Jehovah's Witness leaders ordered to give evidence in sex scandal ...
Daily Mail - Jehovah Witness ministerial servant Gordon Leighton admitted sexually abusing a child when he was confronted with allegations before elders at his church
Britain | Jehovah's Witnesses hushed up child sex scandal | July 16, 2013
by jwleaks 172 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse
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cedars
That's significant exposure for the Daily Mail to pick this up, but it's still pretty cheap of them to spin a child abuse case as a "sex scandal."
Cedars
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Prime
"Jehovah Witness ministerial servant Gordon Leighton admitted sexually abusing a child when he was confronted by his church elders, a court heard."
The court heard that at a special meeting, aimed at "keeping the congregation clean", Leighton admitted sexual abuse and made excuses for his behavior."
Leighton, who has since been expelled from the church at Lambton Kingdom Hall in Washington, denied two charges of indecency with a child and seven of indecent assault.
"Public interest is clearly in favor of this evidence being given. What was said by the defendant on that occasion is of great significance in the trial."
The way some of these articles are crafted takes a tone of propaganda. There's more than one perspective to these articles.
There are scriptures in the Bible regarding "confidential talk," but either way, the stand taken by the organization aids and abets law enforcement.
A person may disagree with the religious sentiment of the organization, but without it, there will be no confession. At the least, this article reveals that this man denied allegations against him to the police and the courts.
If there was a hard-line policy that all confessions are automatically routed to the police, the chances that there will be a confession would be greatly reduced.
If the victim however reports the perpetrator to law enforcement as was done in this case, the confession can be subpoenaed into evidence, and three elders will testify against the suspect as was done in this case.
In this case, the congregation provided the victim with additional options that would otherwise not exist;
1. The perpetrator was expelled (kicked out) from the congregation.
2. The congregation supplied additional evidence that would otherwise not exist, evidence that aided the court in reaching a guilty verdict.
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ThomasCovenant
1. The perpetrator was expelled (kicked out) from the congregation. (Most probably eventually)
2. The congregation supplied additional evidence that would otherwise not exist, evidence that aided the court in reaching a guilty verdict. (Eventually)
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cedars
Prime
The congregation supplied additional evidence that would otherwise not exist
...after being dragged kicking and screaming and fighting a legal battle lasting "months" to maintain their silence.
Amazing how apologists desperately scramble to find the good in everything.
Cedars
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Simon
I wonder how long it was before he was expelled and also was he expelled because of that? It doesn't seem to be standard policy to expel over child abuse ... maybe the only did because of publicity? The holy spirit doesn't seem to enjoy a light shining toward it.
It wouldn't be a surprise if they didn't expel him for that but did for disagreeing with the elders or apostacy - they view either as more serious 'crimes'.
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The Quiet One
Prime said:"either way, the stand taken by the organization aids and abets law enforcement." -- Article states: >> "..when detectives asked elders Simon Preyser, Harry Logan and David Scott to make statements about the confession, all three refused" ..and.. "For three years the elders refused to co-operate with the criminal investigation and kept up that stance when the case was brought before Newcastle Crown Court" ..and.. "Each was issued with a witness summons which they fought to overturn before being ordered to testify by Judge Penny Moreland...Despite the judge’s ruling, the men still refused to make statements to police until just hours before they were called before the jury." ..Seriously Prime, this policy is helpful to law enforcement???
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cofty
There are scriptures in the Bible regarding "confidential talk, - Prime
Pathetic.
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truthseekeriam
Mr Scott said after the “confession” Leighton was “reproved”, which means he was disciplined and all privileges removed from him.
He was not, at that stage, “disfellowed”, or banished from the church. Being “disfellowed” means nobody is allowed to speak to the disfellowed member and while they may still attend meetings, they are not allowed to participate.
Mr Scott said contacting the police was not discussed as an option.
It was only later, when allegations of violence were made against Leighton, that he was disfellowed and expelled from the congregation.
Mr Scott said: “It is not what you expect a Christian, someone who lives by Christian standards, to do, acting violently towards someone.
“The Bible says violence should be avoided.”
Henry Logan is also an elder at the congregation. He was also at the meeting and had participated in the internal “investigation”. He too said Leighton had initially denied the allegations.
But he added: “He then said that he had been drunk at the time and he may have done those things while he was drunk.”
Mr Logan said he was present when Leighton was told he would be reproved after the admissions.
He said: “He put his hands over his face and said ‘oh, I thought I was going to be disfellowshipped’ and he had tears in his eyes.”
Simon Preyser is an elder from the Roker congregation in Sunderland.
He chaired the meeting and described the allegations as “horrific”.
Mr Preyser told the court about Leighton’s initial denials but added: “He said ‘it might well be, while under the influence of alcohol, I did things I shouldn’t have done. Some of the things she’s said, I’ve done’.
“He just simply said ‘I’m sorry’.”
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The Searcher
The most likely reason for the three elders sudden willingness to assist the police (having refused to do so for 3 years) is down to the puppet-masters in Mill Hill.
When the Bethel legal team got word of the Judge ordering the Brothers Grimm to testify, their "principled" spine collapsed at the thought of what would happen if they didn't allow the 3 Stooges to testify - they'd be jailed for contempt of court, triggering national as well as international headlines.
Therefore, let them sing to the court - damage limitation!