A spokesman for the Jehovah’s Witnesses said last year: “We are in no position to, and neither would we wish to, force any victim of abuse to confront their attacker.”
A spokesman for the Jehovah’s Witnesses told the Guardian last year: “Congregation elders do not discourage [reports to the authorities] or shield abusers from the authorities or from the consequences of their actions.”
OK. Trying to get as much info as I can from a personal source who is my father, an elder for over 40 years and who has been involved in a couple cases such as this which are horrible for the victims and horrible to be involved in as an elder because of the hurt and damage for all because sometimes the abuser is a personal friend of an elder or an elders family member. And many time the abuser is a family member of the victim.
First he said for us all and this is important: We do not know all the facts or the people involved. When emotions are running high, facts sometimes get blurred or exaggerated. That is a fact in almost every case like this and even a fact the legal investigators acknowledge.
He said as long as he's been an elder the WTS it has been firm on the point that they would never tell or encourage anyone ever to not go to the police, especially if the victim wants to do that and even more so if the abuse is still going on.
Civil laws have been broke and if they want to seek police involvement
( sometimes they don't ) it is up to them. If there is fear of retribution on the part from the abuser, the elders are required to report it at least in this country to the police. He does not know the laws in other countries.
He commented also that the elders have to report anything like this to the WTS at once. So nothing is withheld on that level.
So from what I'm reading it is claimed that the elders possibly did or advised certain things to the victims who felt should never have happened. Again we as outsiders do not know the facts or what was said behind closed doors. Maybe the wrong things were said, we don't know.
No matter what I hope the victims eventually find peace and can move onto a happier life.
Originally posted by Rajk999No we're not. As long as all humans are imperfect, mistakes will rule us all.
Dan_4:17 .. the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
The JWs are not exempt from evil and base leadership and elders
Originally posted by robbie carrobieWould you dismiss the content of the Guardian article, which is all that the thread's OP contains, as "hate"?
Another divegeester witness hate thread, gee how predictable. I wonder why he never mentions any other organisation, religious bigotry probably, oh well. Neeeeeext.
-Removed-I guess you have been to some of the meetings that he has been to and can speak from experience on this issue and it's complexities? To correct you in case you missed it, this is not an opinion of my father. Re read it again as I'm not going to repeat it. From the experience he has had with the things, seen, discussed and all the possible angles that come with this issue, you have nothing to stand on here my friend.
" practices " Really? Are you for real? Such a stupid comment to make as it is not true on any level.