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Feminism: Sex & gender discussions

Jehovah's Witnesses shred evidence on abuse

8 replies

SoloD · 30/06/2014 15:21

Sorry to share this here, but I really believe that unless this sort of thing gets the maximum publicity then things will never change.

www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/jehovahs-witnesses-destroyed-documents-showing-7340603

I have nothing against the JW's personally my parents are JW's. But my sister was abused by one and when she reported it, the Jehovah's Witness elders required two witnesses (like a pedophile would have a witness to an attack) and never reported it to the police. I understand that the person in question had done it before.

No one should be above the law, especially when it concerns child protection. The Jehovah's Witnesses are told never to read these sorts of articles as it is an attempt to sway their faith. But unless they admit they have a problem they will never change and the abuse will continue.

The Judge summed it up very well in this case. Good on those girls who came forward.

OP posts:
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CaoNiMa · 04/07/2014 07:40

"I have nothing against the JW's personally my parents are JW's..."

"But my sister was abused by one and when she reported it,"

These two things don't correlate...

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claraschu · 04/07/2014 07:52

JWs don't need any evidence to believe all the insane things they do believe. Why would you expect them to behave rationally when it comes to listening to complaints against their own people?

I am very sorry about your sister.

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JustTheRightBullets · 04/07/2014 10:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

InAnotherLife · 04/07/2014 21:28

Unfortunately, I also know that cover-up happens from experience. In my case, I already knew about the 'two witnesses' rule, and so took my sister with me when I eventually fled home (at around 12 years old) to another JW's home, where the elders were called.

They interviewed us in detail, I spilled out my heart and so did my sister (physical, emotional, and sexual abuse from our father). They asked us questions about what we had been wearing, how we had been behaving, whether we had been showing him respect and honour (?!)

Then they drove us back to our house and went inside to speak to my father. When they came back out again, they told us to go inside and put our feelings into prayer.

Nothing further ever came of it, and the abuse died down for a bit, and then reignited worse than ever.

Many years later I got the opportunity to ask my siblings (this topic doesn't come up very often!) what the elders had said to my father in the house that day. They each confirmed to me that they had warned my father about the importance of discretion.

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InAnotherLife · 04/07/2014 21:31

Sorry, accidentally posted it before I meant to.

Anyway, to say my heart sunk when I heard that was an understatement. I am no longer a JW. He still is.

I have nothing against JWs as individuals (many of them are honest, sincere people), but absolutely have a major problem with the organisation.

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JustTheRightBullets · 04/07/2014 23:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

edamsavestheday · 04/07/2014 23:13

Sadly I'm sure there are many more cases to come. WTF do they think they are doing saying parents don't have to be told about abusers?! Or demanding two witnesses to prove abuse? It's clearly a great place to hide for peadophiles, with rules like that.

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antimatter · 05/07/2014 21:00

in case anyone is interested to read more about child sexual abuse and molestation by JW members:

www.watchtowerdocuments.com/barbara-anderson.html

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