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SwanThey treat child molesters better than they treat us!

I have been thinking about this a lot.

My family treats child molesters better than they treat me. My sister-in-law's father was accused of child abuse by her sister. Since there weren't two witnesses to this terrible violation, he is still in good standing in the congregation to this day. My family never really stopped speaking to my sister-in-law's father at the meetings or at any of our family gatherings. But they stopped talking to me when I disassociated. They even stopped talking to my grandfather when he was disfellowshipped for chewing tobacco.

It's really amazing when you consider that most people consider few crimes worse than child molestation. Even convicts in prison look down upon pedophiles as absolute scum, and in a recent case one pedophile priest was murdered in prison.

But it isn't just my family.  Most Jehovah's Witnesses treat child molesters better than they do exJWs. Every time they let a child molester go unpunished, don't report him, support him through his trial (if he comes to trial), and continue to associate with him, they are treating a pedophile better than they treat an exJW. In my old congregation one man served jail time for having sex with his little granddaughters, and the elders gave him public reproof. I have seen other people disfellowshipped for less. I have seen other people treated worse far by the congregation than this pervert.

They treat pedophiles better than those who left their stinking cult, were disfellowshipped or disassociated for celebrating Christmas (automatic disassociation), enlisting in the armed forces (automatic disassociation), for taking a life-saving blood transfusion (automatic disassociation/disfellowshipping), for smoking a cigarette, for masturbation, for having premarital sex, for having oral sex with their mate, for not crying out while being raped. These are actual reasons that people have been disfellowshipped or disassociated.

A very believable accusation of child molestation was made against one of the high ranking leaders of this organization. In reading about the enormity of this crime, and how it extends into the highest ranks of the JW organization, it becomes apparent why child molestation is allowed among Jehovah's Witnesses. Their very leaders are pedophiles, so naturally they are going make rules that favor molesters and allow cover-up.

In the meantime, we become pariahs for something as noble as serving our country or allowing our injured, dying child to receive a life-saving blood transfusion. It makes me so angry I could scream. Maybe that is why I feel so obsessed lately with the idea of getting my family out of this rotten cult.

Tammy
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run dont walkRe: They treat child molesters better than they treat us!

they never cease to amaze me, just when you think they can't sink any lower, they find a way.

UNREAL !!!!!!!
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Stacy SmithRe: They treat child molesters better than they treat us!

I don't get it either Swan.  Child molestors are at the bottom of the pond and I've read that there is no curing the, only controlling them.  How can they turn their backs on loved ones?????

I'm very lucky in this area.
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avishaiRe: They treat child molesters better than they treat us!
Well, swan, I guess ya know I'm with you on this one. There were molesters in good standing in my cong. when I left. A great guy that had ADMITTED to molesting over 50 kids, still going door to door. Yet the kids he molested were looked down on as the worst scum in the world. Oh, well, life will hopefully soon get much more "complicated" for those bastards & their silent complicity in child molesting
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berylblueRe: They treat child molesters better than they treat us!
Excellent post, Swan.
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Lady LeeRe: They treat child molesters better than they treat us!

I could be wrong but.

child abuse, the most abhorrent of crimes against a child, is not something the WTS really wants to admit is a problem in the congregations. It distorts their view of the org being a spiritual paradise filled with happy people.

Child abusers everywhere are good liars. That is why they get away with it so long. From the moment the child abuser realizes he/she could get into trouble if caught they are busy making sure that if caught or reported there is a good story. Ususally they know that adults will be believed before a child. And  when I was a kid the reasoning behind not reporting abuse was often "I don't want to put my child through talking to the police or going to court" It hasn't changed a lot. Sometimes that concern is for the child but more often it is for a lot of other reasons - what will the neighbors think? what will happen to the family if the bread winner is gone? what does this say about us to have a sexual predator in the family?

Now JWs have the double whammy. Not only are they carrying a lot of these messages and issues but they have the religion adding to it. - this is a safe spiritual paradise free from the problems of the world. We are a happy clean people. - we care for our children more than other people. and on and on

Then a family finds out there is abuse. First thought - go to the elders - they will fix it. And the elders job is to keep problems secret. They don't want the congregation to know and they certainly don't want the rest of the world to know.It boils down to protect the org's reputation at all costs - even over the needs of the child. All those questions for the family are now magnified by the need to protect the org reputation.

Now add into this a parent who is outraged and wants something done. They are seen as a threat to the reputation of the org. which is always paramount. Anything including child abuse that threatens the reputaion is deemed expendable. Therefore anyone who presents a problem such as child abuse becomes expendable.

Now going back to the individuals in the cong - they are taught the org comes first and it is their job to protect the reputation. So firstly they do as they are told whether they like it or not. But on a deeper level they cannot deal with the cognitive distortion. They live in a spiritual paradise. These things do not happen in a spiritual paradise. They certainly don't happen with "X" whom I respect and have had in my home and consider as a family member. What does it say about me that I could care about someone who could abuse a child. I am a God-fearing person. I am a good person. My judgement cannot be that far off. The allegations must be wrong because I couldn't be that wrong. The elders couldn't be that wrong. I live in a spiritual paradise. These things don't happen in a spiritual paradise....

and quietly they say to themselves "and if it did happen it is an abberation. It was something that was misunderstood by the child. It was just a weak brother....

Anything to calm the mental and emotional conflict that the distortion causes. Child abuse (and spousal abuse to a lesser degree) causes tremendous internal conflict. They have to choose - believe the allegations or trust the org. They have been programmed well. And to follow the party line means accept the accused (and sometimes the convicted) to protect an org reputation.

Swan I'm sorry your family is going through this. It literally tears families apart.

 
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willylomanRe: They treat child molesters better than they treat us!
Poignant post, Lady Lee.
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stillajwexelderRe: They treat child molesters better than they treat us!
Yes I am sorry -- although child abuse is the most abhorent crime -- what sickens me is that apostasy is viewed by the WTBTS and the rank and file as a more vile crime-- -so I am an apostate as I post on this board -- if they found out my identioty I would be treated worse than a child molester -- it is absolutely disgusting
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LuteceRe: They treat child molesters better than they treat us!

I could never shun anyone, especially if all they did was having a smoking addiction, in fact, I felt like they needed moral support more than anything and would try to be encouraging.

I talked to the elders about my friend's problems with drinking. I really believed it was related to her being sexually molested by her brother-in-law who just happened to still be in good standing although he admitted to raping his own daughter in the past and supposedly got some counsel for it.  He said he "didn't remember" any events with my friend. Can you imagine answering accusations like that with, "I don't remember"? She is looked down on because she can't handle her drinking at times and gets depressed and misses meetings, but Mr. Child Molester who likes to rape his own daughter can go out in service, sit at meetings and get treated with respect. Makes me sick. She still attends meetings to appease her family. I did what I could and feel sorry for her, but they've got her deeply brainwashed. If I found out anyone did anything to my children they would wish they were dead.

And yeah, I'm treated worse than a child molester by JW's too since I walked away and disassociated myself. Big deal, they aren't worth the energy.
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Special KRe: They treat child molesters better than they treat us!

Hey Swan,

You are right on the money about this subject of child molesters being treated better than someone disfellowshipped for minor things.. like celebrating christmas, or smoking,

How can disfellowshipping make any sense.. because it is sooo backwards in thinking.

The sad part for me is that I still have young nieces going to the kingdom hall with their parents and I fear for their safety (even though I am unable to have a relationship with them because I'm disfellowshipped) that doesn't mean I have stopped caring about my nieces and nephews.

My nieces are being taught to trust ALL the people in the congregation.  Trust your "Brothers" and "sisters".   NOW, THAT IS A SCARY THOUGHT!!! isn't it. Gives me the cold chills to think about the potential danger lying in these congregations.

And even worse is that even if they are molested, some probably wont get the right treatment they need because their parents believe in this cult...or the family will be further traumatized by being disfellowshipped. Jehoavah's Witness parents are taught to let their guard down as well and are taught to trust all their "Brothers and Sisters".

There seems to be a continual cycle in this J.W. religion.  I think that the only way to break this cycle is if more court cases continue to break into this closed system loop of theirs.. Cases like Vicki Boer and the civil suit in Sancramento, California, etc.

Public Awareness is a big thing.

Look at a certain president and Monique.  The president saying "I did not have sexual relations with that girl".  I suspect that there may be alot who who feel that sexual relationship is only if the penis enter the vagina.

I read about a man who sexually abused all his children by doing anal sex to them.. and in his sick warped fruit cake head .. he felt that he hadn't sexually abused them.  SICKENING ISN"T IT.

I'm sorry for the mess up in you family Swan.

I'm sure it is heart breaking for you and I feel for you.

sincerely

special K

 
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mizpahRe: They treat child molesters better than they treat us!

Swan:

The Watchtower Society is full of double standards and hypocrisy.  But this sexual abuse problem may be the iceberg that sinks the organization.  The very fact that it refuses to acknowledge it has a problem and is fighting "tooth and nail" to disassociate itself in the courts will expose it to more unfavorable publicity.  Not only is it causing many outsiders to question the veracity of the organization, but it also is causing some Jehovah's Witnesses who have dealt with the problem to doubt its claim to be "God's organization." 

This problem is not about to "go away."   As more cases reach the courts, the more the public and Jehovah's Witnesses will realize that it is a real problem. 
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Big TexRe: They treat child molesters better than they treat us!

"What you do speaks so loudly, I can't hear what you're saying."   -- Ralph Waldo Emerson.

That was the first thing I thought of when I read this thread.  Really now, aren't Jehovah's Witnesses telling the whole world what they really believe by their actions?  I said this to every elder in my congregation and I still believe it today:  anyone, God included, who says a child must have two eyewitnesses to their rape, are wrong.  What's more, it is evil to interrogate women and children the way elders do after being so victimized.

It's been said one can tell how civilized a society, or group, is by the way they treat the most helpless members.  It all screams the same thing, doesn't it?
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NoumenonRe: They treat child molesters better than they treat us!

Geez have they really deepfried JW's for masturbation? Heck, then I guess 99% of single males in the truth shoulda been deepfriend ages ago (unless you're one of those freak goodie two-shoe square peg Amish Bethel, MS school graduate prissy pioneer eunech types, yeck). Then there'd be no one left, hahaha...

Actually, on a more serious side, I think this is one of the reasons why there are so many sexual perverts lurking in the Org, because of the unbalanced view of sex and obsession with things like masturbation, oral sex, etc being so wrong.  What is repressed grows stronger and by heaping all this guilt on young JW's about masturbation etc they get warped and obsessed with it, hence turn into kiddie fiddlers and so on.  Probably analogous with the rampant problem of homosexuality in the Catholic Church and any church which enforces celibacy...the sex drive just gets warped through guilt and repression and look at the horrible consequences.

 
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berylblueRe: They treat child molesters better than they treat us!
Yes I am sorry -- although child abuse is the most abhorent crime -- what sickens me is that apostasy is viewed by the WTBTS and the rank and file as a more vile crime-- -so I am an apostate as I post on this board -- if they found out my identioty I would be treated worse than a child molester -- it is absolutely disgusting
stillanxjwwelder (did i get that right?)
 
Thanks for posting that.
JW lurkers:   Please take a good hard look at the quote above.  Sure you're in the "right" religion?
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BLISSISIGNORANCERe: They treat child molesters better than they treat us!

Yep, they sure do!

That's one of the reasons I left. Speaking from personal experience as well!

My kid was abused by a dub, the pedo got reproved, I got df'ed, my family got shunned and my kid got nothing!

Because his family were in the same congregation and prominent, they covered for him and got a support group rallying around him...........poor thing, he just needed love. At the same time they were busy undermining my family and making negative comments about us.

A year after the abuse they df'ed me for slander and boy did they do a big 'local needs' talk on lies, gossip and slander. Yet when he did the deed, they never did a talk that even hinted sexual abuse. Go figure!

After we stopped going to meetings we heard the pedo got df'ed..............about 4 years after my kid's incident. It wasn't for abuse apparently, smoking dope or something. So he could move and become active again in another congregation...............who will look out for the kids? The dubs certainly won't. I guess they will treat the molester better than the victims!

Good post.

Cheers, Bliss

 
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