PANORAMA: Suffer The Little Children
Financial Times Weekend - 13-14 July
"This fine strand goes from strength to strength - surely it deserves a better slot? Tonight, an investigation into allegations that members of the Jehovah's Witnesses have shielded paedophiles from prosecution."
Panorama was congratulated in the House of Commons on its showing of Suffer the Little Children. There were immediate calls for the Government to institute an inquiry into the circumstances of past and present cases of child abuse amongst Jehovah's Witnesses in an Early Day Motion supported by 34 MPs.
Following the programme Hilary Benn MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Community and Custodial Provision, met reporter Betsan Powys to discuss in detail the allegations made and the huge, international response to the programme by telephone and e-mail. A Radio Five Live phone-in immediately after the programme received an unprecedented number of calls, many from people who were speaking out for the first time. Hilary Benn has since invited the Watchtower Society to a meeting at the Home Office to discuss the failings of their child protection policy.
Over the summer Panorama was contacted by past and present Jehovah's Witnesses from four continents, all keen to let us know that the programme had caused uproar and huge embarrassment to the organisation. Meetings were held at every single Kingdom Hall to discuss its implications. Many hoped the programme would lead to real change.
SOURCE: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/2601331.stm