You could argue and you would most definately have a huge valid point that I have been too agressive. However as many posters often emphasise, personal responsibility is a key issue in parenting. There has to be a point when one says these are my decisions too and cannot be blamed totally on manipulation (although I still maintain this is a huge huge part of the org in addition to horrendous mind control techniques and DOWNRIGHT LIES).
I feel this is my path and I am taking it. I wanted to share it with you and will of corse like to hear all criticism.
much love
LETTER ONE
Dear Mum and Dad,
http://www.wtmedia.org/Silent_Lambs_29_May_05.wmv
I have just watched this program and feel sickened, digusted and extremely shaken by this report. Of people´s LIVES DESTROYED by the failure to protect them. The program is backed up hundreds of similar testimonies that ONE CAN NOT IGNORE and indeed by exact reference to the ABUSE POLICY within the watchtower society.
If you do not watch this you will be closing your self to people´s lives who have been completely and utterly destroyed and denying them more.
Here in Brazil I have witnessed the child sex industry in full force but at least there is LEGISTATION to protect these child supported by human rights organisations. If the principle isn´t there!!! then what hope do children have????? Don´t the society of JW´s realise they have created a paedophile´s paradise? (with reference to the 2 witness rule confirmed by the society- just check for yourselves)
CHILDREN they have FAILED TO PROTECT. Paedophiles convicted by a court of law but reinstated into the congregation, how can that be the doing of a loving god?????
Do you have answers? what would you say to these people? there are so many more but I start with this.
You have brought your own children up in this org, did you know the child abuse policy or were you ignorant? You do not hold the power to look into people´s hearts, how then would you regonise a paedophile wandering within the congregation???? You naively thought they didn´t exist??? they infiltrate ALL organisations and they LIE, these are their characteristics ask any expert or will you deny that too?
Are you aware of this while you preach door to door?
How do you know your own daughter , my sister is safe when the org harbours a policy such as this????
I am not taking issue with your belief in god but a society that puts paedophiles before victims. And you cannot DENY this is happening, it is before your eyes if you choose to open them.
I am ANGRY and rightly so. When you talk of evil in this world maybe you should look much more closer to home.
I Love you both as well as my sister and brother with all my heart. They and you are what I concern myself with, purely YOUR WELFARE NOT A MANMADE ORGANISATION. Please don´t be naive. PROTECT CHILDREN NOT THEIR ABUSERS!!!!!!!!!!!!
If I don´t receive a reply I can only assume you agree with this policy and how destroyed I would be that you could not see these people´s pain.
PLEASE PLEASE DON´t BREAK OUR FAMILY APART IT MEANS TOO MUCH.
WITH MUCH LOVE AND HOPE
xxxxxxxxxx YOUR DAUGHTER, born from her mother and father, through a beautiful natural process in the womb into this world. Don´t ever forget that, PURE LOVE
THEIR RESPONSE (parents)
Dear xxxxxxxx,
Paediphilia or any kind of abuse is indeed disturbing and thank-you for your warning you are concerned and rightly so. This matter hit the headlines as Panorama programme a year or more ago. Prompted by the Catholic priest abuse Panorama took a look at us too and fair enough. There was a high profile case in Scotland of abuse that local elders were involved in and had to try and deal with. Before I say any more let me just say how horrific it must have been for the victims. Before the programme went out the branch office in London sent a letter to Panorama to offer an explanation of the procedures involved and answer other criticisms, it was published on our official website I will try and make it availible for you to read.
There is no cover up convicted child abusers cannot hold any position of responsibility within the congregation. The problem occurrs in the accusation stage when spiritual shepherds often family men themselves have to deal with claims and denials. Within the congregation Scriptually we look for more than one witness to verify and then act to disfellowship from the congregation. This does not stop the individual from appproaching the police themselves and neither should they in anyway be dissuaded from doing so. The very nature of the offender is to be deceptive in that context it must have been very difficult for the elders in Scotland and if they may well of made some mistakes in how they dealt with it but that is not the same as conspiring to cover up child abuse in the congregation to maintain a good standing within the community.
The article regarding repressed memories is again a matter of claim and counter claim. You emphasise the parts in the article that calls for caution in acting on such claims. Repressed memory therapy is very controversial within the science of psychology. If you were an elder and a well respected person in the congregation is accused of a heinous crime that the accuser has only recently remembered what do you do. If you decide to act and even if it was untrue it would likely destroy that persons reputation.That would be a weghty responsibility on anyone of us elder or not. Caution and carefull consideration before acting would be reasonable. However the article also states that because the source of the accusation is repressed memory " does not mean that the memories should be viewed as false." It also considers the fact that what if the one denying is really guilty then he stands accussed before his or her God as well as the authorities and in one way or another justice will be done.
So this is not covering up wrongdoing rather its imperfect humans trying to make the right decidisions when trying to deal with what are complex but thakfully relatively rare occurrances within the congegation.
As you mentioned in your e.mail sexual perversion is a huge problem in human society rather than cover up our christian congregation endeavours to counter debased practices that are nurtured by sexuallising small children other pornography in advertising ,T.V. and movies by promoting good sexual health within the marriage arrrangement.
The ills of human society can contaminate the christian congregation as they can deceitfully enter any number of other organisations. But we are on alert for the scriptures tell us that sheep in wolves clothing can enter into the congregation and we do all that is possible to protect our children and others. Though not complcent we are not suprised either as " in the last days there will be critical times hard to deal with".
Thank-you for your concern
Love Dad & Mum
LETTER TWO SENT IN RESPONSE TO THEIR REPLY
Dear Dad and Mum,
I notice the complete unemotionality in your reply. Did you even watch both programs? your response sounds completely and utterly a programmed one. The fact is and you can read this FROM YOUR LITERATURE, that this approach to dealing with child abuse is PSYCHOLOGICALLY DAMAGING even stating ´how wonderful it would be if a reconcilliation occured´ what kind of advice is that? do you even care that children are being encouraged TO FACE THEIR ABUSERS. No one is denying child abuse exists but how convenient to deflect attention away from the org to the catholic church. THE PROBLEM is that it has been choreagraphically and repeatedly confirmed from Scotland (bbc) to the U.S.A ( I will be sending you these further cases) to Australia (the silent lambs documentary I sent you the link for) THAT THE CASES ARE COMPLETELY MISHANDLED. I have proof of this time and time again.
It is all very well to protect an organisation but how do you know you are aware of all that goes on within it? THAT IS A NAIVETY, YOU ARE BLINDED to the real issues of life and I lie awake at night knowing this. Your response gives no justice to those 200,000 child abuse cases involving the jehovah´s witness church and the SUFFERING YES THE SUFFERING.
No mention of the database hey dad? the one that the society has not even denied but REFUSES TO GIVE OVER TO THE POLICE. 23,000m KNOWN JW CHILD ABUSERS OPERATING IN CONGREGATIONS. AND THAT´s THE ONES THEY KNOW ABOUT!!! THAT`S 1 in every 250 in THE ORGANISATION YOU BELONG TO AND PROMOTE. Not only that but it has been choreagraphically proved that elders withhold the knowledge of a known childabuser in a congregation if he has confessed and been forgiven (men who speak for god again). YES THIS EVEN INCLUDES YOU DAD HOW NAIVE AND ARROGANT FOR YOU THINK YOU ARE PRIVY TO THIS INFORMATION). Because of this it can be said that you did not have the right knowledge to protect your children. Fortunately I escaped only experiencing a good beating emotionally and physically from your trully.
I am actually quite digusted at your response, once again I see evidence of putting an organisation before CHILDREN> CHILDREN THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIFT IN LIFE.
You are protecting your own happiness, so scared it will die, in complete selfishness with no regard for whether our family or others are torn apart. You probably don´t even see your selfishness you are so blind to it.
Don´t worry dad, Jehovah will forgive you for all those times you scared me with your violent temper, all those times you cut me off emotionally. and the occasions when you used physical force. It has taken me all these years to get over my complete lack of self´-respect because of the respect you never afforded me.
How did the society help you then? by encouraging you to go to anger managment? by apologising to your daughter , who whether you like it or not was A CHILD AT THE TIME, yup I call 14, 15 ,16, 17 a child? NO not at all. Knowing about it and by easing your conscience. They did not give a damn about what happened to me because I rejected their warped teachings. I THOUGHT FOR MYSELF, what about you DAD WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO DO THAT?
Nothing adds up and the tragedy of it is its not YOU, its the organisation and the impact it has on you. Your OWN FATHER a supposed elder who I can tell from just your own admissions and recounting of your childhood was a cruel unemotional heartless man!!!! How were you to know any better? after all this was a man of god.
I could go on and on.
One of the 144, 000 who beat his wife sensless in full knowledge of elders (who a god jehovah allow this to happen???). The case of sexual abuse in the dursley congregation (bet you didn´t hear about that did you? no because it wasn´t until I left and stepped outside and discovered for myself the lies that have been told in the name of jehovah!! in your very own words BLASPHEMY). Another case in just the dursley congregation who regularly BEAT HIS DAUGHTER IN FULL KNOWLEDGE OF ELDERS and it was only when he died that she became free (yep you remember that certain italian family in our cong, you even went to his funeral to mourn a physically abusive man, is that godly love, you tell me dad?)
Not to mention the complete and utter lies told by the society in regard to predictions and rules. Know how many jehovah´s witness kids and adults DIED LOST THEIR LIVES because of the no vaccination rule that was later reversed. HAVING A VACCINATION WAS A DISFELLOWSHIPPING OFFENCE, ppl followed their advice and died becuase of it and that was the voice of god was it? Blood too and all the new allowances with organ transplants. What about all those who died when it was a disfellowshipping offence? you answer me that. How 11 men in New York play with people´s lives.
How very convenient to deflect away FROM THE ORGANISATIONS RESPONSIBILITY by blaming the sexualisation of the world. When offering what you call as one truth and enforce people to follow by fear of armageddon or shunning in the form of disfellowshipping YOU SHOULD BE PROTECTING THEM. Its all very well to say children can go to the police IF THEY WISH. Imagine the trauma of an adult forcing himself on, raping a child, fiddling with him to the child. JUST IMAGINE, instead of filling your head with what you´ve been told ACTUALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT THOSE KIDS WENT AND ARE STILL GOING THROUGH. Hey dad, forget about your own desire to live forever and think about someone else for once. Elders should be HELPING CHILDREN GO TO THE POLICE NOT ENCOURAGING FACING OR FORGIVING CHILD ABUSERS. This is HYPOCRISY to control everty aspect of their lives and then abdoning them when support is needed most Ié going to the police and protecting other HELPLESS CHILDREN because in the Jehovah´s Witness religion as I KNOW FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE THERE IS NOWHERE TO GO. Such control and fear instilled.
And mum I love you so much BUT DO YOU EVER THINK? HOW CAN YOU ALSO be defending this? Oh I know because YOU WERE NEVER SEXUALLY ABUSED AS A CHILD. So how the hell would you know how it feels? The powerlessness when having to face an ABUSER.
AND WE COME TO PERHAPS THE BIGGEST ABSURDITY OF ALL THE TWO WITNESS RULE. Who the hell is going to invite 2 witnesses when raping or abusing a child? HMMMMMMMMMMMMM let me think about that one. HOW DO YOU DEFEND THAT? Ever though about the abusers that LIE AND DON`T CONFESS LEFT TO PRAY ON CHILDREN.
No points I made or the documentary made were addressed , if you don´t look at every side PROPERLY how can you feel you have made the right decision? Choosing to ignore how can you PROPERLY PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN.
I HAVE MORE SELF WORTH AND HAPPINESS NOW THEN YOU CAN EVER IMAGINE, NO LONGER AND I HELD DOWN BY FEAR OR ATTACHMENT TO AN ORGANISATION THAT CLEARLY DOES NOT GIVE A DAMN ABOUT FAMILIES OR ITS INDIVIDUALS ( THERE is a testimony of a women who engaged to a son of an elder was beaten and raped by him,they disfellowed her with full knwolegde of all the elders because she had gone to his house when he called her demanding she went because he was upset crying, saying it was immoral and she asked for it. THEY DID NOT DISFELLOWSHIP HIM, her own mother kicked her out of the house , she had to get help elsewhere to come to terms with the rape, eventually he did it to another women but she took it to the police he was given a prison sentence, when he got out he was allowed back into the congregation,. She is still shunned by her mother but her mother is happy to converse the man who raped and beat her daugher half to death because elders FORGAVE HIM. does that sound like an organisation from god? WELL DOES IT? who is more immoral here? needless to say she found out the hard way about the ´´love ´´ of the Jehovah´s witness congregation, she is now happier than she has ever been because she finally was able to have self worth).
I WILL NOT GIVE UP OR GO AWAY OR SHUT UP. THIS WILL BE TAKING THIS FUTHER I WANT ANSWERS. I RESPECT MYSELF AND MY LOVE, I PUT MY LOVE FOR MY FAMILY FIRST. I WANT MY SISTER PROTECTED FROM PAEDOPHILES AND OTHER FORCES OF ABUSE INCLUDING HACKING AT HER SELF WORTH.
Just so you know I am aware. Elders like Mr radford will try an encourage you to break away from me,to not listen, to ignore the love you hold for me. The truth can hurt, it is not a pretty flower of paradise earth it is REALITY. They will tell you I am of the devil and they will try and SILENCE ME.
Well you can tell them now when it comes to my family I WILL NOT BE SILENCED. On that note mr radford is one of the most loveless, lifeless man I have ever met followed by many others like him. I would not trust him with my pet cat let alone my child. If evil speaks he is it.
Just to reiiterate a point you did´not address. There is evil the world but for god´s organisation there is a hell of a lot of evil in it. Why don´t you look at that afterall IT IS WHAT YOU ARE STANDING FOR and THAT IS THE ISSUE NOT THE ABUSE IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH which I of course abhor as disgusting. I am aware of the catholic church as a cold monemaking organisation. The issue is what about yours.
You mentioned the wonderful work the organisation does here. Well I have been in Brazil for some time now, have lived in the cheapest hotels , walked the streets and favela where street kids roam, talked with project charity workers and people who have given up everything to clothe house and educate children, including threats and arson to their houses. YET IN ALL MY TRAVELS NEVER HAVE I HEARD OF THE JEHOVAH`S WITNESS ORG HELPING OR AIDING AND NEVER HAVE I SEEN IT. Now the catholoc church doesn´t do much but the difference is I and many know what it is all about a money making sham, how about your religion you still believe in it. This applies to all the places I´ve travelled India, Indonesia..
On the subject of a recent ignorant email I was sent by you dad. In which you talked about respecting those who live here because they have no choice. Did you even think before you set out to embarrassing by firmly proving your ignorance and complete lack of awareness?. A fanatastic quote comes to mind which states ´walk a thousand miles in my shoes before you criticise and abuse´. There is great beauty here in many places, in jeri where I aquired my worm, although poor everyone recognises and appreciates the beauty in which they live. How arrogant to assume your western, white , "christian" life is superior. Not to mention the fact you have never travelled or talked to poor people. I think in that respect I am years ahead in experience AND DO HAVE A LEG TO STAND ON. In fact a very strong one. I am discovering and looking at life not hiding away from it. In the street (many a time) a child comes to me malnourished as an african child with flies in his eyes AND STINCKING OF HIS OWN URINE AND FAECES and I EMBRACE HIM BECAUSE I LOVE HIM AND HE NEEDS LOVE. I DON`T NEED A BIBLE OR A KINGDOM HALL OR EXCUSES FOR CHILD ABUSERS TO DO THIS BECAUSE MY HEART IS OPEN. this child will have been on crack from the age go, I suspect your org would not have such compassion.I have seen things you cannot even imagine, yet it is NOT JEHOVAH´s WITNESSES WHO HELP THEM OR BIBLES OR PROMISSES OF ANOTHER LIFE. It is those from within Brazil and westerners who set up hostels, who clothe, feed, medicate and educate these children, who councell the girls and boys who have been raped and forcesd into prostitution. If you really want to help come here or go to cambodia , India , learn the language , use your spare money, train yourself, help feed and help cousell these children outt of the nightmares they have eveyday of being vunerable on the street. AND BEFORE YOU WORK YOU WILL POLICE CHECKED AND MONITORED AS A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE AGAINST ABUSE NOT TRUSTED BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE IN GOD AND THE BIBLE. You need nothing but an open heart to make a difference. When I get back to the U.K I will be taking intensive portuguses classesand be returning to brazil to set up a project in conjunction with already existing ones and woreking with lawyers in order to create more legistation to protect children not open them up.
In other words IT IS YOU DAD AND MUM THAT ARE NOT RESPECTING THIS PEOPLE BY SITTING AT HOME IN YOUR COMFORTABLE HOUSE AND KINGDOM HALL PREACHING SOMETHING THAT MEANS NOTHING FOR THIS CHILDREN> NOTHING. YOU TELL ME DIFFERENT WHEN YOU HAVE SPENT TIME AMONG THESE CHILDREN LIKE ME.
I think you should read the following and have the guts to answer it.
Love
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
(Plus the document sent from best letters to a sister were used to make a point about UN involvenment adn other points we are all aware of on this forum and others)
In Addition MY THIRD LETTER TO ANSWER THEIR RESPONSE
Dear Dad (and Mum)
Point One: In response to damaging the accused abuser´s reputation
Doctors and medical specialists know the difference between a child that has been sexually interfered with and a child who has for instance injured him/herself in another manner i.e. fallen on that certain area.
There is a POLICE PROCEDURE that applies to child abuse cases, including full medical examination as stated above.
The society and elders are not upholding this and are not doing the decent and LAWFUL thing.
An accusation IS serious, it should immeaditely require A FULL INVESTIGATION IN THOSE THAT ARE TRAINED IN THIS AREA. Child protection police and MEDICAL SPECIALISTS.
A childs life is over, he will never get over such abuse fully he THEREFORE DESERVES A FULL INVESTIGATION
Point 2
Repressed Memory Syndrome (be very wary DAD you are dealing with a now VERY EDUCATED DAUGHTER especially in the AREA OF PSYCHOLOGY WHICH I HAVE BEEN STuDYING AND INVESTIGATING FOR YEARS)
Are you telling me that all 200,000 (does that number not seem extortionately high for a society of 7million?????) cases of child abuse within the JW organisation are all due to repressed memory syndrome? when repressed memory syndrome (ie false implanting of memories) was noticed in a very small number of high profile cases where suing for money was the goal. These 200,000 could not all be influenced by money. There are those that have been too ashamed to go to court and they are documented. False memory syndrome has largely been rejected by most modern day psychologists (I will have thesis´ soon watch this space), it it now largely accepted as a technique used by defence lawyers likened to the insanity plea in murder cases to escape prison.
Point 3
Money. You are a business man. How much does it cost to build a kingdom hall in every country in the world? don´t forget to minus all the free labour help and donations of materials!
How much does each Jehovah´s Witness on average donate per year to the society? how about basic contributions for magazines?
ONE BILLION DOLLARS+ AT LEAST PER YEAR, MORE THAN MOST BUSINESSES MAKE.
WHERE DOES ALL THE MONEY GO???
hmmmmm NOT A MONEY MAKING VENTURE?????
(did you know that the society in 1990 stopped charging for literature because they were to be force to declare these and be TAXED on them, nothing to do with ´´new light´´ or becoming less of this world)
Point 4:
UN MEMBERSHIP??????????????????????
Are you aware of this???? do you know what the soceity´s excuse for joining was library membership? However this was false you do not need to join the U.N to access their library. Doesn´t society literature continually refer to the U.N as the destroying force in Revelation?
There it was. Yes, I have my own letter that clearly and specifically states that the Watchtower and Bible Tract Society "was associated with the Department of Public Information in 1992 and requested to be disassociated in 2001." It went on to explain in two long paragraphs the specific details involved with being and maintaining NGO membership. Then it closed with this paragraph, which I will gladly share with you, as many of you are now wanting to know more about this - the truth about this dreadful hypocrisy. It says:"I expect that you will share this information with your concerned colleagues as we are unable to address the scores of duplicate requests regarding the Watchtower and Bible Tract Society that are being directed to our offices. Than you for your interest in the work of the United Nations."
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/11/65439/1.ashx
taken from the above website (further documents will be fowarded to you)
MUM AND DAD OPEN YOUR EYES , HEARTS AND MINDS BEFORE YOU DECIDE.
Love as always
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx