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Pedophilia is an ever increasing problem within the Watchtower. The cultists practice their own
kind of justice regarding this offense and seek to hide it from view, lest the world see behind the Watchtower Veil. A Jehovah
Witness congregation will "kick out" a fellow Witness for "immoral behavior" such as smoking a cigarette. Yet it will do all
that is possible to hide and protect the child molesters within it's Halls. While trying to convince the abused that they
are mistaken!
We must stop this torture of God's children now! The Watchtower Society is already taking steps to protect
itself from possible civil litigation. The organization has undergone restructure that conveniently protects its Governing
Body from liability. Let all Christians know the truth about the Demon Society and speak out! Let us DEMAND prosecution of
offenders and protection for the abused.
If you are a victim of molestation please seek Legal Council, not the body
of elders in your congregation. After the article, there is a list of agencies that can help. Please, if you know of or are
a victim of molestation; REPORT IT.
Reported in the Paducah Sun
by
C.D. Bradley
DRAFFENVILLE, Ky. --An elder in a Jehovah's Witnesses congregation at Draffenville
has resigned his leadership position because of a policy he claims "has harmed thousands, is leaving many unprotected, and
provides refuge to outright criminals."
The elder, William Bowen, resigned last week from his position as an elder
and presiding overseer, the rough equivalent to a pastor in other Protestant denominations. In doing so he cited the church's
policy regarding the reporting of suspected child abusers to law enforcement authorities. Bowen said the policy, which requires
accusers to report alleged abuse to church elders rather than to legal authorities, lets "literally thousands" of pedophiles
go unpunished.
"I am referring to Watch Tower policy to keep information about pedophiles confidential," Bowen wrote
in his resignation letter. "Pedophiles are protected by a code of silence and in many cases remain (in leadership positions
or as members in good standing) while their victims suffer in silence or face sanctions. This policy is unethical and immoral
in my opinion."
A spokesman at the church's headquarters in New York said there is no prohibition or discouragement
in going to legal authorities in the event of child abuse.
Bowen, 43, who has served in various leadership capacities
in the church for about two decades, said he has seen multiple similar cases in his visits to various congregations. The Watch
Tower Bible and Tract Society is a not-for-profit entity the church uses to publish literature, supervise global evangelizing
and organize conventions and schools for the ministry of Witnesses. Bowen said he grew up in the faith and by resigning, "I'm
basically throwing away 40 years in the organization." Still, it was something Bowen felt he had to do because he doubts that
the policy will change unless public pressure mounts, he said. "I have fretted with this for two or three years, but this
is wrong and it has to be stopped," he said. "This is not something where I can allow myself to look the other way anymore."
J.R. Brown, public affairs director for Jehovah's Witnesses at the church's headquarters in Brooklyn, N.Y., said in
a statement that the members of the faith "abhor all forms of wickedness, including child abuse." "If child abuse becomes
known to our church elders, they strictly comply with applicable child abuse reporting laws. We also encourage the wrongdoers
to do everything they can to set the matter straight with the authorities. Furthermore, we do not prohibit or discourage the
victim or the victim's parents from reporting child abuse to the authorities even if the alleged perpetrator is one of Jehovah's
Witnesses." Bowen said church policy calls for the elders to question the accused in private, and if the charge is denied,
the burden of proof then falls on the accuser to prove the allegations. If the accuser cannot do so and two witnesses are
required the matter is dropped, he said. Confidentiality is paramount throughout the process, Bowen said, and not even the
spouse of the accused or the parents of children who are in contact with the accused are told of the accusations. "As an elder,
I am instructed if it is one person's word against another, and not two witnesses to the wrong, no action would be taken and
no authorities would be notified," Bowen wrote. "The victim? Cautioned to keep silent or face discipline within the congregation
that could go as far as being disfellowshipped for slander." James Bonnell, another elder in the Draffenville congregation,
calling child molestation "a terrible thing," said the church "in no way condones that at all." According to the church's
site, the faith has nearly 6 million practicing members in almost 90,000 congregations worldwide. The Draffenville congregation
has approximately 50 members, Bowen said.
The Following Was Used From The BBC News
According to the Jehovah's Witnesses' interpretation of the Bible, allegations of child abuse must
first be reported to the organisation's legal desk. The police are sometimes never told. Action can only
be taken within the congregation if there are two witnesses to a crime or a confession from the accused. And if a member of
the congregation is suspected or even convicted of child abuse, this fact is kept secret.
The story of one young Jehovah's Witness from Scotland illustrates the danger of such a policy.
When Alison Cousins was abused by her father she followed the procedure she had been taught - she turned to one of the elders.
Unknown to her at the time, her sister had also reported her own abuse by their father in the same way. Despite having known
for three years that Alison's father was a pedophile, the same elders sent Alison back home, where she continued to be abused.
In the end Alison went to the police and her father was sentenced to five years in prison.
"With regard to any allegation concerning child molestation, the first edict elders are given is
to call the legal department", says Bowen. Little over a year ago, Bowen, as a concerned elder, rang the
legal desk and asked for advice on how he should handle a suspected case of abuse in his congregation. The advice was: "You
just ask him again: 'Now is there anything to this?' If he says 'no', then I would walk away from it... "Leave it for Jehovah.
He'll bring it out."
Despite this, the Head of Public Relations, J R Brown, maintains: "We have a very aggressive policy to handle
child molestation in the congregations and it is primarily designed to protect our children."
When asked by Panorama about the number of suspected pedophiles on the database, Paul Gillies from
the Jehovah's Witnesses Office of Public Information in the UK said: "It is not meaningful to focus on the number of names
we have in our records". With regard to their policy on reporting abuse to the authorities, he referred us to the 8 October
1993 issue of Awake!, page 9, which 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."
Below Are Links To Recent Stories Of JW Child Molestation:
Jehovah's Witness Group Blamed In Abuse Of Girl
Transcript Of Australian Program "Silent Witnesses"
Jehovah's Witness Man Pleads Guilty To Child Endangerment
Sexual Abuse Suit Filed Against Jehovah's Witness Leaders
Jehovah's Witness Elders Did Nothing To Stop The Abuse Of Daughter By Father
Jehovah's Witness Jailed For Abusing Boys
JW Parents Murder Their Daughter
Jehovah's Witness Pedophile Escapes Jail
Jehovah's Witness Arrested For Kidnapping & Raping 12 Year Old Girl
Child Molester In U.K. Behind Bars, Still A Jehovah's Witness
Jehovah's Witness Minister Charged With Sex Crimes
Below Are Some Links For Assistance
"Silent Lambs" - Bill Bowen's Site To Assist Those Molested By WTS Members
(This is a national hotline that also reaches Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Click on banner above.)
Hotlines Listed By State
Prevent Child Abuse America
Support Groups:
Safe Child
The Survivor's Forum
End Child Abuse
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