They claim to be against any form of abuse. So my question is: Did any one out there who suffered either physical or sexual abuse, ever have your situation turned over to the police?
Did any of you experience a Witness elder bring in the child protective Services or any other governmental authoraty to handle an abuser?
2007-09-22 03:18:04 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
jiam b...my question is not whether they get in...We KNOW that for sure. My question is if the elders report it. Never happened when I was a witness...May happen now that they are being exposed for the 2 witness to any abuse rule, but they have been publicly forced to come out in the open.
2007-09-22 03:38:33 · update #1
Lover of the bible Truth..I was not violently abused by a priest...I was violently abused by an Elder, so You should be asking the question in your Kingdom Halls.
2007-09-22 03:45:46 · update #2
izofBlue37...I am sorry If I find your apology disingenuous..in that at the end of your comment you accuse me of "spewing Hate and Venom"..this I have never done...I just ask questions in relation to MY experience.....Witneses are just now changing the 2 witness ruel, and only after it was exposed publicly....Did I report it to the Police..Yes when I was old enough...did my father molest children in iscongregation as of late...Yes...were the police called...not by the elders they werent.....was he removed as an elder...no...is he still in a position to be alone with Children...yes..better hope that he is not in your Kingdom Hall..He is very good at his immage and every -body's favorite elder.
2007-09-27 05:29:22 · update #3
As a supporter of ex JW's I have learned first hand of the
pedophiliac community within that organization. Let me say
that the victims are growing in abundance and crying out for
help from their communities and yet a blind eye is turned
against them. JW's can bury their heads in the sand, but that
won't change the statistics any. There are many support
groups online that one can find to contact and seek help and
guidance from. That is only one issue tho. The fact that
that the Watchtower Organization destroys families is
becoming all too well known now. They can no longer hide the
truth. And for those shut ins' who choose not to investigate beforehand, a false religion such as this one, set themselves up for a structured life of condemnation from their natural families which they soon will learn to shun, and adhere to all of the rules and laws set about by the little group of old men in
Brooklyn, New York, under the guise of a rich publishing
company. How they have managed to dupe it's followers
since the beginning of it's origin, is unbelievable. It's been
the fastest growing 'church' since the Catholics, first formed
in Rome. The truth is out there, if anyone can bare to research. And it's only minutes away by computer. Why
do people allow themselves to be led like blind sheep?
Our son has shunned us for about 12 years now. And he
feels he's found his gateway to Heaven. How can one
believe that they still can be among the 144,000. faithful to
reach Heaven, when it's their time to die? Wouldn't the rolls
of Heaven be filled by now? Or will they be among those
left behind to remain below? They have rephrased their
'bible' and distorted the original scriptures to mean what
slanted version they want adhered to. They toss family
members out, without a blink of an eye. Never to see them
again. This includes all members. Children included. Pre-
tending they no longer exist. I know, as I have a grandson
out on the street now. And I've no idea where to find him.
He could be dead by now and he doesn't even know he
has grandparents who want to find him.
This organization was begun by a parishener of the
7th Day Adventist church. Who disliked a number of their
rules and broke away to start his own 'church' according to
his beliefs and structure ideals. It has been the largest cult,
and continues to grow, from members befriending the lonely
and forelorn in their homes as shut ins' or the depressed and
confused.
There aren't many countries that don't have JW represen-
tation. And to think of how many brochures and books and other paraphenalia is being bought and paid for by these followers from the headquarters in New York, is staggering. No wonder they are probably the top publishing company today. Their members make it so.
2007-09-27 07:14:16 · answer #1 · answered by Lynn 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I am truly sorry for what you experienced. As a lover of justice, it makes me sick. Every time I notice one of your comments about your father and how he is still abusing children, I can't help but wonder why you haven't gone to the police? Or have you? And if you have, why wasn't anything done?
I have to add, the way you describe the "two witness rule" is very misleading. Two witnesses means two pieces of evidence. That means the child's testimony as well as DNA or any other kind of physical evidence. Or if more than one child has been molested, on a separate occasion, that is considered two witnesses, even though no one else "saw" anything.
Twenty years ago, society in general handled things differently. Procedures have been updated because of the disintegrating moral condition that we see surrounding us.
We, as Jehovah's Witnesses, get regular warnings as well as suggestions on how to keep our children safe. The October 2007 Awake deals with this very subject. But it is up to us, as parents, to take this information and use it to protect our children. The elders can't do that for us. My children are my responsibility.
As a parent, if my children were abused, I would be the one reporting the abuse of my children to the police. It's my responsibility.
I'm sorry for what you went through because we will never know the person you could have been. I wonder if you would still hate Jehovah's Witnesses if this had not happened to you. At least your father will be held accountable by Jehovah for what he has done. (1 Timothy 5:24; Romans 12:19; 14:12, 1 Corinthians 4:5 )
addition: So the police have failed to do anything about any of the abuse.... it is truly amazing that there wasn't some sort of physical evidence that they could have found, especially with all of the advances in criminal science.
2007-09-27 05:17:47 · answer #2 · answered by izofblue37 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
First of all I must say I'm so sorry to hear if someone out there has suffer child abuse at the hand by one of Jehovah's Witnesses.
We're all Imperfect and weather we're serving God in the right way or not we all have weaknesses, let him that is without sin cast the first stone, so an Individual that fall short doesn't mean that the organizations is faults.
So far from reading the Bible and seeing all that is happening around me THIS ORGANIZATION OF JEHOVAH IS THE ONLY RELIGION THAT IS TEACHING BIBLE TRUTH IN HARMONY WITH GOD'S WORD.
2007-09-29 20:41:43 · answer #3 · answered by shyfello 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope - the police never knew anything about it. Even though there were two congregations that knew what was happening to us. We lived in one area, and the elders in that congregation knew about everything, then we moved and the second group of elders were informed of the situation. There are literally about 50 people that I can name off the top of my head that knew exactly what was going on inside our house (not just elders, but others in the congregations) and they never said anything to anyone. They just acted like everything was fine. I remember being scared and wondering why nobody would help us. Then one day when I was about 12 years old, after a morning of particularly bad abuse, I got to school and couldn't stop crying. The school counselor wanted to speak to me because I was hysterical. He asked me if there was anything I wanted to tell him. He asked me if I was being hurt by someone. I asked him what would happen if the answer was "yes". He said he would tell the authorities and try to get me help. I was too afraid to say anything, but at that moment I realized that this man that I didn't know cared more about me than my "brothers and sisters".
Sorry about the long winded story - I just think that people should know how unloving and hurtful the cult can really be.
2007-09-24 02:54:58 · answer #4 · answered by Nea 5 · 5⤊ 2⤋
I am not JW, but I am sorry for anyone who suffers or has suffered child abuse. I've only heard about Catholic priests where it was covered up but I guess as someone above me said, there are sick people in every religious organization. They should not be protected from the law no matter who they are.
2007-09-30 03:17:10 · answer #5 · answered by pufferoo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. My former brother in law was indeed reported to the police. It was investigated, he was arrested and finally allowed to plead guilty of involuntary deviant sexual intercourse. The judge sentenced him to 9 to 69 MONTHS. He was out in 10.
And the really funny part is that his parents, who were not Jehovah's Witnesses, thought that the brothers were WRONG to report him. They went around telling people how evil and cruel Jehovah's Witnesses were because they called in the police.
Go figure!
Before I hear the dreaded "New Light" phrase, this occurred more than twenty years ago.
2007-09-22 13:38:54 · answer #6 · answered by NMB 5 · 7⤊ 1⤋
You are asking this question to the wrong faith. Have you ben listening or watching the news lately? How many Catholic priests have been molesting children for years and are finally being found out? How many are given a "slap on the wrist" and kept in good standing within the church? Many Catholics and Protestants have left their churches and become a Witness of Jehovah. Why? Because they discovered the hypocrisy, lies, idolatry, and gross immorality they were subjected to within Christendom. That is why I left Christendom behind. She is the most reprehensible of all the products of Satan's system.
Jehovah's Witnesses are certainly not perfect. As Jesus said--"no one is perfect except God"
As humans, we make errors, but we strive to "put the wicked man (or woman) out from among us" in order to keep the congregation clean. Jehovah sees all we do. He reads our hearts and knows out innermost thoughts. If any Witness practices immorality or other gross sins, then they will have to render an account to Jehovah for he is the Judge of all mankind.
LOBT
2007-09-22 03:43:23 · answer #7 · answered by Micah 6 · 7⤊ 5⤋
This is so sad. Jesus says that we need to be good to the children.
I guess many churches go through the agony of wrongdoers.
2007-09-22 03:27:00 · answer #8 · answered by Isthatso 5 · 8⤊ 0⤋
Is Jehovah's Witness the only religion ever to claim it is against any form of abuse? No it is not.
So if there is a Jehovah's Witness Child abuser out there it is not because he IS a Witness, it is because he IS a weirdo and a sex offender.
2007-09-22 03:34:22 · answer #9 · answered by Blue 6 · 12⤊ 3⤋
God himself does indeed hate wickedness and practicers of what is wicked is seen from Proverbs 6:16-19: “There are six things that Jehovah does hate; yes, seven are things detestable to his soul: lofty eyes, a false tongue, and hands that are shedding innocent blood, a heart fabricating hurtful schemes, feet that are in a hurry to run to badness, a false witness..
Ask yourself if you Guilty of any of the Above before posting your Question particularly " A heart fabricating hurtful schemes".. Lamb.
2007-09-22 04:01:33 · answer #10 · answered by conundrum 7 · 5⤊ 5⤋