I'm sure you all heard about the investigations about this. Dateline, CNN, BBC, etc, credible sources. The Elders have a special guildline for dealing with certain issues. When it comes/came to child molestation accusations by children, they were told to first alert the WT legal representative, and then they could decide what to believe. They are told that unless the state's law says they have to, they don't have to report the incident to the police. Many people have been disfellowshipped because they came out about their abuse. Isn't that just sad? What do you have to say about yourselves when your religion does such things to innocent children?
2007-03-22 13:52:38 · 12 answers · asked by Oshihana 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
They'll just say they have the divine right to practise their religion in such perverted ways.
2007-03-22 13:55:51 · answer #1 · answered by J9 6 · 5⤊ 7⤋
If you want to rely on so called creditable source, than 60% of divorced and single fathers are also child molesters, and that is the only reason a father wants custody is to be able to continue abusing his children.
For over 20 years I've seen how easy it is the make these claims, with no physical evidence required. I had one case where a mother had submitted as evidence photos she had taken of her naked 2 year old daughter with various things shoved in her to demonstrate what she thought the father was doing. Since she was a doctor, she was not arrested for doing it. She was arrested for parental kidnapping, but friends in the Democratic controlled Congress got a Bill passed to get her released.
In another case, a mother accused the father of molestation in order to prevent him from getting custody. When the child turned 12, she began a campaign to clear him, but learned that he had been killed while in prison. She committed suicide the next day.
On the Discovery Health Channel, they did a program on a California study whereby 300 adolescent children receive a peripheral (fully clothed) examination by a doctor. Once a week for 8 weeks they were asking "Did the Doctor touch you in a way that was uncomfortable?" At the end of the 8 weeks, all 300 had elabrate stories about how they had been molested by the doctor.
Sexual abuse does take place, but it is also easy to make false claims of it. The witnesses are very strict about such things. They will remove an elder for any sexual misconduct, including telling obscene jokes. Unlike other religions where only the paid elite hold positions of power in the church. all witnesses is taught the same, and will hold a position as an elder, overseer, circuit/district servant, or on the governing board. Also, unlike other religions, its easy to tell when some is doing wrong, as it shows up in everything else they do.
Anti witnesses repeatedly find they cannot fight them scripturally, so the delve into ways that are much easier and require little or no proof for people to believe.
2007-03-22 23:56:23 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Hi I didn't see the dateline "news" story, however I have heard of a growing number of their stories having to be retracted becuase of their biased/inaccurate reporting. The only other "news" item I saw was in regards to Michael Jackson and that was a laugh. Almost everything the "expert" said was a complete and total lie. He "quoted" from one of our books, none of the quotes were correct, the book he was quoting from was supposedly the one MJ was raised on. The book in reality was realeased less than 10 years ago.
As to the other accusations I have seen NO proof. I know for a fact that the policy is to investigate an report things. If there are times when reports aren't taken seriously it is very sad. I personally have known several people, both those who come to meetings and those who don't, who claimed to have been abused simply to get attention.
Finally as for what I say about our policy, you might want to talk to a Witness and learn it before you quote/refer to, unsubstantiated rumors and lies. Hope this helped.
Snape's answer is so sad it's funny. I guess she/he did a study interviewing most Witness teens. What? No?? Wow so where'd they get there figures?
2007-03-23 04:56:43 · answer #3 · answered by Ish Var Lan Salinger 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The child molestation thing is old news.
Yes unfortunately it did happen for some children. Those that spoke out about it were not dissfellowshiped for speaking out.
JWs are NOT dissfwllowshioped for just speaking. It is attitude that gets one disfellowshiped.
My brother was dissfellowshiped at the word of his daughter of molesting her. He went to trial on 18 charges before a jury and was acquitted of all charges.
The girl lied because she wanted to leave home at 15 asked her school councillor if there was any way she could do it legally and was told only if her parent/s miss treated her, so she fabricated the stories. Was put in a foster home (the home of her boyfriend)
So elders have to be vary careful what they do. They do take matters seriously. a hand full of wrong judgements does not condemn the whole but the few that did the wrong
2007-03-22 21:05:42 · answer #4 · answered by gordo_burns 4 · 6⤊ 1⤋
We live in a sick world. Unfortunately, there are people who prey on children everywhere. The best protection for our children is education not only for them, but for us. Learning how to protect our children, how to make sure they are not "targets" for these type of people, teaching them that they have the right to say "NO" to anyone; Not putting our children in vulnerable situations; What signs of abuse to look for, what to do if they are abused...
http://www.watchtower.org/library/g/1993/10/8a/article_02.htm
The Elders are not police. They do not claim to be. Many of the credible sources you quoted get their infomation from people who have been away from Jehovah's organization for many years and have no idea what the policies are, because when the need arises, changes are made.
http://www.jw-media.org/region/global/english/backgrounders/e_molestation.htm
If you are really interested in how Jehovah's Witnesses view child abuse, watch the following links.
2007-03-23 15:38:06 · answer #5 · answered by izofblue37 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If that is true, that is so sad. Any time a child is abused then is should be reported. The other thing that I disagree with when it comes to Jehovah witness's regarding children is when it comes to saving a childs life. I worked in the operating room for the last 8 years and there have been many times that Surgeons have had to go to court for a court order for blood tranfusion so they can save a childs life because the parents refuse to sign the papers due to their religion. If it wasn't for these doctors fighting for these children they could have died because of religious beliefs. I don't know much about the jehovah witness religion but as a mother myself, I don't care what a religion says, the first priority as a parent is to protect and keep your child safe. If they are not protecting their children whether it has to do with molestation, or medical or any other part of their beliefs then the religion needs to be examined. I am a catholic, and we all know the problems that have been going on the in the catholic church recently, but the well being of our youth should be priority # 1 and no religion even my own would prevent me from doing anything to protect my child.
2007-03-22 21:01:10 · answer #6 · answered by MRod 5 · 3⤊ 6⤋
Dear Oshishana,
Thank you for asking this. I did not see the programs but I have been troubled about this since I saw and answered Sasi's question a few days ago.
It is not just sad it is evil. We hear so much from the Watchtower Witnesses about such things happening in Christian churches. Based on the questions I've seen these past few days and the answers given by members of the organization I think we will just see attacks made on those who are not jws.
By the way, I've answered 2 of your questions in the last 2 days but I believe your questions were removed.
The related issue of sexual abuse by members of the organization upon other members of the organization was the reason that one of my relatives decided to get out after 35 years. When the victims reported the abuse to their elders, the victims were told that they were lying and thus were twice victimized.
2007-03-22 21:08:40 · answer #7 · answered by JOYfilled - Romans 8:28 7 · 1⤊ 6⤋
I just saw a show about Christian child abuse and the same thing happened. They dealt with it in the church and did not want it reported. They treated the children as if it were their fault. The Catholic church has been known to do this as well. It isn't only one sect that does that.
2007-03-22 20:58:11 · answer #8 · answered by Justsyd 7 · 2⤊ 5⤋
I say that you are wrong, ignorant of our organization , and downright lying. A child molestor would go to JAIL no matter who it was.
By the way, thank you for doing your part to fulfill Bible prophecy and identify Jehovah's Witnesses as the true religion. As Jesus said, "Because I have chosen you out of the world, on this account the world hates you." Thanks again!
2007-03-22 21:00:42 · answer #9 · answered by shibboleth839505 2 · 7⤊ 3⤋
Ok, let's all remember how they got started....
some crazy guy found gold tablets... that nobody else could see....
sounds like a druggie,
nowadays we give injections and pretty jackets to people like that,
back then people worshipped the grand they walked on
so what do you expect from a group of people who started because of a drug crazed guy?
2007-03-22 20:58:45 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 8⤋