Is it true some elders of the Jehovah's Witnesses won't call the police if they hear of child abuse?

Question

What do JW elders do if they hear a child complaining about child abuse by the parents?

Answer 1

Actually, the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses REQUIRES its elders to report abuse to secular authorities when the child victim has no family advocate. Even when the victim's family would prefer not to pursue secular prosecution, Jehovah's Witness elders MUST report the matter when the law requires; the family's preference is then irrelevant.


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 2

JWs do not tolerate abuse.

To get a direct answer from JWs, please go to www.watchtower.org and do a search for abuse, child abuse. Or you can go to http://www.jw-media.org/ and find "abuse policy". JWs do not protect criminals, because Jehovah our God is holy and He hates wickedness. Not everything the media says is truthful and balanced. If we are not rooted down deep in the Christian faith, we will always be "tossed about as by waves and carried hither and thither by every wind of teaching by means of the trickery of men, by means of cunning in contriving error." Eph 4:14.

Those abusers are reported to the authorities and if the elders doesn't have enough proof, the victim and his family have the right to go to the police and report the matter to them.

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 Christian 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.

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. 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.

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 3

By mans laws, in many areas, and in the laws of the Bible the protection of Children is incredibly important.

Clearly with 6 million members there are some of us who make mistakes. But as a general rule, NO no loving person would not report child abuse.

Answer 4

This letter was just released to congregations in the UK.
" Our position is that the secular authorities deal with crime while elders deal with sin. To avoid a miscarriage of justice elders must not interfere with, prevent, or impede any secular investigation into child abuse. They must ensure that secular laws are adhered to (Romans 13:1)

To that end they are instructed to contact the legal dept at Bethel whenever they receive information from even one person who alleges that child abuse has occurred. When a report is received guidance is given by the legal dept to ensure that:

1. The alleged victim and other potential victims are protected from possible abuse.

2. The council is given to report crime to the proper authorities and to comply with any additional legal requirements.

The elders know that it is the absolute right of the victim, his or her family or anyone else to report the matter to the authorities, if they so wish. (Galatians 6:5) "

The full letter can be found here:
http://www.silentlambs.org/education/UKlettertoallcong.cfm
As you can see, the elders that hear the case are not required to report to the authorities, rather to the bethel legal committee. It is ASSUMED that the legal committee will report it. But there is evidence this does not happen.

There is a shocking case of a brother jw in the uk who was charged with a crazy amount of child abuse.

Check these links, in order if you can:

Pedophile freed in 'horrific' verdict

By Rebecca Lowe

http://www.thisishertfordshire.co.uk/news/roundup/display.var.1657936.0.paedophile_freed_in_horrific_verdict.php

Church pedophile walks free.
http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/content/twm/news/story.aspx?brand=Westonmercury&category=news&tBrand=westonmercury&tCategory=znews&itemid=WeED29%20Aug%202007%2012%3A49%3A48%3A470

Pedophile who abused baby walks free
http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,,2155269,00.html

Paedophile walks free after string of sex attacks over 14 years
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=477301&in_page_id=1770

Wife: I stand by Jehovah paedo
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article294046.ece

You can read of many more sad cases at www.silentlambs.org

And in order for an abuse case to hold clout for any elders, there must be two witnesses to the event. Which is unfortunate and wrong.

Answer 5

Not a JW, but I believe allegations of child abuse must be supported by 2 adult witnesses.

Answer 6

Many states REQUIRE religious leaders, including elders, to notify the police. It really is up to the parents if they want to get the police involved or not in the staes that do not require it by law.

JW's will NOT hold the decision to report against anyone if they do report to police.

Funny how someone can say something, and everyone takes that for truth...whether it is true or not.

Answer 7

true elders jehovahwitnesses call police hear child abuse

Answer 8

I don't know why people keep asking this same question. the elders do call the police when there is child abuse. no one hides anything. this is a lie. see the website at www.watchtower.org

Answer 9

JOHN WAYNE BUNDY never punched anyone.

From what my friend says who is a JW. They take the accusations pretty seriously and they do not stop anyone from telling the police.

Answer 10

Oh yeah, I'd believe that...

Once I met a JW girl who had been harassed by a male from her congregation...

The "Elders" told her that she'd better shut it, that whatever happened was her fault, because women incite good men to sin, and stuff like that...

Needless to say, I broke that AH's jawbone...