Barbara was a research assistant to several senior members of
the Society's Writing Department, doing at times historical research,
and research into complaints the Society received about its handling
of child molestation and abuse of women by JW men.
She was a primary research assistant to Karl Adams for the JW history
book Jehovah's Witnesses: Proclaimers of God's Kingdom.(source:
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/).
Barbara Anderson was unmasked by the Watchtower Society as one
of the persons who had talked to NBC Dateline about pedophilia within
the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses. Here is her own story:
"As a result of the newspaper report calling attention
to my actions I feel compelled to provide further information
that has come to light and deserves full exposure.
The Society is very much aware of my intentions, because of a
private e-mail I innocently wrote someone was forwarded to the
Society without my permission. You can read it in its entirety,
below. I wish to provide some background first, as to the reason
for writing in the first place.
I learned that a male Jehovah’s Witness raped the daughter
of a “Witness” friend when she was nine years old. Last
year, the then 18-year-old victim pressed charges and in February
2001 the pedophile went to jail.
The case is typical. Years earlier when the mother of the victim
found out about the rape, she went to the elders as she was instructed
to do. As any good Witness would, she believed that they would
do the right thing. Did they?
There is no record of a report by the elders to the authorities,
even though the state they live in requires reporting molestation
by anyone, including ministers. This lack of follow through served
to protect the perpetrator, and he continued molesting before
relatives of another victim notified the authorities.
Phoning my friend and hearing the whole sordid molestation story,
I decided to break my long silence and told her of my decision
to talk to NBC Dateline about pedophilia (child molestation or
abuse) within the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses. Later,
I decided to write an e-mail suggesting my friend to also speak
to Dateline.
Soon after, our local circuit overseer was somehow informed of
my involvement with Dateline. The CO called my husband, suggesting
he stop me from talking to Dateline, clearly telling him that
he would lose his position as an elder if he did not stop me.
Within a few weeks, my private e-mail was sent to the Service/Legal
Department of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses,
which problem previously would have been handled by the Watchtower
Society of New York Inc. Without permission, a relative of my
friend, an elder, had sent the Society, the Christian Congregation
of Jehovah's Witnesses in Patterson, NY, a copy of the e-mail.
A full copy of that e-mail is reproduced below for you to see
its contents.
“The Society” acted by means of the Christian Congregation.
A copy of my e-mail and a letter of inquiry were sent to the congregation
elders where my husband serves as an elder. The letter of inquiry
asked the elders whether I had propagated my views locally. The
only answer and reply from the body of elders had to be a very
clear “No.”
Last week, when I was at Erica’s trial, another letter arrived
from the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses requesting
that local elders arrange to meet with me. For the record, I refused
that invitation. Also, my friend turned down the invitation to
appear on Dateline.
Would you like to know what heresy could prompt such heavy-handed
responses? Read for yourself. Publishing this once-private e-mail
I hope will also be informative to others who have been injured
by policies of Jehovah’s Witnesses through their hierarchy
of overseers and corporate entities such as the Christian Congregation
of JWs, the Watch Tower Society of Pennsylvania and Watchtower
Society of New York, whose inadequate and unenlightened sexual
abuse policies result in the protection of pedophiles, even if
unknown or not deliberately.
Its purpose is also to entreat individuals who have been harmed
to come forward and demand change.
I urge you to write letters or make phone calls to the Governing
Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Christian Congregation of
Jehovah's Witnesses, and to news media and to anybody who will
listen, to protest the Watchtower policies which gravely injure
children, their families and at the same time protect criminals.
I believe that Elders of Jehovah's Witnesses have no business
deciding who is criminally guilty or not guilty of the charge
of molestation, or to access the genuineness of a child’s
charge, or that of a family member in a child’s behalf. They
are simply not qualified, no matter how many counseling sessions
they have had with their traveling overseers or in their training
sessions.
The first order of business is the protection of children, not
the “purity of the congregation.” The Society’s
press releases have called molestation a “serious crime.”
They have not acted consistently with that clear recognition.
Their actions belie their words. They must ACT accordingly. They
must treat this matter as they do other “serious crimes.”
Crimes should be placed in the hands of Caesar, the Superior
Authorities, of Romans 13:1-6. “For it is God’s minister
for you.” Secular authorities quite properly view it as their
prerogative to examine charges and judge matters. Elders must
not under any circumstance interfere with the absolute right of
the family or family members to report to the proper authorities.
Rather, they should proactively encourage such reporting. The
Authority of Romans 13 could extend to the family physician, social
services, school officials, health officials, including authorized
mental health specialists—and obviously the police.
I believe there are those at bethel who have similar feelings
but are afraid to speak up for fear of lack of support.
Herewith is the e-mail forwarded to “the Society” that
prompted the actions above from the Christian Congregation of
Jehovah’s Witnesses. The text below is entirely unaltered
from its original other than the names.
Dear -------,
Maybe you don't want to talk to me after reading the newspaper
articles I e-mailed you. [About Bill Bowen's resignation as an
elder because of disagreement with how Jehovah's Witnesses deal
with the problem of pedophilia within its ranks.] Perhaps what
I have embarked upon is frightening to you. After all, we were
trained not to run ahead, or to criticize God's organization.
The training was meant to control us, to think for us. Is this
the theme of the Bible? Do we allow injustice because we are told
that it is not for us to be involved in the fight for
truth and righteousness. I can't help but remember what Jesus
told the seven congregations in the beginning of the book of Revelation.
He condemned some of the congregations for allowing wickedness
to exist. He scolded, he berated Christians for their apathy.
We have this example of how not to be, so It is time we stand
up and be counted by Jehovah God as fighters for righteousness
and for justice for his little ones.
Remember Matt. 18:1-6. Read those verses in different translations
and the same thought comes through loud and clear: those who cause
the little ones to stumble or sin will have a mill stone tied
around their neck and be thrown into the sea. Children who are
molested, who are raped, are stumbled. They have lost their innocence
and it affects them for the rest of their life.
When I was fighting for a change in the WT's policy regarding
molestation in the organization in 1991-92 in Bethel, your dear
child was being molested by a man who would never have been trusted
by you if the Watchtower's secret policy was not in existence.
I know that you and all the other JWs who might watch Dateline
interview me will be shocked by what I have to say about the indifference
and outright hostility by the leaders of Watchtower towards the
victims of sexual abuse that I saw in Brooklyn. I can say before
God that these men have blood on their hands for the misery and
suicides that took place because of their protection of pedophile
elders and ministerial servants.
I can prove what I say. If all of the details don't make it
on Dateline, because there will be so many others speaking out,
I guarantee you, my information will make it into Time or Newsweek.
Watchtower is in deep trouble and they were warned over and over
that something like this would happen, but their arrogance knows
no bounds.
They will reap what they have sown and they sowed a whirlwind
that shortly will begin to blow back in their faces.
I gave your phone number to the Dateline producer who I'm
working with. Please think how important it is for you to speak
out about the damaging effects the policy of the WT caused in
your family and all the other families in your town. I hope you
read Silentlambs.org. [site on the Internet.] When the camera
crew from Dateline read the victims' stories, two of them cried.
The last thing in this world I wanted was to go public about
the results of an awful policy that certainly God has to hate.
I can't imagine a loving mediator, Christ Jesus, not caring what
happens to the children all in the name of protecting God's organization
from reproach.
If you decide to speak publicly about your girl's nightmare
of a childhood, Dateline would accommodate you and hide your identity,
if you desired. Here is your chance to expose horrific wrongs
that were done by predators and some misguided people. Think of
all of the children you will have helped if you speak out. If
the elders had done the right thing so long ago; if they had obeyed
State law and the law of the Bible in Titus 3:1 "Continue
reminding them to be in subjection and be obedient to governments
and authorities as rulers..." so many children in your congregation
wouldn't have lost their innocence during the past ten years.
You're a gutsy gal. Stand up and be counted for your child's
sake. If you don't, in the future you may live with regrets. Take
the power and control in your hands that is offered you, which
was taken away from your daughter, and talk to [producer’s
name excised] from Dateline. His number is [name snipped for privacy].
I spoke up and I anticipate the loss of loved ones over this,
but I'm doing it for the victims. I'm doing it for my grandson,
xxxx. To think he is not safe from being molested by cunning predators
within the organization is more than I can bear. I will not go
to my grave knowing that I could have spoken up and saved more
children from molestation, but didn't. I made my choice, now it's
up to you to make one too.
My heart goes out to you and if I have put you in an awkward
position, I apologize. But my Bible trained conscience made me
do it.
Love,
Barb"
