Jehovah's Witnesses and child abuse
The Jehovahs witnesses are the latest in a succession of religious groups to come under attack for the way they have responded to allegations of child sex abuse within their ranks. A Panorama investigation to be shown on BBC1 tonight (Sunday) reveals that a number of legal actions against the organisation are underway in America, but the problem is not confined to that country. Report by Panorama's Shabnam Grewal.
Listen here (7m 21s)
Additional BBC Panaroma Recording
by silentlambs 3 Replies latest jw friends
-
silentlambs
-
comment
I think the most telling moment in this report came when Paul Gillies of the British Bethel was asked something to the effect of "What kind of message does this two-witness policy send to molesters in the congregation"? Gillies was unable to provide a direct response to this question. (And after all, would you expect him to admit: "Yes, it pretty much leaves the door open for them to continue"?)
Instead, he fulminated for a minute about how the Society has a strong Bible-based policy to deal with such matters.
Which, of course, means that they use a star chamber of three volunteer men with a vested interest in keeping the organization's image clean and no police or psychiatrist training. In cases of one witness, they will choose that group's assessment over that of a court of law with checks and balances and a full, open review of the evidence.
More excellent exposure for this issue. Even Witnesses who don't own a TV or use the Internet usually listen to the radio.
comment
-
Angharad
BTTT
-
abbagail
AGREE, BTTT!!! This was an EXCELLENT audio piece, with comments/info that was not in the Panorama broadcast. Everyone should listen to this audio report if they haven't already! It was Gooooooood!
GRITS