JEHOVAH’S
WITNESSES
10 Years revealing secrets because there is no excuse for secrecy in religion – w1997 June 1; Dan 2:47; Matt 10:26; Mark 4:22; Luke 12:2; Acts 4:19, 20.
JEHOVAH’S
WITNESSES
10 Years revealing secrets because there is no excuse for secrecy in religion – w1997 June 1; Dan 2:47; Matt 10:26; Mark 4:22; Luke 12:2; Acts 4:19, 20.
“Suppose you had a dear friend who was soon to be hanged for a murder he was innocent of, convicted upon perjured and circumstantial evidence. Then suppose the murderer came to you and confessed his guilt. Would you not immediately notify the police so that your innocent friend would not need to die? Of course, you would!” – Watchtower 1958
But if you were an elder of the Jehovah’s Witness Organization, and this man had confessed to you, you would have to stand helplessly by as your dear friend died for a murder he did not commit.
Dreadful? Not according to Watch Tower, one of the legal entities used by Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Congregation elders are provided with a textbook entitled, “Shepherd the Flock of God.” It contains directions on how to handle matters considered “serious wrongdoing” which includes murder, manslaughter, rape, child abuse, and other crimes. Nowhere in this publication are elders directed to report such crimes to the secular authorities. Only in cases of child abuse are elders directed to report the crime to the legal department at their regional headquarters. The legal department then reviews secular law to determine if elders are mandatory reporters. If not, elders make no report and in many cases, the abuse of children in Jehovah’s Witnesses continues for many years.
You can find the PDF form of Shepherd the Flock of God here
Comparatively, the Supreme Court of Montana, in its January 8, 2020 ruling in the child abuse case Nunez v Watch Tower, published the following: “Because their church doctrine, canon or practice required that clergy keep reports of child abuse confidential,” Jehovah’s Witnesses are not required to report crimes of abuse to the secular authorities that are made as part of their confessional. If they are reluctant to report crimes made against their most vulnerable – children, there is no reason to believe they would report crimes of murder, manslaughter and rape.
This is one of many serious problems within the organization. They call crimes, sins. Clarity arises not from the truth you perceive, but from the truths that remain undiscovered.
When allegations of child abuse arise within the ranks of the clergy, such as priests, bishops, or cardinals, the Catholic church, Though reluctantly and often belatedly- tends to take responsibility. They acknowledge that some of their high-ranking members have committed crimes of abuse.
Yet, is there ever a similar acknowledgment from the Jehovah’s Witnesses?
It is important to note that the Jehovah’s Witness organization is not the only organization that doesn’t Acknowledge that some individuals in positions of great responsibility have breached trust by harming children.
Nowadays though, the Catholic Church is demonstrating a level of accountability and a commitment to improvement. This is not the same for the Watch Tower Society, refusing to compensate those harmed until they are forced to.
“Look out: perhaps there may be some man that will carry you off as his prey through the philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary things of the world and not according to Christ.“—Col. 2:8.
Aiding Transparency to Watchtowers teachings. If you have additional information about this topic or would like to reach the author- Please email [email protected]