings account on the way out. Oh yea, I talked to her elders about it and they well, we counseled her not to leave but you know she is a stubborn woman? OH yea, but she continues to pioneer and represent the WT!.
Hang in there and go at your own pace. Things will work out. It may not be perfect but will work out.
I am on same position as you with my wife we had a long talk aboit shunning with her yesterday .i told her i may soon walk away .she says she would not shun me . Have to see. .yes its heartbreaking when partner cant think properly .
Keep walking that tightrope. It leads to Freedom.
:)
Same boat with my husband. Also the Royal Commission was final blow for me. My family refused to listen to it which really upset me. I’m having a hard time holding my tongue which starts great battles between me and my husband. I quit turning in time 6 months ago and thankfully no sheparding calls yet, doubt I could play it cool. I wish there was someone close by to talk to about this but fear of being shunned keeps our mouths shut. Take care
My wife is the same i try to reason but she says i will never leave jehovah. She wont hear a word agains THE GB its like the mind control has destroyed somthing in thier brain and the cant reason. Im fading out after 50 years .id walk away tomorow but have wife amd most family in . However i am doing what i can by keeping on at the elders about the ARC .they dong like it .its got to burst at some point .there is so much information against the gb
“The spokesman said, “Jehovah’s Witnesses abhor child abuse, and view it as a serious crime and sin. The safety of our children is of the utmost importance.”
Forgive me if I am wrong, but this sounds like the same routine quote said by all the JW Spokespeople published in various media outlets.
You are not wrong. They have been parroting that phrase ever since Tony Morris used it in the July broadcast. The witnesses don’t know that you can’t say you abhor it while at the same time cover it up.
The org wants to put a pretty Persian rug on top of a pile of turds.
Yep, it’s the same damn routine statement that they dribble out every time, that never actually seeks to address the specifics of the case, even if those specifics actively discredit every line of their statement, as they do in this one. It’s either a sign that they do not care about this issue, or that they are genuinely clueless about how to address it. I tend towards the later, but I’m actually starting to wonder at this point.
Knowing the witnesses and their concern for keeping Jahs name clean there is a conundrum that they may be having difficulty with.
In their deluded minds they’re probably thinking “how do we admit that we have a problem and still come out squeaky clean?”
Bro A.Kisser says :How about we just say that we need to improve our policy? “Absolutely not! That would drag Jehovahs name through the mud”.
In a more likely scenario this is what actually happened in my opinion. ” How do we make this go away?”
“Let’s just write more articles on lying or persecution and tell the drones that they should ignore this”.
No matter the scenario the organization is backed into a corner. These stories are getting them a lot of unwanted attention. None of them help their cause in countries where they are still trying to get a foothold. Like Russia for example.
I was invited to brunch at a ‘sisters’ house yesterday… it was nice in the fact that others there are not so ‘witnessy’… one, an elders daughter asked me if there was any more news from the ‘Australian thing’. I smiled about this because it was her Dad whom i first made a comment to… obviously it is a topic in their home. I told her the commission had published its findings and that the WT had responded in as much as they wanted everything ‘struck’ from it. She made the comment that she was thankful that non of this happens now as the WT ‘is on top of all this stuff’… I just looked at her in amazement. How gullible can you be.
A couple of off topic things she said….
I mentioned the toxic waste at Warwick – she had no idea but said ‘wow that is going to cost in medical bills in the future’.
She mentioned about me not coming to meetings etc ‘You took it way to seriously when your daughter was df’d’.
Too seriously! the shunning, the labeling of my grandbaby being born in sin! The marking talk being given from the platform….
There is no point in talking to a brick wall.
“Talking to a brick wall” is right. The fully entrenched witnesses will defend their abuser no matter what they do. Then in true cult fashion when a fully legitimate complaint is made rather than pay heed to it they turn their attention to the complainer.
When I brought up the Jose Lopez case in California one of the elders I spoke to said “that lawyer said that Jehovahs witnesses were the most arrogant people he’s dealt with” “someone is feeding him that information! That doesn’t have the ring of truth, you know that’s not true”.
So, true to form without even thinking about it he took the side of the abuser. At the same time he ignored Gerrit Losch’ letter to refuse to appear in court costing watchtower 13 million dollars. After that interchange I decided that I would not back down or refrain from bringing these serious issues up when someone is talking about how ” wonderful Jahs org is”. ESPECIALLY when someone said this religion or that religion is terrible. I never let that fly without a response.
I have looked up about 5 or 6 articles on this case and they all basically say the same thing: ‘The church swept it under the carpet.’ However there are no details given as to what action the congregation took or failed to take in this regard. My assumption, based on other cases, is that when the one girl told her parents what happened they in turn contacted the elders. There was a minor investigation, the perpetrator lied through his teeth, and received a slap on the wrist. It would be nice to know if my assumptions are correct, but unless a court transcript like that of the ARC is made available, we will probably never know the exact details.
Someone made the point earlier that if the Organization reported the incidents when they occurred, there would be far less reproach on the ‘divine name’ than in cases where they hide these issues and get caught later. That is so true.
Besides trying to avoid negative press, I think that there is another reason elders do not report: They have been deluded into thinking that they are being led by Holy Spirit and therefore are better able to handle the situation than those who have specific training to deal with such cases. They need to come to terms with their own limitations and realize that they are not receiving any special divine guidance.
WS
“They need to … realize that they are not receiving any special divine guidance.”
Won’t happen. They like that lie. It makes them feel good. Expecting them to reform is wishful thinking. The only productive hope is, leave and don’t look back.
@Simon
I agree with you. As long as there exists a system that perpetuates this lie, there will always be weak-minded men willing to fill the role.
WS
That elders are appointed by and under the guidance of holy spirit is the greatest delusion of all.That’s the thing that keeps the rank n file in morbid fear of speaking up.They look up to these egomaniacal phonies as if their are Jesus himself.These men have become false Christ.Their are just puppets on a string controlled by the Gb to conceal and polish up the falacies. Certainly God and Christ would not be party to delusions such as this. Hope many more wake up and do as my wife and I did. Get up, dust yourself off, put on your running shoes and run away!! Run out of her my people, if you don’t want to participate in her sins and receive her deadly plagues!!!
As per usual, the Society says they abhor child abuse, but then do nothing nothing to protect children. No warning to parents, no warning to members or congregations, no reporting to authorities so the criminal can be dealt with using the legal channels. One has to ask, how does this show an abhorrence for child abuse?
Next they claim the safety of their children is of utmost importance. Hmm… so let’s get this straight: the criminal isn’t reported to authorities, no warnings are issued to protect young ones, the matter is hushed up. One can see a predator going after the same child again and again, as well as other children, just as happened in this case.
It would be interesting if parents sued The Society if action WASN’T taken with a first incidence, which exposed their children to additional incidents, that could have been avoided if the matter had actually been dealt with, rather than swept under the carpet.
The third claim is outright misleading. They DO cover up child abuse, as over 1000 cases went unreported in Australia.
Their failure to show concern for their victims, instead of concern for their public image, does nothing to convince those in the know that they are doing “all that they can.”
@M Rhodes – it is telling that often at assemblies there were warnings not to leave valued items unattended [presumably “outsiders” could drift in, rob and drift out], but a lack of general warnings to parents about how to train children to be cautious and aware of interaction with adults–whether authority figures or not–would be revolting.
But, on the other hand, if a group had repeated failures to hit the side of a big red barn with its predictions, would that group want 2nd or 3rd generations hanging around to bring up the “past”? Children are a “thorn in the side” of the Watchtower as each successive [note correct use of the English term] generation is a highlight of egrecious predictions of “the end” and culmination of “last days” as predicted. The group is built on independence from offspring because of the recruiting engine built-in–a revolving door. It always depends on there being more of “the lowest common denominator” disenfranchised, fringe individuals (maybe not fitting into the traditional church community) willing to turn their lives around by surrenduring control to the group.
Unfortunately, that means bringing in risky individuals subject to lapses into former behaviors–along with those who may not be compulsive and risky. What Karen’s article and several others highlighting abuse issues have not covered is the challenging issues facing JW’s and other denominations with balancing redemption, trust, fellowship, forgiveness, healing and self-preservation (protecting self and offspring from compulsive predators who have attempted to modify their behaviors yet remain a risk) in building a religious community.
Child abuse and victimization within religious groups is not limited to JW’s, and an expanded discussion or constructive dialogue referencing preventive measures or how groups built on wide-acceptance, trust and affirmation of individuals can include more robust safeguards and procedures for addressing grievances while maintaining those critical paramenters.
..nice to have. and, “egrecious” s/b egregious..
To M.Rhodes, remember the 1006 that were not reported to police were 1006 pedophiles, not 1006 cases. The amount of cases is unknown. One male was known to have abused 40 children.
Thank you so much for this article. We have to keep to keep putting this information out there to help the silenced victims.
@JJ
Evil does not disprove God. No, on the contrary, it proves that God does not contradict himself.
Philosophers may be perplexed by evil, but the explanation is simple.
Free will is the greatest endowment of man. It permits man to choose good or evil; to be truly free, it MUST include the possibility of evil.
God gave man free will. He does not intervene when a man abuses the gift by choosing evil. If he did, free will would not be truly “free.” God is timeless and true. He does not contradict himself.
Will there ever be justice for the victims of evil? For those who have faith, the Bible says God loves justice. And God is timeless and true.
Of course without faith, bitterness and disbelief ensue.
MY COUSIN’S 2 SONS FROM A PREVIOUS MARRIAGE WERE MOLESTED BY THEIR JW STEPFATHER. SHE TOOK HIM BEFORE THE ELDERS. WHEN THEY DID NOTHING. SHE WENT TO THE POLICE. HER HUSBAND WENT BEFORE A JUDGE AND HE WAS SENTENCED TO 15 TEARS IN JAIL.WHAT IS REALLY IRONIC, IS THAT HE IS GIVING BIBLE STUDIES TO THE OTHER PRISONERS. IN THE 25 YEARS THAT I WAS A JW I WAS A MEMBER OF 3 CONGREGATIONS. THERE WAS AT LEAST ONE SEX OFFENDER IN EACH CONGREGATION. THERE ARE 1.5 BILLION CATHOLICS AND 8 MILLION JWS IN THE WORLD. THERE ARE IN PROPORTION MORE JW MINISTER CHILD MOLESTERS IN THE WORLD THAN THERE ARE CATHOLIC PRIEST CHILD MOLESTERS. THE NUMBERS DON’T LIE.
Good point. BTW, just an etiquette note: Using all capital letters in a blog, letter, email, etc is the same a verbally yelling at the receiver. I don’t think you actually meant to yell at us.
Thank you for the correction. I appreciate your advice. I will apply it.
When a corporation produces a defective product, say maybe a car, drug or medical device and this in time results in harm or even death(s). Of, course they are disturbed at the resulting ramifications, however, the huge difference between being on the hook for civil damages and being criminally culpable is the degree in which the company knew of the problems and obstructed inquiries into the scope of the problem. Today, the watchtower’s position is we didn’t know or we did everything possible to remedy the situation. Unfortunately neither of those statements are any where near true.
The fact is this: Nothing bad ever happens here, no matter what the facts are…so shut up and put up. The all mighty God of this organization with it’s great temple on earth is : JW.org @warwick and they hold the patent on Yahweh. And if a prophet from among us rises up to proclaim truth and decries injustice, the modern day Sanhedrin will sentence you to slow death by shunning.
Such seriously sad and damning news YET AGAIN. This faecal matter hitting the fan must be very distasteful now to the guys in the ivory tower. If there is a god running the shop, then to all intents and purposes the whole elder body should be on their knees praising and thanking the lord that at last he is cleaning house, and exposing all the terrible things that have played on their sullied consciences all these years. Just think folks all those holy appointed men who knew of the little people who had been raped and damaged in their watchcare and seen grow up,screwed and bu**ered up for life. All those ones they daily prayed for but couldn’t quite just muster up the decency to go to the police , because they would be the grass. Such relief that now it is all going to be exposed and the shepherds can rest easy because it will all be shiny and new now won’t it? No vicarious liability, no damages for them, no wounded conscience because this is gods work after all any such expose of the criminal behaviour and dereliction of duty will all be put right. Ha you may say I live in my delusion. two things, 1 Jehovah’s witnesses hate children full stop or they would not expect them to preach to potential paedos. 2 this is not God’s holy run org, it is a corrupt sect that saves face and now that pock marked face is shown to the world. It lies, lives lies and tells more lies, but the ugly face is showing now . The world will expose this travesty of justice not god he does not need to .Bring it on. ruthlee
@Roman It boggles the mind, too, that parents and other victimized JW’s would not report these criminal acts.
It isn’t described how this KH operated its library because most KH’s are closed/locked when meetings are not in session. This differs from most churches that are accessible with rooms or libraries available during the week where rooms or facilities are available to participants for support groups, counseling, and even social activities. Thus, a shadow of a doubt on the first story.
It also seems outrageous that parents would be so negligent to send a child off alone, or to leave a child unattended in the presence of another adult–whether trusted, or not. But, in the case of one child, it seems the parents did instruct her to repudiate “bad touch” from anyone. Thus, I have another doubt on the second story, and would think that the parents should also be charged with child-neglect.
This whole Church Librarian title sounded odd. I was wondering if this guy worked behind the literature counter and “Librarian” is how this position was described by the court.
WS
A congregation male member raped a young girl in the congregation getting her pregnant (she lost the child). The elders had said not to say anything to the authorities (as usual).The member was eventfully disfellowshiped and a few years later the girl/young woman decided to talk and it came to court. He had good lawyers and as the elders would not testify against him – they knew what he had done, but they refused to testify because of the confidentiality issue (All were told they could not!) and so she lost the case!! She went through hell and still is.
Enlightened now, please let the young woman in question know that she is not alone in understanding that justice was not served in her case; my heart, and many others’ hearts reading this, goes out to her.
She is obviously a person of great bravery and I am absolutely sure that her courage and her integrity will lead her to a better place in her life. Tell her to keep on knocking on doors to get help (doctors, counselling, therapy, etc) and to believe in her strong sane self and her right to a fulfilled life.
Thank you for being there for her and raising her story on this platform.
I’m inactive. Twice the elders have asked to meet with me and I’ve said NO. I choose to be inactive and not DF’D for a good reason. My brother used to be an elder and is an active JW. If I was DF’D or disassociated I wouldn’t have been able to visit him. His daughter lives with him. I called C.P.S. because she was giving her nine month old baby way to much alcohol to drink. I also called 911 because my neaphew-in-law was threatening suicide. I’m around for my family. I talked to the elders and they did nothing.
That’s all they’re TRULY capable of – NOTHING.
Someone commented that JW World appeals to “lowest common denominator” types, the “disenfranchised, fringe” types who can’t fit in with mainstream religious communities, etc. I’m beginning to really believe that. It seems most hardcore, lifetime JW’s are nothing more than socially (and mentally) clumsy misfits who have found a ‘home’. Then they get a little power and ‘go nuts’, as someone else put it. And this is not just social awkwardness, or some small mental deficiency, like a low IQ or a learning disability. U can feel sorry for someone like that. THIS is DIFFERENT. This betrays a SERIOUS character flaw, a MORAL and ETHICAL deficiency. A serious PERSONALITY ‘malfunction’. Call it psychopathy, sociopathy, narcissism, I prefer the more old-fashioned term, evil. I know that’s a naughty word in this, our Great Age of Enlightenment, where we’re supposed to be ‘beyond’ such primitive concepts as Good and Evil, but that’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it. I think the evidence is there, in the ultimate fruition of the whole JW Philosophy and Watchtower Structure. Anyone who can’t see that raping children is evil, needs to be put into a rocketship and blasted out into oblivion.
What would you call an organisation that uses phrases like “don’t bring reproach on Jehovahs name” when it comes to child abuse. But if an individual member says they are not sure if the GB is correct in their teaching, or gods only channel on earth it is automatic disfellowshipping?
The don’t bring reproach on Jehovahs name and the 2 witness rule make a safe haven for child molesters.
If I saw brother X smoking or coming out of a brothel and I reported it to my local elders would that need the 2 witness rule too?
I can see the whole dysfunctional, narcissistic thing going on in my own family. They are a pack of eccentric, arrogant nobodies who crave constant attention and admiration, and have found it within JW World. They have no real interests or passions, no clue whatsoever. Their conversations (which I am fortunately no longer subjected to) usually revolve around OTHER JW’s and THEIR boring lives. I mean, they talk about other JWs like they’re movie stars or something. “You know, brother so-and-so did this. Sister so-and-so went there.” WGAS? I don’t even give a flying rat’s a** about REAL movie stars! I don’t go on Twitter to see what Angelina Jolie had for breakfast, or what Brad Pitt’s morning bowel movement looked like. These people are a joke.
Twmack. Nice try Simon Kestrel. Attributing evil to free will.
But where is the choice when it comes to the evils of Cancer,
Altzheimer’s , Birth deformities ( Twins joined at the head, just
one brain between them..) etc, etc, a thousand times over.
If such a being existed who would inflict such random and
purposeless horrors on weaker, helpless. creatures of his own
design and creation. Then the universe is in the hands of a
psychopathic monster.
Sorry Karen and to all for digressing.
To those with faith, the explanation is again simple. Those conditions are also the result of choice. The victims are the descendants of Adam, who brought sin and death into the world.
It’s not God’s fault. He warned against the consequences of sin. Mankind is the victim of Adam’s evil choice and the way human reproduction works. Bad DNA is the result of original sin.
As explained earlier, the essence of free will obligates God to let human evil choices play out, to their natural conclusion. But conclude they will; there is a time limit for the sins of men, and after that, judgement.
God will act in his due time. Some people are unhappy because they want solutions right now. But that’s not how God works. Faith and patience are required.
And so is police action. CRIMES REQUIRE GOING TO THE POLICE!:
Yes, by all means. Get justice as quickly as the human justice system can provide it.
But the police can’t solve all crimes and earthly courts don’t give justice to all plaintiffs.
Use the system, but when it fails, have faith in God.
Simon, there are a few flaws with your reasoning. Gods warning to Adam and eve was that if they ate from the tree of knowledge they would die in that very same day. If you believe the garden of eden actually happened then humanity should have ended with Adam and eve. It makes zero sense that these perfect individuals committed a sin deserving of death but were allowd to live 900 years and fill the planet with doomed sinful imperfect offspring. How you can read the bible and think it’s gods inspired words has always been baffling to me. But that’s just my humble opinion
Zero sense?
As the priest in Boondock Saints said, “the laws of God are higher than the laws of man”
Not that I can recommend that film, the profanity and violence are stupendous.
How do you reconcile gods warning of death in “that very day” with Adam living 900 years? I’m confused
I loved Boondock Saints. Lots of funny black humor too.
Simon Kestral, are you aware just how long this has been going on and how many people have suffered unspeakably by it? I don’t think you do. These people are suffering, children and grownups who were children, robbed of their childhood and right to happiness because of an evil child abuser. The abusers in this cult are a product of Watchtower’s policies and nothing less. That is evil. The Governing Body knew many years ago just how bad it was and they have chosen to ignore it because they choose to prevent any “reproach upon Jehovah’s name”. This is an evil situation. When Jesus took the little children to himself and talked to them, He demonstrated where He stands on the matter. He wants to care for them and love them and He will eventually heal all of them. Where does that leave the Watchtower? An enemy of Jesus because it compounds their pain and actively tries to prevent justice for these ones. Stick up for them if you like but sometime we all have to show whose side we are on.
Jehovah’s Witnesses and Children. Not a good combination. First, we have a G.B. that talks about tight pants on people. Then, we have a plethora of court cases around the world involving JW child abusers. These people are fixated on the wrong things. Jesus Christ was about taking care of people, not this type of bad behavior. I hope the governments will finally take control of these religious institutions that cannot handle themselves.
Doc Obvious,
You are so correct in the ‘obvious’ conclusion; these people (JW’s) are focused on the wrong thing. They are hyper-fixated on biblical law as they see it, instead of the ‘spirit’ of Jesus Christ’s life and principles. They aren’t concerned with taking care of people. The reason? They are concerned only with distributing literature, recruiting new blood into the organization, and filling their greedy leader’s pockets. Anything else to the contrary to that goal is not to be considered. The child abuse cases coming to light are just one product of that evil, self-serving mission.
I saw this on the internet before it was talked about here. I am glad you’re talking about it.
Watchtower Corporation is stuck in quicksand now. The more they struggle and squirm, the deeper they sink.
The play spiritual warfare on the flock, they simply do not want the r/f file to know that their is a big problem.
As the delusion of this spiritual paradise will be in doubt and to many questions and donations would be affected.
The elders obey the GB the GB take advice from the legal department, all come down to one thing protection of the organization and its donations above anything else, people may say we are protecting Gods name that is disgusting to even insinuate that Gods name needs to be protected by lies and at the expense of innocent children.
They will have their day in the higher court.
If the JW did all they can to give “spirutal comfort” and are doing all they can to protect child abuse why have I never read any experience of a victim that got help from that…I´ve read and heard about silenced victim who didn´t get help that tried suicied and got disfellowshipped when the couldn´t wait för Jehovah. If they would be succesful in abhoring child abuse and helping the victims shouldn´t it be testimonys of that???
Good point. Maybe, if WT ever recounted an experience where a victim was actually helped, it is only when the abuser was a “worldly” person!!!
I don’t think u are truthful here, cus no religion will smile or support such wicked act like child abuse. Y are u lying wickedly now? There is God ooo… Gosh!
If you are saying that the stories of child abuse are false because no religion would condone it, I say 2 things to you:
1. Look into the DOCUMENTED history of child abuse in the Catholic Church. The Pope even apologized for it.
2. The Watchtower is NOT a religion. It is a CULT by EVERY definition.
Also, I don’t believe any of the pedophile priests in the Catholic Church were properly punished with jail time. They were merely discharged or transferred around. So obviously, the Church, with all its power, had a hand in protecting those criminals!
The proof is in what they are doing to protect the children, of course religions will say they abhor child sexual abuse they are just words, lets see their actions, and clearly the GB of JW show only words but no actions, unless the courts make them, then if they are Christians that are suppose to be guided by their conscience then they shouldn’t have to pushed by the law to do the right thing.
Point in question is they do not report child sexual abuse in states that do not require by law to do so.
When push comes to shove if it appears they could lose their charity status they will do whatever, then bring in their lawyers to try and protect them form lawsuits.
They are a business.
So the little girl calls out to God for help when attacked by
this pervert, but the “gift” of free will favours the perv, And
the victims cries for help are ignored. Prayer then is useless
when the free will of others is causing misery. God must be
consistent, must be perfect.
And the bad DNA passed on from Adam, That’s got to be
allowed to take its course unhindered, So when some
distressing sickness or condition affects you or your family,
All the prayers and entreaties in the world are not going to
effect a cure. But human compassion and ingenuity might.
@Twmack,
I understand your reasoning, but let’s not make this about atheism vs theism vs deism. Let’s keep focused on the issue: an Organization who’s policies allow perverts the freedom to victimize children. We all want the same thing: To wake up people enslaved to a system that is unduly controlling them. Let’s not get distracted by philosophical differences amongst us.
WS
I totally agree. I just need to put in my 2 cents’ worth real quick. I sure hope no one is trying to suggest that evildoers do not have free will, because that’s ludicrous.
Thanx
well said Twmack!
Winstone smith, Your advice is sound and taken
to heart. But believe me, I’m not trying to win a
philosophical debate. I’m hoping in my own
limited way to deal with the root cause of undue
influence in religion. That is belief in a deity who
meets out terrible punishment for disobedience.
In this case it’s what controls elders and forces
them into silence when cases of child abuse come
to their attention. And as we have seen, even the
victims are sometimes afraid to speak out.
In all religions, It’s just a few elite individuals who
claim intimate contact with the deity and exclusive
knowledge of his will. The gb are relentless and
overpowering in the claim of their exclusive position.
Once you accept their authority. Your vulnerable
to exploitation. Control, and corruption. Thanks
again Winstone. Next time I’ll try to be more direct
and not go round the houses.
Twmack You are right the reasoning used about free will is very flawed. I laugh because the story makes it sound like God and Satan are in a pissing contest. God is a bad parent. I’m being sarcastic. I don’t believe in the bible.
I watched a movie about vampire bats that turned people into zombies when they got bit. The first to go was the police officer. I kept comparing the bats to the org.
Here’s a link to the Daily Telegraph article for you to share with JWs who are afraid of reading “apostate” material. This is the story direct from the horse’s mouth and from a respectable paper too (not like “The Sun” et al!):
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/12073247/Jehovahs-Witnesses-accused-of-covering-up-historic-sex-abuse.html