Hi All,
I've been thinking about the whole child abuse issue within the JWs.
I think somewhere along the line we are forgetting about new recruits - those who are having bible studies with the JWs. They are in a very dangerous position.
Firstly, many of them are very likely to have been "sucked in" by the JW spiel and will think that the organisation can do no wrong. They may think that individual JWs can do no wrong (or they wouldn't be in the congregation, right? they'd have been DF'd under the superb arrangement of keeping the congregation clean). They've been cushioned from seeing the dirt of the congregation (so far).
These people who are having bible studies with the JWs have children. They sometimes let JWs study with their children alone. If one of these witnesses abuses their child, where do they turn? The congregation believes a baptised JW over a 'bible study' or a 'worldly' child who reports something. Plus, would the parent believe the child if the parent was newly indoctrinated?
I think that we need to find a way to warn new recruits. They are in a VERY emotionally vulnerable position. Very often, people turn to JWs when they're at the end of their tether, and how tragic it would be if they were to have their children abused while they're in this spriritual "paradise" of the newly brainwashed.
Are there any records kept of bible studies being conducted? They need to be informed. Personally, I would love to put together a newsletter purely for distribution to bible studies.
Sirona
P.S. I'm not minimising other methods that have been used to warn people e.g. websites. I just think that one-to-one warning may be needed. Is there any way this could be done?