CHILD SEX ABUSE INVESTIGATORS MAY PROBE THE JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

[Guest Nicole]

Independent investigators in the United Kingdom are weighing whether to launch a new investigation into the Jehovah’s Witnesses in the U.K. after receiving a “considerable number” of abuse allegations.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, or IICSA, a government-sanctioned investigative panel in England and Wales, told The Guardian that it had gotten a “considerable number” of reports from both the public and elected officials about the Jehovah’s Witnesses in the U.K. A spokesperson told the newspaper the panel would “consider calls for a Jehovah’s Witnesses–specific investigation carefully.” 

It was unclear how many reports the watchdog group had received. When contacted by Newsweek, Jehovah’s Witnesses’ public information office did not immediately comment.

Kathleen Hallisey, a lawyer who brought charges against the Jehovah’s Witnesses for sexual abuse in 2015, said she suspected there are thousands of such cases in the U.K., The Guardian reported. 

“The Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse to recognize the issue of child abuse in their organization or to create robust safeguarding procedures to protect children,” she said. “An investigation by IICSA into the Jehovah’s Witnesses is an opportunity for the inquiry to effect real change in an organization that refuses to shine a light on child abuse and protect children.”

News of the possible investigation comes weeks after the nonprofit religious transparency organization Faithleaks leaked 33 letters and internal documents revealing a pattern of sexual abuse by one Jehovah’s Witness member, and the lengths the church went to cover up the scandal. 

Those documents detail communications among church leaders and several legal entities—collectively known as Watchtower—between 1999 and 2012. In one letterto Watchtower dated November 14, 1999, the Palmer Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses from Brimfield, Massachusetts, said it had reviewed claims by two women who alleged their father sexually abused them as children. The group found those claims to be true. 

“Our impression upon speaking with both girls was similar. That they are both quite rational. It certainly appears that these were real events,” the letter said. 

In that case, church leaders pressured one of the accusers not to report the abuse to police. Years later, the church held an in-house trial and briefly excommunicated the father. 

That victim was not the only person pressured to remain silent. 

In the U.K., several alleged victims had come forward with similar claims in November 2017, according to The Telegraph. 

“Frankly, I would equate this to a scandal and a cover-up akin to the Catholic Church,” Hallisey told The Telegraph at the time.

http://www.newsweek.com/jehovahs-witnesses-child-sexual-abuse-investigators-allegations-united-kingdom-837351

 

[Evacuated]

This is excellent

On 3/9/2018 at 3:01 AM, Nicole said:

Independent investigators in the United Kingdom are weighing whether to launch a new investigation into the Jehovah’s Witnesses in the U.K. after receiving a “considerable number” of abuse allegations.

The only honest response is "bring it on!"

Can you see how this applies?: 

“Every kingdom divided against itself comes to ruin, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. In the same way, if Satan expels Satan, he has become divided against himself; how, then, will his kingdom stand?"

Matt.12:25-26

[Noble Berean]

This has no place in controversial posts. This is the reality of the organization. 1000s of unreported sex case allegations.

[TrueTomHarley]

The cops found pictures of cats on my hard drive. I have been outed in the media. My life is so over!

[Noble Berean]

On 3/12/2018 at 4:07 PM, AllenSmith said:

As compared to which * PERFECT* organization or institution, especially GOVERNMENT run institutions that like to HIDE, CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE as NOT to be seen as hypocrites for aggressively going after others rather than starting with their own.

 

By, your standards? Then there are millions of children abused that have gone unreported. So, how do you reconcile your narrow mindedness?

 

If this is no place for controversial post, then why post such an uneducated, post that DOESN’T include ALL claims of child abuse by County, City, State, Country, Institution etc.

 

Let's not do whataboutism. The organization has frequently used the pedophile cover ups in the catholic church and secular institutions to support their moral superiority and divine backing. So should we now accept that this organization is no better than them? Isn't the whole point that our org is BETTER than these other religions/organizations because we are a spiritual paradise?

I understand that child abuse is a problem that cannot be stamped and is present in all large organizations. BUT the organization has done itself no favors by doubling down on their messed up policies which have allowed abuse to continue in congregations. And they have been completely zip-lipped with their own members--refusing to be transparent about this ongoing problem. JWs are owed transparency on this matter. It's the least they could do.

[Space Merchant]

Aside from UK JWs investigation, they must also dealing with other groups who act under the radar, the no so religious ones, who literally take children underground or in expensive and private locations, to molest, torture and sometimes kill their child victims, at times, the child of the victims, born into this world, who are subjected to satanic sacrifice before they even have 1 month of life, which takes place right under the noses of the people of UK and the government, especially the likes of  PM, Theresa May.

I do not see why people tend to think child abuse itself is isolated within a single religious group, or just merely religion as a whole, for such is everywhere.

 

That being said, I had some sources I would have posted here regarding the UK as a whole, but the 1984 troop has wiped out that information a few days ago.

 

All in all, it will be the same as everything else in terms of the abused and the abuser.

[TrueTomHarley]

16 hours ago, Noble Berean said:

And they have been completely zip-lipped with their own members--refusing to be transparent about this ongoing problem. JWs are owed transparency on this matter. It's the least they could do.

I am beginning to come around to NB's point of view. 

They DO owe us more.

If you drill into the data (and this is discussed on the other thread - opposers have seen fit to start not just one, but TWO, simultaneous threads - it becomes evident that Jehovah's Witnesses have a greater prevention rate of child sexual abuse ten-fold over that of anyone else!

Imagine. Ten times the success rate of others! THIS is the fact that should be highlighted for members that need or want to know and in not doing this they are being let down. 

They are letting the enemies frame the entire argument. They should not do this.

Now - techically it is inaccurate to say they have ten times the success rate of prevention than anyone else. They have ten times the success rate of the general population. Who is to say how they stack up to the Baptists or the Adventists or the atheists or the - anyone? There is no way to tell, because nobody else dared touch these figures. Obviously chlld sexual abuse occurs everywhere - just tune in the TV news to convince yourself - but nobody else cared or dared to look into their own membership with a view of uncovering and disciplining the evil actions within their own organization!

Thus whenever anyone else is charged with child sexual abuse, their rellgion is never a factor - it is never reported (unless they are clergy)The Witness organization fails its members by not pointing this out. How did there come to be a "pedophile list" in the first place? It is a consequence of internal church disciple so as to present to God a clean people that the Bible says he demands. EVERYONE should have done this and NOBODY did. THAT is the fact that should be highlighted endlessly.

By not doing this, they have reduced good solid loyal members to saying: "well - we don't like child sexual abuse either - really, we don't." That is why I appreciate @AllenSmith, abrasive though he is. He does not fall into this trap. He does not let those who hate Jehovah's Witnesses assume the higher moral ground. He tirelessly points out why they do not deserve it. Every once in a while he goes too far and he is tossed out on his ear. (though I have never heard of this happening to his opponents who can be equally outlandish) But he dusts himself off, alters the spelling of his name, and rejoins the fray.

Bethel should not let the haters of Christian organization frame their 'reality' in preferance of the one which is far more important. Why are they doing it? My guess is that they are like deer caught in the headlights. They are decent, honest men - not oily manipulators - and they are dumbfounded that a deed with such good motive should be portrayed as so foul.

What are they guilty of anyway? There is a reason for the expression "skeletons in the closet." It is the universal human instinct to keep them there. They were slow to realize that the new imperitive is to stampede them through Dodge City. They have never said members should not go to outside authorities should they become aware of abuse. It is at most presiding over a culture in which people are reluctant to air dirty laundry in public because they try to represent something very high and they are loathe to sully it by advertizing when they contrary conduct in their midst. These days elders positively urge families to report to authorities when they come across an instance of it only to find not everyone want to be on the 11 News as the home of Today's Pervert. If it is not mandated by law, you cannot make them, nor can you go over their head and do it yourself. This is why Bro Jackson pleaded to make it mandatory accorss all territories because it would "make out job so much easier."

They have to deal with what really is the smaller picture, which is being done, while they steadfasting make sure the greater picture is in sharp focus: a prevention rate that is ten times that of the general population.

Seen in this light, if there are to be more inquiries in other countries, parallel to what the ARC has done, and those who hate Witnesses are wetting themselves in anticipation, I say Bring It On! 

Let each one of them establish what the ARC did - that Jehovah's Witnesses are head and shoulders above others in preventing child sexual abuse. Let the sole victory of the opposers be to say: "Well - well - well, they're not perfect, are they?"

[Witness]

17 hours ago, Noble Berean said:

And they have been completely zip-lipped with their own members--refusing to be transparent about this ongoing problem. JWs are owed transparency on this matter. It's the least they could do.

 

[Space Merchant]

18 hours ago, TrueTomHarley said:

If you drill into the data (and this is discussed on the other thread - opposers have seen fit to start not just one, but TWO, simultaneous threads - it becomes evident that Jehovah's Witnesses have a greater prevention rate of child sexual abuse ten-fold over that of anyone else!

The data is evident on those who do such things, what opponents of the JWs or opponents of religion in general, do not understand is that they are creating a monster that they cannot tame, perhaps already running wild and about from the things I have seen and read, for they fail to see child abuse is all over and target a specific faith because of said faith suffering from child abuse who is obviously not immune to such things, now in regards to the United Kingdom, they will scream, rant and lose their minds on the problems the JWs are dealing with  child abuse on their end, but these same opponents will not bat an eye for the children affected by Rotherham Grooming Gang, the Haut de la Garenne, Newcastle sex rings, and a plethora of other groups and institutions with people of bad intent that have mingled among them without being noticed.

This also goes for those who claim child abuse and attack Christianity and the Bible (some goes as far as to rip and burn it no matter the translation), or in this case, religion as a whole, so when one attacks a JW, a Unitarian, a Jew or a Muslim, etc, the blame will just automatically be pinned on religion regardless of the faith, some may have it bad than others and suffer from physical harm should they be targeted on the streets because of their faith, for at that point it won't be persecution, it will just be shear brutality on said person, and I am sure the Jehovah's Witnesses are aware of the early 1900s, for ever since the whole NFL kneeling thing, the history was talked about.

Now, it is understandable, for those who do bad, we can't have anyone in the weeds, so to speak, but at the same time, to be brutal with a group and twisting scripture against them only contributes to bigger problems, something such persons cannot see, and only few people like me, you and others tend to be aware of people who do such things.

For better solutions and better ways on dealing with child abuse has been throw out the window and people seem to stick to just attacking a religion for a problem that is weaved within the very land they walk on.

The more the silliness continues, the more of the very people and their supports that were in Detroit a few years ago will only get stronger, and Christianity itself will decline further and religion will be the subject of targeting more and more as the days go by.

As for the prevention rate, even with facts before them, they will ignore it sadly - someone brought this up elsewhere and the anti-religion crowd just attacked and ignored the information, for they were not targeting JWs, they were targeting religion as a whole, which is somewhat evident today that most religious people tend not to be aware of at times. I was once told, you can give a sick man medicine for his illness, but he will ignore it and not accept it, even though it can help in dealing with his pain, in this sense, even with facts you provide, they'll ignore and not accept it, and continue on a warpath without having better solutions and ways of going about the issue of child abuse - going as far as to twist fact to tickle the ears of the masses to join the same foolish cause when others are doing it the right and correct way in gunning for the problem at hand and not a specific group of persons.

That being said, my opinion, as do most, the best way to really prevent child abuse in most cases if faced with it as best as we can is just to educate the child and or parents, friends, relatives, etc. This has been the case with one of the victims in the JWs in regards to the ARC due to Watchtower articles on child abuse revealing to her what it actually is, and even outside of the Watchtower, this is the position that people have taken, which is smart. Such has helped some people learn about the issue that others have gone as far as to make thousands of videos on this subject for saying at least one child is a plus on anyone's part for educating someone on child abuse be it videos, articles, or verbally, and the like, for when a child is taught on the issue they can identify the signs of child abuse should it starts on them or someone they know.

But what to expect by people living in a box, not taking the moment or even having a mere thought of looking and or stepping out of the box for once - that is today's society for you.

They'll continue to do what they do instead of talking with the person, they will attack them and or their faith because of said subject, child abuse, and never, not even once (surprisingly), you have seen someone come to common ground on the issue at hand and what can be taught or learnt. Only one time when 3 people stepped up, they were attacked by opponents of the faith, the very man whom got a group of people to seek out and dislike, bash, insult these individuals. I believe John had posted of whom I speak, for the gofundme link was a direct link to who this British man is.

One day it is going to come to a point where someone is going to get hurt via influence opponents will spread in public and or online, and surprisingly some have speculated that was the case regarding a hate crime in the UK - but later down the road, who knows how worse it could get, since religion, well in this case, Christianity is not as fancied by some as it was before.

[Space Merchant]

On 3/17/2018 at 3:53 PM, Noble Berean said:

Let's not do whataboutism. The organization has frequently used the pedophile cover ups in the catholic church and secular institutions to support their moral superiority and divine backing. So should we now accept that this organization is no better than them? Isn't the whole point that our org is BETTER than these other religions/organizations because we are a spiritual paradise?

I understand that child abuse is a problem that cannot be stamped and is present in all large organizations. BUT the organization has done itself no favors by doubling down on their messed up policies which have allowed abuse to continue in congregations. And they have been completely zip-lipped with their own members--refusing to be transparent about this ongoing problem. JWs are owed transparency on this matter. It's the least they could do.

Everyone speaks of pedophilia and child abuse and cover-ups, no matter the faith, the background or affiliation, be it religious or non-religious and when such is done, no such persons hold up to any moral superiority (this is a first of such I have seen), especially in an imperfect world who abuses the gift given to them, the gift of Free-Will.

I wouldn't say it is an acceptance of who is better and who is not. Church organizations tend to be better in theology, scripture, teachings and the like than others, for they are the shepherds to their flock, those who follow such churches are people of different backgrounds, and since most churches tend to Evangelize people regarding what is said in the bible about making disciples and the like and teaching the gospel to a multitude of people. As for Spiritual Paradise, there is still imperfection no matter who the person is.

As for policies, if someone follows what is scriptural, it does not make it messed up, foolish and or ridiculous, for anyone hardpressed in scripture will follow it and live by it, that being said, I take the word of the ARC on how regarding the rules and regulations of said faith and at least come to a conclusion as to the how and why such rules they have are so, in addition to that, if they have information on child abuse to teach to their followers, should the followers accept it, that tells you something, for not many are willing to teach about child abuse unless it actually happens unexpectedly among the community of a faith. Plus elsewhere there has been many, many discussions about the rules, beliefs of other faiths in addition to their policies, with fact and how such is used, I know enough, as do others who really look into it themselves instead of some randoms making a rule out into something that it is not.

As for speaking to the members of said issues, it is up to them if they want to keep it among the leaders within that church location and or tell their members this, only if such is okay with the family/victim and the sake of the victim and guardian of the victim, you have to respect that. Some matters at times are kept private, only known by the leaders and the family of the victim, or should the family state they want to time to heal before anything can be said to others, as for the abuser, what can simply be said is so and so has has removed and or no longer with the church, something along those lines and evidently later on they will know the reason why, but again, depends on those in authority within the church or institution and how the family is involved if their child is victim.

I say this because some parents of victims tend not to want such information disclosed about what they have been through to be made public to local churchgoers, and respecting one's privacy until their ordeal has been dealt with is a a positive thing. Even outside of a church, parents of the victim will have very few and or specific persons of whom they disclosed the information of child abuse to, which will eventually get on the radar of the police, this has been heavily expressed in PSAs regarding child abuse met to teaching adults, teens, and children alike and options available, teaching them of personal spaces, talking to people you trust (talking to adults on what took place, asking of other adults, etc), for anyone in those age groups witness child abuse or know the signs and or dealing with someone who has already been affected, especially when it comes to young ones, unaware of what happen and is confused, keeping the information secret from others and will only express the truth about the abuse to someone that they trust, it could be parents, other than the parents, it could be a friend, a teacher, a neighbor, etc. In the end, it is there choice of how they want to deal with the situation to have  positive outcome for the family and the victim. PSAs and  information can easily be found, I would post some here, but obviously what is said in the PSAs is and will evidently be ignored when the reality and truth is expressed through them.

For there is a saying, respect the wishes of the family, should they choose to go down that route, no matter who they are or what they believe, to go back should said person bring it up only makes you not a trusted person.

But I do strongly agree, Child Abuse is indeed a problem, a big problem, and it is among the branches of other things like human trafficking, sacrifice/killing of children, etc. Other things, even minor things is considered Child Abuse and will result in your own children to be taken away from you, etc. Also you have to also realize it isn't not always an adult that is the abuser, when it comes to that point, it becomes very difficult and complex of how things are dealt with in order to help the victim of this form of child abuse. Another thing to note is you have to be aware that no matter the group or institution, they will most likely do an internal investigation first while on the other hand the victim's family will aid and or seek help outside of the internal investigation if or if not said persons called the police.

An example of internal investigation regarding child abuse, a teacher having had intercourse with a minor outside of school grounds (sometimes on school grounds itself), said teacher had been exposed via internal investigation, 50% of the time it is found out via social media or a high probability due to the student who is the victim. The school will zero in on teacher and fire her, and with what is known, the police is contacted by the school and or the victim's parents when the school informs them of such conduct (often times the parents do the investigation themselves before contacting the police) and not many are made known as to why said teacher was fired until months later down the road when said information is given the green light to be made public with the minor and or major evidence against the abuser, that is, the teacher - rarely is police called immediately when a known abuse is present, especially with the recent cases in both public and religious schools in the US. The teacher, now removed, school continues day in and day out, the victim will return should he chooses to and will seek counsel about his ordeal should he accept it, the parents of the victim will be on high alert and learn about child abuse themselves and or is informed about it by the police.

That being said, internal investigations is pretty much the norm to religious, business, and educational based institutions, and or secondary groups/activities, etc.

[TrueTomHarley]

4 hours ago, Space Merchant said:

As for the prevention rate, even with facts before them, they will ignore it sadly

Thank you, SM. I do what I think you are doing as well.

When I answer @JOHN BUTLER, I am not really speaking to him (I did at first), because he has demonstrated that he is inflexible in his opinion. He has, as one friend put it, a mind of concrete - all mixed up and firmly set.

So when I address him I am not addressing him but the audience beyond him, which I don't think is particularly large. And I am honing my own remarks for repetition at a later time to ones that are - where it will do more good, and encouraging others to do the same.

We will lose the battle, ultimately, because Christ said they will 'lyingly say every wicked thing about you' and 'if they persecuted me, they will persecute you.' But we fight back anyway and package the truth as cogently as we can "for a witness to them."

It is like Mark Sanderson said with regard to the Russian ban. We got creamed in that courtroom and yet he gushed afterward on about 'the wonderful witness' given. Is he for real? Yes, because there is no question that Christians are going to lose the war in this system of things. What you want to do is to draw honest - hearted people so that they can see what is going on and take action themselves.

The enemies in Russia wanted to snuff us out quietly. The Governing Body did not permit that to happen. They made sure, if it was to be done, it would be done with huge publicity. It is like Paul saying  "This thing has not been done in a corner," and on that account confidently addressing honest hearted ones: "I know you believe."

It will work out this way with the child sexual abuse "every wicked sort of thing" allegations, too. Though more sordid on the 'every sort of wicked thing' scale,. It will work out "for a witness" to honest hearted ones, once the issue is framed correctly, and I do not think this has yet been done. But it will be.

Meanwhile, you are assisting in that goal. It is a good thing for you to be weighing in on this, showing how child sexual abuse is everywhere, often in far worse forms than anything discussed here, but is most vehemently condemned only when it is associated with religion. 

[JOHN BUTLER]

Poor old @TrueTomHarley his only pleasure in life seems to be to slander peoples names and to pretend to know the minds of such ones. 

When he is presented with truth he side tracks, goes off on a tangent. 

He goes on about this percentage thing so much as if it has any meaning at all. 

If this issue is about the Child Abuse within the Jehovah's Witnesses Organisation then I politely suggest we keep it as such. 

Comparing it to the world has no relevance what so ever.  As I've said, and need to repeat it seems, the Nation of Israel turned away from God and they offered their children to false gods by burning their children in the fire.

Would the Nation of Israel say to God, 'But God, we didn't burn as many of our children as the other nations did' would God have been impressed with that ? No of course not. 

Why is Tom tom so impressed with this stupid percentage thing ? I'm sure God is not impressed with it. 

And his latest thing here is this :  '...because Christ said they will 'lyingly say every wicked thing about you...' Oh dear Tom tom, wake up, it is not lies they are saying and its Earthwide. Many cases have already been proved to be true. Surely you have to know that.

And for anyone else reading this, but not for Tom tom as he has decided in his own mind that I am wicked, but for those of you with open minds I tell you this. I left the JW Org because my conscience would not allow me to stay in it, due to my findings about the Child Abuse Earthwide within the Org... I am not anti JW Org, I am not anti religion, i am not a part of any protest group nor part of any anti religious group of any sort. I am an individual with my own mind and my own thoughts. I am looking for the truth from God, not from men.