Quote:
From 2 Cor 13:1:
Jehovah's Witnesses use this verse (along with Dt.19:15, 1 Tim.5:19, and Mt.18:16) to justify their refusal to report or investigate incidents of child molestation unless two or three JWs have witnessed the event. If witnesses do not come forward (and they are discouraged from doing so since it would embarrass the organization), then the victim is told to be quiet about it -- or risk being disfellowshipped.
I'll be the first to say that the two-witness rule has caused huge pain.
The policy of the JWs has always been to obey local laws. In particular, the elders of the congregation often assume the role of clergy under the law. Like it or not, until a couple of decades ago it was illegal in most states for clergy to report past crimes admitted to in a confidential manner if the criminal avowed a change in future behavior. JWs elders could no more go to the police about molestation than a priest/minister/psychologist could go when a man had confessed murder to them. Many legislatures have since recognized that molestation is seldom a one-time affair, and so have relaxed these strictures. Again, JWs are expected to obey the local laws.
There were absolutely elders (and priests, ministers, coaches, scoutmasters, etc.) who tried to cover up the molestation perform by others, this was wrong. This is a human problem, not a JW-specific problem. It was never JW policy to prevent molested children and their parents from going to the police in criminal cases, but many elders mistakenly believed the policy existed and enforced it.
From a 1985 article on molestation:
However, if molestationand especially incestis discovered to have occurred, two things must be done immediately:
First, the childand other children toomust be protected from any further abuse. This must be done, whatever the cost. In many cases the accused molester will have to be confronted. But whatever it takes, it is important that the child should feel confident that the molester will never be able to get at her (or him) again.
Second, the child must be given a lot of love and emotional support. Parents must make it very clear that the little victim is not to blame. The crime and anything that happens as a result of iteven if a close relative goes to prisonis not her (or his) fault. But that reassurance will have to be given many times, so that the victim comes to believe itand to believe that the parents believe it too!
From the last article of a five-part 1993 series on molestation
Some legal experts advise reporting the abuse to the authorities as soon as possible. In some lands the legal system may require this. But in other places the legal system may offer little hope of successful prosecution.
What, though, when the abuser is one's own beloved mate? Sad to say, many women fail to take decisive action. To be sure, it is never easy to face the ugly reality of a mate who is a child abuser. Emotional ties, and even financial dependency, can be overwhelmingly strong. The wronged wife may also realize that taking action could cost her husband his family, his job, his reputation.* The hard truth is, though, that he may just be reaping what he has sown. (Galatians 6:7) Innocent children, on the other hand, stand to lose much more if they are not believed and protected. Their whole future is at stake. They do not have the resources that adults have. Trauma can scar and shape them adversely for life. They are the ones who need and deserve tender treatment.Compare Genesis 33:13, 14.
Parents must therefore make every reasonable effort to protect their children! Many responsible parents choose to seek out professional help for an abused child.
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"Come now, and let us reason together"
"Come now, and let us reason together"
