Norm has permitted me to post this recent essay he contributed to the net. I thought it VITAL FOR LURKERS AND MEDIA/ PRESS:
Still a pedophile paradise
The latest communication/damage control from the GB to the rank and file Jehovah's Witnesses about a number of matters but mainly about not being upset about their handling of child abuse cases.
Let us have a look at the language and what it really means. Notice the new name of this organization:
Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses
2528 Route 22 Patterson NY 12563-2237
Phone (845) 306 1100
May 24, 2002
TO ALL CONGREGATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES
Dear Brothers:
At Psalm 144:15 we read: "Happy is the people whose God is Jehovah!" We see the truthfulness of this inspired statement when we associate with our brothers and sisters at conventions, assemblies, and congregation meetings. We enjoy a warm atmosphere of peace while we benefit from fine spiritual encouragement from Jehovah and his organization. (Psalm 29:11) What a contrast to those of the world who lack true spiritual guidance and a solid hope for the future! --Isaiah 65:13.
Again, the Jehovah's Witnesses community has to be constantly reminded about how happy they are and as proof is offered the collective show put on at the assemblies and kingdom halls. Everybody has to play happy no matter how depressed they are, even abuse victims will smile to their abusers, after all they are the happiest people on earth no matter how they really feel. Jehovah's Witnesses assemblies is striking reminders of the huge rallies staged by the Nazi’s when they filled football or sports stadiums with cheering and smiling youths. The “World” today currently don’t have any “spiritual” leaders to tell the how happy they are so they can actually be in harmony with how they really feel. Must be awful that.
What enables us to maintain our happy spirit? For one thing, we fear Jehovah and we deeply respect the admonition in His Word, including what the Bible says on sexual matters. (1 Corinthians 6:9,10; Hebrews 13:4) At first, it was not easy for some of us to bring our lives into harmony with Jehovah's elevated standards. We had to make significant changes in our lifestyle before we could qualify for membership in Jehovah's clean, spirit-directed organization. Was it worth the effort? Absolutely! How happy we are to be living in harmony with God's righteous requirements!
As I said most play acting maintain an illusion of a happy spirit. The so-called “fear of Jehovah” is mainly fear of breaking the thousands of written and unwritten rules made up by the Watchtower leadership. As we know the Bible is extremely ambiguous when it comes to sexual matters and to use the Bible as a guide in such matters means ignoring lots of Bible text and elevating others. Jehovah's Witnesses seems to be drawn strongly to the sexual “morality” of the patriarchal society of the “old testament” times, which is as we all know quite hopeless in our modern times where both legislation and view of women and children have changed significantly to the better.
In recent weeks, the press in this country has focused attention on the way accusations of child abuse are handled by various religious organizations. Such reports may cause some sincere individuals to ask about the procedures followed by Jehovah's Witnesses, Therefore, we believe that it will be beneficial to review with you our Bible-based position, so that you will "know how you ought to give an answer" to any who may inquire.-Colossians 4:6.
“Such reports” hopefully cause sincere people to ask questions about all religious organizations that provide a perfect playground and then a haven for sexual predators, as the Catholic Church and the Watchtower Society have done. Both have in common that they seem to be far more concerned about their own image than having any genuine concern for the victims of the abuse. But as the R&F Jehovah's Witnesses are pretty helpless they really need such coaching in doubletalk to be able to BS the people they meet at the doors.
Simply stated, we abhor the sexual abuse of children and will not protect any perpetrator of such repugnant acts from the consequences of his gross sin. (Romans 12:9) We expect the elders to investigate every allegation of child abuse. Even one abused child is one too many. However, in evaluating the evidence, they must bear in mind the Bible's clear direction: "No single witness should rise up against a man respecting any error or any sin .... At the mouth of two witnesses or at the mouth of three witnesses the matter should stand good." (Deuteronomy 19:15) Later, this requirement to consider testimony of two or three witnesses was confirmed by Jesus. (Matthew 18:16) Thus, although they investigate every allegation, the elders in not authorized by the Scriptures to take congregational action unless there is a confession or there are two credible witnesses, However, if two persons are witnesses to separate incidents of the same kind of wrongdoing, their testimony can be deemed sufficient to take action.--l Timothy 5:19, 24, 25.
Typical Watchtower Society doubletalk, “we abhor” this and that, “we will not protect” blah, blah. Then in the next sentences they explain how they do just that. A “two witness” policy is simply the best protection a child abuser can have and is the main reason the Watchtower Society is a paradise for pedophiles. As long as they keep such a policy in place there will be no substantial change in the matter. Most sane people including professional health care people and criminal professionals know that no pedophile bring eyewitnesses to the act. So still, all a pedophile Jehovah's Witness have to do is to deny all and nothing can be done, apparently with the blessing of Jesus and the Watchtower Society which made the “rules” about the “two witnesses”. As we can see they open up for “doing something” if two different people come forward and accuse the same person but as we know this is merely “lip service”.
What if someone is a proven child molester? The article "Let Us Abhor What is Wicked!" published in the January 1, 1997, issue of The Watchtower had this to say on page 29: "For the protection of our children, a man known to have been a child molester does not qualify for a responsible position in the congregation. Moreover, he cannot be a pioneer or serve in any other special, full-time service." We take such decisive action because we are concerned with maintaining Bible standards and protecting our children. (1 Timothy 3:2, 9, 10) Everyone in the organization is ex-
To All Congregations in the United States
May 24, 2002
Page 2
pected to meet the same requirements, namely, to be clean physically, mentally, morally, and spiritually.-- l Corinthians 7: 1; Ephesians 4:17-19; 1 Thessalonians 2:4.
We know there are child molesters among the Witness Elder corps which has molested dozens of children, but enjoying the respect of the congregation. We know they are going door to door, have unrestrained access to children thanks to the “two witnesses” policy. We know that the Watchtower Society is still a pedophile paradise; they just have to lay a little low a few months. As usual the Watchtower hierarchy has done nothing wrong and they are following the “Word of God” to the letter so they have nothing to apologize for. In short they are simply unable to comprehend what the problem is. They only feel resentment because they feel victimized by “Satan’s world” which suddenly have this compassion for children. They know from the “Word of God” that children are no “big deal”.
We have long instructed elders to report allegations of child abuse to the authorities where required by Law to do so, even where there is only one witness. (Romans 13:1) In any case, the elders know that if the victim wishes to make a report, it is his or her absolute right to do so.----Galatians 6:5.
We know very well that you rotten liars have done no such thing as we have all your BOE letters from the last 10 years. And the reason you are scurrying around like the scared rats you are now is to salvage what you can because your reputation is beginning to stink worse than ever. We know that even when you put in writing that victims should be free to report abusers to the police, you will still do what you can behind the scenes to prevent them for doing so. We know you have a huge arsenal of tricks up your sleeves, coercion, more or less veiled threats and all kinds of manipulation techniques.
At least since 1981, articles have been published in our journals, The Watchtower and Awake!, with a view to educating Jehovah's people and the public on the need to protect children from child abuse. Besides the above-quoted article, there was the article. "Help For the Victims of Incest," which appeared in the October 1, 1983, Watchtower. Awake! has featured such articles as "Your Child is in Danger!" "How Can We Protect Our Children?," and "Prevention in the Home" (October 8, 1993) as well as "Child Molesting-Every Mother's Nightmare," in its January 22, 1985 issue.
All of the above articles are mostly window dressing articles and do not raise the issue of the core of the problem namely the Watchtower Society leaders which have created and maintained a pedophile paradise which is still in place and working and will continue to be until they change their policy.
We believe that we have a strong, Bible-based policy on child abuse. Over the years, as we have noted areas where our policy could be strengthened, we have not hesitated to follow through. At Kingdom Ministry Schools the elders receive ongoing reminders regarding this policy and related matters. And we continue to urge the elders to follow closely the procedures that we have established.
Indeed, and that’s the problem. The Bible based policy is the very cause of the pedophile “El Dorado” created by the Watchtower Society. The illusion of having a Bible Based policy is far more important than the welfare of children. And is spite of endless examples of how harmful and sick this policy is, is spite of the obvious bad results it has brought you are unable to grasp how tragic it is. What classic and illuminating examples of the complete detachment from reality a religious mind can achieve. What tragedies can be caused by people who are devoted to faith and God.
The moral cleanness of the congregation continues to be of vital concern to the "faithful and discreet slave." (Matthew 24:45) As we keep applying Scriptural principles in our lives, our happiness will increase. We trust that these reminders will be helpful to you as you share the Kingdom hope with right-hearted ones. We have much to look forward to in the way of spiritual refreshment as we attend the "Zealous Kingdom Proclaimers" District Conventions. What a happy prospect! Yes, there is no doubt about it: "Happy is the people whose God is Jehovah!"-Psalm 144:15.
What a monumental display of folly and religious insanity. I spite of thousands of known cases of horrible child abuse often perpetrated by the same person over and over again, with the knowledge of the elders in the congregation, there people have the audacity to talk about “moral cleanness” and that such is of “vital concern” for the leaders. Such limitless hypocrisy is almost only possible for the fundamentalist mind. How such perverted and callous people can use words like happiness, moral and spiritual is incomprehensible to any decent human being.
The leaders of the Watchtower Society seem to be incapable of and void of any human decency. They seem utterly unable to comprehend to what extent they have deteriorated as human beings. It is difficult to find people which has been able to sink to such depths of depravation as the Watchtower Hierarchy.
Norm
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sKally
Too many 'lambs'!
