I watched in CNN and BBC on Jehovha's Witness elders not protecting children from sexual abusive parents?

Question

Its all over you tube from sources such as CNN and BBC.

Is this true, or a lie or what? Do elders do anything possible to protect the organization more than the people or what?

I was just to become a JW and now I saw this and Im so disturbed.

Answer 1

You can't believe everything you hear on the news.

I used to always believe what Dateline told on their show.
Until they did a show on something I know very well and I could not believe the lies they told and the sources they used!
It was disturbing and upset me that now they are many people that believed this because of Dateline.

Bottom line, just because CNN and BBC are saying it and seem to have good sources - DOES NOT make it true.

It's a popular saying - "You can't believe everything you hear"

Answer 2

It's not true.

If the elders know that a person has a history of pedophilia, they:
1-Disfellowship the person if they have committed an act of pedophilia (which is categorized as porneia, a greek word for gross sexual misconduct, which i agree..it is absolutely gross)

2-Watch the person's dealings with children. As they talk to other people in the hall, the elders eyes are ON THEM NON STOP....and so are the parents (i'll get into that later)

3-The person is NOT allowed to be an Elder, or any other servant or position holder in the Congregation. Period. There is way too much room for an abuse-causing situation should that happen.

How do I know that?
In my old congregation, there was a pedophile.

Here's the story:
This guy was a servant in our congregation (a MS, not an elder). He abused two girls. There was no way for anyone to have suspected...not even the girl's mother. He was disfellowshipped. The mom pressed charges. He went to jail for several years, and got out on parole/probation..whatever they call it.

I got to the hall once he was out of jail. I was told by others in the congregation of what happened. This was not considered 'gossip'; and each year, we were given a 'local needs' talk on the matter and a reminder that the children in our cong. were a gift from God, and we all would be vigilant to protect them from a pedophile that we knew or even didn't know....and within or outside of our faith.
I didn't have children, but when I brought a bible study to the hall who did, the elders told me to watch the child and its dealings with that brother.

The Kingdom Hall is open to the public. Based on other famous incidents (ie., the nutjob guy in Florida), we cannot tell people they can't come into our Kingdom Halls and worship.

Any JW that has been one for a long time can testify that they have seen weird people come in. We famously have this one lady who yells out and stands up every 10-15 minutes..i think she has turrets. We cannot stop people from SERVING God. So we cannot ban them. So even though they may come into our congregations and even try to worship...believe me, the elders aren't the only ones waching him...so is everyone else.

The guy who was a pedophile moved away to another state. But before he did, he tried to give a handshake to one of the kids...you should have SEEN the way 10 of us flew over there. LOL

Answer 3

In all of life, religion, politics, education, there are those who use their power to hide, corrupt and protect. This is life reality lesson 101 hon...Learn it NOW.

Know that every religion since the beginning humankind, is created by man as an institution on earth, and has had their "turn" being condemmed for such behavior - no religion is exempt from such allegations or actions.

All you can do is be aware and if you see any truly shady goings-on, either switch your church or make a concerted effort to distance yourself until you decide again, to commit to a faith.

I use to belong to "organized religion" - was very active, for many years. But I seem to have too many differences today, to believe it offers any real value anymore or support in my life. It is different with each person...you must find your way dear, as each of us must.

I wish you luck...

Sincerely,

Grace

Answer 4

The brothers and sisters have explained things very well.

In the world of journalism and broadcasting, words and terms are used in a certain way to influence the audience to feel the way the reporter/ director/ producer wants them to feel. One-sided/ biased evidence may be shown, misrepresentation, misquotes etc. To some of them it's just another story, another byline. It does not matter always that the info is accurate, if it draws viewers- it's fine.
This is especially reprehensible when the story is slanderous.
Talk to the elders

Answer 5

You have been told by several people it's not true. Ask some elders in your area if you have doubts.

One area that is misunderstood is that 2 witnesses or a confession by the acused are required for the congregation to take action. This does not mean that the parents cannot notify the police though. Often, even in courts, the law requires a witness or 2.

Answer 6

http://www.watchtowerinformationservice.org/childabuse.htm
Happened to me...My father is an elder..he is a pedophile...he is still an JW and he is still and elder and he has never been diciplined, even though he has been accused by more people than just me.


Why are the Jehovah's Witnesses still saying that this never happen in their organization? Other religions admit that it could happen.


http://silentlambs.org

Answer 7

My Wife and I are active Jehovah's Witnesses and we have a 6 month old Baby Boy.

If someone in the Congregation ever found out that someone hurt a child or molested anyone this would be reported as soon as possible !!!

Jehovah is our God and He is a clean and Holy God. Jehovah God sees all things and nothing can be hidden from Jehovah or His Son Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the Head of our Congregations.

We will always do what is right in God's eyes and that is the truth.

Our Brothers and Sisters have given you alot of links to our Official Web Site so you can read this for yourself.

Thank you for asking active Jehovah's Witnesses about this.

I respect you very much for that.

Have a nice day.

Agape.

Answer 8

Yes, the vast majority of accusations against the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses are lies.

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 9

Unfortunately, I know this to be ABSOLUTELY TRUE!!!

A sister I am friends with had the following experience:
(names and places are changed, can't tell too many details)

Her 14 year old daughter was kidnapped and taken across state lines by an elder in her hall. This was because this married elder(3x her age) had begun a sexual relationship with the girl, and "they" wanted to run away to be together.

My friend went to the elders. They told her to leave it in Jehovah's hands. She refused. She went to the FBI and helped track her daughter down and bring her home. The elders disfellowshipped (excommunicated) her because she did not listen to them, and took matters into her own hands.

That man, while no longer "approved" for being an elder, can still go door to door, unsupervised, meeting young girls- and no one- not in his current congregation nor at the homes of the people he calls on know his history. Why? Because it is considered gossip to tell people about him.

So, both JW's and others-- BEWARE! The person you think you know may be a child predator- even a confessed one like Michael Porter in the UK, who admitted to 24 counts of assault- one on a victim as young as 18 months old!

This man is still in the congregation! There are others. The elders even know about some of them. But they won't tell anyone, warn anyone- not in the congregations, or at peoples' homes!

Protect your children! They are a gift from God.

Answer 10

The parents of the children have every right to go to the cops.
If a person were to do this they would be held responsable.
Maybe the parents didn't want to take it that way and outsiders that don't understand made up the rest.