Watchtower Policy on Pedophiles: What Needs to Change
1.
Report
matter to the police first.
What
does the Watchtower say? Note the
97 WT on direction for reporting what is bad:
w97
8/15 26-30 Why Report What Is
Bad?
Appreciating
the Value
of Reproof
Among Jehovah’s people, however, there is a different attitude toward
reproof. Godly men
and women deeply appreciate the arrangement Jehovah has made to help erring
ones inside the Christian congregation. They recognize such
discipline as an expression of his loving-kindness.—Hebrews 12:6-11.
What
is that arrangement? Is it going
to the police when a crime is committed?
In
our day too, Jehovah’s
servants can become involved in serious wrongdoing, even those who have been
faithful for many years. Recognizing that the elders can assist, most take the
initiative to approach them for help. (James 5:13-16) But
sometimes a wrongdoer may try to cover up his sin, as did King David. What
should we do if we come to know about serious wrongdoing in the congregation?
Whose
Responsibility Is
It?
When
elders learn about serious wrongdoing, they approach the individual involved
to give needed help and correction. It is the elders’ responsibility to
judge such ones inside the Christian congregation. Keeping a close watch
on its spiritual condition, they assist and admonish anyone who is taking an
unwise or wrong step.—1
Corinthians 5:12, 13; 2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Peter 5:1, 2.
So
does this just apply to slander of moral crimes committed by adults that break
bible law? Notice the scripture
used to define wrongdoing.
But
what if you are not an elder and you come to know about some serious
wrongdoing on the part of another Christian? Guidelines are found in the Law
that Jehovah gave to the nation of
Though
not under the Mosaic Law, Christians
today can be guided by the principles behind it. (Psalm 19:7,
8) So if you learn about the serious
wrongdoing of a fellow Christian, what should you do?
Where
are we given the right here to call the police?
Not one word offered. So
who do you go to? See below.
Handling
the Matter
First
of all, it is important that there is valid reason to believe that serious
wrongdoing has really occurred. “Do not become a witness
against your fellowman without grounds,” stated the wise man. “Then you
would have to be foolish with your lips.”—Proverbs 24:28.
You
may decide to go directly to the elders. It is not wrong to do so. Usually,
however, the most loving course is to approach the person involved. Perhaps
the facts are not as they appear to be. Or perhaps the situation is already
being handled by the elders. Calmly discuss the matter with the person. If
there remains reason to believe that a serious wrong has been committed,
encourage him or her to approach the elders for help, and explain the wisdom
of doing so. Do not talk to others about the matter, for that would be gossip.
If
the person does not report to the elders within a reasonable period of time,
then you should. One or two elders will then discuss the matter with the
accused. The elders need to “search and investigate
and inquire thoroughly” to see if wrong has been done. If it
has, they will handle the case according to Scriptural guidelines.—Deuteronomy
Who
investigates the crime first? THE ELDERS!
Yet still no mention of going to the police. Then if there are
only one witness what do you have to do?
Report it to police then? See
Below.
At
least two witnesses are required to establish a charge of wrongdoing. (John
8:17; Hebrews 10:28) If the person denies the charge and your testimony is
the only one, the matter will be left in Jehovah’s hands. (1
Timothy 5:19, 24, 25) This is done in the knowledge that all things are
“openly exposed” to Jehovah and that if the person is guilty, eventually
his sins will “catch up” with him.—Hebrews
There
you have it the basis of discouraging victims to go to the police.
They are clearly instructed to leave it in Jehovah’s hands.
That means do nothing. Can
you warn any other parents whose children may be in harms way?
See Below.
But
suppose the person does deny the charge and you are the only witness against
him. Could you now be open to a countercharge of slander? No, not unless
you have gossiped to those not involved in the matter. It is not
slanderous to report conditions affecting a congregation to those having
authority and responsibility to oversee and correct matters. It is, in fact,
in line with our desire always to do what is correct and loyal.—Compare Luke
1:74, 75.
So
if you gossip and tell others about your child being molested you could be
charged with slander and expelled from the congregation.
What is the reason why? See Below.
Maintaining
Holiness in
the Congregation
One
reason for reporting wrongdoing is that it works to preserve the cleanness of
the congregation. Jehovah is a clean God, a holy God. He requires all those
who worship him to be spiritually and morally clean. His inspired Word
admonishes: “As obedient children, quit being fashioned according to the
desires you formerly had in your ignorance, but, in accord with the Holy One
who called you, do you also become holy yourselves in all your conduct,
because it is written: ‘You must be holy, because I am holy.’” (1 Peter
1:14-16) Individuals who practice uncleanness or wrongdoing can bring
defilement and Jehovah’s disfavor upon an entire congregation unless action
is taken to correct or remove them.—Compare Joshua, chapter 7.
The
congregation does their own dirty laundry and keeps outsiders uninformed.
This is the basis of how the congregation operates.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are NOT free to go to the police.
They are required to OBEY the direction of the elders.
If they do not they are disfellowshipped.
Thus Watchtower Policy requires a child molestation victim to go to the
ELDERS FIRST and this is the error of WT policy.
2.
A
pedophile should never hold a position of responsibility within the
congregation.
“It
may be possible that some who were guilty of child molestation were or are now
serving as elders, ministerial servants, or regular or special pioneers.
Others may have been guilty of child molestation before they were baptized. The
bodies of elders should not query individuals.”
This
statement made provision for pedophile to continue to serve.
That was further collaborated by the
“There
is one exception to the above direction: The elders may have written to the
branch office and given full details about a former child abuser who is
currently serving as an elder or ministerial servant. In such a case, if the
branch office has decided that he can be appointed or continue serving in a
position of trust because the sin occurred many years ago and because he has
lived an exemplary life since then, his name should not appear on the List,
nor is it necessary to pass on information about the brother’s past sin if
he moves to another congregation unless contrary instructions have been given
by the branch.”
3.
Child
molesters should never be allowed to participate in the door to door ministry.
w97
1/1 29 Let Us Abhor What Is
Wicked
”Depending on the law of the land where he lives, the molester may well have
to serve a prison term or face other sanctions from the State…’If
he seems to be repentant, he will be encouraged to make spiritual progress,
share in the field service..”