Ozarks Local, page 6:
Section: Your Business
Do Jehovah's Witnesses' literature cover-up church wrongdoing?
By S.G. Rainbolt
The Organizational Spokesman for the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, J.R. Brown sent a letter to NBC Dateline declining an on-camera interview when an accusation of child molestation in the church arose. In part the letter reads, "The Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses
respectfully declined, as it would appear to pit brother against brother and this is not the Christian way to resolve differences. We do not feel that a nationwide television program is the forum in which to discuss differences in viewpoint between members of our religion
Our [organization] is willing to resolve differences of opinion within the framework of the congregation and according to Scriptural principles."
This response has raised question regarding the conduct or position of Jehovah's Witnesses regarding the plague of child abuse and molestation. Indeed, to our community this may raise concern because their congregations are in Crocker, Lebanon, Camdenton, Rolla, Licking and other communities in Missouri.
Brown further commented, "Child abuse is an evil. The bible says you should "hate what is bad" and that certainly would include child abuse."
Where does the organization, operated by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Brooklyn, NY, stand with regard to it's policy if such a thing happens within the church? Some have criticized the church for being too soft or slow about notifying authorities when a case is brought to them.
Mr. Brumley, the General Counsel for Jehovah's Witnesses answers, "Our top priority is to protect the victims whatever steps need to be taken are taken. Second priority is the perpetrators, getting the help they need. Our third priority is to see to it that secular authorities are indeed informed of the accusation."
"We've heard the suggestion that our policies may not be adequate to cover the problem of child molestation. But that's not the case at all," says Brown, "We have a very aggressive policy to handle child molestation in the congregations. They are designed to protect our children."
In light of these accusations, some doctors including psychiatrists and pediatricians have examined Jehovah's Witnesses' policy. Dr. M. Ruth Infante, Psychiatrist, Psychopharmacologist had this to say: "I think that's a very good policy, that the elders [church ministers] essentially would take charge of the situation of reporting the abuse to the authorities if there is no adult in authority to protect the child.
Jehovah's Witnesses are known for their door-to-door preaching at homes and businesses. In their preaching work, they offer the organization's main publication, The Watchtower and Awake. This publication has been printed since 1879 with a circulation of 24,000,000 in over 144 languages. It is in this publication that the organization has warned of the threat of child abuse and molestation inside and outside the home.
One doctor commented on the publication, "They have some extremely frank articles well-designed articles, telling parents how to teach their children to deal with molestation situation. And in ways so that the child will feel secure about coming home and reporting it... Like how you notify the proper officials,
how do you deal with the child, therapy, and what is the church's responsibility."
Dr. Robert P. Dickey, a pediatrician, ended by saying, "The production of those articles is pretty clear evidence that the organization is serious about preventing that. I can't see how you could say that you would be covering up anything if you were educating people."
Brumley summed up by saying, "There are instances when a situation that should have been reported is not, But to say that the policy is not followed perfectly is a far cry from saying that there exists a policy to hide, this problem. The policy that Jehovah's Witnesses have on how to handle cases of child molestation is without equal in the religious community."
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