Thirdwitness says Jehovah's Witnesses have the best child abuse policy of any religion. He bases this boast on the 'two witness rule' which basically decrees a child abuse victim must have two eyewitnesses to 'prove' their rape actually happened.
I have several questions regarding this rule.
(1) Please name one scripture in the Bible in which Jehovah, one of his prophets, the Mosaic law, Jesus, or one of the apostles, dictates that a child abuse victim must present two eyewitnesses to prove their abuse. Just one scripture is all I ask. Realize I'm not talking about a dispute between brothers, I'm referring specifically to the assault of a child.
(2) Why did Jehovah made very specific provision for a woman who was raped , working in the field and away from any eyewitnesses, and yet not make the same provision for a child? Surely Jehovah, the One who sees all (even things hidden behind closed doors) would know that children are not sexually abused in front of other adults who can bear witness. Why then did Jehovah give an adult woman who does not have an eyewitness, but did not do the same for a child?
(3) Why do Jehovah's Witnesses not recognize the courts of law as a witness? When one of Jehovah's Witnesses is convicted of child abuse, the elders will not disfellowship that one if the victim does not have 2 eyewitnesses. If however, the offender is tried in a court of law, and convicted, why is that not considered a second witness?
(4) In the "Flock" book, elders are instructed that they may accept the testimony of unbelievers. Please show me the scriptural basis whereby Jehovah puts conditions on the two witnesses. Please also show the scripture whereby Jehovah gives his followers leeway to accept or deny testimony based on acceptance of Jehovah alone (i.e., whether a member of Isreal or a Christian).
(5) In the "Flock" book, elders are instructed that they may accept the testimony of minor children. Please show me the scriptural basis whereby Jehovah puts conditions on the two witnesses. Please also show the scripture whereby Jehvovah gives his followers leeway to accept or deny testimony based on age alone.
(6) Do you believe every single account of child abuse amongst Jehovah's Witnesses is false? If not, then do you believe one of Jehovah's Witnesses has molested a child? If so, then please explain what Jehovah's Witnesses are doing, or have done, to correct errors? Realize of course, that Jehovah again and again provided correction for the nation of Israeal when that spirit directed organization made errors. Therefore, what is the current spirit directed organization doing, or has done, to correct errors made regarding child abuse?
I realize, of course, no answer will be forthcoming. None was given to me when I asked these questions (and many more) 18 years ago. Jehovah's Witnesses offer simple solutions to complex problems. When those simple solutions break down, and do not work, instead of modifying their teachings, they choose instead to attack the one with the problem. Which is quite in contrast to Jesus, who sought only to help others.
