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30, 2002
Writing re- Ernesto letter. Ernesto you sound just like me. I have been a witness for over seven years, lived in 3 different congregations, pineered,etc,etc in Australia, but I have seen the other side of Jehovahs Witnesses. The fact is the organisation has some serious problems. 1.)Paedophile activity and other crimes such as rape, theft and so on are often covered up or the subject moved on because the elders hands are tied. For example, one man who has a 20 year history of committing possible (sorry I have to say possible since everyone I talk to only gives me hints of what he's done)child abuse, animal cruelty and fornication who legally cannot see his own children without a court ordered attendant, is now handling privelages in the congragation. Why? Because he lives alone(so no 2 witness), and when anyone has taken him to the elders he simply says nothing. He's carefull and cunning, and he's got away with it for 20 years and he'll cointinue to. 2.) ALL JW's are TIRED! Tired of meetings, field service and all the other paraphanalia! OF ALL THE JW's I HAVE EVER MET, 90% OF THEM LEED SOME KIND OF DOUBLE LIFE. The fact is the requirements of the Watchtower are too much for most people to handle who already have work, family and other committments to handle. Get a couple of tired elders on a committee who would rather be at a bar drinking beer and joking or talking about some sport than interveiwing some witness they havent had time to get to know, and hey.......... And anyway, who helps the elders? This leeds me to 3.) The Elders are pigs in the middle here. I know of one case where the brothers sought guidance on a paedophile matter from Bethel in Sydney, and were told they would receive no official reply for legal reasons. What could they do? They did the best they could. This leads me to 4.) The culture of "NO, that wouldn't happen here". One of the most excrutiatingly frustrating thing about being a JW is that when people are doing things they shouldn't, no one belives you - to your face atleast. This is the irony every JW faces - the fact that deep down you know terrible things can happen and are happening in the congragation, but you are so wrapped up in the idea that everyone is trying as hard as you are to do the right thing that you think "NO, that wouldn't happen here". This is the reason that one elders son I know of, was able to continue an affair with a married sister for over a year without anyone doing anything. It's also the reason that all sorts of terrible things are allowed to continue until its too late. This leads to 5.) The sub-cultuture. 90% of JW's live normal lives - away from the kingdom hall. They have wordly fiends,swear, lie, cheat, etc, etc AND ACTUALLY KNOW VERY LITTLE OF THEIR OWN RELIGEON EXCEPT WHAT OTHERS HAVE TOLD THEM. To this I can testify to the fact that there is a sub-culture amongst JW's, NOT of actual paedophilia, but of living a double life. It's like being in politics. You do whatever you want to do among your close friends who enjoy the same poison(whatever that is). Personally I could never do it and so don't have any JW friends. Its that bad. As I said 90% of JW's are living some kind of doulbe life and mates protect mates. We could easily write a book on this, but we have to be realistic. I think the best anyone can do who is abused or knows of someone who is, especially if that person is a witness is to go straight to the authorities and blow the thing wide open. The organisation will get what it deserves. P.S On a personal note, thank you. It was internet sites like this, along with my own research that helped me to see reality again. Again, thank you.
My daughter and several other young teens in the congregation were given alcohol and made to perform sexual acts on a ministerial servant in the Niagara area. We were very close to this brother; a member in good standing, often auxilliary pioneered together, socialized with entire family, researching material for the ministry and public talks together. Children informed my brother of the abuse one year after it ended. We went to the police and the brother was questioned and "severely chastized" by the investigating officers--my daughter refused to press charges. What do these animals do to so frighten their victims into silence? As a parent who raised his children in the JW religion, I know only too well how easily we can be brain-washed, so I guess I shouldn't be surprized. The brothers' reaction at the Hall was to investigate (all done in secrecy, as all "judicial" matters); basically, the pervert admitted to part of the truth only, laying blame on the victims. He was privately reproved(Iguess because he was so genuinely repentant!?!) Much more to this story..for now we are dealing with the aftereffects of this damaging experience. My daughter left our home shortly after the abuse (my wife and I were at a loss as to why she had changed so drastically from the respectful obedient child we had raised...this would have been unthinkable for us ...our trusted friend... but, oh, how I wish we had been told.) My daughter still can't talk about it...the counsellors suggested that to converse with her on this would be a further abuse. Hopefully, she will come to a point where she can unburden herself of this pain and call this pervert to account. Meanwhile, we tell any and all who will listen about this man (difficult because of our daughter's privacy) in such a way that they know to keep their children away from him. We no longer attend the Hall.
Back in 1996 upon return from the Thursday night meeting my third daughter told me of something that had happened behind the KH that night after meeting. The son of one of the elders in this congregation had forced her down on the ground and put his hands down her panties. There were other children in the area but either they didn't see clearly in the dark or didn't understand what was going on. I frankly didn't know what to think and probably would have blown it off if her younger sister hadn't come in and told me that this young brother (who also lives next door to us) had been doing the same thing to her when she would over at their home. Another daughter came in then and told me that the boy had grabbed her breast that night also, hard enough to cause her pain. I immediately called the KH knowing the family would still be there. The boy's father, the elder, answered the phone. I told him what the girls had told me and he assured me that he was very sorry and he would take care of things. I felt that the safety of my four daughters would be taken into consideration and the boy would be disciplined. (I did not call the police because the boy was only 14.) Well, on Sunday morning during the WT study this boy was not only commenting but he was running the mic's. I knew that there had been nothing done about this. I called the PO and asked him about it. He said that the elder had told him about my call but didn't think there was any truth to it so nothing had been done. I asked the elder why no one had called us to see if this thing was true...we had three "witnesses" to this. He said that he would look into it and knew that I wasn't just trying to stir up trouble in the congregation since I hadn't called the police. I told him the only reason I hadn't called the police was because the boy was a juvenile. Two elders came to our home and talked to my girls. But as far as I know nothing was done in the congregation. I was assured that the boy would stay away from my girls and when he saw them outside he would go back inside. I had really bad feelings about this because I felt that my girls and their feelings had not been validated by the elder body. In fact I was to discover that this boys grandfather, also an elder, told someone that it had been my daughter that had rubbed her privates up on his grandson and that we were a family of liars. Shortly after I heard this I had a visit from the CO and the PO, I mentioned this to the CO. I was astounded when I found out that the CO was unaware of any of this. I guess I had thought the CO would be aware of any judicial matters that had occurred in the congregation...either he wasn't made aware or no judicial action had been taken. I also had received a phone call from another elder who had found a note in his car during all this naming this young brother and asking that the previous CO "do something" about this young brother. This elder wasn't aware of any of it but I was told the CO refused to do anything about it since the accused has the right to face his accuser and there had to be two witnesses to any occurrence. I have since left the organization, though I have not written the DA letter. The friend who told he about being called a family of liars has too left the organization...his family was severely stumbled when this same young man was caught stealing pornography from a local business they were cleaning...it may not have been found out if the video tape hadn't tripped the alarm and the police showed up. The friend begged the police to forget about it, it had been a mistake, but he figured it would be taken care of in the congregation. The boy's father "stepped down" for one meeting and the boy had to give a talk in the TMS on the evils of pornography. What I see here is a pedophile in the making...the young brother is 19 now, in good standing as far as I know, and in contact with many young children in the congregation and community. My girls are now safe...but what of all those who don't know what he is and what he may become?
May GOD richly Bless our works at getting all the perverts off the streets and out off the WT ORG and out of off all religious churches where they can not hurt anyone (kids) especially. GIVE us the courage to stand up to these PERVERTS and put them in their place -- Jail would be a great idea for starts and not take no more guff off of them any more..Also I am very glad I posted here and met MARCO POLO on this POSTING site--I LOVE YA MARK you is a neat dude. MOMALOU (LINDA) THE QUEEN OF OFFENSIVE RUDE DISFELLOWSHIPPED XJW APOSTATES
I am a mom who 21 years ago who sought worldy therapy === the elders said cover it over = etc. NOT I and I would not do any different today either. IT BOILS DOWN TO HAVING GUTS AND STICKING UP FOR YOURSELVES MOM AND KIDS...THERE are some things yes one must turn over to the LORD but there are other things MOM must tend to HERSELF with the HELP of a really great wordly psychotherapist--NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A WOMAN (MOMMY) At all.. if I could do it SO CAN YOU.. SO DO IT RIGHT NOW--you know you are telling the truth and so does GOD and that is all that matters..TAKE CARE (((((HUGS))) MOMALOU (LINDA)
OVER TWENTY YEARS AGO I WAS MOLESTED BY A FELLOW BROTHER, NEIGHBOR AND FAMILY FRIEND AT THE AGE OF 5 YEARS OLD. I THANK GOD THAT BY SOME COINCIDENCE MY MOTHER AND HIS WIFE GOT INTO A HEATED ARGUMENT AND NEVER SPOKE TO EACH OTHER AGAIN. THAT'S HOW HE WAS UNABLE TO PUT HIS HANDS ON ME AGAIN. I NEVER TOLD ANYONE; IN FACT, IN THE 1970'S CHILD MOLESTATION WAS NOT AN OPEN OR PUBLIC TOPIC. PARENTS DID NOT TELL YOU WHAT WAS "BAD TOUCH" AND GOOD TOUCH. OR WHO SHOULDN'T TOUCH YOU IN CERTAIN PLACES OF YOUR BODY. I WAS STUNNED, ASHAMED, CONFUSED AND EVEN FORGOT ABOUT THE INCIDENT UNTIL THE AGE OF 14; WHEN I SAW A SHOW OF MOLESTATION ON OPRAH. MY BRAIN JUST TRAVELED BACK TO THAT BROTHER. AROUND THAT TIME I HEARD MY FATHER SAY HOW HE HEARD HE (THE MOLESTER) HAD BEEN ARRESTED, OR ACCUSED OF RAPING A WOMAN AT HIS JOB. I WAS NOT SURPRISED. I EVEN THOUGHT OF TELLING MY PARENTS THEN WHAT HAPPENED, BUT I THOUGHT , "WHAT'S THE USE". I DON'T KNOW IF THE KINGDOM HALL HE ATTENDED HAD DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. BUT I WOULD NOT DOUBT THAT HE'S STILL IN THE ORGANIZATION HIDING BEHIND HIS RELIGION. MICHELLENATAL@AOL.COM
I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses, while some of the facts are true, most if it are covered with a load of lies, if whoever can back up any of these statements would like to e-mail mae at Braden_W_@hotmail.com I welcome then. I am 15 and was raised in the truth, no brainwashing or manipulation went on, I was just tought about the bible and was allowed to make my own choice, if someone were to actually read the bible then they could find the truths for themselves.
You have to look at the works of the organization as a whole as Jesus said, by their works you will know them. The WTS cannot control everyone, they can only carry out the "preaching and teaching" work as Christ commissioned in Matthew 28:19, 20, which they are doing, in spite of many peoples vicious attachs against them. Jesus Said that if you mistreat any one of these my "brothrs" you are mistreating me. People that learn about the Bible through the efforts of WTBS ARE better people. I have been wronged by many things too, but with Jehovah God's help as stated in Isaiah 28: their can be a healing and forgiveness
I use to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses about three years ago but was disfellowshipped. While growing up in this religion I actually got to see how corrupt it really is. When I was thirteen years old, a follower of the Jehovah's Witnesses inappropriately tried to fondle me, when I came forward to my mom and the elders about this incident they wanted to see what I was wearing at the time this all occured. The mans wife was called to the meeting with the elders. Doesn't that seem strange that the actual person who did this wasn't even approached by the elders, but had given a message through his wife that I misunderstood him,and that he was just trying to "tickle" me. I'm sorry but I didn't know that tickling someone involved putting your hands up their shorts and into their underwear, and going under their shirt to do so as well. In another instance not too long after my disfellowshipping, my best friend who of course was not suppose to talk to me, came to my computer class and got me out because she needed to talk to me. She proceeded to tell me that the brother that her mom married about four months prior came into her room the night before and raped her. She could tell that he was drunk as well. Strangely though her mom sleeping in the same house heard nothing at all going on. She didn't want to tell the guidance counselors at our school because she knew her mom would take his side and believe that she was making all of this up. Well I didn't let her go without telling. I went to the counselors and made her tell them. The police were called and H.R.S. My friend was taken to the emergency room for an evaluation in which they found traces of her step fathers semen, also in the underwear that she was wearing at the time. He was arrested and disfellowshipped from the congregations. To my surprise though my friends mother continued to stay with this man and visited him in JAIL while he was serving his time for this crime. She also told my friend that she should forgive him because it was a mistake and that she was going to continue her marriage with this piece of garbage. As of today, her "step-dad" is out of jail and has written a letter of apology to the elders and has been reinstated. Does that make any sense? He's a child molester, why is he welcome into an organization that claims to be soooo perfect.
Hello.
I was raped by my father my entire life, until the age of approximately 18. He was not a jw, but an athiest. My mother was Irish Catholic. At the age of 18, I started studying with Jehovah's Witnesses.
After 3 yrs. of studying, I was baptised, having then a daughter about a year old. I had no idea that when I took her over to my mother's to babysit, my dad and younger brother were seriously sexual abusing her. Because of my father, I had an extreme problem with memory. I just didn't know.
One reason I joined Jehovah's Witnesses is to find security, peace and hope. I thought I had found it - Spiritual Paradise and all. Jump forward some years, I was studying with my brother who was about 13, my father had died and I felt sorry for him. Unknown to me, my little brother sodomized my little girl from her ages of 6 - 9. He was a teenager at the time. He has confirmed this to me and his own wife.
I never let my daughter go to anyone's house without first trying to know the parents. Thus, put to rest the idea that *you* take care of your child and *I* didn't. I did. I just didn't know - as thousands of parents say the same thing.
A Ministerial Servant with 5 children was in our cong. and his daughter made friends with my daughter. I visited over their home on several different occasions - their daughter was over our house a lot. The Ministerial Servant sexually abused my daughter around the age of 12. Later, when this came to light, his own daughter had already written a letter to her congregation about the years of incest by her father.
All this was brought to the attention of the elders in the congregation we were attending. They refused to do anything about it since the paedophile was in another congregation, another state. They would not even deem to call those elders and say "Hey, you might have a problem in your congregation." They said it was not their concern. I remember - I argued this point.
I called the other congregation, spoke with the Presiding Overseer. He told me about the daughter's letter accusing her father of incest. I told him about my daughter. He acted as if he believed me and said this man would be brought in for questioning. Two witnesses. He said they called the Watchtower Society on how to handle the matter.
The wife of the Ministerial Servant in the meanwhile, told the elders that if they said the word "incest" on her property, she would sue for slander. The elders backed down, the Ministerial Servant was never spoken to about the incest/molestation of my daughter and his own daughter. The PO told me this - they couldn't take the chance of being sued.
Many repercussions since that time. Enough for now. I have been a devout Jehovah's Witness for 30 years. I have now stopped going to meetings - but I don't smoke, have 2 glasses of wine a week, don't celebrate the holidays, love my husband, and have committed no wrong except for the human frailties. In other words, I'm no more perfect than the next person.
I am writing about these things more in response to the commenters who defend the Watchtower Society at all costs. So did I - and I and they hurt my daughter in return for my loyalty.
Not a fair exchange. She's worth more than the concept of keeping the congregation's reputation clean. Any child is worth more than that.
I was "suggested" to keep silent for the good of the congregation several different times by Circuit Overseers. I did - at great expense to myself. I finally got tired and still carried my anger as my constant companion after 10 years.
Our children are more important than pawns, grasshoppers, insignificant in the war between Jehovah and Satan. Our children are our loves of life - the next human beings on our earth. We should care for them more than mere grasshoppers.
ok, first of all, I have read most of what everyone has said but why is this focused just on Jehovah's Witnesses. I myself am one of Jehovah's Witnesses and I think most of these people who talk ill of the brothers in this association need to be less sensitive. I have seen some problems gone on with some people but the thought that nothing is done is not true. I think that the people saying this stuff was hurt by someone and wants to get back at them. It's been my experience that we should be in this religion for Jehovah God and His Son Jesus Christ, not for imperfect men. I'm sure we all know we are imperfect, I think to single out this religion, when we see bad people in every religion, is wrong. And one person on here said that Jehovah's Wittnesses don't love everyone, that is not true. The Bible tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves and what we do is what the Bible tells us to do, that is what we follow. I'm sorry if there were some brothers that offended others but like I said before we are all imperfect and you should not judge a whole orginization on those few men. And believe me if the brothers don't deal with these men doing bad things then Jehovah God definately will in the end.
we have just had a so called brother released from prison for sexually molesting a teenage girl. He is also on the sex offenders register here in england. He returns to the cong. and hey...guess what....nothing! The elders have said nothing! so i sit there and there are children running all around him and the whole congregation says nothing. I'm just so sick of the blatant disregard for the safety of our children.
To the March 11th poster. First of all, it was Jehovah's Witnesses who did this, so why should anybody pick on catholics? We where for the most part on this web site JW's and know the scriptures, so we don't need anybody to preach to us. If you want to know about what other religions are into, you may want to listen to the local news or open a magazine, other then the watchtower or awake, you can read about them every where. But did you hear or read about witnesses? Not untill lately. Don't you wonder why? Oh, I forgot, it's because they are all innocent, clean and loving people and never, ever something like this would happen in your congregation. Welcome to the real world and for haven's sake, wake up. You miss the point here. Sure we are angry about the perpetrators, but even more so about the cover ups that is going on behind the scene. If you feel comfortable to have your little girl play or sit right next to a pedophile and you don't even know that he is, but your loving elders know and don't tell you. I just can't believe what I'm reading here sometimes. How often do you have to stumble over human imperfection in an organisation untill you realize that something is very wrong? But I understand, it does hurt to find out that the oh so clean organization is not so clean after all.
To the March 11th poster. First of all, it was Jehovah's Witnesses who did this, so why should anybody pick on catholics? We where for the most part on this web site JW's and know the scriptures, so we don't need anybody to preach to us. If you want to know about what other religions are into, you may want to listen to the local news or open a magazine, other then the watchtower or awake, you can read about them every where. But did you hear or read about witnesses? Not untill lately. Don't you wonder why? Oh, I forgot, it's because they are all innocent, clean and loving people and never, ever something like this would happen in your congregation. Welcome to the real world and for haven's sake, wake up. You miss the point here. Sure we are angry about the perpetrators, but even more so about the cover ups that is going on behind the scene. If you feel comfortable to have your little girl play or sit right next to a pedophile and you don't even know that he is, but your loving elders know and don't tell you, that's your business. I, for my part, would like to know if there is somone like this sitting in my KH. I just can't believe what I'm reading here sometimes. How often do you have to stumble over human imperfection in an organisation untill you realize that something is very wrong? But I understand, it does hurt to find out that the oh so clean organization is not so clean after all.
Many years ago I read a book by Warden Lawes of Sing Sing which indicated that the great majority of sex offenders incarcerated were "men of the cloth". Perhaps the very nature of their jobs exposes them to greater temptations than the rest of us. In any case, it seems unfair to single out the JW's unless one has other axes to grind.
To the March 21st poster and all who seem to want to speak in behalf of pedophiles who are Jehovah's Witnesses, and downplaying it because of other religions who are just as guilty. First of all,if you are all such devout witnesses, why are you on this site when you know that the WT has warned you not to. Also, if you are devout witnesses and are supposed to be compassionate and loving, why are you choosing specifically a site that is here for those of us who have been directly hurt by the "men of "cloth" who have gone to great lengths to hide the secret and falsely pretend it really doesn't exist to the extent that it does. You are really only here to re-perpetrate in an emotional way all those who have been raped, sodomized, beaten, and than blamed and shunned for speaking about it while the true criminals have enjoyed their support and continued protection in the congregations. You are nothing more that hecklers and instigators here. And by the way are you counting cheap time also on those who have been hurt?? I have noticed that you all justify yourselves by throwing scriptures to back up your idiocy. You know, like the one where Jesus says "he that loves father or mother greater than me is not worthy of me". Yes this is a scripture that the "untrained" elders have used to turn family members against victims who speak out against the Watchtower Society. Turn that scripture around and use your brainwashed head to think critacally about what Christ really taught about harming your fellow man. Obviously the Whorelike Watchtower Society, who is now rubbing elbows in the courts with other religions demanding their "rights" of ecclesiastical privlege, by filing "friend of the court briefs" with other religions of their enemies Babylon the Great. The Watchtower Organization and you who support her sinnfulness against Jehovah, is guilty of twisting scriptures to suit her rebellious attitud against the teachings of Christ. And the org is the one who "loves father and mother and sister and brother more than " Christ, by protecting all those father and mothers and sisters and brothers, who are sexual abusers and sinning against and bringing reproach against Jehovah. Not the ones who were the victims. And than the Watchtower has the audacity to say "not to be running ahead" to those of us who have spoken out about our perpetrating family members who where father and mother and sister and brother, who condone sexual abuse and say be silent to the victims, wait on jehovah. What a perfect way to keep the secret and skirt accountability. Read the books of the Old Testatment and see how those who "ran ahead by telling the wicked leaders of their day they were sinning against Jehovah. You know like Jeramiah, and the many others who experienced the cruelty of the wicked leaders. No you are the ones who are loving friends and family keeping secrets more that Christ, and Jehovah. You have "consented" with the abusers who are your family members, elders, etc by imposing silence from the victims, and going so far as to shun them for their pain and speaking out about the sins of the Watchtower Lawyers. Go back to where you came from all you pathetic idolators who dance around your goden calf Brooklyn, who is full of dead men hurting women and children and the good men who seek to protect them. You are the ones who have brought reproach on yourselves and Watchtower god. Or godess whatever. You have ignored truth and the true teachings of Christ and all who consent to it by continuing to support your god of in Brooklyn, will bear the pain of the control your god inflicts on you. You are all in bed with the whorelike Watchtower and her pedophiles and elders who take directions to lie to protect them and who take direction to harm the victims by turning the rest of the congregation against them. The Bible is clear when it says woe to the ones declaring the righteous one bad, and the bad one righteous. BP
To those hurt by WT officials and their policy of silence:
It really is saddening what I have been reading. I have never been sexually abused, and I have never had anything to do with the WBTS, but I have known several people who have been sexually abused. I was put in an adolescent treatment center at the age of 12 (I was so out-of-control it was unbelievable.). While I was there, I met (and ended up seeing the pain of) quite a number of girls (and a few guys) who went through that horrible experience. I am now 20, and have always felt sympathy for those who suffer as much as my friends did. It also makes me sick that people who claim to be God's channel say that God is pleased when a 10-yr-old girl keeps silent about getting raped/abused!! It does NOT, and I repeat, IT DOES NOT DEFAME GOD'S NAME TO SOUND THE ALARM. Rather, God is pleased when the tares get pulled up from the wheat. It DOES defame God's name when we harbor sex offenders. What are the guys at Bethel thinking? Do they not know the Scripture that says that government is God's way to punish evildoers (which, presumably, a child molestor falls under that category)? What about the scripture that says to love our neighbor as ourselves? If the WBTS really knew that passage, then they do their upmost to put these people where they belong -- in prison. It is NOT loving one's neighbor when one's neighbor's 10-yr-old daughter is getting raped and one refuses to do anything about it, citing a scripture that has never been used in other religious bodies as sanction for allowing sex offenders in their ranks. The WBTS rule of silence is just the result of what happens when people who claim to be God's channel but really aren't, end up with authoritarian, Saddam Hussein-like control over 12 million people. They simply cannot be "God's channel" because God doesn't look the other way like these people do, let alone demand silence. James tells us to "confess our faults before men" so that healing can occur. The word "faults" there in the Greek means "hidden secrets." If you or someone you know has this type of "hidden secret," ignoring it simply will never solve the problem -- you really need help, and help is out there. If the WBTS won't help you, then you must find someone that will. It does take some strength, but the hurt will remain inside of you until it gets confronted and dealt with. Those who truly know how to tackle this problem do NOT look down on someone who has been violated -- hey, I'm a 20-yr-old guy, and when I was 16, a 12-yr-old girl and her 10-yr-old brother confessed to me what happened when they were forced to have sex with their older stepbrother (who was a friend of mine at the time). I lost all respect for him, and instead of playing "hush-hush," like the WBTS, I reported it instead. Since then, I have e-mailed the girl (she's now 16, the same age I first heard about the whole thing). She has told me to no end about how great it was to be set free. It practically bring tears to my eyes. If you are in this spot today, I urge you -- no matter how hard the depression, no matter how much you fell "dirty," there is hope out there. No one will see you as deserving of second class treatment for it, and there are many wonderful, loving people out there who DO understand. And as for the idea that God wants you to shut up about it, forget the God of the Watchtower. What would he know? The REAL God wants to see you whole -- isn't that how He created you to be?
P.S. I found this site after reading a book by Ankerberg & Weldon (Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions) and they mentioned this site as a good critique of the WBTS. I never expected to find this, though. I felt that I just had to leave a message, although I myself have never been in your peoples' shoes.
Drew
P.S.S. My e-mail address is _writeme@yahoo.com -- in case anyone wants to contact me for any reason.
ALL OF YOU PEOPLE ARE A BUNCH OF PATHETIC EXCUSES FOR HUMANS. YES, I REAILIZE THAT YOU ALL HAVE HAD YOUR TRAUMATIZING EXPIERENCES AND IM NOT SAYING THAT YOU ARE ENTITLED TO SOME EMPATHY AND OR COUNSELING BUT... YOU ARE BLAMING A RELIGION FOR YOUR PROBLEMS INSTEAD OF SEEING THAT PERVERSE MEN EXSIST IN EVERY CULTURE RELIGION CREEED CULT AND PEOPLE SINCE TIME BEGAN... UNTIL YOU REALIZE THIS SIMPLE FACT OF LIFE I BELIVE THAT ALL OF YOU WILL NEVER GET OVER THE "JEHOVAHS WITNESSES DID IT TO ME" MENTALITY AND WILL GO ON HATING A GROUP THAT ENCOUMPASES MILLIONS FOR THE MISTAKES OF A FEW ....
WRITE ME AT JOSHUAAHARVEY16@HOTMAIL.COM
I was molested at 11 years of age by a "brother." I was far too afraid of the repercussions if I said anything. I was already living with physical and emotional abuse at home by my witness mother. I didn't want or need any more trouble. She was so delusional that I was always being screamed at for some imagined misbehavior. I was reprimanded for defending myself against boys who were harassing me at school and told that fighting "wasn't appropriate." I figured out what sort of response I was in for if I ever told about the molestation. I would surely have been blamed for "acting inappropriately." Actually, it was an attempted rape. The man, the "brother," grabbed me, choked me, and lifted me up by the neck before he slammed me against a wall. My family was just a few rooms away. Even though I was scared, and couldn't breathe, I was far more afraid of what the living hell my life would be if this man succeeded in raping me and I got pregnant. I was way more afraid of my mother than I was of this man. I managed to kick him in the guts. He dropped me and I kicked him in the knees and stomped on his foot. I went out head-first through a window to get away. I was lucky. ( I don't know if fearing one's mother more than one's would-be rapist can really be called "lucky" but it worked in this instance.) To anyone who says that we are making all this up, fine, believe what you want. I have nothing to prove to you. I'm too worried about my ex-witness female, and male friends who are trying to get over THEIR traumatic memories, and cope with the drugs, alcohol, and depression that post-traumatic-stress disorder brings. I am not messed up anymore. I'm just really angry. Jesus made it pretty clear that people know what is right and wrong, and that what a person actually does is far more important than what they say, (or print in their literature.) I think that the WTBS is simply BS. I am glad I'm out of it. I see it as a refuge for weak-minded fools who don't have the courage to forge their own personal relatioship with the deity. Fools who want to think that they know everything that has happened from the dawn of time, and think they know everything that will happen at the end of time. Fools who are too terrified to understand and contemplate their own death as a neutral reality, and not as some stupid warped punishment for "sin." Anyone who is truly alive must grapple with the unknown, the unknowable, and their eventual end.
Thanks
Hello every one! I haven't posted in awhile since I've been busy getting an education. I tend to notice certain people who are very angry at us for posting our stories. They are saying we should remain faithful because it is only men. They say we should believe that false statement,"all in good time with Jehovah." I ask, "Is 30 years of ones life enough to wait?" I remained faithful to the lie for that period while seeing my molestors give talks and hold positions of power. I even thought the Watchtower could help me with my alcohol problem. Ha! What a joke, just look at the trash at Bethel on a Saturday morning, it would make a distillers heart glad. What about my poor dear departed mother? She went through menapause when I was a teenager. Did the brothers help her? Were they sympathetic? You jest if you think they did or were. They discouraged her from seeing a psychiatrist or an MD. They told her she was spiritually weak and should stop reading Readers Digest, Time and Look since these publications were worldly. One in particular remains in my mind. His name was David Sinclair. I grew up with this clown. He is the poster boy for the anal retentive. He presently is a president of one of the Watchtowers legal entities. As I grew older I went and asked the brothers if they might have been wrong in my mothers treatment, guess what? I was chatised for questioning. So my mother suffered untold mental and spiritual pain all because of a few very ignorant men. So to those who say we should remain faithful and not throw stones, I say, read your dictionary about the meaning of empathy. Then spend a day helping at a rape crisis center or mental health center. You may come away enlightned. You certainly won't be if all you do is read the Watchtower. Happy Spring to all, Mark H. Palo pal050@yahoo.com
Hi, I posted already, but did not explain my position on "weak minded fools." First of all, how many people realize that there is no biblical injunction against pedophilia? There IS a taboo against all forms of incest, but please note that raping young girls was common practice in the old testament. When the Hebrews were done slaughtering all the inhabitants of a villiage, they were allowed to keep all the girls between 10 and 12 for themselves. (What fun, imagine, being 10 years old, seeing your mother, father, and baby siblings killed, and then being forced to become an adult male's concubine. It's sick isn't it?) Recall please the other tales where fathers offered up their daughters to the hands of rapists to protect a guest in the house. That was not a crime either. As a matter of fact, when I was a child, a visiting speaker cited one of these accounts of a father giving up his "best" for Jehovah. Lest you fall back on the predictable JW moldy old claptrap about "those evil people were sacrificing their children, and thus they deserved to be obliterated; I ask you, what about the Egyptian Firstborn killed by "god?" are they not a human sacrifice to the greater glory of Jehovah? What about Job's children? They were killed for nothing more than a BET between god and satan. Apparantly god was too insecure to tell Satan to get lost (remember, like Jesus was able to do when he was dying?) Moreover, these children weren't even killed to stop a volcano, or end a drought. (Which is ususally what little children were sacrificed for by their misguided parents.) They were killed on nothing more than a bet. What about the firstborn child of David and Bath-Sheba? "god" killed him too. I won't argue that taking Uriah's wife, and setting him up to get killed on the front lines was a pretty crappy thing to do, but killing the firstborn child to regain god's favor is a HUMAN SACRIFICE to Jehovah. Why is it O.K. for Jehovah to do these things, but when other peoples and gods do it, it's morally wrong? Molesting, or raping either women or children is merely a crime, and NOT A SIN unless the woman or child is betrothed to someone else, and the rapist ruins their "virgin market value." Of course the fact that the woman or child is unwilling and suffers as well contributes to making it not a sin. Only mutually loving, non violent exchanges between people which are not sanctioned by marriage is a sin. Unfortunately, it is illegal in this country to have more than one wife, or take concubines, so these rapists, and pedophiles can't get off by merely paying a bride price and having their hapless victim live in their household. The whole thing was sick and hypocritical from the beginning. Moreover, at the risk of sounding condescending, JESUS HIMSELF WAS A HUMANS SACRIFICE! I mean, it's so obvious, it gets overlooked. These little children in congregations who are not receiving either justice or protection are further being sacrificed to the Organization. It doesn't surprise me at all. Right now, even as we debate over this, there are powerful men in religion, government and industry who are preparing to rape us, our children, and the WHOLE PLANET. I believe that the "pie in the sky" hereafter, whether heaven or paradise, is merely a device for social control to keep us all dominating each other; adults over children, men over women, this religion over that religion. It's all crap. Get the hell out, get your heads together, and fight. If there is really a God who will come and save us, he will not frown upon you trying to save children, animals, and the planet itself. Stop being apathetic and victimized while waiting for Jesus, or whoever to come and bail us all out.
Thanks, and THINK FOR YOURSELVES!
Sounds to me the Bible was written under Satanic influence. That explains why Satan is misleading the entire inhabited earth. He controls all religion that involves human sacrifice, sex sacrifice, and murder. Even Jehovahs Witnesses are still practicing these very things today. Only because we live in a "civilized" society,they can't literally "kill" the ones they deme wicked, so they "kill" spiritually for thier Watchtower god who loves human sacrific, especially young virgins. By the way Pedophile is a medical term, the Criminal Justice System refers to predators of children as "preferential sex offenders. Sounds like Brooklyn Boys. Can you spell M A R I O M A R I N O?? or J R B R O W N?
I THANK ITS VERY BAD OF YOU TO DO THIS TO THE JEHOVAH"S WITNESSES. THERE ARE VERY NICE ,GOOD . YOUR JUST OUT TO GET THEM. AND TO MAKE MONEY OF OF THIS. THE KINGOM HALL I GO ITS NOT LIKE WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUNT AT ALL. THIS IS ALL MADE UP. SO YOU CAN MAKE MONEY OFF OF YOUR LIES. THANK YOU.
All I can say is wow. Although I stopped attending the Kingdom Hall many years ago. ( For my own reasons) I didn't realize all these things were going on. I stopped attending over 10 years ago. I must admit many of the things that were going on here in the New York City area were funny. But I really had no knowledge of all of this. All I can say is ain't that a bitch. I've been to many congregations and wonder if some of the victums are people I know.
Even better yet, you probably know the perps too. They like to use thier elder influence to silence the children they've molested. Not just in this country but worldwide. Did you hear about that child rapist in the Uk that was all over the news?. I hear there is lots more too. Do you think the governing body geezers need to get free legal adivce from the witness lawyers in the orgasmnation? oops sorry! I mispelled organization.
Duh uh, I jest got home from ma Witchtower studye. I reely enjooyed it. It taaked abote luv and peece.I reely want to becum an elder so I cin teech uthers bout the Kondom. U people who pick on the bruthers are bad and are going to dye at armagidden. yer bruther, marco polo
Dear "THIS IS ALL MADE UP. SO YOU CAN MAKE MONEY OFF OF YOUR LIES. " -
By god, you figured it out! What we're going to do is print all this in cheap comic-book-style magazines and sell them door-to-door for a small contribution of only twenty-five cents.
I get a buck for every word you write, so please write again soon - and don't worry about that CAPS LOCK key. Soon all the world shall know that Satan invented the spellcheck!
"Read God's Word the WATCHTOWER Daily"
- Nathan
Hi Nathan, Were you abused?
abuse can be found in any organization even the witnesses.The devil is everywhere and dont trust anyonr.
Hmmm...
So you want to know if _I_ was molested?
You enjoy these stories of pain and degradation, don't you? A little weeping, a little angst - those are just the seasonings you like in your little "True Confessions Stew," right?
Well you'll have to go elsewhere for your entertainment. I'm not your circus.
As for the comments that these things happen elsewhere, yes they do. But this claims to be "god's organization." Shouldn't we be just a little concerned when we find the seven deadly sins as commonplace in "god's organization" as they are in "this Satanic system"? But because these rapists, liars, thieves and cowards stand up on their hind legs and offer a lame comment at the Sunday Watchtower study, whatever else they do in the dark shadows is OK. After all, this kind of thing happens elsewhere too, you know.
It's called a double standard.
- Nathan
Nathan, You were asked of you were "abused", not "molested" and nobody on here, especially anyone who was molested wants to here the details of what may or may not have happened to you. Yes, most of us here have been hurt by the WTS, and the pedophile and abusers that the WTS pretends to the outside world does not exist. And you are right, they are no different than the rest of the world they claim is Satan's world. So don't get so touchy when asked if you were abused. Some posters come here to harass and bate ones who want to share their stories with the world so that the WTS cannot hide behind bully threats to excommunicate them. For years many were silent in thier suffering, and I believe the WTS, has now tried to silence those who want to post here by taunting, and ridiculing, and name calling the victims who come here. Only freaks and perverts get satisfaction from coming to this site to call victim women, children, boys and girls liers. If you were abused you have support and are encouraged to talk about how the WTS discouraged you from exposing it. But if you were not abused, and come here to support those who were by answering the taunters and protect ors of the WTS, than welcome. To the rest of you who believe this is made up or lies, it is sad. And those of you who think the posters here are blaming Jehovah by speaking out and sharing experiences, that is just not true. Maybe we had too much love for the God we trusted to stay with the organization that used his name to authorize molesters, and shun the molested, who were hurt so much. Yes they want to put it behind, but flashbacks, panic attacks, and the aftermath of sex abuse takes it's toll, to the point that it is not a spiritual issue of blaming God. It is an emotional and Psychological issue of going into an environment at the Kingdom Hall that allows and permits pedophiles and abusers to exist, and encourages the members to act unkindly towards these ones who were hurt. And yet, the same time they shun the victims for not wanting to be at the meetings, they are allowing others who attend meetings,but are leading quesionable lives outside the KH, to be accepted and associated with. It is hypocrital, and wrong. So Nathan, welcome,if you are supportive, but if you are here to harass the abuse survivors who stood up to the WT, than find another site. That goes for you too JOSHUAHARVEY@ HOTMAIL.COM all you other "Witnesses"
Well, after reading a lot of comments in these archives, I felt sick. It only reinforced the things I already knew. In the town where I live there are 4 JW Congregations and I was part of it for many years. I have left now and thank God i have turned into a normal person again. My children have also left and we are finally a family again. JW's destroy families,and undermine your whole beeing. I was at times very depressed and even suicidal. Thank God for the wonderful (nonJW) Husband I have. I also know of socalled BROTHERS who molested their stepchildren, so of them have been Elders. I know one of them is a paedophile and had been for many years. I also know that the Elders in that Congregation knew what he was up to. And they did nothing until one of the victims came forward and went to the police. Nice Christians, hey!!!!! I will not be associated with anything like that,because as a child I was sexually molested and have no tolerance whatowever for People like that. And when it is done under the Mantel of Religion that makes it even worse. For all You People who are aout there and were hurt in any way be JW'S I have a little advise.
HOld your Head high and be proud that you have left this evil organiztion. You will eventually feel better and your Life will go ahead iln leaps and bounds. There is a Creator, I truly believe that, but he has turned his back on JW's.
Keep your Heads high and God bless.
G..
unlike a lot of ex-jw's i am not afraid to hide my abuse or abusers i was a j.w for 17 years and knew every elder of weymouyh dorset had indulged in abuse,rape,buggery,etc.to all j.w.'s reading this ask why is it now a charity and not a religion. I can be contacted at ANDREW>MABEY@btinternet.com
Fear, Fear, Fear, Shame, Shame, Shame, Guilt,Guilt, Guilt, Punisment, Punishment, Punishment, Abandon, Abandon, Abandon, Denial, Denial, Denial !!! These are all the trappings of an abusive parent, in a disfunctional family that continues generationally until someone breaks the cycle of abuse. To all who have done this you should be commended. Not only for breaking the cycle within your family, but within your "spiritual" family that enables the abuse to continue on a spiritual level. A result of being injured by a trusted caregiver, is to want them to stop the abuse, and be the caregiver that we want them to be. This is a normal chilhood desire when a parent injures them. This is also a normal desire for injured victims of predators who are family members and members of our spiritual community. The injured one desires the "protective" father-like leaders of the spiritual community to be the kind of loving father a father is supposed to be. In a very disfuntional family with no boundaries and an abusing parent overstepping the emotional and the physical boundaries of the children, through abuse, then useing the fear, shame, guilt, punishment, and abandon tactics, the cycle continues to get more enmeshed, and wierder with every succeeding new generation. Through these tactics the denial and the silence continues down through the generations until someone speaks out. The result is often that the siblings in this disfunctional family who stay emotionally connected to each other and the abuser parent, turn on the sibling that cries out. Even if the abuse was inflicted on them and continues to be inflicted in emtional ways. This is so so very unsafe,unhealthy,unwholesome, un-Christlike. And clearly demonic. The ones who speak out do suffer the consequenses of retribution from disfunctional family members through attacks,denial, and ultimately abandonment,and it is not different in the Watchtower Society when the "truth" about the family is exposed by speaking out about the abusing "parent-like" Organization, and those taking the "caregiver" role on the members. Those who become drawn to this abusive type of Spiritual Community, are often people who have grown up in a family structure with the same dynamics. An neglectful or emotionally abusive, or physically abusive caregiver an unhealthy sibling pecking order, unclear and unhealthy family boundaries, with shame and guilt and fear playing into this. Generationally this also plays out within the Spritual Community and even becomes like a Cult, since destructive Cults are groups that play a "father" role, and seek to replace the family. I believe that the Watchtower Society and the messages they convey through the literature, and in their Kingdom Hall is a mirror image of the things that I have mentioned regarding family disfuntion. It is very, very difficult to leave a family that we love, even if it abused us. But to stay is dangerous emotionally, and physically and so the consequences we face are not pleasant. But their is a life out there, and if family members in our old spiritual community choose to stay in the abusive situation, then that is thier choice, and we have also made our choice. It is not because we have abandoned our Creator, and his Son, at least that is how it is for most of us. We can not longer "consent" to the endorsement of abuse in any form, even if the "caregiving" spiritual leaders insist' that the members go along with it. It is not running ahead to speak out against immoral behavior. It is a sin to go along with it. It goes against what is right and wrong. True believers speak out against the lies and lawlessness of spiritual leaders. This is throughout Bible history. If disfuntional members of a family or religion, choose to "abandon" or "shun" for something that is morally wrong, than they have made that choice. Some people sell their souls for different reasons. There is a Scripture in the Bible that says neither men, nor....... can separate us from God's love. And more so for unjured ones. I forgive those who have chosen to abandon me and my family for standing up for what is right and not consenting to immoral behavior, and exchanging the truth for a lie. I love the people who have chosen to not be a part of our life anymore out of loyalty to a cruel ungodly Organization. But I love God more and I love myself and my family more and I am breaking the cycle of abuse, in my family and in my religiou conviction. BP
My mother has hidden in Jehovah's witnesses for 30 years. She had been involved and is still involved in witchcraft. The elders view her as a saint because she has cut off all her family, even those who are also JW's because they revealed the truth about her. 30 years of practicing witchcraft and sexually abusing her children and grandchildren. What a fine witness she has been. If the Rule of Three that the Wiccan's believe is true I'd love to see it happen to her. A truly wicked evil woman. Yet Jehovah's witnesses literally view her as a saint.
Im a son of an elder/overseer who was raised by JW strictest standards and expected to be an example for other youth because of my father's position. I had a secluded childhood banned from all "worldly" contact, TV included. I was only allowed to associate with a couple of families who had children my age. It was during an overnight visit with one of these families that I remember being introduced to sexual acts by an older male followed by a late night shower. I don't really know if I have been affected by this experience other than it did help me see the JW's for the cult that it is, and that there is impurity within the folds of righteousness. I rebelled at 14 joined a punk band-got it all out of my system... now I've come back around to a pure simple belief in Christ via the Bible without spinoff reinterpretation publications dictating propaganda scare tactics, proclaiming exclusive rights to salvation customized for sewing ones eyes shut in order to encourage blind faith left in the hands of Jehovah. Presently I sometimes find it difficult to curb my appetite for excessive sex.. but I'm not one who likes to link childhood experiences with present behavior- being that I am aware and accountable for my own actions and conscience. Peace Out
I don't like to say much. I'm tired of all the hypocricy. My mother sexually abused and tortured me and several of my children, yet she is viewed as Sainte Betty by the elders. They hold her up as a model for all to follow. She disowned my sister and me because we spoke the truth. She also practiced Pow wow which is a form of witchcraft from central PA. A fine Christian???
Hearing a lot of the experiences on this post makes me feel so disgusted that I believed so fervently at one time that this religion was so clean. It's not, it is so contaminated. What strikes me the most is that it seems that Jehovah's Witnesses is a perfect breeding ground for incest as well as other types of sexual abuse. I think that is because of the strict family secrets being kept within the congregations, and the attitude of the denying it even exists is passed on to each new family line. It really is disgusting because the message that is being given to the youngsters is that it is ok to hide it when you hear about those stories. I can't understand why the Witnesses who all know what is going on can keep thinking that thier God Jehovah accepts their appathy. It is like they are going along with the sharade and helping the elders to keep downgrading those who try to talk about what is really going on. It sounds like they have chosen not to "GET OUT OF HER". I guess they like their ears tickled with the thought that it is not their own responsibility to act on wrongdoing, we'll just wait till Jehovah handles it by killing everyone off on the earth, while we wait to live forever. Such a selfish way of thinking. They like the WTBTS to do all the thinking for them. Is that what free will is or is it shirking the responsibility for right works on someone else. I also think it is heartless the way the victims have been left because they tried to have it uncovered. What is wrong with these people anyway. Don't they know how to think for them selves about what a person is doing. Do they need to let the men in Brooklyn decide for them how to act toward the ones how were abused by sick men and women. And that is another thing, there are many victims of cruel abusive women who call themselves, Christians. This is a cruel religion and I feel so sorry for the next generation of children being made to follow the rules in this religion. What a disguting way to raise a child, to teach them how to hate good people. What kind of parents will they grow up to be? Disappointed
I am a survivor of the JW's. I was abused by two foster parents who were JWs for about two years while I was a teenager. The abuse was extreme corporal punishment that was really a form of sadistic pleasure for this witness of Jehovah who would strip me and my (adopted) sister down and whip us when we were both developed young women. I ran away from this home with only the clothes on my back.
Soon after being out of that home I began to talk, and once people, who were not witnesses, found out about the severe abuse they encouraged me to take legal action and I did. The abusers were up on several counts of assault and they totally got off. It was however great to see them up on the "witness" stand and lying their asses off...being so fearful for their freedom....these abusers thought that they were insulated from the courtroom because they were witnesses... they truly never thought that I would ever go to court because the Truth had made me so meek and unassertive.
I think that the religious policies and the social conditioning that goes on in the JW's does empower abusers for a variety of reasons. During my own court action I found out that my abuser, the woman, was actually one of the first women in Canada to be charged with rape. Isn't that great!!! But I think that, in a way that the JW organization wants people like that in their organization because if these sick types of people give the appearances of having reformed, then by golly that is the power of the TRUTH!!! Then JW's really have it. I think that it is these perverse religious ideals that insulate and provide a safe place for ex-rapists and child abusers because they realize that they can exploit and manipulate the superseding protocols and rules of Jehovah's organization over the "laws of man" to their own ends.
I am almost 30 now and am in law school. For those thinking about legal action it can good just to confront your abusers in this way because even if you don't win... there is something spiritually strengthening about hearing yourself tell your own story...and about the courtroom being a public place in which to do that.
Because this religious group is so controlling, almost like a military, God's army I guess, I do think that the the religious organization should be held responsible for the policies and procedures which cover up "known" criminal activity. I do not think that the freedom of religion should be used to cover up the basest of crimes against humanity--child abuse.
It's disgraceful.
There is a site called Silentlambs.org where those who have been abused and taken it to court can post information about the offender. The more offenders and the congregations that they are protected in should be displayed to arouse public awareness. This website also lists other non JW support for those interested in protecting children from offenders and religious communities that hide them. These non JW groups, such as MASA (mothers against sex abusers) are very influential in going after those institutions that hide pedophiles. The Witnesses go to people's doors with false impression of a religion that is free of evil, and deception. Women and their children in these neighborhoods that they preach in are left vulnerable because even though the statement has been made by elders that they keep a close eye on these sex offenders, that is not true but just a statement to fool the press. If more congregations were listed as sex offender protectors than more parents in those neighborhoods would be able to protect thier children from these men on thier doorsteps checking out the children. The elder leaders in these congregations would have to be responsible because you know the slacks up in Bethel will not take the blame for "elders who screw up". Than they will have a lot more to worry about than being sued by members of their congregations. They will be defending the pedophiles against "worldly" plaintiffs.
Happy spring to everyone. Sunday I attended the Memorial with my wife so as to keep her parents happy since they are still blinded by the borg. This hall I attended was not in my home town of Lowell Ma., but Chelmsford, so no one really knew me. But lo and behold there was the JW who got arrested by the police on several occassions and got his name in the paper for soliciting prostitutes sitting there,then there was the the JW convicted child molestor who never had action taken by the elders because there wasn't a 2nd witness to his crimes, and last but not least the suspected molestor of his daughter with his blue veined and bulbous nose due to a prediliction to booze JW sitting there. Thier jaws dropped when they saw me the king of the apostates. They know I know. But what you folks have been saying is damn true, these perverts travel from congregation to congregation looking for fresh meat to spoil.I am going to drop a dime on these scum and sit back and wait for the fireworks. Wanna bet nothing happens?? Again have a happy spring and to those who celebrate a Happy Easter, marco polo palo50@yahoo.ocm
IM not a JW and also addmit noing nothing about them but i do no that my girlfriend is she is only 14 and she was always crying when i was on the phone to her she told me that she had been raped by her dad 5 times and her step dad once she also told me that her stepdad beats her up but never her other sisters and brothers at first i wasnt sure what to say as i thought JW were all good guys and nothing like that would happen it was only when i was looking for information about JW that i found this site and i love her so much is there anything i could do to help her. Just for your information we are in the UK
I am not a Jehova's Witness. Yet, I am a Full-Gospel Youth Pastor. But I happened to see a tract called, "What Does God Require of Us." It is published by the Watch Tower.
After seeing this tract, I decided to look up the JW's online and found this page. I think that, as a non Jehova's witness, that it is unfair to single out this organization. Jesus invited Matthew, the tax collector, to eat with him against all of the "holier-than-thou's" of that time. Yet, Jesus said that a doctor doesn't heal the healed, but a doctor heals the sick. In my humble opinion, pedophiles are sick. The need deliverence from their demonic oppression. Now, I don't know exactly how they see demon possession, but I see it as just that. And, by the authority of the Name of Jesus, that spirit of lust can be cast out of them.
Dear "Full time Gospel Youth Pastor" Are you a pedophile or have those tendencies? It just is so coincidental that you also being a clergy man who works with youth, that you are sympathetic to those who gratify themselves sexually with youth. And then you mention that because Jesus sat with the tax collectors these poor perverts can't help what they do criminally to children because they have a "demon" in them. You sound just as sick as the JW elders who show more mercy to the perverts than they do to the victims who are also emotionally "sick" after being raped and then shunned for not keeping quiet. That is a contradiction because rape victims are suposed to scream according to the Watchtower Society to prove they didn't enjoy it lest they are fornicators. Well that is what we all are doing now. We are screaming about ours and our children's molesters and those who use God, Jesus, Jehovah, and even Satan as an excuse.
To Ernesto Unbelivable. I can not belive that some elders just happen to screw up! I understand how hard it must be to go through those meetings on judging your fellow brothers. But have you ever looked at those fellow elders you sit with and wonder if they abuse their children, or friends children or maybe their relatives? My abusers were elders, who sat on those commities and had responsibilities and they really screwed up- did'nt they. I'm not blaming the org. I blame the ones responsible, I blame the org. for not beliving me or the testimony of my 3 family members. I think this abuse thing and satanic cult issue is more common then you may feel or want to belive.
My father, mother, brother, close relatives, and religious acquaintances physically and emotionally abused me since I was 4 years old. During this time, I was being raised as a Jehovah’s Witness. What I am about to describe to you has also been the situation with other non-Jehovah’s Witnesses acquaintances of mine affiliated with other religions from all over the world. However, I limit the list below to my own personal experience.
To make a long story short I was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness for approximately 30 years of my life. I believe that I have “witnessed” every possible form of humiliation a person can bare in a lifetime under such circumstances. I have not been a Jehovah’s Witness since 1995 and don’t ever intend to be one ever again. In fact I don’t ever intend to be a part of any religious structure of any sort until my death. I am convinced that all religions are destructive to family and humankind. The love of humankind in its natural form is my position in life.
The physical abuse: Slapping (facial, body) Whipping (belts, branches, and sticks) Roughhousing (drag, drop, thrown, push, upended) Pulling (ears, nose, mouth, hair, arms, legs) Burning (yes, body parts) Prodding (yes, like an animal) Domestic torture (I coined this term myself) kneeling on hard floors for hours in the dark, kneeling on hard floors for hours into wall corners, in bathrooms, etc., and many other physical forms of humiliations including but not limited to what is listed above.
The emotional abuse: Screaming Name-calling (domestic and religious) Threat (domestic and religious) Ogling Shunning (domestic and religious)
There are many other forms of abuse that are too numerous to list. Fortunately, I was never sexually abused. Unfortunately, many of my acquaintances as a Jehovah’s Witness and of other religions were. I can’t image how horrible that must be. What is disturbing is the cover-ups stance that religions take on such situations. They’ll deny it, but the evidence speaks louder.
You’re probably thinking that I am making an unfair blanket commentary on religion as a whole. Fine, then you live with the consequences. I have chosen otherwise. Remember that I am among the group of individuals who lived through the madness. I don’t care if you’re a Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist etc. religion divides families and humankind. As was once stated: “... the opium of the people.”
If the personification (literal or abstract) of a god/force/thought exist as a directional force for humankind, then he/she/it is seriously lacking. If your mind’s eye is truly wide open you will see that the very acts that we as humans interpret as an expression of love are not present (lacking) in this concept of god/force/thought personified.
The five senses that we use to express love to our fellow humans:
Seeing – Do you or have you seen god/force/thought personified?
Hearing – Do you hear or have you heard god/force/thought personified?
Touching – Do you touch or have you touched god/force/thought personified?
Smelling – Do you smell or have you smelled god/force/thought personified?
Tasting – Do you taste or have you tasted god/force/thought personified?
I am not a witness, but my husband is. After finding out the policy on rape victims my stomach tied into a knot. They say hubby is sleeping in desecrated bed because I did not scream. What kinda freakin logic is that?
I was raped by my stepbrother and the organization did not call the law. They disfellowshipped him instead. He proceded to rape more girls because he was not prosecuted. I do not understand why they can be the judge of what should happen to these people.
Incest is a problem in the Jehovah Witness community because it is a closed community and congregations are run by families from generation to generation. When incest is involved in these families and elders who are the leaders of the congregations come from incestuous families, the Watchtower policy of silence, and secrecy benifits these incestuous families and the other elders who cover for them to keep thier positions.Elders are looked up to and the society insists on loyalty and obedience to those having this position. Power and authority are just as alluring as materialsim, especially when one comes from family situations where abuse of power was used.The elders protecting incestuous families with their secrets where from the North Jersey area. These congregations in this area are host to "commuter" Bethelites that join the various congregation community and bring the "Bethel family secrecy policy". You don't tell what goes on in Bethel. This is an unnatural family environment run very much like other cults as far as secrecy, control, and an abuse of power by those in the lead. Youths coming there from abusive homes have to live in an environemt that re-enacts what they have been used to. Fear, guilt, shame, and forced hard labor resulting in sleep deprived, overworked, undernourished emotional anorexic looking cookie cutter like representatives of the Brooklyn "Family" that has little respect for women living there. It is a male dominated power and control environment, that operates for the good of those in power.
Dear poster, your story sounds just like my own. Only that it has a different ending. As a child I was raised as a witness, as a young adult I was into alcohol, sex and so on. I felt miserable, was looking and the witness knocked at my door. Told me they had all the answers, and at first it seemed that way to me, because they could quote just the scripture that fitted my situation. I was impressed, then they needed help outside the bible to explain the bible. At that time I didn't see anything wrong with that. I did wonder though why they needed so much help, because they where printing books and magazines by the tons. Some of it still in my basement. Well, I changed, I stopped smoking, I gained weight, only to be told that overweight people do not proberly represent Jehovah in fieldservice. They just don't look right standing sweating at a door. Hmmm. I kept asking the witnesses if I could be sure, since I was baptized and got rid of my bad habbits, went into fieldservie, became an aux.pioneer, had the "bookstudy" in my house, that I would be saved at armageddon and for that part I even would have liked much more to be with Jesus in heaven, but they had all the 144 000 already in, so there wasn't much they could promise me. And as for beeing resurected or surviving armageddon, they couldn't tell me either. I tried so hard 'till I had a nerveous brakedown. I worked part time as a housekeeper to be able to spend my time for Jehovah and I never failed to turn in my time slip. For the little money I made I still donated whatever I could, as a housekeeper I also didn't pay in for social security. You might say that this was my own decision. Well, let me tell you, it was not because I wasn't able to make my own decisions anymore. I had been brainwashed into believing that my works would bring me salvation. And the more works you perform the surer you could be to have a HOPE of resurection. But never a 100% sure, you never realy knew. That is what I based my decision on to work. I'm now close to retirement and have even to work far beyond retirement, because I won't have enough to pay my rent if I don't do that. Not one of my brothers and sisters, who knew my situation, ever reminded me of the fact that I had to think about old age and from what I'm going to live when I'm old. Everybody knew my situation, but all they cared for was me spending time in fieldservice and recomended me for that. I have believed what the organization told me years ago, that armageddon was coming in a certain time and that this generation wouldn't pass away 'till that happend. I'm still waiting. I didn't know that they had predicted the comming of the end more then once. If you would care to read some old magazines, you would find that I'm telling the truth. By doing what the organization has done, they have wrecked my life and that of many others. There is a story on this site about a woman who possibly could still be alive if the organization had the light about what kind componends of the blood one can get when in the hospital and in need of a blood transfusion. Would you care to read it? And here I was, as longer I staid in the org. the more confused I got. I felt a emptyness and I was tired(in the loving words of the witnesses on this site, I couldn't live up to it) so I took a break and did some research. And that was when I got the truth and I was set free. As for the 16 year old who has posted before. Did this help a little ot understand why are some so bitter about the JW's?
To the people who are critical of the Watchtower policy's on reporting child molester's....What would you have the Society do exactly? To point out a fault is somethng anyone can do. Can you propose a solution? Shanesiemens@email.com
The legal disclaimer Freeminds puts up for this posting is one of the same problems the Society runs into. Child molesters have lawyers TOO!! Shanesiemens@email.com
Also, if anyone has info on the wherebouts of a Wesly Hubert Mills(ontario, canada), I'd love to be informed. He was convicted in a court of law of molesting several young JW's in the St John, NB Canada area. I know there are many other victims out there so if you want to press charges, I would love to help. I did 2 years ago and it helps with the healing process. Shanesiemen@email.com
I am a servant and admit to touching my cousin inappropitately I don't want to lose my priviledges, and won't say anything to anyone I feel no one should tell me it is wrong when it's evident they do it too.
To the rambling person who put the story on at 10:08 am april 23. I realize you want to "tell" your story, but the posting's should be kept in line with what this is for. If you were not molested or have an opinion about it, go to a different place to post your story. Besides your crazy for putting that much faith in men. Think for yourself, be a Borean. Shanesiemens@email.com
To the "Servent" who touched your cousin inappropreately,and won't say anything because you don't want to "lose your privleges". I hope your cousin, and all the others you've "touched" do say something so that you won't be able to hide behind your false Jehovah Witness Servant fasade. You are just typical of what the leadership is all about in this deceptive organization of incestuous perverted false Christians. You must love your position more than you love Christ and the law of being truthful. It just goes to show that those of you who gratify yourselves by sexually touching, and assaulting the ones who put their trust in you, really want to keep your perversions a secret to the world, and pretend you have divine backing because you are one of the "privleged" ones. Alas, how sad, there are just too many like you in the Watchtower Organization. By the fruitage you are recognized for what you really are. I am so grateful to have been able to take one good thing from my association with sexual abuse within the Watchtower Organization coverups. I've been able to recognize it for what it is. False religion that does not have the Spirit of God with it.
It's obvious some of the "confessions" by molesters are being faked in some of the postings. Then a "reply" to it is sent so somone can feel smart trashing WBTS online with impunity. Well, SHAME ON YOU for once again victimizing the silentlambs who have suffered enough already. They come here searching and get kicked again! Unlike these cowards, I leave my contact info. Shanesiemens@email.com
i was sexually abused by an elder in my congregation 13 yrs ago.it took two yrs for me to tell what was going on and in a way it was big mistake to open my mouth.it of course resulted in many judicial meetings with me having to sit in front of him and his wife and say what hed been doing to me.i have to say the elders dealing with that meeting were ok.one was my cousin and the other another brother.after several meetings nothing was done about it anfd i was told that in the bible it says we have to forgive eachother and that was that. about a year later my father who is also an elder came to me to ask if i would be willing to have another meeting about what happened because a sister in the congregation had been raped by the same elder.of course i said i would as i felt justice might finally be served. as time went on more and more sisters came forward to tell of things hed done to them.unfortunately for me none of them were children and so had no bearing on my case.i was now giving my evidence to help them.the outcome was that my father went to the police and he was arrested.he would not speak to the police just sat there and eventually they had to let him go as no physical evidence and no witnesses.he was not disfellowshipped for any of the things he did to us but was disfellowshipped for being drunk. he is now reinstated.he was back in the witnesses within a year and has moved congregations to the next kingdom hall over from my family.because of the confidentiality thing i doubt wether any family in that congregation knows what hes done.he has a 15 yr old daughter who has her friends from the witnesses staying over at her house. i am disfellowshipped now.i was disfellowshipped at 18 after trying to kill myself and cutting my wrists with razors.i now have two lovely children and plan to be a policewoman.my life is so much better now im away from it all.i still pray to jehovah as i do believe he listens.i know that someday he will do it to another child and i will be first in line to give evidence against him. he has just been fined 10,000 pounds for sexual harrassment to a woman who works for him.he has not paid a penny and has had all his belongings in his wifes name and declared himself bankrupt so he does not have to pay.the witnesses know this but he is still among them and going to their weddings. why?
People ask "why?"
Others tell us "I am a servant and admit to touching my cousin inappropitately I don't want to lose my priviledges, and won't say anything to anyone I feel no one should tell me it is wrong when it's evident they do it too."
The "servant" is right. There is NO absolute authority. It's really not "what God decrees" after all. It's "what can we get away with?"
...and they're so proud of themselves. Puffed up! "I'm a SERVANT. That means I am allowed to have my way with you."
Alleister Crowley, the Satanist, said it best, "Do as thou wilt is the WHOLE of the law." There you have it.
The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society is an organization of MEN, not of God. These MEN posture behind a huge artificial GOD they invented so that they can exercise CONTROL over trusting sheep.
These men are predatory wolves. Sheep dream that God is real and will protect them, but NOTHING happens. Wake up, sheep! There is no Sky-Daddy who is going to make it all better!
If there WAS a God, if there WAS a Satan, the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society would best be described as a SATANIC organization. Look at how they "care for the little ones" - like morsels for their appetites, to be plucked and consumed.
but that, of course, is hyperbole. There is no sky-daddy; there is no boogey man. Just selfish wicked men, protecting each other.
You've been taught by the wolves that there is merit in suffering, and so you allow these predatory wolves to feast on your flesh; you permit yourselves to suffer.
- Nathan
PS - I'm not a feminist bent on trashing men. Most of these men have delusional spouses who act as enablers or supporters of their man's activities. they're the wives and mothers of "servants" - they have their own prestige to think about. They're every bit as selfish and evil as their men.
This isn't as bad as some of the stuff I've been reading, but here goes. I was born a JW and drifted away with no desire to go back. I remember in my teens, there was a pioneer sister in her 60's, her husband not a witness. Somehow, (I can't imagine how exactly) it came to light they were practicing anal sex. There was a talk about it at the meeting and it was the most embarassing thing I'd ever seen. Why would anyone think something like that was any of their business? Not only that but to discuss it from the stage to the congregation. Anyway, I'm way happier now knowing the real "truth"
The Watchtower Society is an ANAL Organization run by men that act more Satanic than Godly
I was physically abused by my Ministerial Servant stepfather. I was hit with belts, a drumstick, the molding off of the side of the car, etc.. I was punched in the face, called whore and slut, all before I was 14 years old. When he finally hit me in the face hard enough to fracture my nose, I went to the elders, and was asked what I did to provoke him. When it was explained that I had cursed at him for calling me a whore, it was explained to me that the abuse was justified.
THE WITNESSES (SHOULD I SAY WITLESSNESSES)ARE NOTHING BUT A CULT.THEY ARE THE MOST POMPOUS SELF ABSORBED PEOPLE. NEXT TIME, ONE COMES TO THE DOOR, TELL 'EM YOU WANT A BLOWJOB.
It was late afternoon on Friday at our Circuit Assembly around 1967 in Penn.USA. I was around 11.My next door neighbor (around 20) and fellow JW walks up to Mother who was Magazine Servant,(our Congregation was hosting the assembly).He asks her if I could accompany him home as he "forgot" his notes for #5 talk he was giving later.
I never liked this guy-something strange about him,we went to different Kingdom Halls so that was nice.Mom ordered me to go with him.
On the way back to our homes he stroked my leg and touched me inapprobiately while he was driving,I pushed his hand away.Once back he goes to his home "to collect his notes",I go to mine, wash my hands, comb my hair-in a state of shock.He enters my home announces,"I found my notes" walks into the bathroom with his exposed erect penis and orders me to kiss it.I freeze, he orders,"Touch it" I freeze. He grabs my hand and forces me to touch it, I pull away walk into Parents bedroom. He gives up, says we have to go to Assembly.Within 2 hours he's preaching up a storm.
I still remember his introduction,"Look who's standing back there"? Is he talking about me? Is this a public confession? As ,I was standing at the rear of the audience."Why, its the prophet Jeremiah" and on he went never flinching.That's all I remember of his talk.
A short time later he forcibly fondled me again.Within a year or two he got called to Bethel,Wt.Farms. Some years pass,he gets married and is sent to a southern state as a Special Pioneer to start a new Congregation.His parents move there and then my family move to help out.He's the Presiding Overseer and loves the POWER.I guess someone must have questioned his authority one time,and he gives this talk,he was so mad as he was reading from the prophets in the Bible his face was bright beet red and he was screaming.I thought he might croak over from a heart attack.
The mental and emotional anguish the Jehovah Witness Organization put me through,having to be around him in meetings,same car group was too much.
One day when I was 16 or 17 I knocked on his door early in the morning,I asked him if he ever repented of his sexual advances he made towards me years ago.Yes,he said at a committee meeting at Watchtower Farms.
Next meeting all three Elders approached me the PO (my molester),his father, and another Elder.The PO and his father asked if I had spoken to anyone about this.I said,"yes,I remembered back home in Pa. an another brother who was visiting me was fondled by this PO years ago, and I called him and he confirmed it.Father and son said that was gossiping and I could be disfellowshiped for it. It was a LUCKY,LUCKY,LUCKY day for me in the organization,the third Elder said ,"NO WAY",so they didn't go after me. Such Monster Religious Gangster Wolves!Here I thought I was the victim,no my conduct made the molester the victim.
Shortly thereafter I needed a document for my Pioneer Status for Selective Service.I forgot the name of the speaker who gave my Baptism Talk. So I called Bethel, "Legal Department, Jackson" a voice said.I explained the situation,he said,"WE don't keep those records, just write down your Presiding Overseer's name". I didn't beleive him and no way was I going to state that my molester baptised me too.We weren't even at the same Assembly or Congregation when it occured.I called a relative at Bethel, within five minutes I had the name.Within a year I was accepted to Bethel and within a short time realized Governing Body member William Jackson was the guy I had talked to earlier on the phone from Legal Dept,he was the Society,s lawyer.
Thinking back I never did ask this PO if he set me up? Did he "forget" his notes on purpose? Or was it just a lie?
About 8 years ago on my mother's death bed I told her about this and how it affected me, how it was hard trusting people,tough developing close friendships.She was well known for her bold zealous witnessing of the generation living in 1914 will live and survive Armageddon, and bringing in new converts.Yes, she remembered me telling her of this molester when it happened,(I had forgotten I told her)but she said she couldn't do anything about it as she needed this molester's mother(a pioneer) as a friend.I was stunned! She had been in this JW org. for some ten years,and loyal as anything to it, but couldn't stand up for her own son.Of course if she had what therapy would I have received-NONE.In those days JW's weren't allowed to go to Psychologists or Psychiatrists "...As a rule for a Christain to go to a worldly psychiatrist is an admission of defeat.It amounts to 'going down to Egypt for help'-Isaiah 31:1...Also,more and more psychiatrist are resorting to hypnosis which is a demonic form of worldly wisdom." (Awake 1960 March 8,p.27.)
Reading different medical books I'd say I have Dissociative Disorder.As far as therapy, the worst place to go would be JW Organization - its all conditional love.Its impossible for them to express unconditional love.
JR Brown from Press Office at Bethel was quoted 1/5/01 in Paducah Sun- "A known child molester does not qualify for appointment as a church elder or for any other position of responsibility in any congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses."
You guys have this molesters records from Wt. Farms, last I heard he's still an elder in Florida. WTguineaPIG@ziplip.com
My uncle for many years a witness, sexually abused his four daughters frequently, even before puberty for many years, including intercourse. The youngest and prettiest copped most of it. His wife also a witness knew what was going on. Finally the youngest one of the daughters took him to court when married in her 20's to the elders and through the legal system. Her older sisters also testified. This man only got the equivalent of community service as he was old by then and only on the say so of the girls with no proof. The elders met with him, he was not disfellowshipped. The girls are all still Jehovah's Witnesses as well. They don't see him or their mum more than is absolutely necessary, they don't talk to him, yet they are all still witnesses along with most of their family. They were extremely disappointed with the results from the elders particularly. I don't have much information as none want to discuss this very openly so only know these bare facts. No grandchildren are allowed to stay at their house as far as I know.
Back in 89 I started living with my dad. He had become a witness the year before, about a year after he and my mother divorced. Briefly before moving in with him, as a part of our weekend visits with him, he would take us to meetings. He was steadily gaining rank in his congregation, and would have us involved in bible studies and whatnot. There was one or two occasions of him being abusive prior to moving in with him, but being 7 I disregarded the incidents as my father being simply "mad". Moving in was fairly smooth, and life was OK for about two months. Then the abuse began to slowly creep in. I remember my father speaking with one of the brothers in the congregation about how to raise their children. "D." said that the way a child was to be raised was by the belt. My father agreed to my dismay. Over the period of the next year the abuse increased by ten fold. What was the occasional slap or spanking turned into beltings and occasions of being thrown around. By '91 I had begun to grow tiresome of living in this condition, and fantasized living with my mother, who was off doing her own thing. An emotional wreck (suffering an "emotional breakdown"; a way for baby boomers children to stop accepting their responsiblities), my mother ignored my pleas to move out. As time grew on, and me and my siblings did our stupid childish things, the abuse progressed. Between 91 and 96 my father proceeded from plain old child rearing to full on child abuse. Among the many forms of abuse: I've been scalded with hot coffee, had a barrage of books thrown at me (including the hefty duty large print 5 pound bible), filthy socks shoved in my mouth and being hog tied, slammed against walls, dragged around the house by the collar of my shirt, beaten for 6 hours with the belt while sisters in the congregation sat outside the room opposing nothing, countless spoons broken on my backend, pizza pans slammed against my head, among countless other incidents that I could cite. From '91 to '96 I approached the elders of the congregation regarding my fathers abuse. While they seemed attentive to my issues, they did nothing against my father. He was able to dismiss my accusations as mear childhood exaggerations instead of the plain truth. Problem was, even if he did cop to something, when we got home I'd get a beating far worse then what I reported earlier that night. After like 5 times of this happening, I finally became to scared to approach individuals that were unable to assist me with this issue. I would go on to approach the authorities, but my father was slick enough to get by them. Finally I ran away from home when I was 14, going to live with my grandparents, and finally my mom. About two years ago, I discovered that all of the Allstar JW's in my congregation (except for two wonderful dear people) were all abusing their kids, going to the extent of molestation too! As a matter of fact my sister recently revealed to my mother that she was molested by my father when she was a kid. This has yet to have any resolution. I'm not attacking the religion, no wait I am. My problems with the religion in genera; would be far too long, and what I have written here is just the tip of the iceburg. Don't treat JW's like they're the devil (as a kid I've had countless doors slammed in my face). BE nice and courtious. But remember, it's not as squeaky clean as it appears. In fact, it's filthier then shit itself. Abandon religion, but accept the fact there may be a god (just not what churches and whatnot want you to believe). All religion breaks down into respect for others and yourself. It's the whole Karhma thing. Don't let religion dictate life to you. Run on feelings and your gut. Sometimes it's the best way to go.
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