JWs and Confidentiality

DakotaRed

Oveja asked me to start a thread on this with the following statement;

"I spoke to a JW & she told me that they are aware of the Child abuse cases. Her opinion was that the elders are under the "confidentiality Laws" & that's why they didn't do any reportings. What about mandatory reporting according to many state laws in the US?

I didn't ask her anymore questions since I haven't been to the KH for a while I don't want her to suspect & stop telling the latest news."

I still find it amazing that JWs can claim clerical privilege in not reporting child abuse allegations, yet also claim they have no clergy! The statement also shows me one way they are brainwashing the rank and file to carry forth their cover-up of the situation.

I read today that Illinois has passed a bill requiring all clergy to report suspected cases of child molestation. It is awaiting the Governors signature. I wonder how the Illinois JWs will try to circumvent that now?

MacHislopp

Hello DakotaRed,

an excellent point!

I do agreee with your statement:

"I still find it amazing that JWs can claim clerical privilege in not reporting child abuse allegations, yet also claim they have no clergy! "

and also the - obvious reason:

"The statement also shows me one way they are brainwashing the rank and file to carry forth their cover-up of the situation."

Which recalls the famous word: " h i p o c r i s y "!

Greetings, J.C.MacHislopp

Scully

We are seeing more and more - at least in Canada - where specific public warnings are issued when NAMED convicted pedophiles are released from prison after serving time for their crimes.

The courts have determined, since the risk of repeat offenses is high among pedophiles (apparently it's almost impossible to rehabilitate them), that the pedophile's "right to privacy" is superceded by the right of safety of children in their neighbourhoods.

JW elders have NO EXCUSE for endangering the children in their midst. Their way of dealing with pedophiles has harmed countless numbers of children. You would think that people who valued children as one of their resources for the future would welcome ways of protecting them from molesters. It would go a long way in ensuring their population. Instead, children are being hurt - some repeatedly over many years - and the trauma, lack of support from people in a position to help them, and the protection of the offenders end up turning the children against the belief system.

You'd think they'd be smarter than that. They're cutting off their nose to spite their face.

Love, Scully

TheOldHippie

In this country, the elders have the same confidentiality codes as the rest of the clergy, but all the clergy - and all JW elders - have to areas where it is not valid, namely drug crimes and child molestations. If one withholds information on known crimes in these two ares, one is guilty with the criminals. Therefore, all such crimes have to be, and are, reported by the elders to the police.

Amazing

Hi Dakota: The Illinois law has some weakensses in that if a 'clergy-person' learns of the molestation in an official act of confession, such as a priest hears in the confessional booth, then it he is still exempt from reporting.

The Society leaves JW Elders out to hang, because they really do not tell the Elders whether they are in a mandatory reporting state - so unless a JW Elder happens to review the law, which most do not, they keep the matter confidential.

SilentLambs quoted and cited a US Federal law that requires "parents" in ALL 50 states to report any act of molestation on behalf of their children. Given this, the Watchtower Society should at least be notifying JW parents to comply with Caesar's law, but they do not.

True that the Watchtower 'claim' they have no 'clergy' class, yet, when it is convenient to them, they are very good about employing clerical privilege. They are a legalistic and opportunistic religion, and not a religion of the heart.

Will Power

Good topic Dakota, an excellent point.