Covering over child abuse in the congregation in the future.

by Gill 10 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

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  Gill

  The case of Jehovah's Witness 'Eunice Spry' found guilty of mistreating her foster children has hit the airways all over the world with a vengeance. I understand from another poster 'in the know' that there will be another two cases associated with this case that soon will hit the headlines again......

  So, do you think that the Watchtower Society will come down on its elders harshly to prevent them from going to the police in the future with their suspicions, as happened with Eunice spry?

  Will there be more 'verbal' instruction to keep any accusations quiet because of the bad press that they must now be heartily sick of?

  And also, I could not help noticing a report on the board that the WTBTS had settled some outstanding child abuse allegations out of court. Are they more likely now to just settle quickly to keep any such accusations out of court and out of the headlines>

  Surely, settling out of court is, in a way, covering over child abuse, and allowing perpetrators to go free so 'buying off' justice.

  Could the Watchtower Society become a 'soft touch' and easy to get money off without too much of a fight?
• 

  fullofdoubtnow

  And also, I could not help noticing a report on the board that the WTBTS had settled some outstanding child abuse allegations out of court. Are they more likely now to just settle quickly to keep any such accusations out of court and out of the headlines

  Hi Gill,

  I think that this is a possiblity. They hate anything that in any way sullies their "clean" reputation, so if they can keep these cases out of court, it doesn't get the batterring that, frankly, I feel it thoroughly deserves.

  I read a post on here sometime ago from an active jw who had heard that the watchtower legal department see the current flood of child abuse cases as a "nightmare" for the society, so obviously they see the potential damage allowing such cases to be decided in court can do, even if they win some of them.

  I remember when the Panorama report came on TV, we were told about it, but warned that it was full of lies. I have watched it since I left, and tend to agree it is full of lies - told by the jws themselves.

  Personally, I feel any bad publicity the watchtower receives over this is only what they deserve. I remember how some of the elders in my kh used to gloat when other churches, mainly the Roman Catholics, were rocked by child abuse allegations, and arrogantly claimed it would never happen in "Jehovah's clean organisation". Well, the news for them is it is happening now, and I somehow doubt that they are gloating anymore.

  Linda
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  Clam

  If they're settling out of court regularly at least the active Dubs will know where their money is going. It must be very heartwarming to know that donations are being spent on such worthwhile causes.
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  Gill

  Hi Linda!

  It does make you wonder how much they are going to have to pay out to keep all these cases out of court. But, I don't see why any religion, be it Catholic or Jehovah's Witnesses should be allowed to cover over criminal offences in this way just to save face.

  If the Watchtower does decide not to contest any cases in the future it is signing its own financial death warrant.

  Really it is 'stuffed' either way. If it just pays out then it loses its financial security, slowy but surely.

  If it instructs elders to go to the police it risks cases such as the 'Eunice Spry' case hitting the headlines around the world regularly....therefore losing potential converts and 'upsetting' the loyal Rank and File.

  When it comes to mocking other churches well.......' how the chickens have come home to roost!'

  Gill
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  Gill

  Clam - I've heard the R and F opinion on this and they believe that all the child abuse cases are apostate lies! They do not want to believe it! It rocks there world just a little too much! If the WT starts just paying out to victims, and the R and F find out, the Watchtower is going to have to invent some 'spin' pretty fast.

  However, they did manage to cover up paying out $250,000 dollars protecting Paul Berry. The R and F never found out that they money had been spent protecting a convicted pedophile. When I told my parents off about where there donations were going they said absolutely nothing! I think they didn't want to believe it but dared not doubt it.
• 

  fullofdoubtnow

  Really it is 'stuffed' either way. If it just pays out then it loses its financial security, slowy but surely.

  Yes Gill, there doesn't seem to be a way out of this one for the watchtower.

  The fact that they are an organisation that relies so much on the financial contributions of their membership will most likely work against them as well. I know they have investments, as well as vast amounts of property, but the donations are still very important to them, and many have made, and continue to make real sacrifices to contribute to the world wide work and other wts causes.

  I wonder if they will feel so generous if they get to know that their hard-earned cash is going on settling court judgements for cases that their leaders have tried to cover up?
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  DJK

  I wouldn't doubt the WTBTS will make new guidelines for Elders to follow in the event of abuse discoveries. They will no doubt be required to follow local laws. Just an extension of their scriptures, "Give Ceasar's thing's to Cearsar and God's thing's to God."

  In most states of the US, it is the law that suspected physical and sexual abuse cases must be reported to local authorities. All medical fields, schools, Churches and even Child Protective Service agencies are required to report suspected cases. The JW's are no exception. The penalties are great to those who fail.

  The WTBTS may be preparing statements of condemnation in cases such as these to minimise damage to their own reputation as God fearing people.

  Unfortunatly, it will take many more years and many damaged soul's before someone begins to study and document the mental and emotional damage caused by being raised in a cult environment like the JW's. Once it is done by professionals, then maybe legislation could occur to spare children from it before they reach an age of making their own decisions of faith.
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  fokyc

  The start of the Eunice Spry trial in Bristol was very interesting, HH Simon Darwell-Smith (The Judge) made it very clear on Day 1 that:

  "This is a case primarily between 2 Jehovah's Witnesses", "Nobody on the jury is to be a JW, have any connection with JW's or know anything about the JW's".

  Hence it took well into the second day just to choose 12 Jurors from 50 available.

  Even then they had to fill in a questionaire for the Judge and both barristers which they took home and filled in overnight.

  So in future will this be applied to ALL religions?

  fokyc
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  greendawn

  But did the WTS decide to accept liability for any child abuse by any of its members? It doesn't seem likely. No doubt their secret stand on the issue is given by the devious excuse that sacrifices have to be made by the abused (to keep the abuse quiet) so as not to harm the good name of the org and imperil the preaching work and the salvation of souls. Decrypted that means the WTS should not have to lose money for compensations.
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  Gill

  Isn't it a crime to cover up a crime by paying a victim to keep silent and have a clause of secrecy in the payment agreement??

  Also, Fockyc mentioned that the jurors in the Eunice Spry case had to have no connection with the JWs, does this apply to all religions? Surely the case was brought by the State against Eunice Spry, not another JW. Was the Judge making some kind of point? Did he already doubt the accusations?

  Greendawn - Wouldn't it be interesting to know how much they are paying out for each case? It must be big enough for the victims to choose to keep quiet rather than go through due process of law.