Watchtower Society settles sexual abuse cases to prevent victims from speaking out
Sixteen sexual abuse victims have settled nine lawsuits in which they said they were sexually abused as children by Jehovah’s Witnesses members and leaders.
Settlements were reached in late February and early March, according to court records obtained by Bill Bowen of SilentLambs.org. Now with video of press conference! Fourteen of the cases were filed in California; the others were in Oregon and Texas.
“For once, we have the church stepping up to the plate and having to settle with these victims,” said Bill Bowen, founder of SilentLambs.org. “To me, it’s a vindication for the abuse survivors.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses Silentlambs Press Conference on Channel 4
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Mario Moreno, the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ associate general counsel, confirmed that nine lawsuits involving a total of 16 plaintiffs had been settled. When asked the total amount of the settlements, he said, “I’m not able to comment on any of the specifics,” citing “a confidentiality agreement.”
Bowen called that agreement a “bittersweet” outcome. “Even though they’re vindicated and they’re going to be compensated … they can’t tell anybody about it,” he said. Even so, Bowen considered this a significant legal victory for the plaintiffs. “It’s the largest group of people that they have settled with – as far as child abuse is concerned – at one time,” he said. Moreno would only say that “it certainly is unusual for us to have a number of cases.”
In a brief statement, the religious body said: “We are pleased to see this matter resolved.” The statement “regarding January-February 2007 settlement of child abuse cases” cites the New Testament book of Romans about hating “what is wicked” and says child abuse falls in that category.
“As an organization, we will continually strive to educate families and congregations with sound Scriptural teachings that they can use to protect their children from child molesters,” the statement said. “And we will continue to do our utmost to protect children from this horrible crime and sin.”
SilentLambs.org has criticized the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ policy on abuse. If the accused denies the charge, two credible witnesses are required to establish guilt due to literal application of such Bible verses as Deuteronomy 19:15 (”only on the evidence of two witnesses, or of three witnesses, shall a charge be sustained”). If two witnesses are lacking, the accused is deemed innocent, charges remain confidential and parents who warn others are subject to disfellowshipping for slander.
Since establishing SilentLambs.org in 2001, Bowen says about 7,000 people who claim they were abused have contacted his support group.
Sources:
SilentLambs.org
Beliefnet
Associated Press
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@DANIEL DABO Dear DANIEL DABO DUMB,i really wish ya become a jehovordure. you already like their literatrash, what are you waiting for? why are you hiding out? come forward please and trust JEHOWHORE, he’ll fix all your problems.
even your anal ones.
Hello brothers and sisters Jehovah wittiness members i am Daniel Dabo from Kakuma refugee camp Nairobi Kenya.
i am Ethiopia refugee.me every time i like to read the watchtower wen i got every time the Jehovah teachers also i flee real happy and i get rest for few time when i was start study.But now because of my security problem i was hide my self same where please pray for me i am in the series problem.Thank you all my brothers and sisters.by regards Daniel Dabo.MY MOBILE NO- IS-+254-724889168
Hola, me parece que este mundo cada vez se pone peor encuanto a inmoralidad se refiere.Me alegra saber que en la organizacion de los testigos de Jehova no hacen caso omiso de estos casos y son expulsados de su organizacion, dejando que la justicaia humana haga su trabajo.No es asi con el catolicismo, ya que a sus miembros ya sean cura o u obispos siendo pedofilos los apoyan y los cambian de parroquias tratando de ocultar el hecho , asi continua el abuso en contra de menores.
Me alegra encontrar una sociedad en la que si se hace justicia, ya que en todas partes hay ovejas disfrazaas de ovejas.
Thanks Pat, I’m fully aware of their less than stellar acumen, my comment was to have the moron realize (at least we hope) that he is preaching to the wrong crowd.
It’s not very wise to attempt some intelligent or intellectual dissertation with those that lived in the cult and have been smart enough to get the hell out!
Anyway I digress, how is life treating you Pat?
He’s a friggin’ retard James! Sidewalk prophet. Truly an intellectual dipstick.
I grew up in a JW family too. It’s a total crock. My sister and several other young girls in the congregation stated that a member of the Kingdom Hall had tried to touch them inappropriately or put his hand up their dresses. A meeting with the elders was had and since this pervert denied it, they deemed him innocent and that it didn’t happen. All of the girls must have imagined it. He was free to walk away and the police were not called to investigate. The JW’s like to handle matters without worldly intervention. My parents were just as whacko as the rest of the JW’s for not calling the police. JW’s cover up acts of elders that could be cause for “disfellowshipping” and hold themselves in a holier than thou position. The whole religion is a crock and cover up for a bunch of pedophiles.
my fave biblical quote is “beware wolves in sheep’s clothing”.
it’s my fave because it is a wise warning that refers directly to the perverse, exploitative, immoral, abusive people who flock to religion and hide behind a false facade of piety as they commit their sins and crimes against the innocent, vulnerable and naive.
jehovah’s witnesses are about as immune to being infiltrated by wolves as is any other religion—-wolves are attracted to religious organizations for the very reason that it is so easy to use/twist/distort the word of the bible and to manipulate the lost/seeking.
i have no doubt that watchtower members that have been caught, are guilty and i have no doubt that there are more guilty within the ranks.
like the book says: beware wolves in sheep’s clothing.
it’s one quote from the bible that everyone should pay attention to.
hagar
it is time for the church to step up and clean house of these scum and take back the church from these ungodly men.there is no room in the church for any sexual battery or any other sin.sin is sin and wrong.how can you preach the good news and be sinning at the same time?do you believe what the bible says?if you dont then get out of the church.you cant serve 2 masters.
to ann/11/21/07
you may be a little paranoid
This is very sad but it just shows how much these people try to control their member’s every move. Free thinking is not allowed. They tell you that Jehovah gives us all free will, and I beleive he does, then when you don’t do what they deem right they turn their back on you. I understand love of God but what about the commandment that says love your neighbor.?
I think this is a very good comment and very informative. I studied to be a JW for over 18 years and could not totally make a commentment to the group. I guess all the doubts I had about the group was why. For years I rejected other groups and even reading their pamphlets. This kept me inn the dark away from the truth. i agree no one group can claim to be the “one”.
On 11/21/2007, there was a report on the NBC Evening News about these gag orders. There was reports of elders that knew about the problem and chose to keep silent about it. This is the first I have heard of such on a major mainstream source (I have seen CNN videos, but those have smaller audiences than NBC Evening News).
I am hoping that this results in far fewer people going into that organization. Anyone that would enter an organization that silences pedophile victims with gag orders is either stupid, wicked, or ignorant. And the NBC report just put a hole in the ignorance excuse. For sure, anyone that would put even another penny in the Worldwide Pedophile Defense Fund boxes in the Kingdumb Hells after seeing this is blatantly pro-pedophilia. I would be highly embarrassed to be seen out in field service after this, or putting money in those pedophile-defense fund boxes. I don’t think I would even want to be seen near a Kingdumb Hell, especially dressed like a Witless.
Even possession of old paraphenalia, like those service bags, is embarrassing. Before this, I kept my old service bag just in case it would come in handy to start an at-home business. Its resemblance to a Jehovah’s Witness bag would, however, be bad for any business I would try to start, especially if children and/or parents were major customers. I would not be surprised if, within a couple of months, Jehovah’s Witnesses (especially men) start being ostracized by parents and children because of this incident, and I do not want to be associated with that cult in any way, shape, or form.
In fact, I have been decorating my place for Christmas even before this. But now I intend to put even more Christmas decorations up where it would be visible to the world. That way, people will see them and be relieved that I am not one of those child-molesting Jehovah’s Witlesses.
Wow, first you were John, now you are Joe. LOL at least it starts with the same letter, like most jw’s are you suffering from bipolar? One thing we know for sure, you are a JW! And how do we know that? Apparently you can’t spell, and that is how we spot the witnesses.
So we are not going to solve our problems are we? Who else is going to solve them for us Joe’hover? He has conveniently been asleep at the wheel for the last 4000, so what makes you think he can help now?
Ah faith = blind-less believe what has never been shown.
What gives you the indication that Ber needs help?
Ps. keep up the good work selling the magazines for the WT.
You all are funny. Everyone of you think that mankind is going solve their problems by complaining. You can only make a small difference and as noble and honorable humans you must do so. Altho all of your oppinions do nothing to help. Your incesent whining does nothing to help. Only your actions can contribute to making the current state of things better. I am not talking about the actions you are all expressing here on a forum. I want to know what you have done to help Ber? I could go on a cursing rant like you did explaining myself in such unneeded detail but there is a thing called self respect that I have. Keep on drinkin that hateraid. The nazi’s did and we see how far that got them.
John, very interesting answer you had to Ber: “The bible or Bible or Hole Bible is a history book” you tried to be a smart ass by putting “Bible” in capital letters, but then you go on to say: “Hole Bible” or hole bible. Have you got any idea what the word “Hole or hole” means? Gap, opening, crack, break, puncture, tear. So exactly what was your point when you wrote: “hole bible” Does the bible have a crack, break, puncture, tear or opening?
So according to you some stories are about the future, but not all of them. I guess you can interpret which ones since you are able to talk to god and he tells you all this stuff, right?
Did you ever graduated primary school?
John, are you a polition? Just answer what is convinient??
To Ber; The bible or Bible or Hole Bible is a history book. I do not believe that it was all written before it happen. Some story are about the future, but not all of them. many of these story have come to pass, but some have not. I do not think you are confuse, but I do think you are not willing to talk to God. IF
John please answer the following: “Bible is a history book”? Now I am confused again, I thought that history is something written after the fact. You on the other hand you believe that the bible was written before hand to advise us of the things to come do you not??? So which one is which??
If I still recall, first God created the earth and then on the 3rd day he created the sun, but according to science the Sun was created long before the earth, so again which is which??
One question for you John, if God created the earth, who created the planets???? In the case you answer that god created everything, where was God and the angels before he created everything??