Freethought & Rationalism Archive

dimossi · 07-14-2002, 08:45 PM

And we thought the Catholic Church was bad:

<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/audiovideo/programmes/panorama/newsid_2119000/2119903.stm" target="_blank">Secret database protects paedophiles</a>

Quote:

Bill Bowen, who has spent his lifetime as a Jehovah's Witness and nearly twenty years as an elder, says the organisation covers up abuse by keeping this database secret.

His sources indicate there are 23,720 abusers on the list - who are protected by the system.

Quote:

Little over a year ago, Bowen, as a concerned elder, rang the legal desk and asked for advice on how he should handle a suspected case of abuse in his congregation.

The advice was:

"You just ask him again: 'Now is there anything to this?' If he says 'no', then I would walk away from it...

"Leave it for Jehovah. He'll bring it out."

You can watch the 50 minute in-depth BBC Panorama video program about the Jehovah's Witness abuse scandal here:
<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/cta/progs/panorama/latest.ram" target="_blank">http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/cta/progs/panorama/latest.ram</a>

[Edited to fix funky link stuff - BJM]

[ July 16, 2002: Message edited by: Bree ]

Egoinos · 07-15-2002, 11:30 AM

That was a good program, that. Watched it last night.

I can't believe they refuse to hand over their database to the police! And elders who hear of a child being abused have to contact their bosses - not the police!

Anunnaki · 07-15-2002, 11:37 AM

I watched it too and it just proves once again that you can`t really trust any group of people who live in a supernatural fantasy world. They`re ALL fucked in the head.

Joel · 07-15-2002, 12:03 PM

I was raised in a Jehovah's Witness family and I can tell you that's how the handle all allegations of any crime. The 'worldly' authorities (as they like to call them) are only consulted if there is no way to avoid it. It has been my experience that they are more cult than religion and are very vicious towards anyone who wants to reveal the dark side of their organization. Kinda reminds you of the Scientologists...

Born Free · 07-15-2002, 12:16 PM

Damn I missed it last night but it will be repeated no doubt. Bloody disgrace that it's allowed to go unchecked.

Jimmy Higgins · 07-15-2002, 12:50 PM

Well it gives you something to bring up the next time they come to the door.

"We want to share god with you."

(Holding tape of video or article in hand) "Sure, but lets start with this first."

dimossi · 07-15-2002, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by alli:
Damn I missed it last night but it will be repeated no doubt. Bloody disgrace that it's allowed to go unchecked.

You can watch the streaming Real Video version of it online here:
<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/cta/progs/panorama/latest.ram" target="_blank">http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/cta/progs/panorama/latest.ram</a>

dimossi · 07-15-2002, 05:20 PM

This is interesting....check out the Jehovah's Witnesses official response to the BBC story:

<a href="http://www.jw-media.org/releases/default.htm?content=bbc020509.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.jw-media.org/releases/default.htm?content=bbc020509.pdf</a>

Philosoft · 07-15-2002, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dimossi:
This is interesting....check out the Jehovah's Witnesses official response to the BBC story:

<a href="http://www.jw-media.org/releases/default.htm?content=bbc020509.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.jw-media.org/releases/default.htm?content=bbc020509.pdf</a>

Yikes! This reads like a farce written by a 17-year-old! This is truly delusional.

Veil of Fire · 07-15-2002, 06:54 PM

Elders, elders, branch offices... nobody tells the police anything, eh?

[ July 15, 2002: Message edited by: Veil of Fire ]

07-15-2002, 06:54 PM	#10
Veil of Fire Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: South Carolina Posts: 451	Elders, elders, branch offices... nobody tells the police anything, eh? [ July 15, 2002: Message edited by: Veil of Fire ]</p>

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07-15-2002, 11:30 AM	#2
Egoinos Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 423	That was a good program, that. Watched it last night. I can't believe they refuse to hand over their database to the police! And elders who hear of a child being abused have to contact their bosses - not the police!

07-15-2002, 11:37 AM	#3
Anunnaki Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: I`ve left and gone away Posts: 699	I watched it too and it just proves once again that you can`t really trust any group of people who live in a supernatural fantasy world. They`re ALL fucked in the head.

07-15-2002, 12:03 PM	#4
Joel Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 925	I was raised in a Jehovah's Witness family and I can tell you that's how the handle all allegations of any crime. The 'worldly' authorities (as they like to call them) are only consulted if there is no way to avoid it. It has been my experience that they are more cult than religion and are very vicious towards anyone who wants to reveal the dark side of their organization. Kinda reminds you of the Scientologists...

07-15-2002, 12:16 PM	#5
Born Free Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Scotland Posts: 4,177	Damn I missed it last night but it will be repeated no doubt. Bloody disgrace that it's allowed to go unchecked.

07-15-2002, 12:50 PM	#6
Jimmy Higgins Contributor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Proud Citizen of Freedonia Posts: 42,473	Well it gives you something to bring up the next time they come to the door. "We want to share god with you." (Holding tape of video or article in hand) "Sure, but lets start with this first."

07-15-2002, 05:20 PM	#8
dimossi Regular Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 243	This is interesting....check out the Jehovah's Witnesses official response to the BBC story: <a href="http://www.jw-media.org/releases/default.htm?content=bbc020509.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.jw-media.org/releases/default.htm?content=bbc020509.pdf</a>

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