Is near the end of Jehovah's Witnesses pedophile database?

Question

Recent decisions in California Courts have ruled in favor of abuse survivors in that state. The Legal Department lawyers of Jehovah’s Witnesses have fought with filing after filing trying to claim “clergy penitent privilege” with information that would lead to the possible conviction or implication of further crimes against children by Jehovah’s Witness child molesters. The secondary issue regards civil damages brought upon victims due to negligence of church officials in not reporting allegations of child abuse putting additional children in danger.

This ruling from the court states simply that the church cannot use “clergy penitent privilege” as a way to protect pedophiles from law enforcement

See this:

http://www.silentlambs.org/documents/CARulingonDiscoveryMotions.pdf

If Watchtower Society (JW) do not tolerate abuse, Why do they maintain still these secret files?
In any case should be respected what request California State.

Answer 1

Please, see this internal letter sent to the leaders of the congregations of the Witnesses of Jehovah:

http://www.extj.org/pdf/03-14-1997.pdf (Sorry, only in spanish)

See that to these leaders says to them that when knows that a person has abused a minor, they only write a letter to the Headquartes of the Watchtower and watching to pedofile. In addition, it says that they keep the secret and they do not say it to swims.

Also see BBC News site with information of Jehovah’s Witness child molesters and the Watchtower Society policy about child molesters.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/panorama/live_forums/2124808.stm

Watch the TV program!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/cta/progs/02/forum/panorama/jehovah15jul.ram

For that reason, the Witnesses of Jehovah will not compensate the victims until a judge forces to them.

David P. P.

Answer 2

I can say that without a doubt if evidence was to come to fruition that a member of the congregation of witnesses was found to be a paedophile, that person would be expelled from the congregation, unless it was found that they were truly repentant and had ceased in their ways, in which case they would still be reproved and assisted by the elders to help with their problem. Jehovah's Witnesses view sexual abuse as vile, and disgusting and will not tolerate it within their congregation. Any accusation of this from it's members would be taken very seriously. Jehovah's Witnesses also follow God's commandments to obey the law, unless this goes in direct violation of their worship to God (eg voting, etc) and if someone within the congregation was found to have committed such a sin, they would be referred to the authorities as such. I can speak with such conviction on the matter, as I was a victim of abuse within the congregation of witnesses and cannot fault the way that it was handled by the brothers and sisters when it all came out. And while I have chosen to no longer be an active Jehovah's Witness, this is not because of any resentment that I feel towards the handling of this particular situation, but because I simply chose to live my life differently.

Answer 3

JWs do not tolerate abuse.

In an article about abuse "If your Child is abused" it even states "
Some legal experts advise reporting the abuse to the authorities as soon as possible. In some lands the legal system may require this. But in other places the legal system may offer little hope of successful prosecution".

It was even announced in our meeting a few years back that it is the right of the abused to report the person to the police. That means if there's no other witness, the abused person can go directly to the police.

The Bible also states that the human government are there to act as ministers. But it doesn't mean that human governments do not contradict with the Bible. Some approve of abortion, same-sex marriage, use of marijuana, which conflict with Bible principles. It doesn't mean that when you win in the human court that you win in God's judgement.

Why do they keep the files? So that those who have committed the abuse will be monitored when that person moves to another congregation. The Bible doesn't say that any person who has committed such crimes will not be forgiven by God if they truly repent and will not do any horrible things again.

Please notice that depending on where you live, the law differs. A 18 years old may have immoral relations with a consenting 16 or 17 years old eventhough they like each other, the 18 yrs old can be termed sexual predator in one area but not in another. And for you who support the silentlamb, that 18 years old person cannot be forgiven.

Brianbelo, if there are no witnesses to the crime, it is not considered null. You yourself have the right to go the police, to report the crime. But did you do it? There are some articles in the watchtower and awake saying that you can report this abusive people to the authorities. There's a lot of articles too that can help someone to prevent the abuse. Have you read those articles? Sorry, but what you're saying are lies.

If somebody sexually abused you, although others can help, it is finally you who should gather the strength to report the abuser to the police, even without the help of anybody. If you don't do that, don't blame the other people who are not involved or not a witness for the abuse, for your bad case in life. We are all accountable for our own selves.

Visit www.watchtower.org and search for the word "sexual abuse" and a lot of help are provided to prevent it.
e.g.
Prevention in the Home - Jehovah's Witnesses Official Web Site
The vast majority of sexual abuse occurs in the home. So how can the home be made more resistant to abuse?

Common Misconceptions - Jehovah's Witnesses Official Web Site
Don't be left in the dark by misconceptions that protect child abusers and not children.

Your Child Is in Danger! - Jehovah's Witnesses Official Web Site
How widespread is the sexual abuse of children? What can be done to protect them? Will such hideous crimes ever be eliminated?

If Your Child Is Abused - Jehovah's Witnesses Official Web Site
To stop abuse, you must know it when you see it. Experts have listed dozens of telltale signs of abuse that parents can watch for.

Answer 4

For years now anti-Witness fanatics have tried to spread horrible lies about Jehovah's Witnesses and child abuse. As they say, that dog just won't hunt.

The scandalous accusations simply conflict too greatly with the experiences of hundreds of millions of householders, neighbors, workmates, relatives, government officials, and scholars.


There are almost 7 million active Witnesses, of course there will be a few who commit terrible sins. Jehovah's Witnesses expell them, as Christians should do with unrepentant sinners.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=1006052809848
These critics seem to think the Witnesses should stone the sinners, or do a 'citizens arrest' or something. That's not what a religion does; that's what the government does.

Ideally, the victim and her family will go to the police quickly, but they sometimes have personal reasons why they choose not to. The JW congregation does not and never has "disciplined" any member victim (or family, or informed person) for reporting a crime, even if it was (or was alleged to have been) committed by a fellow Witness. The worst that can be said is that a few local elders gave bad personal advice to victims, but elders aren't even supposed to offer personal advice at all.

In most of these cases years or decades have gone by before a victim decides to use her victim status to generate anti-Witness publicity. Victimhood is a tremendous insulation against objective analysis. While victims deserve tremendous deference, time after time informed listeners can't help but wonder:

. Why would you expect a pastor to prosecute a secular crime?

. If advice seemed odd, why didn't you talk to another elder?

. Why didn't you talk to the circuit overseer who visits every congregation for a week every six months?

. Why didn't you talk to the district overseer who is at every congregation's assembly/convention every four months?

. Why didn't you write a letter to the branch office?


Jehovah's Witnesses want criminals to go to jail, but they understand that the police and prosecutors are the ones who pursue criminals, and a victim needs to cooperate with these officials if she hopes her attacker will be prosecuted.

Answer 5

Anyone can create a legal looking document. I've seen them thousands of time in false allegations made against fathers in divorce cases.

Making false allegations of child sexual abuse is easy, does not require any significant proof, and is a disservice to real victims of abuse who then get their allegations questioned.

For 18 years I've dealt with it idiocy in working with divorced and single fathers, who get accused in over 60% of cases where they are fighting for custody or visitation rights. Mothers will even sexually abuse the children themselves, doing significant damage to their children.

What should be done about mother inserting things into her female child?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AtfTyuBp6oVPeFNuhBTJGyzsy6IX?qid=20061201155644AA4XM1i

As much as I would hate to say it, but driven people will do things to make their point. I'm hoping that is not the case and that we are dealing with mostly false allegations, but the fact that there are those who do and will harm children for a cause.

Answer 6

Sometimes I really wonder why the anti-witnesses don't plan thier attacks a little better. They come off like a spurned ex-wife , making up the most outrageous slander about thier ex.

I don't know much about this supposed database, but the JW website says that any JW who has ever commited abuse can never serve as an elder, 'deacon', or pioneer. Ever.

It kind of makes sense that they need to keep records of some kind to be sure they don't appoint these people to privileges.

A reasonable person sees that as the opposite of sinister.

Answer 7

Anyone familiar with Jehovah's Witnesses know that they do not condone child abuse. However, anyone who is familiar with JW's - if they are honest - also knows that JW's are very much interested in presenting a favorable view of themselves to the outside world. They refer to this as not "stumbling" anyone or "bringing reproach on the name of Jehovah"

Because of this emphasis on preserving the "image" of the congregation, in the past, the WT leaders have for the most part tried to keep instances of child molestation within the congregation, as quiet as possible. Victims were encouraged NOT to involve the police, but to handle matters in-house. Their focus - as in the Catholic Church - was to avoid negative publicity for the "church".

In recent years, in response to bad publicity and public outcry, the WT has improved their handling of cases involving abuse and molestation. Victims are no longer actively discouraged from involving the authorities, although WT policy doesn't encourage it, either.

Although their primary consideration has been and always will be what is best for their 'reputation', they have never been guilty of approving child abuse, unless you view their 'one witness rule' as a means by which child abusers could sometimes 'slip through the cracks' and remain free to abuse other children. They have made some positive changes - albeit, begrudgingly and most likely due to the efforts of the Silentlambs organization.

Silentlambs continues to exaggerate the problem of child abuse among JW's and the WT continues to minimize and downplay their responsibility in cases that have not been handled properly. The average JW just defends the WT, right or wrong.

Answer 8

I am not a Jehovah's Witness but even I know that Silent Lambs tends to twist the truth for their own means.
I know for a fact the Jehovah's Witnesses do not tolerate any kind of abuse.

Answer 9

This nonsense will be ignored by 99%, but the other 1% would hate JWs even if Jesus himself argued for them.

Jehovah's Witnesses are just too well known and too respected (rightfully so) for this mudslinging to stick.

Answer 10

JWs do not report child abuse to the authorities. the vicitm is called in to question and if there are no witnesses to the crime, it is considered null. They do not believe the victim. The will not report because they feel they are no part of this world and feel they only have to answer to their God. The headquarters does keep secret records and will not allow them to be used in the courts. JWs lie when it suits their needs. silentlambs does not twist the truth. There are many of us survivors of the abuse of a JW that the elders did nothing about. My perp is still in the congregation, depite that he had spent time in the slammer. They protect these pedophiles, why?

Anyone who has ever been molested by A JEHOVAH'S WITNESS would tell you that they in fact do nothing to prevent it, nothing to report it, they harbor molesters like Cary Verse in California. Read about this JW and you'll know the truth