Watchtower Doublespeak…Again!
In the recent video that has oh so conveniently showed up bragging about how aggressive the Watchtower Society is in handling and reporting these child molestation cases, there is a segment where they quote a paragraph from a February 4, 2001 Louisville Kentucky, the Courier Journal, report on child abuse. While Philip Brumley, General Counsel for Jehovah’s Witnesses, is speaking the following words, this paragraph is showed prominently on the screen:
“There are instances when a situation that should have been reported is not. Or where care should have been extended and it was not. But to say that the policy is not followed perfectly is a far cry from saying there exists a policy to affirmatively minimize, or hide, this problem. The policy that Jehovah’s Witnesses have on how to handle cases of child molestation is without equal in the Religious Community.”
The following is then shown prominently on the screen;
“No religious denomination contacted has even considered what some Jehovah's Witnesses are demanding of their church: that congregations be told of pedophiles in their midst.”
The Courier Journal interviewed seven denominations and did include the above paragraph in their report. The report, entitled; “Policies on reporting abuse allegations vary among religious denominations” is basically a report showing how members are discouraged with the Watchtowers handling of the cases. The report can be found in the Courier Journal archives for free, but does take a bit of searching. I will include the entire article at the end of this or in a separate post.
Lets look at the paragraph the Watchtower has decided to use in their video as proof that they have an “aggressive policy on child abuse.” Who is demanding the action? Not the elders, not the Watchtower itself. No, but “some Jehovah’s Witnesses.” Who would these be? Bill Bowen, Barbara Anderson and the Pandelas, that’s who. And what is the outcome of their dissatisfaction with the Watchtower’s handling of these cases? All have been summoned to a Judicial hearing and the Pandelas have been disfellowshipped.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but that does seem like a pretty aggressive policy to me. Attack the victims and boot out those who question the Society’s mishandlings of the charges. Don’t be fooled by the Watchtower’s claims. Their main thrust of aggressive policy is to silence those who stand up to them and keep the truth hidden from the public and the rank and file members.
Here is the article quoted in its entirety; http://www.courier-journal.com/localnews/2001/02/04/ky_chur.html
Policies on reporting abuse allegations vary among religious denominations
By PETER SMITH, The Courier-Journal
In Focus
» Jehovah's Witnesses' policy on child molesters attacked
» Molestation victim, parents think church elders let them down
Like the Jehovah's Witnesses, seven other religious denominations surveyed by The Courier-Journal expect their clergy to report all suspected child abuse in states where they are required to by law.
The approach among religions varies in states that do not mandate reporting.
Even in reporting states, variations are possible. For example, Kentucky and Indiana require citizens to report suspected child abuse. Indiana allows no exceptions. Kentucky allows exceptions for clergy-penitent and attorney-client privilege.
Roman Catholic Church: Policies vary by diocese. The archdioceses of Louisville and Indianapolis require priests to report suspected child abuse in all circumstances except when they learn of it in confession. Even in that setting, priests can counsel someone confessing a crime to go to a counselor or police. Archdiocese of Indianapolis spokeswoman Susan Schramm knew of no instance where that exception conflicted with Indiana law.
Southern Baptist Convention: Churches are self-governing, so regional bodies do not dictate policies. However, the Kentucky Baptist Convention trains staff and volunteers to recognize and report suspected child abuse to authorities, according to Wendy Dever, preschool and children's associate for the convention.
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): Policies vary by regional governing body but are often shaped to follow state law. Pastors in the Louisville-based denomination are forbidden to reveal anything told them in confidence. The church does not make an explicit exception for suspected child abuse but pastors can violate confidentiality when there is a "risk of imminent bodily harm to any person."
Rabbinical Assembly (Conservative Judaism): Congregations are self-governing, but rabbis are expected to do everything to protect an abuse victim, including calling authorities. "One doesn't need a specific secular mandate that says protect somebody in trouble," said Rabbi Joel Meyers, executive vice president of the Rabbinical Assembly.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: Policies are determined by regional governing bodies but often follow state law on who is required to report, according to the Rev. Lowell Almen, secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
United Methodist Church: The church does not have a policy that requires clergy to report suspicions of child abuse, but clergy training emphasizes that laws often mandate reporting. If a pastor learns of abuse in a confidential setting such as a counseling session, "that's a decision a pastor would make on a case-by-case basis," Robert Kohler, assistant general secretary of the Division of Ordained Ministry.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons): Church leaders are instructed to call a denominational help line if abuse issues arise in the congregation. Those staffing the phone lines include professional counselors as well as lawyers who advise local ministers on their state's laws. "The law of the land must be obeyed," said a statement from the Latter-day Saints public affairs department. "If a report is required, help line personnel assist the local church leader . . . as who should make the report -- whether . . . a family member, whether the perpetrator can be persuaded to self-report, etc."
No religious denomination contacted has even considered what some Jehovah's Witnesses are demanding of their church: that congregations be told of pedophiles in their midst.
But many churches bar sex offenders from working with children, according to Dever of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.
And they increasingly conduct criminal background checks of potential pastors, youth workers and other volunteers.
"Small churches have a hard time with that, because they know everybody," Dever said. "But we really don't know everybody. We live in 2001. We have to be concerned about this."
Staff writer Megan Woolhouse contributed to this story.
If God's Spirit is filling a Kingdom Hall, how is it that Satan can manuever the ones within that Kingdom Hall at the same time?