Jehovah's Witnesses, if a child is raped, shouldn't you report it to the police?

Question

If not, shouldn't the ones informed be charged with accomplice of rape/sexual assault/molestation?

Steps taken:
1. The matter is reported to the elders.

2. You are told to tell no one else in the congregation or to report it to the authorities.

3. The elders meet with the alleged molester.

4. If the alleged molester does not confess and there isn't a second witness, nothing is done.

5. The elders are instructed to call Bethel's Service Desk and report the incident and it goes on record.

6. The service desk tells the elder calling to leave the matter in Jehovah's hands.

7. They are also instructed not to tell anyone in the congregation even if there is a confession.

8. This rule applies if a pedophile moves into a new congregation, no one is to know, except the elders.

9. The victim and or family is told to keep their mouths shut or else.

10. If the victim or family goes public,they can be disfellowshipped for causing division in the congregation.

12. The alleged or guilty molester can gain back privileges by having a clean record for several years.

http://silentlambs.org/education/multimedia.cfm
http://silentlambs.org
http://jwchildcustody.com
http://sixscreensofthewatchtower.com/2pedophileparadise.html

Answer 1

It seems remarkably obvious that a congregation cannot arrest, subpoena, interrogate, detain, indict, prosecute, convict, or incarcerate a criminal perpetrator. The government does that.

Sadly, at times anti-Witnesses invent slander about Jehovah's Witnesses, and pretend that the Witnesses have beliefs and policies which they plainly do not! Some such 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.

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

Even in the law of men, everyone is innocent until proven guilty. The Bible principle mentioned in the book of Matthew regarding bringing a witness (in any matter or issue) does not necessarily mean having the victim relive the incident. Even in court, a victim is asks to testify. Moreover, the elders of the congregation has the responsibility to keep the congregation clean and it's members protected... and must follow Bibile principles to correct matters. If authorities must be informed, so be it! According to the Watchtower magazine of August 1st 2005: ..."The victim has every right to report the matter to the police. In this way the proper authorities can punish the offender. And if the victim is a minor, the parents may want to initiate these actions." and some helpful suggestions from the Awake magazine, 93 3/8 9-10 If You Are Raped □ Seek medical attention. □ If you wish, ask that a rape-victim counselor accompany you through medical and legal procedures if one is available. □ Call the police as soon as you are able to. Counselors recommend reporting for your safety and for the safety of other women. Reporting is not the same as prosecuting, but if you choose to prosecute later, your case will be weakened by a delayed report. □ Preserve evidence. Do not bathe, change clothing, wash or comb hair, or destroy fingerprints or footprints. □ Medical personnel will collect evidence and will test for sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy. If they offer pregnancy prevention drugs, otherwise known as a morning-after pill, Christians should be aware that such drugs can cause the body to abort a fertilized egg. □ Do what you have to in order to feel safe—change locks, stay with a friend, block your door—whether it seems that you’re overreacting or not. □ Above all, look to the Scriptures for comfort, praying to Jehovah, even calling aloud his name, during and after the assault. Lean on the elders and other close associates in the congregation for support. Attend meetings if at all possible, and seek companionship with fellow Christians in the ministry.

Answer 3

My cousins two girls were molested by an elder. He was not turned in by the Elders, who later in court testimony admitted they knew for 4 YEARS that this guy had been molesting children but their excuse was "they needed two Witnesses to do anything." and they were "counseling" him. When was the last time a rapist raped anyone in front of two witnesses, unless they were participants?

A funny side point. The Elders tried to get out of testifying, citing "Clergy" privilege. The judge overruled them saying that at best they were part time preachers as all had full time jobs or businesses and did not qualify under the law as "Clergy". That was a hoot. At least they didn't lie.

This Elder was tried, convicted, served time, released on parole and is on the nationwide child molester list and was not ever disfellowshipped. In fact, he is back in jail awaiting trial for abusing more children, still not disfellowshipped. he was removed as an Elder.

Incidentally, you usually can tell medically if a child has been raped.

In all fairness, there are elders that act properly but there are those that followed the Society's guidelines and do not.

The Witnesses always blah blah about "apostate lies" even now attempting to debunk the dateline report. The Society's "the whole world is against us" mind control works good. The problem is there are too many reports of these types of incidents for them all to be false.

Also, there is no doubt that the Witness Elders mishandled and continue to mishandle these types of cases. These three elders were typical: a factory worker, a guy who owned a painting company and an electronic technician who fixed beepers.

Hardly a brain trust and certainly not equipped to handle such matters. Imminently unqualified. That is the root of the problem.

It's like a plumber doing heart surgery.

Why did the Society recently settle with several victim's, if they acted correctly?

They screwed up, admit it. After all how many times on this Q&A do we hear, "they're only men!".

dawnfireyfairy, good answer. What say you JW's to her answer?

UPDATE ACTHUNG: No they can't arrest, ect but they can report. I believe that was the question.

Answer 4

mathair this is the reply the organization of Jehovah's Withness gave to NBC following there report.

Jehovah’s Witnesses office of Public information

Jehovah’s Witnesses care for victims of child abuse
For the sake of the victims in these cases, we are pleased that a settlement has been reached. Our hearts go out to all those who suffer as a result of child abuse. Jehovah’s Witnesses world wide are united in their abhorrence of this sin and crime. Romans 12:9.
We do not condone or protect child molesters. Our elders expel unrepentant sinners who commit this crime. (1 Corinthians 5:13) In the United States, over 80,000 elders currently serve in over 12,300 congregations. (Acts 20:28) During the last 100 years, only eleven elders have been sued for child abuse in thirteen lawsuits filed in the United States. In seven of these lawsuits against the elders, accusations against the Watchtower Society itself were dismissed by the courts. Of course, one victime is one victim too many. However, the incidence of this crime among Jehovah’s Witnesses is rare.
Congregation elders comply with child abuse reporting laws. (Mark 12:17; Romans 13:1) We do not silence victims. Our members have an absolute right to report this horrible crime to the authorities. The October 2007 issue of our monthly journal Awake! Features the cover series, “Keep Your Children Safe!” These articles clearly show our concern for protecting children from sexual abuse.

Jehovah’s Witnesses Office Of Public Information
For Immediate Release November 21, 2007

Answer 5

================
A 1992 letter states: "As members or the community in which Caesar still acts as God's minister and hence still has a certain authority, ALL in the Christian congregation would want to consider their personal and moral responsibility to alert the appropriate authorities in cases where there has been committed or there exists a risk that there might be committed a serious criminal offence of this type (see ks91, page 138) In child abuse cases such authorities might include the family doctor, the Social Services, the NSPCC, or the police."
================
February 15, 2002 letter states: "Never suggest to anyone that they should not report an allegation of child abuse to the police or other authorities. If you are asked, make it clear that whether to report the matter to the authorities or not is a personal decision for each individual to make and that there are no congregation sanctions for either decision. That is, no elder will criticize anyone who reports such an allegation to the authorities."
================

Maybe if you stop reading apostate websites, maybe you will learn something.

Answer 6

Your web links are not exactly open minded factual sites. Personally I wouldn't touch them with 20 barge poles tied end to end. Propaganda and apostate sites can be so ugly and distorting.

Since you are on the subject, the elders at my kingdom hall called the police of a child physical abuse case not so long ago and now the abuser is in jail with a 14 year sentence and has been disfellowshipped from the congregation. I think child abuse is something they will never put up with - ever! The abused girl became baptised and is now serving proudly as on of Jehovah's Witness. She is thankful for the support and help she recieved from Jehovah's Witnesses who aided her to rebuild her life.

Like in Phoenix's answer about the paedophile. Jehovah's Witnesses would of never even knew about his dark life. Like the abuser in my congregation nobody knew about it until the abused victim approached our elders. Then they immediately acted on what she revealed what was happening. It was not like she had visible bruises on her that shouted abuse. They even went to her house and got her things and took her to a safe haven.
The paedophile Frederick McLean kept his sin secret since you have to remember the congregation are made up of ordinary folk like you or me who would not tolerate this. The report was not stating he abused the children of the congregation and he has done over a hundred that is many more than a congregation would ever have. Just because he went about as a Jehvoah's Witness he obviously was not one in God's eyes. Frederick McLean was living a double life.
I can bet your dollar he is disfellowshipped and no longer under the name, Jehovah's Witness.

Answer 7

This was one I was going to let go but the answers some of them made just made me sick and angry. I was a jehovah's witness for fourteen years and was baptised for almost eight of those years. In my very small congregation it happened to many times. I was a kid and saw a father who started out peeping on his daughters in the bathroom and was not reported turned to molesting all of his daughters and instead of doing the right thing even then they just made a small anouncement on a tuesday night (a night that the full congregation meets in small groups for what they call bible study) that he was repentant of his sins, that was all that was said. Of course he continued and when the girls were going to the police finally the elders gave him time to flee this country first. Most will say an isolated case but my neighbor beat his children when they made the slightest mistake and what did the elders do first they made him a ministerial servant and then made him an elder of the congregation. These are just two of the many cases i know about in just my small congregation, less than 80 members, they cover up not really to protect the PREDATOR but to protect THEMSELVES. They want everyone to see just how great they are. They think they are the only true religion and if everyone doesn't conform to thier way most will lose their lives forever while they get ressurected to a paradise here on earth. Sorry but if that paradise includes all those abusers you allowed to get away with thier crimes i would rather just stay dead.

Answer 8

Omg
Is MSNBC Apostate????
Are the courts Apostate????

Look at the MSNBC LINK!

Authorities found that Bethel had been covering it up for years.

End of story.

While I recommend going to all the other links...
If you are that afraid...
FINE

Go to the MSNBC Link and read the full story.

I love this.
I should write MSNBC and tell them you all think they're apostate.



Smiling:
Did you read THIS part?


Documents show that the church knew for years that some prominent members were sexually abusing children and did little.


This corroborates the accusations of so many victims who have been called liars!

Do you even have a clue HOW many victims have been truly silenced by disfellowshipping?
Or are they liars too?

Did you see this?
http://www.wsmv.com/news/14669943/detail.html

I don't think you are understanding the full problem.

The Legal Entities that be, have found that the Watchtower has known for years about alleged child abusers within the congregation.

This puts so many people at risk.

Not only JW's but non JW's as well.

You NEED to read the accounts of people who have suffered first hand.

I am NOT asking you to believe in the Trinity. I am NOT asking you to even LEAVE the Organization.

I am ASKING you to stop calling all of us liars. I am ASKING you to please give these victims a chance to share their story and put yourself in their shoes.
I am ASKING you to please just step back and pause.

And think to yourself when you read the cases of some of these people:
Just what if that were your kid?
Would you still be saying what you are saying?

Do you know that right now I could introduce you online to people who are REAL people who can back up everything we're trying to tell you?
I could introduce you to two men who were molested when they were little boys.
I could introduce you to a woman who had a case of child abuse in her family.
That is just the tip of the iceberg.

These are real people. And they are not few and far between.
http://www.lambsroar.org/
http://www.lambsroar.org/db/index.php?s=0b6674e081d57555f51018a009e2b58f&showforum=15

Further you make mention of Fred possibly being df'ed NOW.

WHO CARES?????

Great, just great Smiling.
Glad you are able to see the big picture of Fred being available to molest god knows how many other young people.
Had it been handled by the legal authorities a long time ago, he would be in PRISON.

I just can't even believe you said that. The lack of concern for the general public's safetly is incredible.
Of course, he'll be whacked at Armageddon.
Well, ya know, here's the saddest part.

So many victims who Weren't as lucky as the girl in your congregation who had their abuses swept neatly under the carpet are now OUT of "Jehovah's Organization".
They lost faith. In some cases, committed suicide.



Remember what Jesus said about children:
Matt 19:14
14 Jesus, however, said: “Let the young children alone, and stop hindering them from coming to me, for the kingdom of the heavens belongs to suchlike ones.”

Answer 9

Do I know the child was raped? If I know then I'll report it.


If I don't know I can't report something I am not aware of can I?

Why do you insist on asking such dumb questions?

Answer 10

Yes, any minister is considered a "mandated reporter" and required to report to the police any heresay/knowledge of child abuse or molestation.

I suggest JWs in the US look up the mandated reporter laws in their state.