I was Raped at Bethel
Dear Mr. Watters,
It is my sincere hope that this letter has reached you. I am an ex cult member of the Jehovah's Witnesses. For some time now I have been searching high and
low for others who experienced or could understand what I have been through.
I was born into the cult. My father was a Bethel family member during the times of Judge
Rutherford. He even served jail time with Nathan H. Knorr for draft resistance. This. of course, was before Knorr took the reins of power until his demise. I personally knew Knorr and Freddie Franz and his now
non-existent brother. My mother was a special pioneer in the Michigan area and my Aunt
Mints (Miriam Sumen) is still a Missionary in Chile. My Uncle Arthur Sumen was a member of the Kingdom Farm family in Syracuse NY. My Uncle Hugo Sumen served as first the Congregation
Overseer then an as an elder in the Sue St. Marie area of Michigan. Of the 12 brothers and sisters on my mother's side, all were faithful disciples up until their deaths. Of 13 brothers and sisters only my father, William (Bill) Palo and his brother John Palo became Witnesses. My
ex-brother in law Donald Culp is a circuit overseer in Chicago. My ex-wife and her entire family are all Witnesses.
At a very young age I was raped repeatedly by members of the Bethel family and then again by a young Black man who later became an elder in
Queens, NYC. I never spoke a word since I was terrorized into silence. I am not saying that the Witnesses espouse
homosexuality, they condemn it as we both know. If you remember in the late 60s and early
70s there was a purge of homosexuals from Bethel. Of course. they did not make a big thing of it. Yet. I knew all about it because of my family's connections. I married into the faith and was married for 21 years until the local congregation started to interfere between my wife and myself. By this time. I had come to disbelieve and totally doubt all of the doctrines put forth. Instead of allowing them
to disfellowship me. I disassociated myself. At this time, I went public about the rapes. I was branded apostate, a liar and to top it all off I was called
demonized by the congregation and my ex wife. Fortunately. my children all saw through the
mendacity of the Witnesses. As you know I have been shunned and now it actually makes me laugh as to the extent these fools go to avoid me.
Presently I am six years sober. I turned to drink to hide what I thought was MY SIN. I am well-connected in my city and the local congregation has good reason not to interfere with me. I can bring the hounds of hell down upon them and they know it. I am attending college to obtain Bachelors in Human Services specializing in substance abuse amongst the elderly. Many friends of mine and members of the Baptist church, which I attend, are encouraging me to think of working with cult survivors. I hold a 4.0
average, not bad for a Witness brat. My psychiatrist has told me that besides the PTSD the Witnesses
caused, I exhibit many of the symptoms of a POW Truth Seeker.
Well. now you know my story. I would like to know what you have to say about it all. I am looking for whatever information I can dig up on them. I cannot even receive a subscription to their propaganda magazines, the
Awake and Watchtower. I believe it is good to keep abreast with the enemy. My ex-wife upon instructions from the local congregation stole or hid any of the Watchtower Society literature from me when I moved out. By the way, she is planning to remain, to be a good Witness of course.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Mark H. Palo
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