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I just began receiving this news. I am not yet on the outside but have given indications. I was molested by a man who floated in and out for years. When he came back and I got the nerve to speak, I was silenced. He went on to live a sexual life for over 5 yrs with his half sister. He did this while being active in the Cong. They finally disfellowshipped him. He and I had our confrontation AGAINST Elder wishes and I am healing finally after over 20yrs. Years that I thought I deserved punishment. YEARS that I believed the death of my infant child was directly related and given to me as a punishment for what I did!!!!!!!!!!! Now I am SOOOOOOOO angry with the Elders for holding back info from Child Protective Services. I am so confused and hurt.
how much longer is the watchtower society going to get away with everything they do? is there anything we can all do to expose this cult. from an ex witness of 28years
Very informative and well constructed. Thank you. It was said that 12 sisters in our former cong had MPD. It's probably an exaggeration (via the talkative elder) but there seriously was one we knew. Her father (when she was a child) continually had sexual relations with her and her sister - who never stayed a jw, hating it instead. It was repressed until our sis' daughter was married, and she too had been molested by the grandfather!!! He was NOT df'd in his kh down the Willamette Valley in Oregon - he admitted nothing. I wish I could send this link to her. She still struggling at it. Her father lost some privileges for a while, that is all. I did not know that abuse was so widespread in "god's organization". Thank you site-holders for the work that you do. When the exodus occurs there's gonna be a lot of psychological problems. Since children had to wear their JWness at school they are already two steps back on the social success ladder. Keep it up. Blessed Be. Glen who once was Deleted.
I think this is a wonderful thing you are doing in helping to expose the awful things the society covers over. I am no longer a JW, but growing up my mom was a JW and we lived with an extremely abusive man. He molested me and physically abused me from the age of 4 until I was 17. The elders new about this the whole time and told my mother she would be discipled if she left my stepfather because she didn't have scriptural reason to leave!!! Can you believe that. Then I attempted suicide at 17 and they disfellowshipped me because I was not sorry for doing such a thing. I am trying very hard to get my life back on track, but it is so hard when everyone in your family is still blinded by this SICK cult. I just hope that this site will help some others to realize they are not alone and it isn't their fault!!!
Thank you so much for this info. Scarey for me but important work. I have been out of the org for more than 20 years. Have always had the fear that in addition to my father agressiviteit that there was more. Still afraid of the unknown. I hope my fears will turn out to be wrong but so much has been blocked out. Thanks to the womans awake group things are starting to surface. Whatever may come up I am glad I am not alone. My strength and love to all of my fellow survivors!
The Society has managed to avoid big trouble so far by calculating that most people will assume these abuse cases are few and far between, and perpetrators are dumb hicks. Or that elders involved are inexperienced. This is far from true. JWs have a huge, disproportionate number of abuse cases, but they are almost always swept under the rug even by well meaning persons. Thanks to the internet and people like you, Randy, that's changing.
What is also happening is that progressive circuit and district overseers are getting a belly full of this stuff and persons inside the service department are getting very jumpy over what could happen when litigation starts. Some are quietly saying this is why God is not blessing the organization in growth--the spiritual paradise does not now exist. The Society's legal department thinks it has things under control but there is concern.
The trail is pretty large out there. Wouldn't surprise me to see file destruction in this country, just like the U.K. Brooklyn and Patterson have already done their share of "housekeeping," but there are still files floating around, especially the letters giving specific directions to cover up. The American public can be forgiving about sex issues, but do not lie to them, and do not cover up--that's gospel the GB must learn.
Overlooked is the nature of sex abuse, which involves power and control. Victims are scarred for life. This site is going to be a powerful force for good, Randy, because for the first time there will be a safe haven for persons to learn they are not alone and that there are persons who will not tolerate abuse in any form.
Al Capone was nailed for income tax evasion, it's fitting the Society could be brought down for failure to handle sex abuse issues and then covering up.
The congregation I was baptized at has had a history of child sexual abuse. While I lived there a JW couple (he was a ministerial servant) were foster parents. He molested the mentally challenged foster daughter. Everyone knew and no one did anything about it including me. The grief I feel for that young girl is horrible especially since I was a child of molestation too (not Jws). Recently the sister who studied with me called my husband to tell him about one of her grandaughters who had been molested by an elder. He carried on for years doing this and the victims finally broke the silence. She wanted to know how I put my life back together (of course she could not speak to me directly since I disassociated myself). I hope she took my advice and got her granddaughter to a therapist.
4 years ago, when we were still "in" the "organization" we had the opportunity to help a 30 year old "brother" get out of a life of drugs and trouble. He had been raised around the "organization" his entire life. His family was a typical family we see that had a lot of trouble with alcohol and immorality. Nevertheless, he was determined to "break the pattern" of the family tradition. He moved in with us for 8 months and succeeded in stopping his abuse of drug, alcohol, and tobacco. He ended up marrying a woman that is "in" the "organization". They are both still "in" it. They are good people. During his stay with us, I had mentioned how nice his Uncle was to our 13 year old son. His Uncle would take our son flying in his airplane. He commenced to start crying and said to not let our son around his Uncle anymore as his Uncle used to rape him when he was about 14. At that time his Uncle was an elder. He had since stepped down. Now, it was some 15 years later. However, the weekly bible study is still held at his house today. Even after he was "found out" 4 years ago. Even after he was told to stay clear of the youngsters in our small area, and he did not. Even after MORE victims stepped forward. He was privately admonished and restricted to not comment at meetings for 3 months. In fact, he was not even admonished until I performed some research and collected about 7 pages of materials on child molesters and presented this information to the local elders. It was very clear that these elders did not want to do anything. Since that episode I have since been DFed as an apostate. I went to the elders about 2.5 years ago and told them that I could no longer support the 1914 date as fact, that I disagreed with the blood issue, and that I felt strongly about the voting issue. I told them that I would not discuss my views openly but only with "them" my family members, and my best friend who had already been inactive for about a year. They said that was not good enough. They DFed me. Yes, things are no different out here in Western Washington State than they are anywhere else around the world when it comes to the "organization". At least they are consistent!
Thanks for your site. I am an advocate-writer for victims of clergy sexual and domestic violence in all faiths. I've heard from hundreds of readers, but only one Jehovah Witness. In my opinion, this is not because the problems are less in number or degree. Instead, I believe that the more conservative or the more likely a belief system is to be extreme or dogmatic, the greater the degree of coercion and/or shame to keep the victims from coming forward. I'd invite you to look over the information I have on my site (http://members.tripod.com/~NoColluding) and consider ordering the materials already published elsewhere (such as my personal story, HOW LITTLE WE KNEW). You may also be interested in a related novel I've written, which should be released within a few weeks. It's entitled THE TRUTH ABOUT MALARKEY.
Plowing Frozen Ground, Dee Ann Miller write-on@radiks.net
I've just added a link to you on my page about child abuse/neglect in another cult. It's domained at: www.taxexemptchildabuse.net.
Best -- Mike
20 years ago I was abused by a ministerial servant - a friend of my fathers. My folks never reported it as they were afraid people would think it was my fault. The abuser became an elder and continued his abuse on other girls until he was arrested and found guilty in a court of law last year. However, desspite the fact that the elders now know that this happened to me 20 years ago, and continued all this time, THEY HAVE STILL NOT DISFELLOWSHIPPED THIS MAN!!!!!! He is still part of the organisation. Who does this organisation protect? the innocent or the guilty? I am just left "the dissillusioned!"
I was a witness for over 30 years and felt many times that acts of sexual abuse were covered up or not addressed Thank you Randy and Free minds for keeping up on this and doing what you can to see that it is stopped. The sisters have had things force up on them by the brothers and nothing was ever done to the brothers but the sisters had to take full responsibility for the acts. I have first hand knowledge of this.
Hi Randy, I am thankful to have found your site. I would like to comment on the issue of SEXUAL ABUSE IN THE ORGANIZATION. I used to think that my case was unique but have come to the realization that it is rampant and there are many victims of sexual offenders that are protected by the "CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE" among the leaders of the Watchtower Society. All the years of being one of Jehovah's Witnesses I bought the propaganda they used to lambast the clergy of other religions about hiding pedophilia. Sadly, to me and my family we have been directly affected by a family cover-up to hide my father-in-law's 3 generational child molestation record within the congregation, as well as outside. The Society Headquarters in Brooklyn has involved itself in directing elders who are family members and even fathers and husbands of victims, to keep the secret of this pedophile, who has been publicly reproved once, in the 60s, disfellowshipped, criminally convicted, in the 80s and reinstated, and again disfellowshiped in the 90s and reinstated again during a civil action brought forward by his victim and witnessed by other victims in court testimony, and was found guilty in a judgment against him in favor of his victim, who is his own grandaughter. Although she was awarded a large amount in the judgment, the case is being appealed by him and his wife and supported by family elders against his victim. This trial that began last November 1999 and went on for 3 weeks until just before Christmas, was attended to by many of his victims in support his grandaughter's suit against him. The elder involved in the previous disfellowshippings of this man chose to take ecclesiastical privilege at the direction of the Watchtower Society in a letter given to the judge which did not have the Watchtower logo on the top. To my understanding This elder should not have taken this privelege since all the victims involved had waived their right of privilege. It is also my understanding that since this case was litigated in New Jersey, the elder did not have a legal privlege because he is not a full time cleric payed by Watchtower, even though he boastfully likened himself to a "priest" or a "bishop". The grandaughter of the pedophile, is my daughter, and the pedophile is my husband's own father. Since my daughter came forward in 1988 when she was 12 yrs old, we have chosen not to have anything to do with this man and the family and elders who are co-dependant of the pedophile have done everything to make the victims as being the "bad" ones and the molesting grandfather, the poor wrongly accused victim. In essence, my spiritual community of religious leaders have "embraced" the pedophile, and "abandoned" the victims. I would like to hear of more information about Watchtower lies and coverup through their sleezy lawyers and elders taking direction from them and the Service dept. regarding sexual abuse in the congregations.
There should be a list of congregations allowing pedophiles to go door to door. Elders knowing that they have sexual offenders going out in service are misrepresenting themselves to their communities by allowing these predators "preach" at the doors and are opportunists who can view the "householder" that has a little child standing next to them while hearing the message of the sex offender preaching incognito as a good Christian. Preaching door to door gives a pedophile the perfect opportunity to later come back to stalk or molest unknowing children seen at the door!!! Sexual molesters are going door to door with the knowledge of the Watchtower Society. People should be made aware that the person at their door preaching the good news of the kingdom may well be doing it to hide behind the secrecy and protection of Jehovah's Witnesses. RWH
It happened to me too.
DAN FITZWATER OF YERINGTON NEVADA WAS CONVICTED OF MOLESTING A CHILD THAT WAS 8 YEARS OLD. HE WAS AN ELDER AT THE TIME AND WAS ACCUSED BY OTHERS OF THE SAME THING FOR OVER 20 YEARS. HE ALSO LIVED IN BRADENTON,FL. AND GRANTS PASS, OR. AS WELL AS SOMEWHERE IN CALIFORNIA AND GEORGIA. HIS ALLEGED ABUSES HAD BEEN REPORTED IN AT LEAST A COUPLE CONGERGATIONS. HE IS SERVING HIS SENTANCE IN CARSON CITY, NEVADA AND IS STILL A MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING IN THE CONGERGATION. HE WAS NEVER DF'D OR EVEN REPROVED FOR THE ACTS COMMITED ON THIS CHILD. MAKES ME SICK!
i would just like to say that i believe in what jehovah's organization teaches us from the scriptures and that although i too have had my share of what some would consider as "good days" as well as bad days that there isn't a day that goes by that i don't think about jehovah and the worldwide brotherhood. i've been disfellowshipped for 6 years,and although it was basically for lying to cover up my transgression nad then later admitting that i had lied[ which we all know is likened to death as satan's first lie has caused us all to die,]that i don't condem the organization as a whole ased on the errors of the few. and yes i've heard of the terrible horror stories of the molestations, beatings and worse an i believe that it's satan at his best working overtime as we know that his time is short and he intends to mislead many before he to be abolished and then finally destroyed...'the love of the greater number will cool off" and those misled will be as "the sands of the sea". i don't know how you all can be so blinded after having had the accurate knowledge the truth for so long? how sad i am for you all. i'm sad that some of you put you're total reliance in these "men","elders" when you know very well that weare not to put our trust in "nobles" or earthling men...yes the siciety recommends that we be obedient to those takingthe lead among us but not to the point of covering up missconduct. and if one's congregation is "wicked" to the point that jehovah's holy spirit ceases to function therein, i'd certqinly go as high within the organization to make it known than to sit back and be intimidated by these "false brothers" who hurt the very flock they are to cherise as jesus cherished his congregation. none of you should have been made to feel like you had committed the "unforgivable" sin..."who of us knows the mind of jehovah"? only jehovah can read hearts. the only reason we were ever admonished to avoid certain associations is for the very same reason that parents would want their children to avoid drugs, pornography, or any other unsafe environment..i mean it's pretty obvious, isn't it? yes, there are some lovely worldly people out there, caring individuals, saints...and yes ther are some "loons' in the orgnization too...and these we must rely upon jehovah to remove instead of removing ourselves from jehovah's ark of protection. i still consider myself to be in the truth as dissfellowshipping is not a forever hing, but merly a disciplinary action given to those whom jehovah loves [hebrews]. i know that i am the only one holding myself back from reinstatement and that is something that i do not hold anyone accountable for. so, in answer to your question, i enjoyed the field ministry very much, i relished in bible study, i didn't find the bible to restrict my enjoyment of life, fun, or excitement. so there are some movies that weare admonished not to see...so what? so there is questionable entertainment out there to be avoided..and? it's just like the worldly phrase 'no pain, no gain' and i'm not talking about the suffering of abuses by these perverts, who perverted the truth by their conduct and defiled these innocent ones or the other atrocities that have carried throughout all of human history in a fqcets of life, not just jehovah's organization...my god, no one said that the society is perfect...nor are they they pious assholes that you crybaby's have made them out to be.. i mean for crying out loud, this is just a waa-waa- website for the slackers who found obedience an impeedment on their "rights" as human beings, which by the way we would not have if it were'nt for jehovah. i came into the truth in 1981, so yes i was around when they discouraged furthering ones education and encouraging pioneering.. so what? if you need a skill to support yourself, take a f*****g class. there is no one, and i mean absolutely no one who can stop you from eing "self-sufficient" AS The scriptures require you to be. if your congregation elders threaten to dfp you, go to another congregation...we all know that there are strong and weak congregations out there and even though it is not pc to shop around for the congregation of your choice, it's certainly not forbidden! so, if you're happy out ther in the dark , hey more power to ya, okay. but if you just had an axe to grind, grind it then get back to where you belong, be joyful. i know i'm looking forward to it with tremendous pleasure. PHYLLIS
To the user above... I have never believed that one person or even a few could give God a bad name. Nor can they do that to the Watchtower Society. The problem is that the Watchtower Society itself has had a very large hand in covering up sexual abuse in its midst, even appointing "brothers" that they knew had been accused many times of sexual abuse. I have personal knowledge of this and my husband personally talked to a Watchtower lawyer that told him outright lies that my husband called him on. the case in which I refer to ended in a guilty verdict against the Watchtower Society, a local congregation, and an elder in civil court. the elder was found guilty in a legal court and is in prison. The "society" informed the victim that they had a lot of money and would keep this in appeals for years. The family settled out of court. As far as i am concerned the "society" makes a safe haven for child molesters. Therefore I believe that they are in effect guilty of child molestation themselves. THEY CAN NOT BE JEHOVAH"S ANNOINTED PEOPLE!
What amazes me is that an elder can abuse children and then go and dictate morals to anyone who will listen. As a victim of this particular elder I turned into a compulsive liar, a trait of a lot of abused children. I was counseled by the elders of my congregation about the perils of lying and "the elder" was one of the disciplinary elders. My life from thereon in went progressively downhill and the only comfort i got was for all my family to shun me totally. I had spent years of my life being a victim to this this man, and the rest of my life being a victim because of this man.
The discussions of "Haven for Molesters" in the witness.net is just an example of how the Society has veiled the fact that Sexual predators are rampant in the congregations. They sidestep the fact that because confessed perverts cannot hold a position, than that makes it ok because they can't be a pioneer or Ministerial Servant or Elder. Just because the elders are directed by the Legal dept on Society policy in handling pedophiles in the congregation does not excuse the problem. These perverts are still allowed to go door to door to unknowing "householders". The Watchtower Society doesn't make itself bothered with the danger it exposes families in their neighborhood territories. These pedophiles are also known for stalking and attacking children outside the congregation and are still able to "hide" in the Watchtower Haven of Secrecy of so called Ecclesiastical Privilege. Pedophilia and incest is passed down throughout the generations in families and congregations. It is only now being exposed by victims. Yet Victims in the Watchtower Society have no rights. This is common for women & children to be encouraged not to "speak to anyone about it" for fear of "reproaching Jehovah's Name". The Grand God of the Universe does not rely on the Legal and Service Dept. to protect his name. What they really are worried about is protecting their own Watchtower name and Perverts hiding in their ranks. Incest is a big problem because of the Silence imposed by abusive family members on victims. When the abusers are elders who are fathers, grandfathers, uncles, of victims the conspiracy to hide the "Secret" becomes not only a generational family matter but a generational congregation matter. Because of my own first hand experience of exposing my own child's offending grandfather who was a known molester in 1988 by elders family members and congregants who kept his secret for 3 generations of victims in & out of the family and neighborhood as well as in the congregation. His perversion for children and was allowed to go ignored from the 50's to 90's with the knowledge of Watchtower Legal and Service dept, and elders of various congregations that he hid in. Watchtower does not care about victims because if it did it would not hide behind "ecclesiastical privilege" when a predator and his family of elders want silence from the victims. Ecclesiastical privilege is something the Watchtower Society used to fault other religions for hiding criminal's confessions and not supporting victims. The Watchtower Society's elders involved in these cases seek protection from the Legal and Service Dept. I have known many many victims of pedophiles, and many of whom are daughters of sexually molesting Jehovah's Witnesses. These victims usually suffer spiritual abuse as well at the hands of the elders and congregation over these issues. Most turn to addictions, relationship problems, severe depression, low self esteem, and anxiety disorders. Even if they remain as witnesses they re-enact their childhood connections by having relationships with controlling men in their controlling religious environment that perpetuates the cycle and through the authoritarian, controlling, secret keeping Watchtower Society and its enabling elders, the victims are revictimized with imposed silence, indifference, and or punishment through threats of abandonment by family, congregation, and Jehovah. The victim of sexual abuse and incest within the religious community of Jehovah's Witnesses, is set up for a life of guilt, fear, unworthiness, and control, until they are able to "see" that the craziness of the Watchtower Society's Spiritually abusive lifestyle mirrors the craziness of the childhood experiences of control, silence, fear, abandonment, within the family home. The pressure to do better by preaching door to door the "good News" for hours during each week can ensure more of the cycle because Witnesses seek people who are "victims" during the low points in their in their lives, bring in their anxieties from their own family issues. And so the propensity for disfunctional families is perpetuated and sustained by the religious community of the families in the congregation. I have seen the pecking order and rivalry and backbiting that is practiced the same way that is known in unhealthy family systems. I hope that the issue of SEXUAL Abuse continues to be addressed and exposed to everyone so that the Watchtower Society cannot keep "sweeping it under the rug" as brought out in their own publication in the 1974 Watchtower January 15 article with the picture of a "priest". The modern day article should have a picture of an elder.
Barbara
Do you ever find that all of this is overwhelming? I do. Being raised in that religion and being abused by not one but two of my family members who also had another evil cult going on the side...sometimes I feel like just making it through the day and all those memories is extremly hard. Therapy only goes so far, my experience with it was I was put on display for all head shrinkers to look and poke at me. I am able to get past the anger and work on getting my head space back. If you feel that what you've gone through is sick and disgusting I share those feelings. There is one thing that makes it all feel a little bit better and that my friends is KARMA it's going to come back to them later on if not now (my one abuser is in a comma and unable to speak but knows exactly what is going on...YES!!!)then in the next life, and by the way we do go somewhere when we die.
ALTHOUGH I AM NOT A WITNESS...I DID STUDY AND ATTEND MEETINGS AND GOT TO KNOW MANY FAMILIES VERY WELL OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD...THIS IS JUST ABOUT THE MOST SLANDEROUS AND REDICULOUS THING I HAVE READ YET....AS IN ANY RELIGION THERE ARE IMPERFECT PEOPLE AND PEOPLE WHO WILL NOT BE WHAT THE TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE INTENDED FOR THEM TO BE...STOP SINGLING OUT THE WITNESS'...
In response to the post dated November 15 in regard to the above posts being "ridiculous", and "Slanderous", I would like to say that if you have not been a child who has been raped by a family member, who represents the religious community that keeps the secret than, and if you were never a "witness" than you really have no basis for your opinion other than the few nice people with whom you were fortunate enough to associate with. And to be very blunt it is people like yourself who refuse to see that Pedophilia is a big problem in all religions, but when Jehovah's Witnesses use their literature to point the finger at other religions for sexual misconduct than they better be prepared to include themselves. As far as the excuse that there are "imperfect men' yes that is true but when this is used as an excuse to relieve themselves of the responsibility of dealing with the problem and bringing it out in the open and apologizing to victims rather than trying to insure silence them, then it is irreprehensible because they claim to be the religion that bears the name of God, Jehovah.
My daughter was abused by her Uncle (By Marriage) who was a MS of "good standing". The committee case was a joke it was all my daughters fault for not saying anything (6 years old" and that she had allowed herself to become his mistress. We have all left thank goodness and have no regrets about doing so the WT is an evil self absorbed organisation that must be exposed for what it is. John Law
test #1
Q: Is the Watchtower Society the only organisation wherein abuse occurs? A: NO!
Q: Then why focus on the WTS? A: For the following reasons.
The WTS will not accept ACCOUNTABILITY for their actions. They are proud and arrogant.
They have created an infrastructure that is conducive to the hiding of abuse cases. They are insensitive to the hurt caused to individuals and even prevent these hurt ones from receiving the necessary assistance.
They push accountability for their actions down to individual members who become their scapegoats.
They often write one thing in their literature but practice exactly the opposite.
The CONTINUE to criticize other organisations and to be able to do this they have to delude themselves that they are not guilty of the very actions they accuse others of.
The WTS leaders are FAITHLESS HYPOCRITES. PHARISEES. They are quick to call out “JEHOVAH” “JEHOVAH” but have dishonoured HIM by failing to exercise faith in HIM.
CONCLUSION: The WTS is in desperate need of heartfelt REPENTANCE.
My sister was confronted sexually by an adult individual in the congregation. This individual is close friends with one or more of the elder body. When my mother confronted the elder body about this, nothing was done. They did not want to "disrupt" the congregation.
It is all a bunch of legal b.s. There is no concern for the individuals involved.
To those that think this board is singling out the JW's, think again. Those that complain about the singling out, are only helping to silence what must be heard. The injustices commited against the helpless individuals are noted here. The only way that the stories will ever be told and heard, possibly allowing some sort of closure to those involved, will be provided by the use of this board.
My sister was confronted sexually by an adult individual in the congregation. This individual is close friends with one or more of the elder body. When my mother confronted the elder body about this, nothing was done. They did not want to "disrupt" the congregation.
It is all a bunch of legal b.s. There is no concern for the individuals involved.
To those that think this board is singling out the JW's, think again. Those that complain about the singling out, are only helping to silence what must be heard. The injustices commited against the helpless individuals are noted here. The only way that the stories will ever be told and heard, possibly allowing some sort of closure to those involved, will be provided by the use of this board.
I will not mention exact locations or names here in telling my story. I tried and failed to expose an elder in a southern Missouri JW Congreagtion. He molested several young girls, some as young as 12, others over 20. I took it the 'theocratic course', that is I went to the CO. What happened? Well, it turned out this CO had been a beneficiery of this 'Elder's family's wealth in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, he was wined and dined, taken aboard their family Yacht (they are all JW's). The CO covered it all up, while lying to me that he had it investigated. The Girl's families were told to shut up, "to avoid bringing reproach on the congreagation".
I am informed by a friendly Ministerial Servant, and also an Elder that Letters of protocol from the Watchtower society to local bodies of Elders (and residing in their Watchtower Society Letters Section of their file cabinets) tell the Elders that in cases of Molestation, to stress forgiveness, forgiveness, forgiveness to the parents of the children. That if the children would testify in court, "think of the trauma it would bring upon the children".
I have seen numerous instances of coverups, a multitude of JW Elders are molesters. Think about it. To become an elder what do you need to do? Be male middle class, middleaged, sort of a bullhead, go out in service. The rewards are complete power over a flock of gullible plyable JW's, including children. It sure beats going through a seminary and also Psychological evaluations, which a lot of elders would flunk.
Dear Randall--YOU do such a great service and I love you dearly for it with all this ABUSE coming out of the closet and it now being talked about big time...20 years ago Linda and Lisa thought and felt so alone but went ahead and availed ourselves of therapy Susuan Forward for one==mother and daughter have BONDED quite well==CELEBRATING THANKSGIVING--LINDA. LISA. and MAMIE KITTY make 3..WT did their number on US (ME) but whats new WE are not alone--RANDY THANKS YOU ARE QUITE A GUY--I used your full name sooo sue me.(((((HUGS))))
Thank you for this great work that is so much a part of what I feel is the revealing of things done in the dark that are foretold to come to the light in these Last Days.{2Tim.3:1-7] The world, the Church and all who love & can see what is right, no matter what their race, religion, age or sex may be, know that some thing needs to be done in this & other sins that is taking it's toll on this generation. No group is free of God's Judgement, or the price that they must pay to cover up their sins; such as the ones I have read about here-in these postings. Thank you again. And keep up the Light on this.
Dear Randell,
I have been following your website for some months now and the information which you have provided has been of great help to me as I am sure it is for a great many of exJW's out there who were either born into this religion or had parents who were practising witnesses and the children had no choice but to follow until they could decide to leave (I ended up running away from home as a teenager).
After many years of being an ex JW and with most of my immediate family practising JW's I just learnt to live with things and had minimal contact with my family. Since researching information on the internet on this organisation I have really come to terms with it and wholeheartedly blame the Watchtower organisation and their governing body for the terrible deception and heartbreak that they have caused and I hope that the day will come soon when they will be held accountable for their actions.
From a Wellwisher Please keep up the good work - I hope and pray that one day the organisation will be publicly exposed.
Bravo! While my story is already on Randys web site, I have a few things to add. Besides the rapes that occured to my person I was also a prisoner of the Wt and my parents. As I grew up with the JWness I suffered greatly in school and at the hands of neighborhood bullies. My parents never handled it properly. Instead they gave me the inane excuse that a good Christian deserved to be persecuted. At ages 10-11 I was dealing with the rapes I thought were my sin and to place this burden was ridculous.I did not live any where near a normal childs life. In my therapy sessions we are finding that I have repressed many incidents about my childhood. Some of them are quite powerful statements as to the falsehood of the JWs. The branch servant from Finland was good friends with my parents and I saw him get drunk with my dad on more than one occassion. As I grew up I would easily notice the other dysfunctional families. Some of my boyhood friends are still Witnesses but then they were anal retentive even back then.In my hometown of Lowell, Mass. I came to realize that JWs are no better than many of the other religions. The elders in this town have dealt heavy hands to people who have come foward and reported sexual abuse. My ex brother in law, now a CO told one woman who came foward that she was a slut! Why did he say this? Her father was a cronie and an elder. Since elders are perfect, he never could have sexually abused her. I have come to the definite conclusion that the elders aren't fit to even counsel pets. I would love to see a large class action suit against the WT. I would join it! These people deserve to be taken down a few notches. Keep the faith, yer brother, marco
AT LEAST I KNOW I'M NOT CRAZY. I THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH ME AS I WAS GROWING UP. BEEN AN EXJW FOR OVER 20 YEARS (SOUTHERN CALIF) AND WAS MOLESTED BY MY STEP-FATHER AND ABOUT 15 OF THE ELDERS WERE ALWAYS TOUCHING ME. BASTARDS!!!!!MY FAMILY IN STILL IN THE THAT TWISTED RELIGION!!!!
TOMORROW IS THANKSGIVING DAY and I do not have to eat a the same table as our ABUSER but then he is 6 feet under and that is alot to be THANKFUL FOR _ A whole lot....HAPPY TURKEY DAY ALL............
I was a JW for 25 years before disassociating myself. My two sons had already stopped going to meetings as soon as they were old enough to decide for themselves. The entire time I was a Witness I did exactly what the society told us as "sheep" to do, and my family suffered a great deal. My children were only allowed to associate with other Witnesses, and, as I had to work (since my husband was a Witness who never took responsibility for his family) I always made sure that only other Witnesses kept my children while I worked. Fully trusting that they were all who they said they were, I am now dealing with the fact that my older son was sexually abused by a 17-year-old "pioneer" in the congregation whose father was an elder and who was looked upon as a wonderful example in the congregation. For all appearances this young man and his family were above reproach. This family were our neighbors, and my son was 8 years old when the abuse occurred. His grades in school fell dramatically and he became depressed. I tried to find out what was wrong with him, but he never told me about the abuse until he seriously contemplated suicide at the age of 17. Of course, while the depression was controlling his life, I, being the trusting person I was, never took him to a psychologist since the society poo-pooed the idea of any non-witness therapist giving counsel to a Witness. Their "worldly" ideas might "influence" us in a bad way!!! Needless to say, my children and I suffered a great deal for years. Although I have no reason to believe that my husband ever had an affair, he was also a person in "good standing" in the congregation, although he was addicted to pornography and masturbation. I finally started waking up to all the misinformation my family had received from the society for all those years and tried to change my own mind for a couple of years. However, I only became more convinced that I had been misled, and wrote my letter in the summer of '99. I have apologized to my children for all the problems they suffered as a result of my being so steadfast and not deviating from the advise of the society. I'm trying to make up for it now, and will continue to do so even though my children are grown and they have families of their own. Also, a friend of mine for years in the organization talked to me of the mental and emotional abuse she suffered at the hands of her stepfather who was an elder and raped her repeatedly for years. At one time he stepped down because of her accusations but was never removed, himself never admitting to anything. The authorities were never informed, and he would constantly secretly tell her that he was "getting it" from neighborhood children. All the while he was serving as an elder. Now she has several children and a husband, her mother refuses to speak to her because of the accusations she has made against her stepfather, and he has never been reproved or removed from his position as elder. I also know of another elder who sexually molested his daughter and who has served as an elder for 30 years! She confided this in me when she was only 17, and has also suffered severe mental and emotional problems. There are other examples I know of, but in the interests of brevity I will not relate any more. There is one piece of advice I can give to victims and their families. Get professional help. United Way has programs for helping people even if you can't afford to pay, and the psychologists they use are licensed and very good. If you don't like the one you get, ask for a different one. The important thing is to regain your self-esteem and mental and emotional health. Thanks for a place to post this, and I wish you all well.
At the age of fifteen, I was seduced by an older, married "sister," a friend of the family and member of our congregation. Now really, what fifteen-year-old, affection-starved, hormonally-raging boy could say "no"? My only regret through all of this has been my foolishness in succumbing to baptism at age 13. For that reason, I was disfellowshipped at age 16, banished from my family and friends for the past eight years for failing to rejoin this Orwellian cult. Only through the anonymity of the Internet can I mention the following: I was fed to the wolves (read: elders) by my own father! I have always presumed this was revenge on my lover, who was responsible for ending his own reign as an elder. My father and I have retained a peaceful relationship since, mainly because I buried this issue quite deeply within me (by far, my most-guarded secret--I have told NOONE!) The reprocussions on my social, emotional, financial, etc. life have been STAGGERING. I have only recently climbed out from under suicidal depression. One side point of interest: at the time of the "judicial" hearings, both myself and my lover were required to submit all evidence (read: love letters) to the elders immediately. Hmmmmm... Anyway, thank you for maintaining this greatly-needed site. It is a step toward eliminating an oppressive evil.
I am an attractive woman who looks younger than my age....when I started to drift away from JW, two elders came to my house knocking on my front door but I could not hear for I was in the back yard tending my flowers so they pushed my wood fence gate open and walked to me. When I got up, I almost screamed for two dark colored suits dressed men may looked at my breasts while I was tending the flowers with a very loose old blouse which my breasts may expose to anyone who stood above me. I was so embarrassed and one of them criticized me for smoking then I criticized him for letting his wife popping birth control pills which also can cause cancer. After that I never wanted to touch KH ever for I do not want to be controlled or being criticized for wearing old clothes to work in the back yard. I knew for sure that if I still am a JW, I may go to face these elders why I wore that loose old blouse and smoked. No more dirty-minded elders for me!
Action is now being taken against abusive sexual predators (ASPs)in the WTBS. Go to the following URL and Email the site designer in order to obtain directions for connecting with those initiating a class action suit in behalf of the victims/survivors: http://hometown.aol.com/abaadun/predatorsamongusindex.html
Hello Randy Thankyou for making this site available to all who have been touched in some way by the issues of SEXUAL ABUSE WITHIN WATCHTOWER SOCIETY. In the beginning I had thought I and my family were the only ones facing this atrocity. I was a "faithful sister" married to a "faithful Ministerial Servent". I had one son in Bethel and I was a regular "pioneer" and my children also pioneered. The storm of SEXUAL ABUSE came when our child was molested by her Ministerial Servent Grandfather who also had been molesting many other children and girls and women. He lusted after all female flesh but had a special perversion for children. He is continuing as one of "Jehovah's Witnesses" because he has many supporters not only within his and other congregations in Bergen & Passaic Counties, New Jersey, but also family member elders who want to hide his identity as a Pedophile who was criminally prosecuted by the Bergen County Prosecutors Office. I have posted previously in other posts above regarding "Haven for Pedophiles" and "Conspiracy of Silence" in the Oct. and November Posts. I would like to add that one of this Predator's supporters who himself is an elder and by the way also his son, also has a background of being sexually inappropriate with juvinile girls as young as 14 while he was in his twenties. Many of them now grown have come to me specific instances with him. I am also aware that his wife whom he is presently married to now was one of these young girls. She was already pregnant by him and they were married secretly by an elder who is now in prison in another country. After they married he lived home with his Pedophile father, and his wife lived with her sisters, both of whom were molested by his father. He led everyone to belive his wife was due to have the baby in August, but she was born full term in June just under 8 pounds. He was never made to answer for this, and was given privileges in his congregation as a ministerial servant and then an elder. he was appointed an elder during the time he was actively defending his Pedophile Father who had already been twice disfellowshipped and reinstated by a congregation in Bergen Passaic area. He also was involved in helping his Father's defense lawyer in descrediting the victims who were not only members of the congregations in the surrounding area but also his own family members. This elder is from the Ramapo area and at the recent Circuit Assembly he and his wife and children were on the stage as examples of fine Christians. He attributed his "faith" to his parents, (the Pedophile and the Wife who calls his victims lyers), and the fine job they did bringing him up in the "Truth". Those years he speaks of were years his father was a known sexual diviate, by his mother. There were victims of his father in the audience who left in disgust because though being victims who actually testified against his father in court, who are also his family members, he has shunned them for speaking out the truth. This elder from the Ramapo area and his wife, and his Pedophile father, and mother who enables him, is a prime example of how the Watchtower Society rewards Pedophiles and imposes silence, abandonement, and emotional blackmail by shunning victims for speaking out. He has not been made accountable for not only his past history with inappropriate behavior with adolecent girls, but he has not been made accountble for his untruthfullness in the courtroom, and to his congregation. Anywone from this area should be aware of this fact, and also be aware that the elders in these congregations are protecting the Abusive Sexual Predator, who is his father, by allowing him to hide within the Haven For Molesters. I was taught to use the Scriptural basis of recognizing the truth of a religion by the fruitage it produces. I have seen the Pharisees of the Watchtower Society display thier rotten fruitage that is anything but Christlike and in accordance to what they claim to be. Representatives of God on earth. They are more like the "wolves" ravaging the innocent ones.
In 1995, I was raped by a member of my congregation who was considered to be "in good standing" even after having molested a 12 year-old girl two months before he raped me! The elders were furious that my husband and I went to the police, claiming that we'd "brought reproach upon Jehovah's name". They told me that we were NOT to tell anyone in the congregation that I'd been raped (a small congregation) and they discouraged me from seeking counselling for the trauma. We told everyone who asked that I'd been raped, and everyone knew who did it. Because of this, the rapist had to be PUBLICLY REPROVED instead of the PRIVATE REPROOF that the Elders had planned.<gasp> The Elders refused to cooperate with the police, stating that the rapist's confession to his crime had taken place in "sanctuary" and thus they would not testify as to his confession. It took this experience to open our eyes to the THE TRUTH about "the truth". My family and I severed our ties with the religion and have never looked back since. And the rapist/child molester? Why, he's still part of the congregation. Considered, once again, no doubt, to be in "fine standing."
I would like to reply to te letter dated 15 Nov 2000 time 6:08.54 You may felel this way becasue you weren't batized, the facts are that the Brothers will go out of there way to put on a good face with someone who isn't batized, they can also count there time with you. Get Batized and then in 12 months time tell me the same thing. Regards From a JW for 15 years
I would like to respond to the November 27, 10:25 post about the rapist being protected by the elders. I want to say to you BRAVO, you did the right thing by going to the police. I hoped you prosectued him. There is a statuted of limitations. in our own situation, we prosected and also brought a civil suit against the perpetrator. In both cases, the Pedophile in "good standing" was found guilty, but the case is still pending because the Watchtower Society has instructed the elder involved to claim Ecclesiastical Privlege. If this "fine" elder had been truthful, the Pedophile would not have been able to hide his secret. Yet in every instance, all the victims involved have been treated the same way you have. Yes I too learned the TRUTH about the "truth". It is built on deception and lies, and failed promises. Rather than being a refreshment, and a "Hiding Place from the Storm" the elders have made this religious community they represent a place to be exposed to the Storm that in other words, they are the Storm. The elders involved in deception and lies are from the surrounding communities of Hackensack, Hawthorne,and Mahwah areas. These are "men" who have become wolves ravaging women and their children. They seek to discredit Ceasar's Legal System by commiting perjury, and then blaming the system by telling the victims "will you just can't get justice in the "worldly courts"; however, when the Watchtower Society directs these elders to lie, but demands it's rights when they involve themselves in the legal system to further thier selfish and sleezy business practices that is when they want the court systems to bring justice. I hope that by this site, and others like it, The Watchtower Society and their vicious henchmen called elders, become exposed. I do not blame God,and his provision for mankind, Jesus Christ. I believe they will be exposed for thier sins against their flocks. And just as in the examples of the Bible they so avidly like to hide behind, thier works will be made for all to see. They need to be humbled, and seek forgiveness from the God they have so falsely represented. They need to have heartfelt repentance regarding the lives they have ruined in their flocks while rushing to bring in new ones to dupe into doing the work that makes the Watchtower Society more and more wealthy. I and my family have fled this organization of deception, in a way the early Christians fled Jerusalem before God used the nation of Rome to destroy those going along with the sinful practices of the Religous leaders. These elders tell the flocks to wait for Jehovah to act as an excuse for not solving the problem of Sexual Abuse. This relieves them of taking responsibility themselves in dealing with it. They like to use the easy cop out that "Satan is doing this." Have they become so haughty in their thinking that maybe Satan is using them to accomplish the furthering of Sexual abuse within the Watchtower Society Congregations? I would hope that those on this post will speak out in regard to their areas of elders protecting Pedophiles so that these Predators are not allowed to case the Neighborhoods they are allowed to "preach the good news" in. Contributed by another Victim, Survivor.
I am a 22 year old female who has been studying and attending meetings for the past two years. I am hoping to be baptized into the truth sometime in the coming year. Firstly I want to say how sorry I feel for all those people out there who have suffered abuse in any form. Nobody should have to try to cope with this kind of horrific act. I do think though that it is irresponsible to try to blame God's organisation for these acts. People make their own decisions every day. There are always rogues within any group in any society and the devil is on their side. His prime target is to try to bring Jehova's name into disrepute. It is a bible principal that if people repent they should be forgiven, and as humans (elders) are not able to see into the heart they have to take repentance at face value. There may be abusers who claim to be part of the society of Jehova's Witnesses but their life is a charade. They will be ultimately judged by Jehova himself and in this world that is the only time that true justice will take place. - S.
In response to S. You are a newly associated one and do not yet have enough experiene with the Watchtower Organization to really form an accurate opinion in regard to the truthfulness of this Organization as a whole. You must remember that this Organization is based on Authoritarian Spiritually Abusive ways in which it treats it's members, especially if they are women and children or men without position. You have nothing to base an opinion on except the cultlike indoctrination with which they are "love-bombing" you with. When I became a witness 30 years ago, I and my family were active "examples" up until we exposed the sexual abuse. The Society keeps the general ranks of members so busy in studying and "works" that they have little time to think. But if you really believe this is the truth and that is why you are contemplating baptism, then you must agree that Jesus said his followers would worship in Spirit and Truth. The person you study with should tell you the truth about the Watchtower's failed predictions, and changed history. They call it "new light" which is an easy out for getting away with changing the words that they say Jehovah has said. Jehovah does not change his mind over and over again. Have the person you study with go into changed views of the Society that they formerly said were directed by Jehovah's Holy Spirit. Obviously since you are on this site you are already questioning the validity of the Watchtower's "truth". So you must know there is a wealth of information on past publications that the Society does not use any more and discourages new ones to see. Use your thinking ability and reason from the scriptures regarding their major teachings. Especially about Disfellowshipping. Remember, once you are baptized, you will be under their control in everything you do. No man should be master over you faith. And a person's faith should NEVER be based on Works. Rather a person's Faith will move thier heart to fine works towards ALL. In the end you must realize that the "love" these people show is only conditional on your meeting attendance. If you tell them you need time to think and stay away for some months and research on your own before you get baptized, their "love" for you will be diminished following a desperate attempt to keep you busy. Do not let them use Satan as the excuse for all thier deception. B
My story would take too long to write but after the severe abuse suffered at the hands of "elders" and "ministerial servants" I find it encouraging to read of other experiences similar to mine.
I have been in the truth my whole life (37 years) and am finding it really difficult to mentally make the break from something that has been drummed into me from a little girl. However, I find it difficult to comprehend that an organisation that has protected these wicked men who did these terrible things to me can actually be "the truth".
My mother has also sided with them - she refused to come to court for me (even though she knew the truth of the matter) because she said that what I am doing is wrong. It's bringing reproach on Jehovah's name, and she won't be party to that.
For me it is a way of getting my life back and healing!! I'm not deliberatley doing this. I JUST WANT TO HEAL! I am battling to forgive and I will never forget! I am writing this letter from South Africa to prove that this big cover up takes place all over the world. The "elder" is still and "elder" and the convicted "ministerial servant" (in a court of law) has still not been disfellowshipped.
So whats new?
Hello fellow victims of the WT - no one has posted since me on the first of DEC.- if possible let us take a break from our depression, the WT.the abusive ORG. and their reorg.crap and have a great time celibrating x-mas and new years too--GUYs IT IS OK REALLY. WHAt are you guys doing for the holidays--the big parade for me is the Rose Parade. WHAT about you???Then we can rebuild our emotional/mental strength for the new year 2001 a happier New Year for all--put all that crap on the back bunner for the HOLIDAYS..LINDA KERSEY
Ironically, and probably because the holidays are imminent, I have been thinking about my experiences growing up as a JW. Left when I was 18 because of a "crisis on conscience" over doctrine I believe was inaccurate and unbelievable, and suffered greatly as a result. BUT, my experiences pale in light of what I am reading here. My heart goes out to each and every one of you, and I am humbled by your strength. I will pray for you to have peace of mind and heart, and would appreciate same.
I know a friend who's dad continually physically abused him and fought with him. My friend constantly went to the elders for help, but seeing as his father was an elder, they didn't believe him. When my friend left the congr. his father threw him out of the house and left him to fend for himself. He lost no congregation privleges and continues to serve as an elder.
Our congregation had a talk called 'Watch out paedophiles about' and it basically discussed that there was a 'brother' who was touching the kids. He was never formally repremanded but was later moved on to a neighbouring congregation. He is still there and is an elder!. In my congregation the elder who wanted to pass on the information to Social Services was deleted and finally left.
Hello again! Since I logged in about a month ago I have been amazed at the amount of responses. It is certainly chilling to read some of your stories. The one theme I picked out of it all was that the oh so holy elders and ministerial servants are getting away with it! The totally ridiculous excuse of reproach on Jehovah is a joke. The entire Watchtower Borg is a reproach to Jehovah. I still believe in the divine truth of the Bible, that Jehovah is God and that Jesus is our great redeemer. What I no longer in good conscience can believe is the false and arrogant teachings of men.I remember as a young boy after the rapes seeing my molestors speaking at assemblies and being treated as holy wise men. It scared me then, thinking it was my sin. But now I see that the Governing Body and the rest of the Watchtowers minions are nothing more than the Pharisees Jesus condemned. I do not mind giving my name since I do not fear my molestors. They most likely are dead by now or in some nursing home. My name is Mark H. Palo, I live in Lowell, Massachucetts and my email is; palo50@yahoo.com My last comment is that the elders here in Lowell are typical of the idiots and liars that permeate the entire borg. Take care and keep writing your stories, it is grand encouragement and shows the Watchtower for what it really is, a man made organization. your brother marco polo I look foward to dialog with other victims. !
Hi Randy, I have posted previously on this site since Oct. I am encourage to see so many victim/survivors telling their stories here. You are all so brave. This is something we all were told "not to talk about it or it would bring reproach on Jehovah's name." Since so many of us have been hurt by the elders taking direction from the Society regarding silence in behalf of the molesters, therefore making it a have for pedophiles in the Watchtower Society, it would be a loud statement to be able to post the general areas that these congregations are. I and many other victims come from the North Jersey area where congregations seem to have "holy spirt" directed towards families of elders protecting pedophiles.
In most states, I believe, adults, *all adults* have a duty to report to the child welfare authorities if there is even a suspicion of extreme physical, emotional or mental abuse or neglect on a child.
My thoughts would be that the Elders and the Society could be held liable in civil lawsuits (providing that the Statute of Limitations on criminal liability has elapsed) if there was concrete and corroborative evidence that child abuse was suspected but not reported appropriately to the authorities.
Of course, it would be mostly up to victims and their supports to gather this evidence through lawyers and such. I do know that the Elders of the organization are quite secretive, however, there is some hope as the laws seem to be changing in several countries about what constitutes "ecclesiastical exemption." It is progressively being described that a person may not claim this exemption if it pertains to abuse cases, and if they are not "paid" clergical members. It also seems to me that I read that these exemptions are not valid when there is the abuse of a child involved. It would be interesting to see some case law on this.
Just one question:
Why can people sue the Catholic Church in class action lawsuit and get $$ and an apology, and no one has sued the JW's in a similar matter?
morning - REGARDING 12/5 11:35AM - THAT IS A DAMN GOOD QUESTION - BUT IS MONEY GONA UNDO THE WRONG?? UNDO THE HARM???they SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO LEGAL JUSTICE FIRST AND FORMOST AND WHEN IT IS INCEST THE MOTHER DEFINATELY SHOULD yell LOUD AND CLEAR AND i MEAN LOUD......linda kersey
That is a good question about the money. But what about the pain, humiliation, depression and fear? No amount of money can help that. The entire Watchtower Society should be held as accountable as the Catholic Chruch is. They have to admit thier accountability, thier arrogance, thier secretiveness and stop hiding like so called worldly religions do with ecleasatical privelege. The publicity surrounding this would seriously hurt the borg! Take care and keep writing, your brother marco polo...
Praise the Lord, Jesus Christ! He is my Lord and Savior!
I am disfellowshipped (thank God!) and even though I am now 41 years old and have been out of this Jehovah's Witness cult since age 19, I still feel lots of pain.
I was molested by my brother when I was growing up. Later, when I was married, I told my Jehovah Witness mother what had happened. She said it was "normal" and that's what brothers do. When I finally confronted my brother, asking him why he molested me, he stated that he, too, was molested BY OUR MOTHER when he was a child. He states she would dress him up in girl's dresses and put him in bed with my mom's girlfriend. So, he says, that's why he molested me too. My mom denied ever doing this, but she is prone to being a liar.
My mother, brother, and this "other woman" in the bed are all Jehovah's Witnesses. As hard as it is for me, I do forgive them, and pray they will all become Children of God very soon, before it's too late.
What an evil world we live in. Lord Jesus, we need you and love you!
I just found this site tonight & am so glad I did. I too have an experience to share.When I was a teen,I was raped repeatedly by a fellow teen in the congregation.I was baptized,he was not yet baptized. I was a few years older than he was,but he was larger & much stronger than me.Both our fathers were elders. I never told anyone about it. To this day,21 years later,my parents still don't know.I wanted to tell them then,but was too ashamed & mostly afraid. I was afraid that they would think it was my fault because I was the older,baptized one.I also knew that it would mean commitee meetings. I couldn't bear the thought of sitting in a room with noone but a bunch of men in attendence after what happened. And to have to go into detail about what that boy did to me! This has caused me problems for years.At least reading these posts I know that I'm not alone.As for my JW status now, I dissassociated myself 5 years ago over after laying down the literature & reading the Bible for myself & the kjv at that!
Randy, although you mentioned not to leave names, perpetrator's names or places, I think it would be a good way of helping to exposed the Watchtower Society by naming areas or where congregations are harboring men who rape and molest and are getting away with it by remaining in good standing in their congregations.
what a great service here thank you randy and all of your staff..may our LORD bless you more fully!!! i have a comment to add. an older lady who was friends with my mom for many years(both devout jw's, but my mom is passed away)had moved to the same state i live in now(tenn). many years ago, while i was "strayed" from jw life, this sister called me out of the blue and was depressed and crying. she was contemplating suicide and was distraught about the cold treatment from her grown sons. i was very bitter about my own life and the marital chaos i was in the middle of, so i was not very receptive to this woman. for that i feel so badly about, as i am now a christain, and realize that was a loveless act to be cold to her. i would approach her today, but as i'm infamous for being apostate, she would never consider speaking to me.... well, my trian of thought was this.. sahe told me about the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her uncles and cousins, as a young girl. these were highly regarded jw men in vermont many many years ago. how sad. all these years of mental suffering , her husband was not right in the head either, but she was a jw to the bone, in spite of these horrific abuses she suffered. i think back to that conversation, it explained alot about her odd personality..living a lie called "the truth", pretending they have the only true acceptable worship of GOD, yet hiding and covering up sins, abuses, lies, and hypocrosy...margaret.. i'm so sorry i turned my back on you.....
i AM GLAD MARCO POLO LEFT HIS PERSONAL INFO / HE IS A NEAT GUY TOO MR, WATTERS IN MANY WAYS MORE SO THEN YOU - BUT WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO IT BRASS TACKS AND ALL------I AM THE BEST ONE OF ALL.....momalousnews@webtv.net
Dear momalousnews, I was very happy to find this Guestbook where people who have been hurt through abuse, violence, sexual assault including child molestation, incest and rape, can express thier stories, and share some of the mutual pain that they experienced while in the Watchtower Society and it's imposed silence by the so called "spiritual shepherds.", However, your comments seem to be agressive and unkind. The people who post here have had to deal with verbal abuse and shaming from their past experiences. That is why this post should be a place where those of us who have experienced these kind of traumas can feel free to share our stories without having to deal with taunting, and perpetrating comments from others here. I am grateful that Randy has provided a site like this where we can all confidently post, without the fear of re-experiencing shaming verbal abuse by another poster. All of us have made mistakes and were often physically and verbally punished first within our families and then within the congregation for speaking out. This site should not be a place where victim/survivors are fearful to do that lest someone hurtfully comments with taunts and ridicule. I understand you have been hurt as well , so please remember to be peaceful, and kind. "P"
A new website for the exposure (within legal parameters) of abusive sexual predators within the Watchtower Society is online at URL: http://hometown.aol.com/abaadun/predatorsamongusindex.html. Just sign the guestbook as anonymous to keep your identity from public scrutiny. There is a privacy option for comments in the guestbook there.
I know first hand of an abuse case where I live. The mother of the victim was going to report the incident to the police, but the elders strongly adviced her not to. I thought this really, really goes to show how the mental hold this religion has on its followers.
If a Crime has been committed such as robbery or a hit and run, or a murder, or a rape, anyone having first hand information should legally and morally feel obligated to call the prosecutors office. The elders are hiding criminals and think they are above the law of God and man. Their only interest is to keep their secret of pedophilia. They, though, are ENABLED by those who don't speak out against thier sins and criminal coverups.HOW DARE THEY TELL A MOTHER NOT TO REPORT THIER CHILD BEING MOLESTED TO THE POLICE. I GUARENTEE,IF SOMEONE STOLE THEIR CAR, OR FOR THAT FACT A CD PLAYER IN THIER CAR YOU BETTER BELIEVE THEY WOULD CALL THE POLICE. IS NOT A HUMAN BEING WORTH MORE. ???????? ANYONE WHO HAS FIRST HAND KNOWLEGE OF A CRIMINAL ACT AGAINST A CHILD INCLUDING A MOTHER OR ONE WITH FIRST HAND INFO HAS A DUTY TO ACT ON BEHALF OF THE VICTIM AND NOT PROTECT THE PERPETRATOR OR THOSE WHO ENABLE THEM. WHERE WERE THESE ELDERS LOCATED, IN THE NORTHERN JERSEY CIRCUIT??????? IT WOULDN'T SUPRISE ME.
To the writer that complained about picking on the JWs. Get real! The person who said that the JWs point fingers but refuse to look in the mirror at themselves is totally correct. They do nothing! You might have been lucky to meet some mindless minions of the borg, but that does not make them all saints. The rapes that occured to me happened 40 years ago, yet I am still angry and feel betrayed. The Jehovahs Witnesses ruined a 21 year marriage, ruined my reputation and wiped me out financially. I turned to drink! How did the mindless elders handle it? One of these rubes offered me a study in the Truth book. How ignorant can you be? Alcoholism and drug abuse is not a MORAL ISSUE! It has been proven to be a disease! The JWs still treat it as a moral issue, how neandrethal can you get? I was left to sink or swim. It was a Roman Catholic and a Baptist that saved me. How ironic, the Wathctower claims these people are minions of Satan and that Great Whore Babylon. Don't even get me started about Babylon, the writers at the WT had to be on some damn good peyote.So before you just look at your SMALL little cozy world, look around and in conclusion I ask, why are you , a friend of the JWs, even looking at this Watchtower labeled apostate web site? Have worries? Doubts? Then all can't be hunky dory in Candyland. It was members of the HOLY Bethelites that raped a 10-112 year old boy, ME! My name is Mark H. Palo: palo50@yahoo.com
I just discoved this site today. I can't tell you how happy it makes me to know that I am not alone. I was abused by the elders son when I was only 4. They said it was my fault because I was too pretty,at 4 years old! He was never punished for what he did to me. He is married now and has children of his own. How can they let this happen? I hope one day the congregation will be exposed for the sick,demented,fucked up cult that it is.
I have every sympathy for some peoples bad experiences and I in no way condone them, but unfortunately we are living in a world where people, believe it or not, ARE imperfect.
Some of you really have an axe to grind with members of the Watchtower Society but didn't you ever learn while you were members that these characters WOULD infiltrate the congregation in the time of the end?
Its nobodys fault, except for the individuals who caused these travestys and perhaps the Elders DID handle it wrong in some instances but at the end of the day we are all imperfect!
Give people a break!
TO ALL BE IT FRIEND OR FOE---WT/is a cult and is full of abusive people as members from mere publisher to higharcy etc. RELIGION is man made anyway--GOD is not / I look to GOD and the GOD within myself and then it does away with rules ad regulations of the WT considerably...I dress to suit myself for instance - flannels to sweats - I am warm and that is what matters..HAPPINESS comes from within - in other words it starts with YOU first and only you....SO ALL I CAN SAY - after much soul searching and 40 years in the WT and standing back and observing people, etc. I am Happier out of the ORG. singing Jesus loves, and celebrating the Holidays. Being as single and celibate that I am = the list goes on.....Mark Palo can call himself what he wants. I am going to still call him honey cause that is what I choose too. Ignore the negative and actuate (sp) the positive..I have not seen Susan Forward in 21 years now - but the 4 months I spent in worldy therapy with her - lets say certainly left her mark....MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A SAFE-SOBER And EMOTIONALLY REFLECTIVE NEW YEAR.HAPPY HOLIDAYS
You seem to miss the point. Whe are aware that things like child abuse do happen all over the world and in every religious organization. All we want is to fight for our right as victims and we want to point out that the"Oh so clean" WTBS is not so clean after all. How would you react when your neighboor molested your child, I bet you would screem and gave them a run for the money. Would you give them a break? I think not.
I do take your points and you are right that child molestation happens all over the world. That is why surely we are in the last days. It also talks in the bible about the one "who endures to the end will be saved". From that scripture it is not surprising that people will fall away and act disgracefully. Some of you are just on a witch-hunt against the Society and are looking for any excuse to attack. - get a life.
To the person who attacked every aspect of the WTS - to say that you are happier now out of the organization is true but to say that religion is man-made is garbage. How on earth do you explain the scripture where it says "Jesus is the head of the congregation?" - Surely that talks about people gathering together in a congregation setting (Heb 10:24,25). Where is your excuse? And would you think that Jesus would like you celebrating Christmas( check Catholic encyclopaedia) - pagan festival?
Can I just point out that its unlikely that sexual abuse/molestation is any more common among JW's than any other religious organisation, for example the Catholic church. I would hope that it is less widespread, and has a lower percentage rate than the population as a whole.
Thanks for beeing considerate in your language when speaking to us. I realy appriciate this, some just get to emotional or angry. Please also excuse my english I'm German and make a lot of mistakes I know. Here are some thoughts of my own. I used to be a smoker because I wanted to be one of JW I stopped. I had a lot of bad habbits I stopped. A child abuser should be able to stopp if he realy wants to. He can get help if he can not do it on his own. If I was cought smoking I would have been disfellowshipped, why the double standard when it comes to child abuse? Which is in my opinion no comparison to smoking. I remember while studying and also later, that JW's do not let any clergy they know of who did something like this, get away with. How can anybody be so selfrightous not to see that they themself have the very same problems? It does not make an organization clean by just not talking about it or to cover up the stories. The victims where abused twice Can you even imagine what it is like to be sexual abused as a child and to grow up with this? I have been sexual abused by my own grandfather whom was one of JW's, funy, this is the first time I talk about this. I was on prozac while I was a JW, I was in a mental health institution right after I got baptized because I had to have an operation and was scared that something might happen and I needed blood. I told an elder at my congr. what had happed to me and why I suffer depressions, all he had to say was: "I wished you wouldn't have told me, so that I can see you still as the same person as before you told me." After reading all these stories, and these are just stories about child abuse, doesn't that make you think just a little bit? Everyone of us has a story to tell and we all would have never admitted that we even had one to tell when we where still in the org.. I just picked up Ray Franzes book because I thought that I was to die at armageddon anyway because I could not take the pressure anymore. And this was the best thing I ever did in my life. It took me three years to free my mind from the "clean language" I had learned by the JW's. Is that brain washing or not? You are not even able to express your own toughts no more in your vern own words after beeing a JW. That is not something to be proud about. If we are spiritual adults, we should be able to speak and express ourself like adults, and don't need to have others do the thinking and speaking.
Hi,
There shouldn't be any double standards for child abuse. It should be dealt with and the people removed from the congregation. If not the the visiting Overseer should remove the Elders responsible from their positions(if they have made a mistake in dealing with the situation).
As a JW I have heard of many of these situations and I am disgusted as some of you that are no longer in the WTS. But was it really worth giving it all up?? You can be stumbled but really can you be stumbled out of the Truth if it meant so much to you?? At the end of the day, we come to the Kingdom Hall and go on the Ministry to serve Jehovah - NOT to serve men.
Unfortunately Satan is effecting the Christian Congregation(as foretold in the scriptures) and people are infiltrating of this nature. Believe me I sympathise deeply with you ones which have genuinely suffered I have also suffered injustices myself at times, but I AM NO WAY GOING TO LET ANYONE DESTROY MY RELATIONSHIP WITH JEHOVAH. Its a pity some of you have. I urge you to reconsider your thoughts and realise that these people WILL be dealt with by Jehovah. Please don't let yourselves go down with them and the rest of this wicked world.
Best Wishes
You do care about us and that is refreshing. My relationship with Jehovah by the way was never better than after I left the ORGANIZATION. Jehovah does not equals Organization for me. It is the WTBS who makes us believe that this is the case. The Organization just reminds me too much of that what the Jews did when they came up with the talmud. There was the bible but they had to interpred every single scripture to such an extend that it was almost impossible to follow. I just can no longer believe that a Organization who has made so manz mistakes and still makes is singled out by God to be the only tru religion. When I went out in service I have met so obviously strong christians at the door that every single time that happend I asked myself what kind of God I worship if he let these people die at armageddon since their faith was so strong. They didn't believe in going to meetings xamound of times in the week, they didn't go from door to door to bring in hours preaching to others, but there meeknes and warmth towards others was a testemony in itself. They had love, which I missed between "God's people". In 10 years of beeing a JW I have been only three times to an elderly person a sister, who lived in an old folks home, to see her or visit her. I never knew the sister, but others in the congr. did. Why, just because you couldn't count the time. I know you meen well and I thank you for that, but I just have seen too much and it is just not possible that the WTBS equals Jehovah.
To Mr. D.R. van Engers: I recieved your email about your doubts on my story. I have tried to reply but keep recieving message "not sent" due to error in the "to" field, meaning your email address may have a mistake. I would gladly verify my story for you if you contact me again. I am interested as to why my story stood out from the others. Was it because it occurred at Bethel? I have not been in therapy for five years because I feel like it nor can one fool trained professionals for too long. I know, I am a Human Service major in college. To all, have happy holdays however you may spend them, your brother, Mark H. Palo; palo50@yahoo.com
To the JW who signed,"Best Wishes" What would make you think that anyone on this site who has been victimized by the WTS's ignoring pedophilia would believe this is God's Organization. When I learned the "TRUTH" in the Truth Book in 1970, what drew me was the fact that it claimed to be God's clean representative on earth. and the other religions filled with immoral spritual leaders were to be recognized by the "fruitage". Well let's apply that standard that WATCHTOWER applies to all other religions of "Christendom". The Watchtower Society cannot measure up to any of it's own standards. It is a money hungry, wealthy Business Corporation hiding all it's financial interests all over banks of the world without being too up front with the governments where the money is going. Now they send Bethelite sharpies to college to learn to be lawyers to "protect their interests' and that is a known fact. They have so much real estate that they need to turn into cash and hide and transfer funds supposedly for kingdom hall buildings, but guess what, they have lawyers doing their legal dirty work and it is not only in the interest of real esatate but in the interest of hiding it's huge problem with SEXUAL ABUSE COVERUP. Their corrupt lawyers love to work hard to hide this, that is why elders are directed from the top to keep the secret. And guess who is the fall guy. SATAN Himself. This way they don't have to take responsibilty for the filth they call "BRothers in good standing" knocking on the doors. Watchtower is just as blood guilty as those it claims to be. And no abuse victim here is sorry for not being in the kingdom hall where the Society speaks lies from the stage.What a dishonor to Christ to protect a pedophile and show a shunning attitude to anyone who tries to speak out. Ask any molestation victim/survivor and they will tell you. And yes the Bible says wolves will enter in among the sheep, but in case you didn't know it, that is true of all those who want to follow their christian conscience and not go along with the religious organization that protects wolves, no matter who they are. Watchtower is a perpertrating abuser of those broken in spirit, and you and those like you are enabling it to happen. Do your research and read the Bible and not the NWT. I learned that is their version of the TRUTH. If you ever get the chance to see Sexual abuse victims sitting in a courtroom against their molester, and the elders and the WTS lawyers hiding behind "ecclesiastical privlege" just the way the clergy did that WTS accused, you would see that this is not God's mouthpiece on earth. Why? because it is impossible for God to lie. R.
Dear person who signs post as Best Wishes,
Why are you on this site?? Are not all of Jehovah's Witnesses supposed to stay off the internet with so called apostates? I am and so are many other posters on this site baptized witnesses who love God but do not believe the Borg is worried about you and our spirituality on the net. They don't want you to see how many people in the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses have been sexually abused by their elders. Were you on this site because you are so interested in us and want to encourage rape victims to go back into the system that embraces their abusers with protection from exposure. They fear exposing themselves. Remember the story of the Wizard of Oz? We have walked in Dorothy's shoes watching the "man" behind the curtain using fear portraying the Wizard. But the Wizard isn't what they believed it was. And Dorothy wasn't sighing and groaning over the fact that she didn't have the Wizard to beleive in anymore. The Wizard was the creation of a small greedy man. Dorothy learned that she must believe in her own strengh of faith. And she was happy to see that her faith led her in the right direction. Faith in God is not dependent on man telling you how to have faith. It is born out of distress and total dependence on God to direct you and faith in his love and mercy that he will always sustain you through prayer in your private room and from the heart. He does not dwell in manmade temples or buildings or kingdom halls, and 5 meetings a week of men being master over your faith will not bring you closer to God. I am a former pioneer and never did I develop the relationship with my God then that I have now. And it is not from constant studying. The Bible says always learning but never coming to an accurate knowlege. That is what Jehovah's Witnesses are. They are so busy learning and judging each others works and labels, they don't see the lack of Spirit in their Religous Community. Numbers and Statistics and an organizational Concept. How much like the Jewish Pharisees and Scribes of Jesus day. Their wolflike treatment of those afflicted. Jesus condemned them, he didn't say, oh well, stay among them because they are imperfect men. He urged the afflicted to follow him and separate from their legalistic teachings, and follow the law of love and compasssion and condemned wicked men. Jeremiah did the same. Any one who spoke out against Wicked men were persecuted. And that is what the Watchtower Pharisees do to Sexual abuse Victims through their elder pharisitical henchmen. Are you willing to speak out on what is wrong? Then tell where you come from, which congregation? You won't do that because the fear inspiring Wizard might "punish" you just like an abuser punishes a victim for exposing the abuse. Have a nice day.
To the writer who asked the question, "Why are you on this site?" I say BRAVO! Your words were well thought out,and delivered a powerful message!I fully agree with your attitude of identifying oneself and the congregational areas. It is high time the arrogant WTBS be exposed for it's malignant underbelly. In NYC , only the Catholic Church has more real estate holdings than the WTBS. Mark H. Palo, Lowell, Mass. palo50@yahoo.com , P.S. I bow to no man, only my savior Jesus Christ!
To the well intentioned people who come here to save our "wicked" souls, I don't think this is the place! The WTS is not being singled out for persecution. Look on the internet and you will find sites like this for about every religion out there. The reason why people come here is because of a common bond, being a witness and being violated. My going to a Catholic site would do me no good because I wasn't a Catholic, I was Witness and can relate to the way everyone else was treated. I stuck it out believeing that it was man and not the orginazation was messed up...I stuck it out through being molested 5 times(each being ignored), having my best friend being molested by her father from when she was three until she was sixteen(she was just too pretty he said), having various girls molested by sons of elders and bonding with them at sleep overs. All this I saw and accepted because I was told this was the truth. I got married to a MS/pioneer/former bethelite, like I was suppose to, and became a pioneer mother, like I was suppose to. Only after I found out that he has been cheating on me since before we were married, that he beat our daughter on a regular basis, after the elder knew and have personally witnessed these acts, after he left and took everything we had leaving me in tremendous debt and alone, after the elders asked me what I could have possibly done to deserve him to treat me like this(because he was extremely charismatic) did I start to question everything I had known since I was three months old. To ones who say find another congregation, we are admonished not to run away to different congregations because they are all the same, well they are right. No matter where you go they will cruxify a teenager for impusively giving in to hormones they are just beginning to have, but forgive a grown man for taking advantage of that same teenager. So in the end I tried very hard to overlook wrongdoind, just like everyone else, in my search for happiness. I then realized how unhappy I was and if my eternal life was to be spent around people who can destroy a life with little thought I would rather enjoy this life and my family and take my chances with death.
Another pet peeve, the way they condemn a teenager before thye ever do anything wrong. Our children are fun and lively and bound to make mistakes. If you destroy their self-esteem by making them feel guilty for just being alive, they have nothing to lose.
Have a wonderful weekend!
I was a JW but fell away because I couldn't handle the pressure. After reading these stories it brings me back to incidents that went on while I was a JW but I filed them away thinking they would be taken care of. However, they weren't. I realize that we live in a imperfect world but THIS ABUSE GOES ON WAY TO MUCH AND GETS OVER LOOKED. It really boggles my mind that these men who are appointed to oversee that the congergation is kept clean are not doing their job!! And that they are in fear of their reputation. As far as I can see many have left because their cases were not looked after and were looked upon as criminals. If you stand up for your rights you get thrown overboard because you put a man in power in jeoperdy. I feel really bad for the victims because they are not getting the support and are afraid to seek outside help. Now that I have become a stronger person I have often thought of being reinstated but I would probably be shipped out just as fast as going in. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE STILL IN THE JW'S AND ARE A VICTIM OF ABUSE --- YOU HAVE RIGHTS -- DO WHAT EVER IT TAKES LET JEHOVAH GUIDE YOU NOT THE MEN IN POWER!!!!
I was a JW but fell away because I couldn't handle the pressure. After reading these stories it brings me back to incidents that went on while I was a JW but I filed them away thinking they would be taken care of. However, they weren't. I realize that we live in a imperfect world but THIS ABUSE GOES ON WAY TO MUCH AND GETS OVER LOOKED. It really boggles my mind that these men who are appointed to oversee that the congergation is kept clean are not doing their job!! And that they are in fear of their reputation. As far as I can see many have left because their cases were not looked after and were looked upon as criminals. If you stand up for your rights you get thrown overboard because you put a man in power in jeoperdy. I feel really bad for the victims because they are not getting the support and are afraid to seek outside help. Now that I have become a stronger person I have often thought of being reinstated but I would probably be shipped out just as fast as going in. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE STILL IN THE JW'S AND ARE A VICTIM OF ABUSE --- YOU HAVE RIGHTS -- DO WHAT EVER IT TAKES LET JEHOVAH GUIDE YOU NOT THE MEN IN POWER!!!!
the information from the magazines about how we must "protect our children;" - the paedophile must "pay the price" for his crime according to the laws of the country he is in; - we can approach the elders about anything with "confidence and trust" that they are our hiding place; - etc., etc., - we were in a congregation where the elders protected the child molester over and above the children of the congregation. We began to form a relationship with the child molester (un-be-known to us!!) and thank Jehovah! a brother (good old publisher, nearly inactive) out of concern told us to be careful and explained why - my husband went to the Presiding Overseer immediately and asked "are my children safe in the company of brother so and so?" The answer? "No, they are not." Now what would you do? The stinking elders put the child molester's well-being before our children's emotional and physical well-being. The rotten beggars kept it quiet and didn't tell us and from then on, the hypocrisy about going to the elders as we can trust them and the love we have for each other etc., etc., appears to be total rubbish because it wasn't there for the children or parents of the congregation. Since then it appears there is another child abuser in the congregation but of course the person is un-named and hence every male is under accusation... and one of the elders has been accused of sexually abusing his daughter (by his daughter) but he is still an elder and nothing is done about it. Best thing is to leave the sexual deviants to fiddle amongst themselves and move on..Do we go to another congregation? Tried that, but we looked at the brothers and sad to say, there is no longer any trust there. Once the trust goes...
We were told by a friendly policeman that our congregation was under investigation for being part of a paedophile ring and to get out of it. We did.
Comments made to "Best wishes". Thank you friends you just can express yourself better than I can and also got some points across. How can anybody, knowing this, still believe that it is just a matter of stumbling over imperfect people? I do expect from God's people that they ARE more loving and caring then others, but for sure I didn't see it in the KH's I have been to.
To the Poster who spoke about a "pedophile ring", mentioned by the police dpt that is investigating. this is very interesting because I believe this is happening in many many areas. I myself come from the Bergen County New Jersey area and there are many congregations in that area that have incestuous family members in position of elder and ministerial servants. The ones who become close to these men and their enabling families are made to believe that pedophiles don't exist when in fact they know quite well that the very ones they are protecting have not only been crminally charged with sexual assault against thier own family members in the "Truth" but also non believing relatives' children and people within their neighborhoods. The elder "policy" to say that they protect the children in their congregations is bull and also what about the children that are in their neighborhoods? Which elder notifies the parents in the territory they "preach" door to door or are brought to a "Bible Study" to count their time so they can be labeled an "active Publisher". I am very concerned about this from my own personal experience with the matter just explained and I have posted on this site before concerning "Haven for Pedophiles, Conspiracy of Silence, another Post mentioning an elder at an assembly giving an experience when in fact he is also himself a past pedophile according to the definition in DSM IV, and protecting his pedophile father who molested and was convicted of sexually assaulting his own daughter, his own wife's sisters and his own nieces and cousins, yet this elder was validated at a circuit assembly with by knowing Circuit overseers and District Overseers and "fellow elders" the "Good ol Boys Club" you might want to refer to it as. This is just not right and ANYONE who can be brave enough to speak out the more accountable these people will become publically as they continue to shun victim/survivors. My family are Victim/Survivors of Pedophilia condoned and given "implied permission" to continue under hiding. The congregations involved in my own case are in the North Jersey area. Victims in their congregations past and presently are faced with a crushed spirit. I am especially appalled at the latest study article in the Watchtower this past Sunday. Although I refuse to go to a kingdom hall and hear the lies and misuse of Scriptures, I was told by someone who is a victim/survivor that the WT study article mentioned the cleaness of the WTS and pointed their fingers at other Churches. Even one who commented at that study was himself a known abuser sitting in the audience after denying his own involvement in sexually molesting his stepdaughter, which was known by members of the congregation, and the elders. The step daughter, had left the congregation with feelings of suicidal thoughts. This must be made known so that the watchtower elders cannont cover it up for fear of lawsuits. I am from the North Jersey area of Bergen county. I have previously posted as RWH, Barbara, P, and also unsigned. My name is Barbara Pandelo and I and my family are Victim/Survivors of the Watchtower Society's implied permission to incestuous family elders to protect the convicted PEDOPHILE family member, and continue to Slander the Victim/Survivors within the Circuit.
I was raised a Witness by my parents -=- Dad's an elder, has been for 15 years; Mom pioneered for years, both sisters and my brother are still JWs. At seven years of age, my brother was abused by the son of a woman who was studying with another Pioneer. There were several small boys from the congregation that were involved, and the elders "encouraged" the families to handle the issue "internally." One sister decided to take matters into her own hands (bravo!) and contacted the local authorities. Child services made house calls on all of the families involved, and met with some opposition, from what I understand.
It breaks my heart to think of what my poor little brother suffered at the hands of another child. When my mother informed me of what happened, she cried and cried, blaming herself for not knowing and not listening when my brother told her that he didn't want to go to the boy's house for a sleepover -=- turns out it had happened on several occasions, not just the "one time, " as Childrens' Services were told. Part of me wanted to tell her "it *is* your fault for putting him in the kind of situation where this could happen!" But I know that that isn't true -=- the Witnesses are a more dangerous cult than people are willing to admint. Thank God I got away when I did, before too much damage could be done.
I just discovered this site.Both of my girls were molested by brothers at the hall.(one of them was a ministrial servant)The witnesses prefer to handle any problems internally(yes,it is true)I am still a JW as is my wife.The organization has problems that they refuse to acknowledge or do anything about.They just want to save face.If you complain you could be threatened to be thrown out(goodby family and friends)or be charged with slander.(Direct words from the C.O.)I live in Northern Onterio and the congregations everywhere has problems.
I USUALLY DON'T LIKE LARGE LETTERS-BUT THIS TIME I WILL MAKE AN EXCEPTION: TO RANDY THANKS- AND ALL OF YOU A VERY MERRY HOLIDAY SEASON-TAKE CARE
Lists of Areas involving SEXUAL ABUSE comitted by Elders and Ministerial Servants & otherwise Brothers who were in "good standing".
Brooklyn, New York, Bethel Northern Onterio Southern Missouri Northern New Jersey, Bergen, & Passaic Counties Georgia Bradenton, Florida Nevada Lowell, Mass.
All of you who have had the courage to speak out are beginning to expose a hypocritical, Organized religion that has in the past succeeded in covering it's invovement with pedophilia. Just as in an incestuous household, and in a pedophile molesting a child, the Society, wants silence from the abused victims. This way the secret is kept from the outside, and the victim is made to feel like the one who has done something wrong by allowing it. The more of us who are willing to speak out, the less power the perpetrating molesters and the perpetrating religion who gives them implied permission so to speak, will be able to use to silence the victims. Threats of shunning or trumped up charges of apostacy for those who speak out are what befalls many who refuse to keep silent about the Watchtower Society's Pedophile problem. I hope that more of those who have been sexually assaulted and silenced by evil men who have had positions as "shepherds" will continue to list their experiences and areas where it occured. Then a victim can take back some of the power and control that the abuser took from them, and aiding in healing, and becoming a survivor and no more a victim.
True story here: After a brother was disfellowshipped, he sat at meetings being shunned for two years and was then reinstated. He than befriended my wife and I and kept offering to change our babies diaper. He kept holding our baby son. Many in the congregation knew he was disfellowshipped for sexual molestation of a 6 year old boy he baby sat on a daily basis for over a year but did not inform me or warn me following the elders' advise. Finally, a brother from a nearby congregation, informed me of a warning put out by his elders that this man should not be allowed by anyone's children. This is because he was giving signs of child interest. I then entered an elder at my congregation, meeting with 7 elders, and approached them. They were extremely apologetic claiming they were afraid I would be stumbled and leave the "truth". Apparently, they were willing to allow my son to be molested to save me from leaving. Thank God, to my knowledge, no molestation took place. This man still remains a Jehovah's Witness and sources have told me that he has since been seen hanging around children a little more than usual
The
Watchtower
Society
now
has
over
90,000
congregations.
So
reasonably
about
500,000
men
are
at
the
start
of
2001
now
Ministerial
Servants
and
Elders,
collectively
called
Servants.
If
only
one
per
1,000
is
a
sex
molester
at
least
500
are
active
in
the
90,000
congregations.
The
more
the
number
of
congregations
and
Servants,
the
more
the
number
of
sexual
abusers
will
increase.
The
current
Watchtower
approach
is
to
hide
the
molesters.
I
read
where
that
was
admitted
in
a
court
case
in
Texas
involving
an
elder
handling
incest.
It
continues
so
we
must
shine
more
light
on
it
for
the
children's
sakes.
I
know
I
must
change
names
and
so
on
but
I
want
to
tell
this
personal
experience.
I
have
been
in
more
than
one
hall
in
Missouri,
not
just
in
the
southern
part
of
it,
and
the
abuses
occur
in
other
parts
of
Missouri.
In
one
hall
an
older
sister
who
was
much
devoted
to
the
Watchtower
Society
made
an
inquiry
and
an
elder
told
her
she
had
absolutely
no
right
to
do
so.
Sure,
the
Watchtower
men
give
no
such
right
but
the
law
and
God
do.
This
happened
after
a
Servant
had
already
been
sentenced
to
prison
for
molesting
a
child.
When
I
heard
what
happened
I
was
furious.
I
have
my
own
babies
to
think
of.
I
myself
sent
an
anonymous
letter
reporting
that
molester
and
asking
the
Missouri
Department
of
Family
Services
investigate
to
see
if
other
children
at
the
Kingdom
Hall
where
this
happened
had
also
been
molested
and
to
offer
counseling.
The
MDFS
did
absolutely
nothing
which
is
not
surprising
for
they
also
did
nothing
when
two
little
boys
(non-JWs)
had
molesting
reported
in
their
instances
too,
and
the
aforementioned
children
were
finally
tortured
to
death.
The
scandal
was
exposed
on
the
Montel
Show.
I
believe
this
aired
later
sometime
during
October
to
November
2000,
and
it
was
the
state
Attorney
General,
a
lady,
who
appeared
on
Montel's
Show
and
she
herself
denounced
the
department.
Too
bad
those
aware
of
the
Hall
situations
weren't
on
the
show
that
day.
Sure,
some
race
to
defend
the
Watcthower
men
in
Brooklyn
and
say
well
there's
no
more
molesting
going
on
in
our
JW
Kingdom
Halls
than
among
other
religious
groups.
Well,
they
ignore
that
our
organization
hides
it
more,
and
given
the
extent
to
which
it
gets
covered
up
I
believe
it
actually
is
much
greater
than
normal.
I
also
fear
for
my
grand-children
and
great-grand-children.
Why
not.
People
in
the
hall
were
warned
they
would
be
disfellowshipped
for
"Railing
against
the
Elders"
before
the
Servant
was
put
in
prison
if
they
didn't
watch
what
they
said.
They
went
so
far
as
to
push
and
shove
on
at
least
two
people
that
I
am
aware
of
to
intimidate
them
into
staying
quiet,
although
they
tried
to
do
so
on
the
sly.
You
know
what.
When
you
say
anything
about
an
elder
here
in
Missouri
even
praying
in
your
own
house
all
alone
they
find
out
about
it.