Question for JW's?

Question

I was wondering how your religion justifies covering up child molestation. I was raised a JW for 18 yrs, I was even baptized. When I was between the ages of 4-6 I was molested by a friends brother who was 16 and also a JW. When I told my parents they went to the elders and told them what happened. The elders told my parents it would be handled within the congregation, although nothing happened to the guy that molested me. No disfellowshipping, nothing. Just wondering what the JW's on here think about my experience. Any justification for what those elders did?? How can men who are supposed to be the leaders let something like that happen to a child.

What I think is funny is that you would attack someone who was hurt. My parents were following the direction of the elders who are the authority in the congregation. They were told it would be handled within the organization. This incident changed the way I viewed the JW's but I still got baptized. So don't attack me for asking a question.

PS I left the JW's because I found them judgemental and close minded.. All you JW's who answered rudely have confirmed my findings. I am now a SAVED BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN.

Answer 1

Not a JW but you should have never had that experience, especially from someone who calls himself a follower of Jesus. I think the elders are just cowards just like satan. Satan has come to kill, steal, and destroy and the reputation of the watchtower and JW families only show destruction.

You have a valid question and I'm sure you won't hear any valid justification for their actions.

It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! Matt. 18:6-7

Answer 2

"Any justification for what those elders did?? " No there is no justification for molesting a child or covering up for a molester.
"How can men who are supposed to be the leaders let something like that happen to a child." Unfortunately child molesters pick occupations that put them in a role of authority to children and trust to the community at large. That is why you will find molesters in the role of clergy, school teachers, police officers, etc. Also it seems that many elders or other church members justify covering up the deeds of clergy as a way to protect the church. In short, they care more about the church itself than the people in it.
I am truly sorry that you were violated by so many people in a position of trust. If your parents did nothing else to protect you (such as going to the authorities), then they are to blame too and you deserve an explanation from them for their actions as well.

Answer 3

It sounds like you need to have a real heart to heart with your mom and dad about why they didn't go to the cops. Did your parents at least have the sense to take you to the doctor, or are they still waiting for someone to tell them to do that too?

So go to the cops now. At least file a police report.


Anyway, my wife's family are JWs and I think JWs get baptized at 18 not 16. JWs can't disfellowship a kid who's not even baptized.

Answer 4

The leaders didn't let that happen, but unfortunately they did nothing to prevent it from happening again. I would be more concerned about why my parents didn't go to the police instead of an elder. Your parents are suppose to protect you. I am not a JW btw.

God Bless.

Answer 5

Of course, a congregation can "handle" the spiritual aspects of a matter, but it seems remarkably obvious that a congregation cannot arrest, subpoena, interrogate, detain, indict, prosecute, convict, or incarcerate a criminal perpetrator. The government does that.

Even if this unverifiable account is accurate, frankly it seems unclear what congregational action the questioner would realistically suggest against an unbaptized 16-year-old. Sadly, at times anti-Witness activism seems motivated by the activist's need to express emotion and anger against some authority figure OTHER THAN her own parents, who apparently refused to file a police report about this crime.


As a people, Jehovah's Witnesses are disgusted and repulsed by abuse, and are relieved when secular law enforcement officials successfully investigate, prosecute, and punish any criminal who engages in these terrible crimes.

Jehovah's Witnesses fully understand that their role as a religion is in providing comfort to the victim and her family, sharing relevant bible warnings with the congregation and specific potential victims, extolling Christian peaceableness and righteousness, and eventually perhaps in counseling a repentant sinner.

Government workers such as police and prosecutors are generally empowered to pursue criminal matters. Jehovah's Witnesses always work in obedience to secular law and deference to the personal decisions of victims (and their families, where practical). Jehovah's Witness ministers do not investigate criminal matters, leaving such matters to law enforcement authorities.

An unrepentant baptized Jehovah's Witness who is found guilty of a secular crime is likely to be disfellowshipped (or "excommunicated", although Witnesses do not use this latter term). However, a sin against God's supreme authority is clearly a different matter from a sin against secular superior authorities. The standards for criminal conviction and forced religious disassociation will never be identical.


While this questioner and question seem sincere, it is sad that others use such "questions" dishonestly to besmirch Jehovah's Witnesses. Interestingly, such "hatred" should be expected by true Christians in this time of the end, and it actually helps identify Jehovah's Witnesses as Christ's true disciples:

(John 15:19) If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, on this account the world hates you.

(2 Timothy 4:3-5) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories. You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.

Learn more:
http://jw-media.org/vnr/2122827332/717263.htm
http://jw-media.org/vnr/2122827332/713173.htm
http://jw-media.org/vnr/2122827332/716353.htm
http://jw-media.org/region/global/english/backgrounders/e_molestation.htm
http://jw-media.org/region/americas/usa/english/releases/educational/usa_e990402a.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/19970101/
http://watchtower.org/e/19850122/
http://watchtower.org/e/19951101a/

Answer 6

^I'm not a JW, I just wanted to say, I'm so sorry you had to go through such an horrendous experience. I hope you had someone to help you get through this. Blessed be.

Answer 7

I'm sorry this happened to you. Unfortunately, this is very common among the JW's, as you can read countless experiences at www.silentlambs.org.

The elders say that to accuse a person of such a wrongdoing, there has to be 2 additional witnesses to the crime. Obviously this is pretty much impossible when it comes to child molestation cases. However, they still enforce this policy.

You can read about various settlements and court cases the jw's have had to deal with because of their whacked policy...

Answer 8

Was he baptized? Why you are not JW? why you say your religion if you belonged to it , why don´t you say the congregation? instead "your religion"?

What congregation you were? can you provide that info? can you be a little bit more specific sounds not accurate all the information, we could think it is a lie. you know it is easy in this day not to trust in what we see in internet.

Answer 9

I'm not sure why the Elders did not dis-fellowship him, but they should have if they did something such as this. One of my family members was molested too, but it was taken care of, and he was dis-fellowshipped. The thing my family did was to make sure he he was dis-fellowshipped by consistently fighting to make sure he was. But later on, my relative forgave him, because of his repentant attitude.

The thing is, molesters aren't blocked from from coming back, for the simple fact that we cannot do that as a Christian congregation. Those repent are allowed to come back, but those who aren't repentant aren't allowed to come back. It may seem injustice, but thats how a Christian congregation is suppose to handle things. Sure they are blocked from being elders ect. but they are allowed to come back if they are repentant.

Answer 10

dude, i don't think all JWs are like that......you are just around the ones that suck.