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← Victim of pedophile Barry Furlong urges that “children’s welfare should come first”
Landmark UK High Court case against Watchtower could make history →

Stephen Lett slams “apostate-driven lies and dishonesties” concerning child abuse record
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Posted on February 26, 2015

Stephen Lett has slammed criticism of Watchtower's child abuse record as "lies and dishonesties"
Stephen Lett has slammed criticism of Watchtower’s child abuse record as “lies and dishonesties”

Governing Body member Stephen Lett has slammed criticism of the organization’s child abuse record as “apostate-driven lies and dishonesties” in a video released on Watchtower’s new “JW Broadcasting” website.
Lett, who recently raised eyebrows by saying there is more evidence that Jesus’ kingdom began ruling in 1914 than there is for “gravity, electricity, wind,” insisted that “Jehovah’s organization” takes action against those who would threaten its young ones, whom he says it protects.
The comments came in the final part of a 10-minute Orwellian speech in which Lett reminded bethelites to pursue “oneness” even if it meant foregoing personal rights, such as one’s right to decide on one’s own dress and grooming.
A video of Lett’s comments on child abuse can be seen below. To watch the full 10-minute talk, please click here.


In case you didn’t catch it (or couldn’t bear to watch the video) this is what Lett said…

“Another way we can contribute to the oneness: rejecting false stories that are designed to separate us from Jehovah’s organization. As an example, think about the apostate-driven lies and dishonesties that Jehovah’s organization is permissive toward pedophiles. I mean, that is ridiculous, isn’t it! If anybody takes action against someone who would threaten our young ones, and takes action to protect our young ones, it is Jehovah’s organization. We reject outright such lies.”
Aside from the fact that the above words represent a flagrant, bare-faced lie as respects the organization protecting children from pedophiles, it is noteworthy that Lett begins his rant with a straw man argument.
“Apostates” do not necessarily say that Watchtower (“Jehovah’s organization”) is permissive toward pedophiles. Though technically speaking Watchtower’s policies are permissive to some extent, saying the organization is permissive toward pedophiles implies that the organization endorses those who engage in pedophilia and/or doesn’t object to child molestation in its printed material.
Activists like myself have never denied that Watchtower publications strenuously condemn child molestation and those who engage in it. What we are horrified about is the fact that, despite outwardly condemning pedophilia, Watchtower effectively shelters pedophiles by allowing allegations against them to go unreported to the authorities if there is no witness to their heinous crimes.
Rather than this being an “apostate-driven lie” this is a sad truth, as borne out by (1) Watchtower’s own instructions to elders (which urge them to “leave matters in Jehovah’s hands” if an accused pedophile denies the accusation – see below) and (2) the numerous legal battles Watchtower finds itself embroiled in due to this very policy.
leave-the-matter-in-JehovahAnd as I point out in my video rebuttal to Lett’s remarks, investigative journalists like Trey Bundy (who has blown wide open the story of Watchtower’s mishandling of child abuse in recent weeks) are not “apostates” at all, and would not be foolish enough to put their careers on the line by reporting stories that cannot be substantiated.
What we have in this frantic rant is a seemingly desperate attempt at stemming the flow of bad publicity by flat-out lying about Watchtower’s involvement in protecting pedophiles. The fact that “Jehovah’s organization” would rather default on a $13.5 million judgment than release its pedophile database in response to a subpoena, as Trey revealed in a Huffington Post interview, says everything about their priorities. Secrecy comes first, safety of children – a poor second.
It will be interesting to see whether floundering tirades and flat-out denials by Governing Body members regarding child abuse become more of a feature of Watchtower propaganda over the coming months as the media begins to really turn the screws.
After all, when you make yourself so visible to your adoring followers, only for your dirty secrets to be exposed on the evening news, sooner or later they will expect answers.

new-cedars-signature2






Further reading…
◾Is the media finally grasping just how bad Watchtower’s child abuse problem is?
◾PBS airs trey Bundy’s must-see documentary on child sex abuse among Jehovah’s Witnesses
◾Stephen Lett: More evidence for 1914 than for “gravity, electricity, wind!”
◾AAWA.co article “Watchtower Caught in a Lie”
◾Jehovah’s Witness Report article
◾JWsurvey articles on child abuse
Related video…





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← Victim of pedophile Barry Furlong urges that “children’s welfare should come first”
Landmark UK High Court case against Watchtower could make history →

170 Responses to Stephen Lett slams “apostate-driven lies and dishonesties” concerning child abuse record

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 Neal Krouni says:

 March 3, 2015 at 8:20 pm

@ Excelsior!
You must not have read my comments very carefully. First of all, I did not belittle science. I agree, we owe so much to brilliant men and women who have made our lives physically easier, and given us a greater understanding of our world and the universe. But there’s a difference between science and pseudoscience, that is, science that is skewed, or tainted by preconceived biases and opinions. Science must be pure and objective. Secondly, I totally agree with you on the point of Free Will. In fact, if you reread my comments more carefully, you’ll see that was my whole point. My argument was that pedophiles are NOT genetically predisposed to be pedophiles. I don’t know how you could have misinterpreted that. I said in black-and-white that pedophiles are evil, but have the capacity (Free Will) to change if they truly desire to. Lastly, it’s hard to believe you’ve never heard the term “New World Order”. People have been kicking that phrase around since the days of George Bush, Sr. In fact, it was President Bush (Sr.) who coined that phrase about 25 years ago. It is now generally used in a negative sense, to connote authoritarian, fascist-like global government, police state, an Orwellian “1984”-ish society. I have no desire to live in such a world either.
Live long and prosper
Reply
 

 Neal Krouni says:

 March 3, 2015 at 8:31 pm

@ Pickled brain
@ Excelsior!
I’m not too keen on Capital Punishment myself, but in this case I’m willing to make an exception. ;)
Reply
 

 anonymous says:

 March 4, 2015 at 2:25 am

@Neal Krouni, I am looking at your reply to Excelsior and I don’t think you understand the mentality of a pedophile. They do have the free will not to “act” on their fantasies but that is who they are attracted to, is children. It does seem to be in their genetic make-up.
That is why the elders can’t ever trust a person who has ever, even once, sexually abused a child. That means that that is the way they think. Most can control themselves around children, but all of their life, it will be a struggle for them not to harm a child.
There have been many studies done to find out what makes these people think like that, but they don’t really know.
Once a pedophile abuses even one child, that man (almost always men) has demonstrated that he is a pedophile and if they do it again, will, lots of times be put in jail for the rest of their lives or put in mental institutions because it’s incurable.
15% of pedophiles, when they are caught and let out on bail, commit suicide. That is how much of a stigma it is to them once they get caught. They will lose their jobs, their families and everything in their lives that was precious to them, so to get caught is the worst thing in the world for them and they know it when they are committing the crime and so that is why they will lie, every time and not admit what they have done. But they are a danger to children for their whole life, whether they get caught or not just by the way they think.
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 Excelsior! says:

 March 4, 2015 at 6:24 am

Neal,
Thank you for your clarification of your comments.
To imply that I cannot read properly is very insulting. I am dyslexic, and I do not appreciate having my reading comprehension questioned. I can read and understand perfectly well, thank you.
Here is your quote:
“Our global society…including these “scientists” with their “research” strives to eject God, ethics, accountability, even the concepts of good and evil, from the human mind”
Do you have any “research” of your own to counter the views of these “scientists”? If you do, I would be very interested in reading it.
The science of genetics, sociology and psychology have enabled us to understand what was previously the sole property of religion. People who had mental health issues were diagnosed as suffering from demon possession. Do you have evidence that demons do indeed exist?
You can belittle scientific research if you want to. You are entitled to your opinion. You have no evidence to back up your claims. You are doing exactly what you accuse scientists of – providing an opinion with no evidence to back it up.
I do not believe in God. If you have proof that he exists, again, I would love to read your “research”.
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
Reply
 

 anonymous says:

 March 4, 2015 at 6:40 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=zJfPBjvTsgc
Another really good video about how dangerous pedophiles are and how devious.
Reply
 

 Anonymouth says:

 March 4, 2015 at 8:19 am

Attitudes are changing here in the US to more closely harmonize with Europe and the rest of the world so that in my State the age of consent is now 16 and in another State it is similar and if she already has a child there is no age of consent etc.
 However, rape will always be rape and abuse will always be abuse and especially at the hands of animals such as these!
Reply
 

 Searcher says:

 March 4, 2015 at 11:06 am

Anyone for capital punishment better hope that they or their loved ones aren’t falsely accused and convicted of a crime they didn’t commit. It’s permanent! You cannot dig someone up and say, “Oops! Sorry! We made a mistake. DNA just proved it.” Sometimes I think if I were in prison for life without hope for parole would be worse than someone chopping my head off. From what I’m told, a pedophile in prison gets treated pretty “hard” (if you know what I mean) in the joint. Good enough for ‘em!
Now, back to the subject: I think it’s funny how the animatronic Lett just went out of his way to put that tidbit of pedophilia denial into his ‘talk’. Kind of like a tornado going out of its way to hit a mobile home park. Oh boy. How obvious.
I’m very sad that the child abuse or adult sexual abuse has happened to anyone anywhere, but the good that may come out of this dark cloud could be the end or neutering of this destructive cult.
Reply
 

 Jeff Barnett says:

 March 4, 2015 at 12:16 pm

I am quite amazed that this kind of “religious freedom” is allowed by legislatures around the world. It seems that religion has been given a different set of rules when it comes to knowledge that someone may have committed a crime. Jehovah’s Witnesses are not alone in their ridicule and distrust of outside authorities. They are also not alone in making the pronouncement that they alone are God’s mouthpiece, which is probably why they, and other self pronounced mouthpieces of God, seem to have issues with obeying the laws of the land if they conflict with their self proclaimed mandates. In short, according to the WBTS, no one can be successfully accused/convicted without two witnesses. The local authorities will not be contacted about any accusation (admitted or denied) unless they are specifically mandated by the State and meet the two witness rule (Please correct me if the above synopsis is incorrect but I think this covers the general idea of the mandates by the governing body to local congregation elders).
That being said, I have read many articles about the sexual abuse cases against the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society and never have I heard any contrasting examples to bring home what I believe is a fundamental flaw in our laws regarding religious freedom. So here is a scenario that I think should open the eyes of our lawmakers regarding “religious freedom”:
Brother John is an elder at the local Jehovah’s Witness Congregation and is genuinely loved by all of the local witnesses that attend the congregation where he serves as one of the elders. One Sunday morning, one of the elders receives a telephone call from Brother John’s wife, Sister Mary. She tells the Elder that her husband has been missing since the day before and she is worried sick. The Elder immediately calls the body of elders together and after discussing this unusual situation, decides to make the announcement that day at the Sunday meeting that Brother John is missing. The congregation is in shock and very worried for Brother John. After the meeting, Sister Theresa walks up to one of the elders and says, “I need to speak with you about Brother John”. The elder is startled a bit but is glad to know that someone might have information about where Brother John is. He rushes to round the rest of the elders up for an emergency meeting with Sister Theresa. Once inside the back office with the elders, Sister Theresa is noticeably nervous. The elders have prayer first and then ask Sister Theresa what she knows about Brother John. Sister Theresa explains to the body of local elders that Brother John was murdered yesterday and that she witnessed it. The elders are stunned by this horrible news. One of the elders asks the obvious question, who murdered our beloved brother? Sister Theresa said that Brother John came over to the house to speak with her husband, Brother Steve. Brother Steve has been missing meetings and not going out in the field service so Brother John decided to make a visit and see if he could encourage Brother Steve. Well, the meeting did not go well and in fact it turned into a very heated argument and then a fist fight. Sister Theresa said she witnessed her husband picking up a crystal vase and smashing Brother John over the head numerous times until he was dead. One of the elders asks if Brother John’s body is still at the house. Sister Theresa continues, my husband made me promise not to tell anyone and that he would harm me if I told anyone. After cleaning up the house, Brother Steve wraps the body up in plastic and leaves the house, returning several hours later.
After hearing this most incredible story, the elders decide to immediately contact Brother Steve to ask him about his involvement in the murder of Brother John. Brother Steve adamantly denies the accusation by his wife. The elders immediately contact the legal department of WBTS with all of the details regarding this horrific matter. The legal department sends the elders the position they must take which states, the investigating elders should try to arrange a meeting with the accused and accuser together. If the accuser or the accused is unwilling to meet with the elders or if the accused continues to deny the accusation of a single witness and the wrongdoing is not established, the elders will leave matters in Jehovah’s Hands. The case is officially closed unless another witness comes forward. Sister Theresa is told to leave the matter in Jehovah’s hands, do not share this account of murder with anyone and go back home. The legal authorities are not contacted regarding a person who claims they witnessed a murder.
So the question is: are religious organizations free to operate with mandates by their leaders that would interfere with a complaint by a citizen or investigation regarding a murder, rape, robbery, molestation, any violation against a minor….? How any human being could see this kind of behavior as Godly is beyond my ability to comprehend.
The end game is obvious, at least to me, and that is religious freedom must be fundamentally changed. If you want to operate under the cloak of non-profit, tax free and independent organization from the rest of the world, you must follow the law and the law should clearly state that any organization (religious, private corporation, public corporation,,,,) that becomes aware of any allegation of a crime (particularly felonies) by its members, employees or associates MUST contact legal authorities the day it becomes known to them. I don’t care what you think your bible, Koran or comic book tells you about how to deal with legal matters, you will follow these laws or you will be shut down and spend significant time in a prison cell.
Freedom, religious or personal, is not free. There are rules to abide, basic fundamental rules of humanity. Religion has been given too much freedom. I will defend anyone’s right to believe and practice their spiritual beliefs, as long as it does not interfere with the laws and rights of the people that allow them to exist and most importantly, cause harm to an innocent child.
There should be a loud call to all legislatures across the globe to fundamentally change the legal reporting requirements of all organizations. No longer should they be able to operate under the veil of religious freedom as it currently stands. And we wonder why people say, religion poisons everything; because it does! And we have us, the people who allow these twisted individuals to operate freely to blame. Shame on the WBTS but most of all, shame on us for allowing this kind of nonsense to go on.
Jeff Barnett
Reply
 

 anonymous says:

 March 4, 2015 at 1:05 pm

Jeff, what a wonderful comment! I was thinking the same thing. Where are the lawmakers? It should be mandatory that anybody who knows of or suspects a child is being abused, has to report it to the authorities to protect the child. Nobody should be let off if they know of abuse or even suspect abuse of a child. They wouldn’t let off a murderer, so why do they let off child abusers. It’s like children aren’t important to them.
Yesterday I saw a video about a crack down on pedophiles in England and this one guy was caught and he allowed the cameras into his house and he sat there and denied sodomizing children to the cameras but they found incriminating evidence against him anyway and booked him at the police station. They found videos where he was sodomizing a 4 year old and it had been recent. They let the guy out on bail and the next day somebody found him dead. He had gassed himself in his car.
The police officer that talked to the camera said point blank, that he didn’t have any pity for him and the guy got what he deserved because of what he saw on the video of the guy sodomizing a 4 year old.
Most people who see videos of these people doing stuff like that and even to 4 month old babies, have no pity for them if they end up in prison and the other prisoners kill them or they commit suicide.
Yes it is a disease of the mind but they can control themselves and they don’t. They deserve no protection from the authorities.
I saw a video this morning and most people feel in the state of Texas, (where the little girl had been killed by a pedophile) that when an animal like that hurts a child, that they deserve death and I agree.
If the penalty for hurting a child was death, it would put a scare into these people and it would come to an end over night.
But as it is, there are countries, where they allow very young children to be used as prostitutes. On one video I saw, it said that there is an airline that actually puts advertisements in it’s planes that show people where they can go for child prostitutes! So, what these people do is, if they can’t entice children in their own country into this crime, they will travel to countries where it is legal to hurt children like that and then sell those pictures on the internet and in pedophile clubs. Some of these people get away with this for years before getting caught. They tell themselves in their mind that the child likes it, even while they are killing the child while they are raping the child.
The more you look into it, the worse it is. The one thing that I will never understand and that is how in the world, could an organization such as the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society who claims to be run by God could, using the 1st amendment of freedom of religion, use that to protect people like that???
Either the Governing Body is closing their eyes to the evidence against these people and the Watchtower or they don’t care.
Eric on JWstruggle thinks that the Governing Body are having their strings pulled by a larger entity and I wonder that myself. They don’t seem human in their thinking at all to me. They seem uncaring and unconcerned about the children who have been hurt and are only trying to protect their own rear ends.
Reply
 
 Neal Krouni says:

 March 4, 2015 at 6:26 pm

@ anonymous
Very interesting comments. Yes, believe it or not, even the Taliban engage in pedophilia. I saw a documentary on YouTube.
 I have often wondered if there are higher powers behind the Watchtower Society. I mean, even the Catholic Church didn’t have the power to hold back the flood of Media exposure regarding child abuse in their organization. I am mystified as to how the WTS has been able to remain “under the radar” for so long. The atrocities of the Catholic Church in this regard became common knowledge, but the average Joe or Jane on the street is still quite ignorant of the crimes in the WT organization. Why is that? Your guess is as good as mine. Could there really be someone else, behind the scenes, pulling the strings, so that even our governments are afraid to act (I mean, besides satan).
Reply
 
 

 minion says:

 March 4, 2015 at 5:58 pm

@ Bro.Cedars,
Your message is reaching the masses, I will share info from Alexa.com on your web site.
Global Rank 436,792
Rank in United States 132,796
How engaged are visitors to jwsurvey.org?
Bounce rate: 58.30%+
Daily Page views per visitor: 2.10+
Daily Time on Site: 4:51+
Country major Visitors percentile: United States 71.8%
At this rate you will surpass the WT web site. You Go Boy !
Keep up the fine work !
Reply
 

 Excelsior! says:

 March 5, 2015 at 6:42 am

Neal,
If we apply Occam’s Razor to the issue of why the WTBTS have, until recently, not been called to account for their paedophilia problem, the answer is obvious.
The Catholic Church has existed for thousands of years. It has millions upon millions of adherents, far, far more than the pitiful number of JWs.
The WTBTS is a cult. It controlled, until the Internet age, the narrative of what it was and what it did.
It is possible that the true owners of this property empire have contacts in the media, but that is mere speculation.
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
Reply
 

 Excelsior! says:

 March 5, 2015 at 6:57 am

Anonymous,
Thank you, dear Lady, for your recent comments. They have been, as ever, pertinent and informative.
There is no evidence to suggest that the death penalty has any check on behaviour.
The prisoners on death row reside there for many, many years before they are executed. This costs the same amount of money as a custodial sentence.
There is also the possibility of a wrongful conviction, with no possibility to free the prisoner because they are dead.
Paedophiles and other disgusting rapists are not treated well by their fellow prisoners. They are hated by them.
I respect the right of others to disagree with me. There are arguments for capital punishment, and it is up to democracies to decide what form their legal system will follow.
Thanks for all your comments, and your presence here. You are a great boon to us all.
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
Reply
 

 Jerry O Connor says:

 March 5, 2015 at 9:56 am

Hello to all.
 Who is going to protect children from watchtower`s pedophiles?This extremely evil cult is a blight on humanity and one of man`s darkest chapters. Child rape is not a genetic defect.It is a choice and therefore all the more heinous. Hardened criminals will kill pedophiles in prison if given the chance. Yet here we have Lett trying to deflect the spotlight from watchtower because of recent child rape cases. Is he worried about the victims? Hell no! We can only highlight the myriad abuses by watchtower and hope public opinion will lead to its inevitable demise.
Reply
 

 anonymous says:

 March 5, 2015 at 10:46 am

@Jerry O Connor and Excelsior, I watched Sam Vaknin’s video again this morning called: Pedophile Narcissist: Narcissism, Pedepophilia and Hebephilia and according to what he said in that video, Jerry, you are right in that Mr. Vaknin said it isn’t in their genetic make-up. From some of the other videos I had seen, some say it is in their genetic make-up but according to Mr. Vaknin, all pedophiles are born normal but somewhere along the line they become pedophiles in their thinking and urges, but they still aren’t considered a pedophile until they offend.
They do have a choice but once they act on their fantasies, they become very addicted to it and the more they do it, the harder it is to stop and they rationalize to themselves that the victim is enjoying it even when it is violent. They even blame the victim sometimes and view the victim as dirty and disgusting sometimes to the point of killing the child for being so “dirty”. It is as sordid as a crime as can be described.
Excelsior, when these people make video tapes of themselves raping and sodomizing babies as little as 4 months up to 8 or 9 years old and these babies and older children are screaming in pain, these people believe in their minds that these babies are enjoying the experience. They are nothing but animals.
If these people are let out of prison, they are most likely to offend again and so the only alternative is to imprison them for the rest of their lives or put them in mental institutions because it isn’t curable.
The reason I believe in the death penalty is because they do have a choice of what they do and they don’t care. They don’t care about the victims at all. They have no conscience. I do believe in the death penalty when there is video evidence of what they did to the child. I don’t have any pity for them and I’d be glad to pull the lever because they do have a choice in what they do. They know it’s wrong when they are doing it and they don’t care at all about the victim.
You are right. It costs a lot more in the United States to keep these people on death row. My thought is to do it quickly. I know it may not be a deterrent, but to me it’s what I’d want if it was my child that a monster did that to my child, if I couldn’t take a gun and kill them myself.
In my state, about 23 years ago, a guy by the name of David Spanbauer got out of prison and went to murdering 3 people including 2 little children in my state so that they would put him back in prison again so he wouldn’t have to get a job and he’d be taken care of for the rest of his life. From what I had remembered it was 4 children but I googled it now and Google said 3 people including 2 children. In my state, they don’t have the death sentence. I don’t remember for sure, but it seems like he had been in prison the first time for killing a child and let out because they thought he was too old to do it again.
Remember ever hearing of the serial killer by the name of Ed Gein? He is the one that Psycho was made after because of all the people he killed and ate. Also, remember Jeffry Dahmer? He killed 17 men and boys and ate them and was killed in prison. All these people came from my State. These men might have done the same thing in other states but other states would have at least put him on death row and not let him out to do it again.
The one that got me the most was Spanbauer because he killed a 7 year old girl in my little home town and what for? So they’d put him back in prison again so he wouldn’t have to get a job.
I really don’t see how you can not believe in the death penalty for what some of these people do. They do have a choice. They hide what they do. They don’t do it in public.
We will have to agree to disagree on this one. Peace be with you too.
Reply
 

 minion says:

 March 5, 2015 at 11:10 am

I hope brother Lett, recalls this report from MSNBC.com 2007.
You just can’t ignore the elephant in the room, can you?
I quote:
Jehovah’s Witnesses Settle 9 Lawsuits Over Men who Sexually Abused Children
 NBC ^ | November 21, 2007 | Lisa Myers
 Posted on 11/22/2007, 11:57:57 AM by hawkaw
Frederick McLean is one of the most-wanted fugitives in the United States, charged with 17 counts of child sexual abuse in California. Law enforcement sources say that when a victim’s family confronted McLean in 2004, he allegedly confessed. But before he could be arrested, McLean fled.
Snip
His role in the church also became a matter of legal controversy. Last year, some victims’ families filed suit against the Jehovah’s Witnesses, alleging that both McLean’s local congregation and the church’s national headquarters, the Watchtower Society, “knew, or should have known, that Frederick McLean was a pedophile.”
Snip
The Jehovah’s Witnesses recently agreed to pay to settle that lawsuit and eight other similar cases, without admitting wrongdoing. The cases all involved men the church allegedly knew had sexually abused children.
Snip
Internal records now coming to light from the settled lawsuits may help explain why the church agreed to settle the cases. Documents show that the church knew for years that some prominent members were sexually abusing children and did little. Church officials allegedly became aware of several of the cases in question through what amount to internal judicial proceedings, at which local elders confronted suspected abusers, obtained confessions, then meted out punishments
Snip
The court filings include a church form called a Child Abuse Telememo. “Just thinking that they had a memo made up, printed up that says ‘Child Abuse Telememo,’” Anderson says, “indicates to me that they were handling this a lot. Because why make up a form for it?” … In reporting states, the form instructs officials to advise local elders “to make an anonymous phone report from a neutral location, such as a phone booth.”
Snip
Read the whole story Here
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com …
TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events
Reply
 

 Neal Krouni says:

 March 5, 2015 at 5:23 pm

@ anonymous
I’m no lawyer, and of course, laws vary from region to region, but in my area it’s called Duty of Care – the legal obligation to help someone in trouble. I also remember the term Criminal Negligence (akin to a sin of omission), which is the CRIME of NOT helping someone in trouble.
 P.S.: Your State sounds like a scary place. Is that Wisconsin, I believe Dahmer was from Milwaukee?
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 March 6, 2015 at 3:09 am

Neal, yes I am from Wisconsin, home of Jeffry Dahmer and Ed Gein.
Reply
 
 

 minion says:

 March 5, 2015 at 8:28 pm

For those doubters, unbelievers and in denial if this is a real arguement, this is a must read article from the New York Times 2002.
Ousted Members Say Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Policy on Abuse Hides Offenses
 By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
 Published: August 11, 2002
William Bowen always considered himself a devout Jehovah’s Witness. As a child, he felt it was his duty to go door to door passing out the church’s magazine, The Watchtower. Later, as an elder in his Kentucky congregation, he said he saw it as his duty to inform church officials that a fellow elder had abused a child.
But when Mr. Bowen contacted the church’s headquarters in Brooklyn, he says, he was rebuffed. Frustrated by the church’s inaction and by its confidentiality provisions, which he said prevented him from sharing the information with others, Mr. Bowen resigned as an elder in December 2000. A year later, he started a group to monitor child sexual abuse in the church.
Late last month, Mr. Bowen, 44, was excommunicated from the church. Behind a locked door, with plastic bags taped over the windows to ward off onlookers, he said, three church elders meeting at the church’s Kingdom Hall in Draffenville, Ky., found him guilty of ”causing divisions.”
The punishment was ”disfellowshiping” — complete shunning.
In the past three months, four other people have been expelled from the Jehovah’s Witnesses after accusing it of covering up the sexual abuse of children by its members. For Mr. Bowen and other critics of church policies on sexual abuse, the expulsions are part of a concerted effort to keep such abuses quiet.
Expelled Witnesses say the church’s own policies and culture conspire to conceal abuse. A panel of church elders, all men, meets in secret to decide each case, a procedure which critics say prevents members from knowing there is an abuser in their midst. To prove an accusation, a child must have a witness to the incident, a condition that is usually impossible to meet.
”This is evidence for the world to see how the Jehovah’s Witnesses treat abuse survivors and those who try to protect them,” said Mr. Bowen. ”They silence them with the threat of disfellowshiping.”
J. R. Brown, director of the public information office at church headquarters, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, in Brooklyn, said the church had exemplary policies for handling sexual abuse, which were based on biblical standards and had been widely published in church magazines.
”We’re not trying to say we handled everybody in the right way and our elders are all-knowing, all perfect,” said Mr. Brown, who declined as a matter of policy to comment on individual cases, including Mr. Bowen’s. ”But we say, if you take what our policy is for keeping our organization clean morally, it far outpaces anybody else’s.”
While the Roman Catholic Church has been engulfed in its own sexual abuse scandal, the same issue is beginning to plague the Jehovah’s Witnesses, a denomination that claims one million members in the United States and six million worldwide.
But the shape of the scandal is far different than in the Catholic church, where most of the people accused of abuse are priests and a vast majority of the victims were boys and young men. In the Jehovah’s Witnesses, where congregations are often collections of extended families and church elders are chosen from among the laypeople, some of those accused are elders, but most are congregation members. The victims who have stepped forward are mostly girls and young women, and many accusations involve incest.
The scope of abuse in the Jehovah’s Witnesses is a matter of considerable debate. The church has recently been sued by eight plaintiffs in four lawsuits alleging abuse, one filed in July in Minnesota. Mr. Bowen says that his victims support group, ”silentlambs,” has collected reports from more than 5,000 Witnesses contending that the church mishandled child sexual abuse.
The church keeps a database of members and associates who have been accused or found guilty of child abuse. Mr. Bowen said church sources had told him the database contained the names of more than 23,000 people in the United States, Canada and Europe. The church says the number is ”considerably lower,” but will not say what it is.
Partial quote from The New York Times 2002.
The fuse is lit.
Reply
 
 Neal Krouni says:

 March 6, 2015 at 2:12 pm

Amen brother. Let it blow!!!
Reply
 
 

 minion says:

 March 5, 2015 at 9:21 pm

This is a partial quote from Trey Bundy’s written article, just amazing. This is without a shawdow of a doubt and conclusive evidence this is a serious, serious problem within WT.
Increasing claims of cover-ups inside Watchtower
They come to your door, but how much do you really know about Jehovah’s Witnesses? We show you some surprising stuff (you probably didn’t know) about the worldwide religion.
In the last few years, the Jehovah’s Witnesses have been hit with an increasing barrage of lawsuits claiming the organization has covered up child sexual abuse.
A pair of sisters in Vermont filed a suit in September claiming that a member of their congregation molested them when they were as young as 4. When they reported the abuse to the elders in the congregation, they said, they were called liars.
The next month in Dallas, five women and one man filed a joint lawsuit alleging that an elder in their congregation sexually abused them while they were all younger than 13.
In Oregon in December, two former Witnesses sued the Watchtower and a local congregation, claiming the defendants kept silent after learning that an elder had sexually abused them when they were in grade school.
Since 2012, attorneys have filed more than a dozen similar suits against the Watchtower in Connecticut, Florida, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma and other states.
The Watchtower’s frequent defense – that such cases violate protections under the free exercise clause of the First Amendment – has led to the dismissal of several lawsuits. Watchtower lawyers argue that judicial questioning of the spiritual beliefs and practices of Jehovah’s Witnesses would trample the organization’s religious freedoms.
In a recent court hearing in California, Jehovah’s Witnesses lawyer James McCabe argued that “the religious beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses were at play in this case from start to finish.”
At the heart of this issue are the Watchtower’s own child abuse policy memos.
Each memo has been addressed to “all bodies of elders” and bears the letterhead of either the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society or the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Those are the primary corporations used by the organization to administer spiritual guidance, create and disseminate policy, oversee the writing and publication of literature, and manage the organization’s vast real estate holdings.
“Often the peace, unity, and spiritual well-being of the congregation are at stake,” a 1989 Watchtower memo reads. “Improper use of the tongue by an elder can result in serious legal problems for the individual, the congregation, and even the Society.”
The letter goes on to warn that breaches of confidentiality may lead to costly lawsuits and prosecutions.
“Worldly persons are quick to resort to lawsuits if they feel their ‘rights’ have been violated,” according to the document. “Substantial monetary damages could be assessed against the elders or congregation. In some cases where the authorities are involved, certain complications could lead to a fine or imprisonment.”
Subsequent memos reinforced the Watchtower’s policies, culminating in a 1997 letter that directed elders to report all known or suspected child sexual abusers – past, present and future – to the organization’s New York headquarters. This memo appears to be the foundation of the database referenced in Jose Lopez’s case.
The memo lists 11 questions that must be answered in each case, including the name of the perpetrator, age of the victim and how many times the abuse occurred. Other questions appear to be designed to gauge the perpetrator’s risk of exposure: “How is he viewed in the community and by the authorities? Has he lived down any notoriety in the community? Are members of the congregation aware of what took place?”
In the Lopez trial, the Watchtower refused to provide its list of perpetrators, in violation of an order upheld by the California Supreme Court. It also refused to provide the longest-serving member of the Governing Body, Gerrit Lösch, who was subpoenaed.
As a result, San Diego Superior Court Judge Joan Lewis disqualified the Watchtower’s defense.
“Watchtower’s actions or omissions were ‘reprehensible.’ I think ‘disgraceful’ may be synonymous with ‘reprehensible,’ but I think ‘disgraceful’ doesn’t say enough about it,” Lewis wrote in her decision.
“The award of punitive damages against them will hopefully send a message to Watchtower and its managing agents, the governing body of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, that their handling of sex abuse cases within their congregation was absolutely reckless.”
Her $13.5 million verdict was based solely on Lopez’s evidence and testimony.
“They fight every request for documents, every subpoena,” said attorney Irwin Zalkin. “They’ll take a hit not to produce what they know.”
“Not every individual who has sexually abused a child in the past is considered a ‘predator.’ The (Watchtower), not the local body of elders, determines whether an individual who has sexually abused children in the past will be considered a ‘predator.’ ”
 — 2012 Watchtower memo.
Amazing, just amazing.
Reply
 

 MyBirthRight says:

 March 6, 2015 at 2:53 pm

Stephen looks like right before filming this he just ate a big heaping bowl of “Ped-o-Pops cereal” for breakfast, the un-balanced daily nutrition that’s deceptively delicious to the GB that can’t start a day at Bethel without it I guess.
 Creepy lying snakes, These child abuse protectors care nothing, about people like me that were molested and cared nothing about us having to see our “repentant” abusers at assemblies, halls etc.
Reply
 

 anonymous says:

 March 7, 2015 at 3:22 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=5Iq7dxOLx9A
Marc and Cora Latham’s most wonderful video on the Watchtower’s advice about raping children in the Young People Ask book.
Reply
 

 anonymous says:

 March 7, 2015 at 11:43 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=4xNJVboEy84
This has to be one of the best documentaries you will ever see about the rise of pedophilia you will ever see and it only has 900 views. It is almost 3 hours long but it well worth the time to watch it.
Reply
 

 ScotWm says:

 March 7, 2015 at 12:00 pm

It appears that the judgment for the plaintiff in one California case against the Watchtower Society — Candace Conti of Fremont ($21 million) — is currently under appeal and no money has changed hands.
The Watchtower Society has lodged an appeal to the Conte case with four main arguments:
1. Where the WBTS (Watchtower Bible and Tract Society) already knows of a sexual offender, the WBTS does not have a duty to warn any of the members in the congregation about this individual.
2. The WBTS argues that other agencies (the police and Candace’s parents) should share the cost of damages.
3. Religious bodies should not be made to disclose confidentialities, even where a crime has been committed and revealed, as this would contravene the First Amendment.
4. That (Jonathan) Kendrick was not convicted of sexual abuse in a court. Therefore, had the Watchtower made public his deviation, they would have violated his right to privacy.
In addition, the Watchtower Society argues that there was no evidence of malice and therefore the damages were unjust and should be reduced. (What they are claiming is that Kendrick’s sexual advances were not done with intent to commit an unlawful act or cause harm to Miss Conte.)
The Watchtower Society further argues that “field service” is not a required activity:
“It is a personal ministry, not a required congregation function or activity” and “It is a personal ministry motivated by love of God and neighbor, and is not done on behalf of Watchtower or any congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.”
This ridiculous “personal ministry” argument seeks to minimize the Watchtower Society’s culpability in this case by claiming that the Fremont congregation’s field service activity is not mandated by the Watchtower Society. (It was during field service activity that Kendrick sexually abused Miss Conte.)
It remains to be seen just how long the Watchtower Society can delay the day of reckoning in this case.
aawa.co/blog/how-the-watchtower-justifies-its-crimes/
Reply
 
 Charles Costante says:

 March 7, 2015 at 8:07 pm

“The Watchtower Society further argues that “field service” is not a required activity:
“It is a personal ministry, not a required congregation function or activity” and “It is a personal ministry motivated by love of God and neighbor, and is not done on behalf of Watchtower or any congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.””
They may not handcuff and drag you out into field service, but they certainly make you feel guilty when you don’t put in the recommended 10 hours a month (or however much it is nowadays).
I found this article hilarious: http://www.miskeptics.org/2012/08/fun-facts-about-the-preaching-work-of-jehovahs-witnesses/
Reply
 
 Scrubmaster says:

 March 9, 2015 at 8:21 am

Ok, so if field service is not a required activity, how come my name has been removed from the field service group posted on the congregation board? Oh that’s right because I have not been out in field service in over a year. :-)
Reply
 
 
 

 anonymous says:

 March 7, 2015 at 2:02 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=RKXyuZa2dMI
Another good documentary about pedophilia in England and how high up it goes into the government. It seems that in order to get a judgement against the Society, a victim will need a female judge.
Reply
 

 Neal Krouni says:

 March 7, 2015 at 7:58 pm

Looks like we need more female judges.
Reply
 

 Innocent Son says:

 March 8, 2015 at 1:50 pm

This brood of vipers are in denial.The scarey thing is,they actually believe that they hold no responsibility for the actions of these abusive Monsters and try to shift the blame on so called apostates…! The rank and file JW’S have no idea what is really going on and believe every word that comes from the Governing Body.It is thanks to websites like this one and the accuracy and diligence of John Cedars that helped me to break free from all the deceptions…! Peace to all..
Reply
 

 Neal Krouni says:

 March 8, 2015 at 4:09 pm

Hey! Why are we bothering to fight terrorism? Terrorists are religious. Don’t they also have First Amendment rights to do whatever the hell they want???
Reply
 

 MyBirthRight says:

 March 9, 2015 at 10:06 am

@anonymous @Neal, I agree and have good reason to believe that this is correct that there is a much more going on here, strings being pulled etc.
Reply
 

 Neal Krouni says:

 March 9, 2015 at 10:57 am

Stephen Lett is an android created by JW.ORG to present their ideology in a non-threatening, grandfatherly manner. I don’t know about you, but he gives me a warm fuzzy feeling.
Reply
 
 Wild Olive says:

 March 9, 2015 at 5:14 pm

When I look at Letty I just want to put a round in the chamber.
Reply
 
 

 Excelsior! says:

 March 11, 2015 at 6:32 am

Neal Krouni,
I am still waiting patiently for your evidence, pertaining to the charge of pseudoscience in regard to the role genetics play in behaviour.
An apology for questioning my reading comprehension would be welcome too!
Peace be with you,
Excelsior!
Reply
 

 Keith A Enno says:

 March 14, 2015 at 7:27 pm

On the subject of ‘truthfulness’ and lying I came across this gem of a parliamentary transcript from Victoria Australia where a Parliamentary Committee interviewed some members of the organisation. The full transcript can be easily Googled.
TRANSCRIPT
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Inquiry into the handling of child abuse by religious and other organisations Melbourne — 11 April 2013
Members
Mrs A. Coote Ms G. Crozier Ms B. Halfpenny
Mr F. McGuire Mr D. O’Brien Mr N. Wakeling
Chair: Ms G. Crozier Deputy Chair: Mr F. McGuire
Staff
Executive Officer: Dr J. Bush Research Officer: Ms V. Finn
Witnesses
Mr T. O’Brien, Director of Society and Acting Branch Coordinator,
 Ms R. van Witsen, legal counsel, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia (Jehovah’s Witnesses).
The CHAIR — My question is: does the church maintain records on the number, nature and extent as well
as the outcomes of any allegations of child abuse?
Mr T. O’BRIEN — Yes, they do…..If there is even a report of an accusation, we maintain a record of that,
The CHAIR — Could you tell the committee how many numbers we are talking about — how many numbers your legal service has received in relation to abuse of any kind?
Mr T. O’BRIEN — With regard to Victoria, I made an inquiry just before I left, because I anticipated the question. I asked to search our records over the last 40 years since we have had elders as an arrangement, and there have been two cases — two ministers who were reported and investigated. They were immediately removed as ministers, and both were disfellowshipped and they are no longer Jehovah’s Witnesses.
My comment…..
Well, that is just amazing because currently about 10,000 plus Witnesses live just in the Greater Melbourne area alone and comprehensive reporting of even the smallest accusation over a forty year period can only produce two instances. Wow!
Reply
 

 Doily says:

 April 14, 2015 at 2:25 pm

Interesting that this idiot thinks 1914 is so pivotal. When Ray Franz was in charge of compiling the Aid Book, he noticed a very big discrepancy. The discrepancy was that the fall of Babylon that the WTS proposed was 20 years adrift. Franz researched this extensively. And yep, Historians gave the date as 20 years different to the WTS. Bombshell! He went to Nathan Knorr and voiced his very sincere concerns. Knorr dismissed Ray’s facts and research and demanded that the Aid Book be printed with the previous story still intact. Knorr knew the WTS had it wrong. He knew.
Reply
 

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← Victim of pedophile Barry Furlong urges that “children’s welfare should come first”
Landmark UK High Court case against Watchtower could make history →

Stephen Lett slams “apostate-driven lies and dishonesties” concerning child abuse record
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Posted on February 26, 2015

Stephen Lett has slammed criticism of Watchtower's child abuse record as "lies and dishonesties"
Stephen Lett has slammed criticism of Watchtower’s child abuse record as “lies and dishonesties”

Governing Body member Stephen Lett has slammed criticism of the organization’s child abuse record as “apostate-driven lies and dishonesties” in a video released on Watchtower’s new “JW Broadcasting” website.
Lett, who recently raised eyebrows by saying there is more evidence that Jesus’ kingdom began ruling in 1914 than there is for “gravity, electricity, wind,” insisted that “Jehovah’s organization” takes action against those who would threaten its young ones, whom he says it protects.
The comments came in the final part of a 10-minute Orwellian speech in which Lett reminded bethelites to pursue “oneness” even if it meant foregoing personal rights, such as one’s right to decide on one’s own dress and grooming.
A video of Lett’s comments on child abuse can be seen below. To watch the full 10-minute talk, please click here.


In case you didn’t catch it (or couldn’t bear to watch the video) this is what Lett said…

“Another way we can contribute to the oneness: rejecting false stories that are designed to separate us from Jehovah’s organization. As an example, think about the apostate-driven lies and dishonesties that Jehovah’s organization is permissive toward pedophiles. I mean, that is ridiculous, isn’t it! If anybody takes action against someone who would threaten our young ones, and takes action to protect our young ones, it is Jehovah’s organization. We reject outright such lies.”
Aside from the fact that the above words represent a flagrant, bare-faced lie as respects the organization protecting children from pedophiles, it is noteworthy that Lett begins his rant with a straw man argument.
“Apostates” do not necessarily say that Watchtower (“Jehovah’s organization”) is permissive toward pedophiles. Though technically speaking Watchtower’s policies are permissive to some extent, saying the organization is permissive toward pedophiles implies that the organization endorses those who engage in pedophilia and/or doesn’t object to child molestation in its printed material.
Activists like myself have never denied that Watchtower publications strenuously condemn child molestation and those who engage in it. What we are horrified about is the fact that, despite outwardly condemning pedophilia, Watchtower effectively shelters pedophiles by allowing allegations against them to go unreported to the authorities if there is no witness to their heinous crimes.
Rather than this being an “apostate-driven lie” this is a sad truth, as borne out by (1) Watchtower’s own instructions to elders (which urge them to “leave matters in Jehovah’s hands” if an accused pedophile denies the accusation – see below) and (2) the numerous legal battles Watchtower finds itself embroiled in due to this very policy.
leave-the-matter-in-JehovahAnd as I point out in my video rebuttal to Lett’s remarks, investigative journalists like Trey Bundy (who has blown wide open the story of Watchtower’s mishandling of child abuse in recent weeks) are not “apostates” at all, and would not be foolish enough to put their careers on the line by reporting stories that cannot be substantiated.
What we have in this frantic rant is a seemingly desperate attempt at stemming the flow of bad publicity by flat-out lying about Watchtower’s involvement in protecting pedophiles. The fact that “Jehovah’s organization” would rather default on a $13.5 million judgment than release its pedophile database in response to a subpoena, as Trey revealed in a Huffington Post interview, says everything about their priorities. Secrecy comes first, safety of children – a poor second.
It will be interesting to see whether floundering tirades and flat-out denials by Governing Body members regarding child abuse become more of a feature of Watchtower propaganda over the coming months as the media begins to really turn the screws.
After all, when you make yourself so visible to your adoring followers, only for your dirty secrets to be exposed on the evening news, sooner or later they will expect answers.

new-cedars-signature2






Further reading…
◾Is the media finally grasping just how bad Watchtower’s child abuse problem is?
◾PBS airs trey Bundy’s must-see documentary on child sex abuse among Jehovah’s Witnesses
◾Stephen Lett: More evidence for 1914 than for “gravity, electricity, wind!”
◾AAWA.co article “Watchtower Caught in a Lie”
◾Jehovah’s Witness Report article
◾JWsurvey articles on child abuse
Related video…





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← Victim of pedophile Barry Furlong urges that “children’s welfare should come first”
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170 Responses to Stephen Lett slams “apostate-driven lies and dishonesties” concerning child abuse record

← Older Comments

 Neal Krouni says:

 March 3, 2015 at 8:20 pm

@ Excelsior!
You must not have read my comments very carefully. First of all, I did not belittle science. I agree, we owe so much to brilliant men and women who have made our lives physically easier, and given us a greater understanding of our world and the universe. But there’s a difference between science and pseudoscience, that is, science that is skewed, or tainted by preconceived biases and opinions. Science must be pure and objective. Secondly, I totally agree with you on the point of Free Will. In fact, if you reread my comments more carefully, you’ll see that was my whole point. My argument was that pedophiles are NOT genetically predisposed to be pedophiles. I don’t know how you could have misinterpreted that. I said in black-and-white that pedophiles are evil, but have the capacity (Free Will) to change if they truly desire to. Lastly, it’s hard to believe you’ve never heard the term “New World Order”. People have been kicking that phrase around since the days of George Bush, Sr. In fact, it was President Bush (Sr.) who coined that phrase about 25 years ago. It is now generally used in a negative sense, to connote authoritarian, fascist-like global government, police state, an Orwellian “1984”-ish society. I have no desire to live in such a world either.
Live long and prosper
Reply
 

 Neal Krouni says:

 March 3, 2015 at 8:31 pm

@ Pickled brain
@ Excelsior!
I’m not too keen on Capital Punishment myself, but in this case I’m willing to make an exception. ;)
Reply
 

 anonymous says:

 March 4, 2015 at 2:25 am

@Neal Krouni, I am looking at your reply to Excelsior and I don’t think you understand the mentality of a pedophile. They do have the free will not to “act” on their fantasies but that is who they are attracted to, is children. It does seem to be in their genetic make-up.
That is why the elders can’t ever trust a person who has ever, even once, sexually abused a child. That means that that is the way they think. Most can control themselves around children, but all of their life, it will be a struggle for them not to harm a child.
There have been many studies done to find out what makes these people think like that, but they don’t really know.
Once a pedophile abuses even one child, that man (almost always men) has demonstrated that he is a pedophile and if they do it again, will, lots of times be put in jail for the rest of their lives or put in mental institutions because it’s incurable.
15% of pedophiles, when they are caught and let out on bail, commit suicide. That is how much of a stigma it is to them once they get caught. They will lose their jobs, their families and everything in their lives that was precious to them, so to get caught is the worst thing in the world for them and they know it when they are committing the crime and so that is why they will lie, every time and not admit what they have done. But they are a danger to children for their whole life, whether they get caught or not just by the way they think.
Reply
 

 Excelsior! says:

 March 4, 2015 at 6:24 am

Neal,
Thank you for your clarification of your comments.
To imply that I cannot read properly is very insulting. I am dyslexic, and I do not appreciate having my reading comprehension questioned. I can read and understand perfectly well, thank you.
Here is your quote:
“Our global society…including these “scientists” with their “research” strives to eject God, ethics, accountability, even the concepts of good and evil, from the human mind”
Do you have any “research” of your own to counter the views of these “scientists”? If you do, I would be very interested in reading it.
The science of genetics, sociology and psychology have enabled us to understand what was previously the sole property of religion. People who had mental health issues were diagnosed as suffering from demon possession. Do you have evidence that demons do indeed exist?
You can belittle scientific research if you want to. You are entitled to your opinion. You have no evidence to back up your claims. You are doing exactly what you accuse scientists of – providing an opinion with no evidence to back it up.
I do not believe in God. If you have proof that he exists, again, I would love to read your “research”.
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
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 anonymous says:

 March 4, 2015 at 6:40 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=zJfPBjvTsgc
Another really good video about how dangerous pedophiles are and how devious.
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 Anonymouth says:

 March 4, 2015 at 8:19 am

Attitudes are changing here in the US to more closely harmonize with Europe and the rest of the world so that in my State the age of consent is now 16 and in another State it is similar and if she already has a child there is no age of consent etc.
 However, rape will always be rape and abuse will always be abuse and especially at the hands of animals such as these!
Reply
 

 Searcher says:

 March 4, 2015 at 11:06 am

Anyone for capital punishment better hope that they or their loved ones aren’t falsely accused and convicted of a crime they didn’t commit. It’s permanent! You cannot dig someone up and say, “Oops! Sorry! We made a mistake. DNA just proved it.” Sometimes I think if I were in prison for life without hope for parole would be worse than someone chopping my head off. From what I’m told, a pedophile in prison gets treated pretty “hard” (if you know what I mean) in the joint. Good enough for ‘em!
Now, back to the subject: I think it’s funny how the animatronic Lett just went out of his way to put that tidbit of pedophilia denial into his ‘talk’. Kind of like a tornado going out of its way to hit a mobile home park. Oh boy. How obvious.
I’m very sad that the child abuse or adult sexual abuse has happened to anyone anywhere, but the good that may come out of this dark cloud could be the end or neutering of this destructive cult.
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 Jeff Barnett says:

 March 4, 2015 at 12:16 pm

I am quite amazed that this kind of “religious freedom” is allowed by legislatures around the world. It seems that religion has been given a different set of rules when it comes to knowledge that someone may have committed a crime. Jehovah’s Witnesses are not alone in their ridicule and distrust of outside authorities. They are also not alone in making the pronouncement that they alone are God’s mouthpiece, which is probably why they, and other self pronounced mouthpieces of God, seem to have issues with obeying the laws of the land if they conflict with their self proclaimed mandates. In short, according to the WBTS, no one can be successfully accused/convicted without two witnesses. The local authorities will not be contacted about any accusation (admitted or denied) unless they are specifically mandated by the State and meet the two witness rule (Please correct me if the above synopsis is incorrect but I think this covers the general idea of the mandates by the governing body to local congregation elders).
That being said, I have read many articles about the sexual abuse cases against the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society and never have I heard any contrasting examples to bring home what I believe is a fundamental flaw in our laws regarding religious freedom. So here is a scenario that I think should open the eyes of our lawmakers regarding “religious freedom”:
Brother John is an elder at the local Jehovah’s Witness Congregation and is genuinely loved by all of the local witnesses that attend the congregation where he serves as one of the elders. One Sunday morning, one of the elders receives a telephone call from Brother John’s wife, Sister Mary. She tells the Elder that her husband has been missing since the day before and she is worried sick. The Elder immediately calls the body of elders together and after discussing this unusual situation, decides to make the announcement that day at the Sunday meeting that Brother John is missing. The congregation is in shock and very worried for Brother John. After the meeting, Sister Theresa walks up to one of the elders and says, “I need to speak with you about Brother John”. The elder is startled a bit but is glad to know that someone might have information about where Brother John is. He rushes to round the rest of the elders up for an emergency meeting with Sister Theresa. Once inside the back office with the elders, Sister Theresa is noticeably nervous. The elders have prayer first and then ask Sister Theresa what she knows about Brother John. Sister Theresa explains to the body of local elders that Brother John was murdered yesterday and that she witnessed it. The elders are stunned by this horrible news. One of the elders asks the obvious question, who murdered our beloved brother? Sister Theresa said that Brother John came over to the house to speak with her husband, Brother Steve. Brother Steve has been missing meetings and not going out in the field service so Brother John decided to make a visit and see if he could encourage Brother Steve. Well, the meeting did not go well and in fact it turned into a very heated argument and then a fist fight. Sister Theresa said she witnessed her husband picking up a crystal vase and smashing Brother John over the head numerous times until he was dead. One of the elders asks if Brother John’s body is still at the house. Sister Theresa continues, my husband made me promise not to tell anyone and that he would harm me if I told anyone. After cleaning up the house, Brother Steve wraps the body up in plastic and leaves the house, returning several hours later.
After hearing this most incredible story, the elders decide to immediately contact Brother Steve to ask him about his involvement in the murder of Brother John. Brother Steve adamantly denies the accusation by his wife. The elders immediately contact the legal department of WBTS with all of the details regarding this horrific matter. The legal department sends the elders the position they must take which states, the investigating elders should try to arrange a meeting with the accused and accuser together. If the accuser or the accused is unwilling to meet with the elders or if the accused continues to deny the accusation of a single witness and the wrongdoing is not established, the elders will leave matters in Jehovah’s Hands. The case is officially closed unless another witness comes forward. Sister Theresa is told to leave the matter in Jehovah’s hands, do not share this account of murder with anyone and go back home. The legal authorities are not contacted regarding a person who claims they witnessed a murder.
So the question is: are religious organizations free to operate with mandates by their leaders that would interfere with a complaint by a citizen or investigation regarding a murder, rape, robbery, molestation, any violation against a minor….? How any human being could see this kind of behavior as Godly is beyond my ability to comprehend.
The end game is obvious, at least to me, and that is religious freedom must be fundamentally changed. If you want to operate under the cloak of non-profit, tax free and independent organization from the rest of the world, you must follow the law and the law should clearly state that any organization (religious, private corporation, public corporation,,,,) that becomes aware of any allegation of a crime (particularly felonies) by its members, employees or associates MUST contact legal authorities the day it becomes known to them. I don’t care what you think your bible, Koran or comic book tells you about how to deal with legal matters, you will follow these laws or you will be shut down and spend significant time in a prison cell.
Freedom, religious or personal, is not free. There are rules to abide, basic fundamental rules of humanity. Religion has been given too much freedom. I will defend anyone’s right to believe and practice their spiritual beliefs, as long as it does not interfere with the laws and rights of the people that allow them to exist and most importantly, cause harm to an innocent child.
There should be a loud call to all legislatures across the globe to fundamentally change the legal reporting requirements of all organizations. No longer should they be able to operate under the veil of religious freedom as it currently stands. And we wonder why people say, religion poisons everything; because it does! And we have us, the people who allow these twisted individuals to operate freely to blame. Shame on the WBTS but most of all, shame on us for allowing this kind of nonsense to go on.
Jeff Barnett
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 anonymous says:

 March 4, 2015 at 1:05 pm

Jeff, what a wonderful comment! I was thinking the same thing. Where are the lawmakers? It should be mandatory that anybody who knows of or suspects a child is being abused, has to report it to the authorities to protect the child. Nobody should be let off if they know of abuse or even suspect abuse of a child. They wouldn’t let off a murderer, so why do they let off child abusers. It’s like children aren’t important to them.
Yesterday I saw a video about a crack down on pedophiles in England and this one guy was caught and he allowed the cameras into his house and he sat there and denied sodomizing children to the cameras but they found incriminating evidence against him anyway and booked him at the police station. They found videos where he was sodomizing a 4 year old and it had been recent. They let the guy out on bail and the next day somebody found him dead. He had gassed himself in his car.
The police officer that talked to the camera said point blank, that he didn’t have any pity for him and the guy got what he deserved because of what he saw on the video of the guy sodomizing a 4 year old.
Most people who see videos of these people doing stuff like that and even to 4 month old babies, have no pity for them if they end up in prison and the other prisoners kill them or they commit suicide.
Yes it is a disease of the mind but they can control themselves and they don’t. They deserve no protection from the authorities.
I saw a video this morning and most people feel in the state of Texas, (where the little girl had been killed by a pedophile) that when an animal like that hurts a child, that they deserve death and I agree.
If the penalty for hurting a child was death, it would put a scare into these people and it would come to an end over night.
But as it is, there are countries, where they allow very young children to be used as prostitutes. On one video I saw, it said that there is an airline that actually puts advertisements in it’s planes that show people where they can go for child prostitutes! So, what these people do is, if they can’t entice children in their own country into this crime, they will travel to countries where it is legal to hurt children like that and then sell those pictures on the internet and in pedophile clubs. Some of these people get away with this for years before getting caught. They tell themselves in their mind that the child likes it, even while they are killing the child while they are raping the child.
The more you look into it, the worse it is. The one thing that I will never understand and that is how in the world, could an organization such as the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society who claims to be run by God could, using the 1st amendment of freedom of religion, use that to protect people like that???
Either the Governing Body is closing their eyes to the evidence against these people and the Watchtower or they don’t care.
Eric on JWstruggle thinks that the Governing Body are having their strings pulled by a larger entity and I wonder that myself. They don’t seem human in their thinking at all to me. They seem uncaring and unconcerned about the children who have been hurt and are only trying to protect their own rear ends.
Reply
 
 Neal Krouni says:

 March 4, 2015 at 6:26 pm

@ anonymous
Very interesting comments. Yes, believe it or not, even the Taliban engage in pedophilia. I saw a documentary on YouTube.
 I have often wondered if there are higher powers behind the Watchtower Society. I mean, even the Catholic Church didn’t have the power to hold back the flood of Media exposure regarding child abuse in their organization. I am mystified as to how the WTS has been able to remain “under the radar” for so long. The atrocities of the Catholic Church in this regard became common knowledge, but the average Joe or Jane on the street is still quite ignorant of the crimes in the WT organization. Why is that? Your guess is as good as mine. Could there really be someone else, behind the scenes, pulling the strings, so that even our governments are afraid to act (I mean, besides satan).
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 minion says:

 March 4, 2015 at 5:58 pm

@ Bro.Cedars,
Your message is reaching the masses, I will share info from Alexa.com on your web site.
Global Rank 436,792
Rank in United States 132,796
How engaged are visitors to jwsurvey.org?
Bounce rate: 58.30%+
Daily Page views per visitor: 2.10+
Daily Time on Site: 4:51+
Country major Visitors percentile: United States 71.8%
At this rate you will surpass the WT web site. You Go Boy !
Keep up the fine work !
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 Excelsior! says:

 March 5, 2015 at 6:42 am

Neal,
If we apply Occam’s Razor to the issue of why the WTBTS have, until recently, not been called to account for their paedophilia problem, the answer is obvious.
The Catholic Church has existed for thousands of years. It has millions upon millions of adherents, far, far more than the pitiful number of JWs.
The WTBTS is a cult. It controlled, until the Internet age, the narrative of what it was and what it did.
It is possible that the true owners of this property empire have contacts in the media, but that is mere speculation.
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
Reply
 

 Excelsior! says:

 March 5, 2015 at 6:57 am

Anonymous,
Thank you, dear Lady, for your recent comments. They have been, as ever, pertinent and informative.
There is no evidence to suggest that the death penalty has any check on behaviour.
The prisoners on death row reside there for many, many years before they are executed. This costs the same amount of money as a custodial sentence.
There is also the possibility of a wrongful conviction, with no possibility to free the prisoner because they are dead.
Paedophiles and other disgusting rapists are not treated well by their fellow prisoners. They are hated by them.
I respect the right of others to disagree with me. There are arguments for capital punishment, and it is up to democracies to decide what form their legal system will follow.
Thanks for all your comments, and your presence here. You are a great boon to us all.
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
Reply
 

 Jerry O Connor says:

 March 5, 2015 at 9:56 am

Hello to all.
 Who is going to protect children from watchtower`s pedophiles?This extremely evil cult is a blight on humanity and one of man`s darkest chapters. Child rape is not a genetic defect.It is a choice and therefore all the more heinous. Hardened criminals will kill pedophiles in prison if given the chance. Yet here we have Lett trying to deflect the spotlight from watchtower because of recent child rape cases. Is he worried about the victims? Hell no! We can only highlight the myriad abuses by watchtower and hope public opinion will lead to its inevitable demise.
Reply
 

 anonymous says:

 March 5, 2015 at 10:46 am

@Jerry O Connor and Excelsior, I watched Sam Vaknin’s video again this morning called: Pedophile Narcissist: Narcissism, Pedepophilia and Hebephilia and according to what he said in that video, Jerry, you are right in that Mr. Vaknin said it isn’t in their genetic make-up. From some of the other videos I had seen, some say it is in their genetic make-up but according to Mr. Vaknin, all pedophiles are born normal but somewhere along the line they become pedophiles in their thinking and urges, but they still aren’t considered a pedophile until they offend.
They do have a choice but once they act on their fantasies, they become very addicted to it and the more they do it, the harder it is to stop and they rationalize to themselves that the victim is enjoying it even when it is violent. They even blame the victim sometimes and view the victim as dirty and disgusting sometimes to the point of killing the child for being so “dirty”. It is as sordid as a crime as can be described.
Excelsior, when these people make video tapes of themselves raping and sodomizing babies as little as 4 months up to 8 or 9 years old and these babies and older children are screaming in pain, these people believe in their minds that these babies are enjoying the experience. They are nothing but animals.
If these people are let out of prison, they are most likely to offend again and so the only alternative is to imprison them for the rest of their lives or put them in mental institutions because it isn’t curable.
The reason I believe in the death penalty is because they do have a choice of what they do and they don’t care. They don’t care about the victims at all. They have no conscience. I do believe in the death penalty when there is video evidence of what they did to the child. I don’t have any pity for them and I’d be glad to pull the lever because they do have a choice in what they do. They know it’s wrong when they are doing it and they don’t care at all about the victim.
You are right. It costs a lot more in the United States to keep these people on death row. My thought is to do it quickly. I know it may not be a deterrent, but to me it’s what I’d want if it was my child that a monster did that to my child, if I couldn’t take a gun and kill them myself.
In my state, about 23 years ago, a guy by the name of David Spanbauer got out of prison and went to murdering 3 people including 2 little children in my state so that they would put him back in prison again so he wouldn’t have to get a job and he’d be taken care of for the rest of his life. From what I had remembered it was 4 children but I googled it now and Google said 3 people including 2 children. In my state, they don’t have the death sentence. I don’t remember for sure, but it seems like he had been in prison the first time for killing a child and let out because they thought he was too old to do it again.
Remember ever hearing of the serial killer by the name of Ed Gein? He is the one that Psycho was made after because of all the people he killed and ate. Also, remember Jeffry Dahmer? He killed 17 men and boys and ate them and was killed in prison. All these people came from my State. These men might have done the same thing in other states but other states would have at least put him on death row and not let him out to do it again.
The one that got me the most was Spanbauer because he killed a 7 year old girl in my little home town and what for? So they’d put him back in prison again so he wouldn’t have to get a job.
I really don’t see how you can not believe in the death penalty for what some of these people do. They do have a choice. They hide what they do. They don’t do it in public.
We will have to agree to disagree on this one. Peace be with you too.
Reply
 

 minion says:

 March 5, 2015 at 11:10 am

I hope brother Lett, recalls this report from MSNBC.com 2007.
You just can’t ignore the elephant in the room, can you?
I quote:
Jehovah’s Witnesses Settle 9 Lawsuits Over Men who Sexually Abused Children
 NBC ^ | November 21, 2007 | Lisa Myers
 Posted on 11/22/2007, 11:57:57 AM by hawkaw
Frederick McLean is one of the most-wanted fugitives in the United States, charged with 17 counts of child sexual abuse in California. Law enforcement sources say that when a victim’s family confronted McLean in 2004, he allegedly confessed. But before he could be arrested, McLean fled.
Snip
His role in the church also became a matter of legal controversy. Last year, some victims’ families filed suit against the Jehovah’s Witnesses, alleging that both McLean’s local congregation and the church’s national headquarters, the Watchtower Society, “knew, or should have known, that Frederick McLean was a pedophile.”
Snip
The Jehovah’s Witnesses recently agreed to pay to settle that lawsuit and eight other similar cases, without admitting wrongdoing. The cases all involved men the church allegedly knew had sexually abused children.
Snip
Internal records now coming to light from the settled lawsuits may help explain why the church agreed to settle the cases. Documents show that the church knew for years that some prominent members were sexually abusing children and did little. Church officials allegedly became aware of several of the cases in question through what amount to internal judicial proceedings, at which local elders confronted suspected abusers, obtained confessions, then meted out punishments
Snip
The court filings include a church form called a Child Abuse Telememo. “Just thinking that they had a memo made up, printed up that says ‘Child Abuse Telememo,’” Anderson says, “indicates to me that they were handling this a lot. Because why make up a form for it?” … In reporting states, the form instructs officials to advise local elders “to make an anonymous phone report from a neutral location, such as a phone booth.”
Snip
Read the whole story Here
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com …
TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events
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 Neal Krouni says:

 March 5, 2015 at 5:23 pm

@ anonymous
I’m no lawyer, and of course, laws vary from region to region, but in my area it’s called Duty of Care – the legal obligation to help someone in trouble. I also remember the term Criminal Negligence (akin to a sin of omission), which is the CRIME of NOT helping someone in trouble.
 P.S.: Your State sounds like a scary place. Is that Wisconsin, I believe Dahmer was from Milwaukee?
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 March 6, 2015 at 3:09 am

Neal, yes I am from Wisconsin, home of Jeffry Dahmer and Ed Gein.
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 minion says:

 March 5, 2015 at 8:28 pm

For those doubters, unbelievers and in denial if this is a real arguement, this is a must read article from the New York Times 2002.
Ousted Members Say Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Policy on Abuse Hides Offenses
 By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
 Published: August 11, 2002
William Bowen always considered himself a devout Jehovah’s Witness. As a child, he felt it was his duty to go door to door passing out the church’s magazine, The Watchtower. Later, as an elder in his Kentucky congregation, he said he saw it as his duty to inform church officials that a fellow elder had abused a child.
But when Mr. Bowen contacted the church’s headquarters in Brooklyn, he says, he was rebuffed. Frustrated by the church’s inaction and by its confidentiality provisions, which he said prevented him from sharing the information with others, Mr. Bowen resigned as an elder in December 2000. A year later, he started a group to monitor child sexual abuse in the church.
Late last month, Mr. Bowen, 44, was excommunicated from the church. Behind a locked door, with plastic bags taped over the windows to ward off onlookers, he said, three church elders meeting at the church’s Kingdom Hall in Draffenville, Ky., found him guilty of ”causing divisions.”
The punishment was ”disfellowshiping” — complete shunning.
In the past three months, four other people have been expelled from the Jehovah’s Witnesses after accusing it of covering up the sexual abuse of children by its members. For Mr. Bowen and other critics of church policies on sexual abuse, the expulsions are part of a concerted effort to keep such abuses quiet.
Expelled Witnesses say the church’s own policies and culture conspire to conceal abuse. A panel of church elders, all men, meets in secret to decide each case, a procedure which critics say prevents members from knowing there is an abuser in their midst. To prove an accusation, a child must have a witness to the incident, a condition that is usually impossible to meet.
”This is evidence for the world to see how the Jehovah’s Witnesses treat abuse survivors and those who try to protect them,” said Mr. Bowen. ”They silence them with the threat of disfellowshiping.”
J. R. Brown, director of the public information office at church headquarters, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, in Brooklyn, said the church had exemplary policies for handling sexual abuse, which were based on biblical standards and had been widely published in church magazines.
”We’re not trying to say we handled everybody in the right way and our elders are all-knowing, all perfect,” said Mr. Brown, who declined as a matter of policy to comment on individual cases, including Mr. Bowen’s. ”But we say, if you take what our policy is for keeping our organization clean morally, it far outpaces anybody else’s.”
While the Roman Catholic Church has been engulfed in its own sexual abuse scandal, the same issue is beginning to plague the Jehovah’s Witnesses, a denomination that claims one million members in the United States and six million worldwide.
But the shape of the scandal is far different than in the Catholic church, where most of the people accused of abuse are priests and a vast majority of the victims were boys and young men. In the Jehovah’s Witnesses, where congregations are often collections of extended families and church elders are chosen from among the laypeople, some of those accused are elders, but most are congregation members. The victims who have stepped forward are mostly girls and young women, and many accusations involve incest.
The scope of abuse in the Jehovah’s Witnesses is a matter of considerable debate. The church has recently been sued by eight plaintiffs in four lawsuits alleging abuse, one filed in July in Minnesota. Mr. Bowen says that his victims support group, ”silentlambs,” has collected reports from more than 5,000 Witnesses contending that the church mishandled child sexual abuse.
The church keeps a database of members and associates who have been accused or found guilty of child abuse. Mr. Bowen said church sources had told him the database contained the names of more than 23,000 people in the United States, Canada and Europe. The church says the number is ”considerably lower,” but will not say what it is.
Partial quote from The New York Times 2002.
The fuse is lit.
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 Neal Krouni says:

 March 6, 2015 at 2:12 pm

Amen brother. Let it blow!!!
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 minion says:

 March 5, 2015 at 9:21 pm

This is a partial quote from Trey Bundy’s written article, just amazing. This is without a shawdow of a doubt and conclusive evidence this is a serious, serious problem within WT.
Increasing claims of cover-ups inside Watchtower
They come to your door, but how much do you really know about Jehovah’s Witnesses? We show you some surprising stuff (you probably didn’t know) about the worldwide religion.
In the last few years, the Jehovah’s Witnesses have been hit with an increasing barrage of lawsuits claiming the organization has covered up child sexual abuse.
A pair of sisters in Vermont filed a suit in September claiming that a member of their congregation molested them when they were as young as 4. When they reported the abuse to the elders in the congregation, they said, they were called liars.
The next month in Dallas, five women and one man filed a joint lawsuit alleging that an elder in their congregation sexually abused them while they were all younger than 13.
In Oregon in December, two former Witnesses sued the Watchtower and a local congregation, claiming the defendants kept silent after learning that an elder had sexually abused them when they were in grade school.
Since 2012, attorneys have filed more than a dozen similar suits against the Watchtower in Connecticut, Florida, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma and other states.
The Watchtower’s frequent defense – that such cases violate protections under the free exercise clause of the First Amendment – has led to the dismissal of several lawsuits. Watchtower lawyers argue that judicial questioning of the spiritual beliefs and practices of Jehovah’s Witnesses would trample the organization’s religious freedoms.
In a recent court hearing in California, Jehovah’s Witnesses lawyer James McCabe argued that “the religious beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses were at play in this case from start to finish.”
At the heart of this issue are the Watchtower’s own child abuse policy memos.
Each memo has been addressed to “all bodies of elders” and bears the letterhead of either the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society or the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Those are the primary corporations used by the organization to administer spiritual guidance, create and disseminate policy, oversee the writing and publication of literature, and manage the organization’s vast real estate holdings.
“Often the peace, unity, and spiritual well-being of the congregation are at stake,” a 1989 Watchtower memo reads. “Improper use of the tongue by an elder can result in serious legal problems for the individual, the congregation, and even the Society.”
The letter goes on to warn that breaches of confidentiality may lead to costly lawsuits and prosecutions.
“Worldly persons are quick to resort to lawsuits if they feel their ‘rights’ have been violated,” according to the document. “Substantial monetary damages could be assessed against the elders or congregation. In some cases where the authorities are involved, certain complications could lead to a fine or imprisonment.”
Subsequent memos reinforced the Watchtower’s policies, culminating in a 1997 letter that directed elders to report all known or suspected child sexual abusers – past, present and future – to the organization’s New York headquarters. This memo appears to be the foundation of the database referenced in Jose Lopez’s case.
The memo lists 11 questions that must be answered in each case, including the name of the perpetrator, age of the victim and how many times the abuse occurred. Other questions appear to be designed to gauge the perpetrator’s risk of exposure: “How is he viewed in the community and by the authorities? Has he lived down any notoriety in the community? Are members of the congregation aware of what took place?”
In the Lopez trial, the Watchtower refused to provide its list of perpetrators, in violation of an order upheld by the California Supreme Court. It also refused to provide the longest-serving member of the Governing Body, Gerrit Lösch, who was subpoenaed.
As a result, San Diego Superior Court Judge Joan Lewis disqualified the Watchtower’s defense.
“Watchtower’s actions or omissions were ‘reprehensible.’ I think ‘disgraceful’ may be synonymous with ‘reprehensible,’ but I think ‘disgraceful’ doesn’t say enough about it,” Lewis wrote in her decision.
“The award of punitive damages against them will hopefully send a message to Watchtower and its managing agents, the governing body of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, that their handling of sex abuse cases within their congregation was absolutely reckless.”
Her $13.5 million verdict was based solely on Lopez’s evidence and testimony.
“They fight every request for documents, every subpoena,” said attorney Irwin Zalkin. “They’ll take a hit not to produce what they know.”
“Not every individual who has sexually abused a child in the past is considered a ‘predator.’ The (Watchtower), not the local body of elders, determines whether an individual who has sexually abused children in the past will be considered a ‘predator.’ ”
 — 2012 Watchtower memo.
Amazing, just amazing.
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 MyBirthRight says:

 March 6, 2015 at 2:53 pm

Stephen looks like right before filming this he just ate a big heaping bowl of “Ped-o-Pops cereal” for breakfast, the un-balanced daily nutrition that’s deceptively delicious to the GB that can’t start a day at Bethel without it I guess.
 Creepy lying snakes, These child abuse protectors care nothing, about people like me that were molested and cared nothing about us having to see our “repentant” abusers at assemblies, halls etc.
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 anonymous says:

 March 7, 2015 at 3:22 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=5Iq7dxOLx9A
Marc and Cora Latham’s most wonderful video on the Watchtower’s advice about raping children in the Young People Ask book.
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 anonymous says:

 March 7, 2015 at 11:43 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=4xNJVboEy84
This has to be one of the best documentaries you will ever see about the rise of pedophilia you will ever see and it only has 900 views. It is almost 3 hours long but it well worth the time to watch it.
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 ScotWm says:

 March 7, 2015 at 12:00 pm

It appears that the judgment for the plaintiff in one California case against the Watchtower Society — Candace Conti of Fremont ($21 million) — is currently under appeal and no money has changed hands.
The Watchtower Society has lodged an appeal to the Conte case with four main arguments:
1. Where the WBTS (Watchtower Bible and Tract Society) already knows of a sexual offender, the WBTS does not have a duty to warn any of the members in the congregation about this individual.
2. The WBTS argues that other agencies (the police and Candace’s parents) should share the cost of damages.
3. Religious bodies should not be made to disclose confidentialities, even where a crime has been committed and revealed, as this would contravene the First Amendment.
4. That (Jonathan) Kendrick was not convicted of sexual abuse in a court. Therefore, had the Watchtower made public his deviation, they would have violated his right to privacy.
In addition, the Watchtower Society argues that there was no evidence of malice and therefore the damages were unjust and should be reduced. (What they are claiming is that Kendrick’s sexual advances were not done with intent to commit an unlawful act or cause harm to Miss Conte.)
The Watchtower Society further argues that “field service” is not a required activity:
“It is a personal ministry, not a required congregation function or activity” and “It is a personal ministry motivated by love of God and neighbor, and is not done on behalf of Watchtower or any congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.”
This ridiculous “personal ministry” argument seeks to minimize the Watchtower Society’s culpability in this case by claiming that the Fremont congregation’s field service activity is not mandated by the Watchtower Society. (It was during field service activity that Kendrick sexually abused Miss Conte.)
It remains to be seen just how long the Watchtower Society can delay the day of reckoning in this case.
aawa.co/blog/how-the-watchtower-justifies-its-crimes/
Reply
 
 Charles Costante says:

 March 7, 2015 at 8:07 pm

“The Watchtower Society further argues that “field service” is not a required activity:
“It is a personal ministry, not a required congregation function or activity” and “It is a personal ministry motivated by love of God and neighbor, and is not done on behalf of Watchtower or any congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.””
They may not handcuff and drag you out into field service, but they certainly make you feel guilty when you don’t put in the recommended 10 hours a month (or however much it is nowadays).
I found this article hilarious: http://www.miskeptics.org/2012/08/fun-facts-about-the-preaching-work-of-jehovahs-witnesses/
Reply
 
 Scrubmaster says:

 March 9, 2015 at 8:21 am

Ok, so if field service is not a required activity, how come my name has been removed from the field service group posted on the congregation board? Oh that’s right because I have not been out in field service in over a year. :-)
Reply
 
 
 

 anonymous says:

 March 7, 2015 at 2:02 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=RKXyuZa2dMI
Another good documentary about pedophilia in England and how high up it goes into the government. It seems that in order to get a judgement against the Society, a victim will need a female judge.
Reply
 

 Neal Krouni says:

 March 7, 2015 at 7:58 pm

Looks like we need more female judges.
Reply
 

 Innocent Son says:

 March 8, 2015 at 1:50 pm

This brood of vipers are in denial.The scarey thing is,they actually believe that they hold no responsibility for the actions of these abusive Monsters and try to shift the blame on so called apostates…! The rank and file JW’S have no idea what is really going on and believe every word that comes from the Governing Body.It is thanks to websites like this one and the accuracy and diligence of John Cedars that helped me to break free from all the deceptions…! Peace to all..
Reply
 

 Neal Krouni says:

 March 8, 2015 at 4:09 pm

Hey! Why are we bothering to fight terrorism? Terrorists are religious. Don’t they also have First Amendment rights to do whatever the hell they want???
Reply
 

 MyBirthRight says:

 March 9, 2015 at 10:06 am

@anonymous @Neal, I agree and have good reason to believe that this is correct that there is a much more going on here, strings being pulled etc.
Reply
 

 Neal Krouni says:

 March 9, 2015 at 10:57 am

Stephen Lett is an android created by JW.ORG to present their ideology in a non-threatening, grandfatherly manner. I don’t know about you, but he gives me a warm fuzzy feeling.
Reply
 
 Wild Olive says:

 March 9, 2015 at 5:14 pm

When I look at Letty I just want to put a round in the chamber.
Reply
 
 

 Excelsior! says:

 March 11, 2015 at 6:32 am

Neal Krouni,
I am still waiting patiently for your evidence, pertaining to the charge of pseudoscience in regard to the role genetics play in behaviour.
An apology for questioning my reading comprehension would be welcome too!
Peace be with you,
Excelsior!
Reply
 

 Keith A Enno says:

 March 14, 2015 at 7:27 pm

On the subject of ‘truthfulness’ and lying I came across this gem of a parliamentary transcript from Victoria Australia where a Parliamentary Committee interviewed some members of the organisation. The full transcript can be easily Googled.
TRANSCRIPT
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Inquiry into the handling of child abuse by religious and other organisations Melbourne — 11 April 2013
Members
Mrs A. Coote Ms G. Crozier Ms B. Halfpenny
Mr F. McGuire Mr D. O’Brien Mr N. Wakeling
Chair: Ms G. Crozier Deputy Chair: Mr F. McGuire
Staff
Executive Officer: Dr J. Bush Research Officer: Ms V. Finn
Witnesses
Mr T. O’Brien, Director of Society and Acting Branch Coordinator,
 Ms R. van Witsen, legal counsel, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia (Jehovah’s Witnesses).
The CHAIR — My question is: does the church maintain records on the number, nature and extent as well
as the outcomes of any allegations of child abuse?
Mr T. O’BRIEN — Yes, they do…..If there is even a report of an accusation, we maintain a record of that,
The CHAIR — Could you tell the committee how many numbers we are talking about — how many numbers your legal service has received in relation to abuse of any kind?
Mr T. O’BRIEN — With regard to Victoria, I made an inquiry just before I left, because I anticipated the question. I asked to search our records over the last 40 years since we have had elders as an arrangement, and there have been two cases — two ministers who were reported and investigated. They were immediately removed as ministers, and both were disfellowshipped and they are no longer Jehovah’s Witnesses.
My comment…..
Well, that is just amazing because currently about 10,000 plus Witnesses live just in the Greater Melbourne area alone and comprehensive reporting of even the smallest accusation over a forty year period can only produce two instances. Wow!
Reply
 

 Doily says:

 April 14, 2015 at 2:25 pm

Interesting that this idiot thinks 1914 is so pivotal. When Ray Franz was in charge of compiling the Aid Book, he noticed a very big discrepancy. The discrepancy was that the fall of Babylon that the WTS proposed was 20 years adrift. Franz researched this extensively. And yep, Historians gave the date as 20 years different to the WTS. Bombshell! He went to Nathan Knorr and voiced his very sincere concerns. Knorr dismissed Ray’s facts and research and demanded that the Aid Book be printed with the previous story still intact. Knorr knew the WTS had it wrong. He knew.
Reply
 

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← Jehovah’s Witness New Orleans airport machete attacker dies
Ashya King reported as cancer-free by parents →

Witnesses on Instagram respond to images of tragic JW mother who died refusing blood
avatar
Posted on March 23, 2015

Michelle, who would die refusing blood after giving birth, is pictured at her baby shower
Michelle, who would die refusing blood after giving birth, is pictured at her baby shower

Since a doctrinal decision reached at Watchtower headquarters some time in 1945, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been prohibited from receiving various medical treatments involving blood.
This has resulted in untold numbers of Witnesses over many decades (including children) dying out of what amounts to little more than a token act of loyalty or, some would say, martyrdom.
Not only does the Bible long predate the use of blood transfusions as medical treatments, but even if early Christians could have known about blood transfusions these would likely have been deemed permissible under the Jewish rabbinic tradition of pikuach nefesh, whereby the preservation of life surmounted all other considerations.
Though all needless deaths are saddening, few stories better capture the madness and tragedy of Watchtower’s blood stance than that of a JW mother called Michelle, whose death due to blood-loss while giving birth has been enshrined on an Instagram page.
A friend of Michelle posted a video/photo montage to the “jw_inspirational” handle of Instagram showing a video of her baby shower (which the friend claims to have hosted) set to music, along with pictures of the newborn baby girl – Emma Marie.


In a comment posted to the video, the friend describes the tragedy that unfolded at Emma Marie’s birth:

“Well, while delivering Emma; Michelle lost a lot of blood. So much so that she needed a blood transfusion. Michelle refused. Even after having a tube inserted in her and not being able to speak… She signed NO BLOOD. Our dear sister despite finally having the baby she’s wanted for such a long time remained loyal to the end.”
michelle2

The senseless loss of life of a young 28-year-old woman, whose newborn daughter begins her existence deprived of her mother on purely religious grounds, was predictably greeted with gushing praise and expressions of validation by Jehovah’s Witnesses viewing the thread.
comments1bcomments2b
In case you missed them, here are some of the comments in response to the video…

“Thoughts and prayers go out #seeyouin paradise we will see our loved ones again.”
“I just thought her story was amazing and she was so faithful and loyal. She was so encouraging. Like the brother said in her talk she will continue to move people and look… Just being posted on here she has!!”
“What an awesome organization to be a part of.”
“I love JEHOVAHs organization so much! It’s so amazing that everyone is sharing love to the family and some are even sharing their personal stories. It feels like a bunch of friends talking and getting to know each other. This is amazing!”
“It will soon be over! We have eternity to spend with family and friends.”
“Truly a sad story but faith strengthening. Thank you for sharing.”
“I will meet her in paradise, and she will meet the baby girl.”
As a former Witness, it is shocking to think I would once have either tried excusing or endorsing such mindless comments, or even offered similar sentiments myself. If the coercion in Watchtower literature is potent enough to allow a mother to excuse herself from her baby daughter’s life out of misplaced feelings of loyalty, it is certainly strong enough to make an otherwise intelligent person try to rationalize such a senseless loss of precious human life and put a positive spin on it.
I can only hope that little Emma Marie doesn’t grow up to blame herself, or her mother, for what has happened. Blame for this outrage lies squarely on the shoulders of a group of deluded, cloistered men in Brooklyn who have the power to save lives right now by lifting the needless ban on blood, but refuse to.
If nothing else, any right-minded person can plainly see that claims to moral superiority by Watchtower or its supporters are laughable at best. As far as “Jehovah’s organization” and its Governing Body are concerned, lives are expendable when it comes to showing the world how different they are. And babies can grow up without mothers, or die abstaining from life-saving medical treatment themselves, if it means more precious human life being offered up on Watchtower’s gruesome altar of obedience.
One day enlightened future generations will look back on atrocities such as this, and wonder how on earth cult groups could claim lives so cheaply right under the noses of the civilized world well into the 21st Century. As far as I’m concerned, the day when we can start looking back on these outrages cannot come soon enough.

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Further reading…
◾Friendly Atheist article on Michelle tragedy
◾JWfacts article on blood transfusions
◾JWsurvey articles on blood


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← Jehovah’s Witness New Orleans airport machete attacker dies
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118 Responses to Witnesses on Instagram respond to images of tragic JW mother who died refusing blood

← Older Comments

 rob says:

 March 24, 2015 at 1:18 pm

I remember someone describing the blood fraction nonsense as telling someone that they could eat the toppings on a pizza but not the whole pizza.
As time passes and people come to their own “new light” they will realize that this religion is nothing but a house of cards whose foundation is built upon the sand.
Reply
 

 Chuck Turner says:

 March 24, 2015 at 1:33 pm

The same fundamentalist response from the “loyal” Witnesses as the parents of “Jihadists” that have given their life in suicide bombings. I fail to see any difference.
Reply
 

 Faded says:

 March 24, 2015 at 4:19 pm

This is so sad. Standing on the outside looking in now, it’s more disturbing than ever. I am so sad for that young mother and the husband and baby she left behind.
Reply
 

 D says:

 March 24, 2015 at 8:26 pm

The Jehovah’s Witless murdered this poor woman.
 Simple as that.
Reply
 

 ScotWm says:

 March 24, 2015 at 8:52 pm

From what I have heard, blood recovery methods used during medical procedures have been a matter of conscience for Jehovah’s Witnesses for at least ten years. However, I can only assume that the blood lost by a JW mother called Michelle was probably contaminated by other bodily fluids. This would have ruled out blood recovery even if her extremely-sensitive “bible-trained” conscience would have allowed the procedure.
There are two possible personal consequences to Michelle’s refusal of a life-saving blood transfusion. If Watchtower blood doctrine is correct, her reward for exhibiting unswerving faith will assure her resurrection on a paradise Earth. If Watchtower blood doctrine is incorrect, she has committed suicide and her resurrection prospect is not so certain.
In any event, Michelle has left her newborn daughter, Emma Marie, without a mother. I am assuming that she had a husband whom she also left behind to raise her daughter alone. This is a very sad situation all around.
Unfortunately, this Watchtower blood doctrine is carved in stone. After all of the deaths associated with the refusal of Watchtower believers to accept blood transfusions, the doctrine cannot be declared obsolete.
Reply
 
 Steve McRoberts says:

 March 25, 2015 at 5:12 am

Except that the resurrected being won’t be Michelle, but rather a new being with false memories of having been Michelle. http://smmcroberts.net/blog/you-wont-be-resurrected/
 And she won’t be a wife to her husband anymore (as the resurrected ones are not to be reunited as husband and wife according to the WT.) And Emma Marie will be a grown woman by then, having grown up without her mother.
 Other than that it was a great choice to have made! {sarcasm}
Reply
 
 scodey says:

 March 25, 2015 at 12:45 pm

That’s an interesting perspective, but it’s important to remember:
(1) that (assuming the materialist perspective) ‘you’ are an amalgam of cells that are constantly being replaced. ‘You’ are not the same at the end of the day as ‘you’ are at the beginning.
(2) That OT Jews/Israelites and first century Christians were annihilationists — believing that when the body dies, it truly ceases to exist. It’s clear that this was the majority Jewish opinion from verses like John 11:24.
In fact, this second point is the *whole* reason that Christianity gained the traction it did. There were a number of ‘messiahs’ that came to prominence in and around the first century, each promising to liberate the Jews from under the yoke of the Roman oppressor. All of these men are effectively forgotten. Strangely, it was the peace loving dude who had no (immediate) political ambitions that ends up being the singular most important person in history. Why? Because people were convinced that they were able to eat and talk to a man that everyone was sure was dead. Jesus was a largely unremarkable person that would have probably been completely forgotten were it not for the fact that people would testify on pain of death that they had seen him rise from the dead. If there were any single doctrine at the center of christian belief (outside of say, the existence of a creator god), it would have to the the resurrection (see Paul’s remarks at 1 Cor 15:12-14).
Reply
 
 Steve McRoberts says:

 March 27, 2015 at 7:58 am

Your first point is a fascinating one, Scodey. But I don’t think we’re going to solve the age-old philosophical problem of self-identity here today.
I will just say that brain cells in general are not replaced. We stop producing new ones at about age two, and thereafter only new cells form in one part of the hippocampus: http://www.brainfacts.org/about-neuroscience/ask-an-expert/articles/2012/are-you-born-with-all-your-brain-cells-or-do-you-grow-new-ones
This fact gives us a consistency from day-to-day, and I think it’s what gives us our sense of identity and personal history.
If we had the technology to take a mind-scan and store all of your memories into an android, the android might “think” that it is you. But you would look at the android and know better. You wouldn’t look at it and say, “Okay, I can let this body of mine die now, because I’ll go on living in the android.” You wouldn’t say this because your consciousness would still be encased in your particular brain and body.
That’s why I say that the Watchtower’s version of “resurrection” is not the bringing back to life of the individual that died. It does absolutely nothing for the deceased (no more than Disneyland’s animatronic Abraham Lincoln has restored consciousness to that dead president.) At best it gives the deceased’s loved ones a replicant (though no longer anyone’s spouse.)
Reply
 
 

 Peggy says:

 March 30, 2015 at 9:20 am

@Steve,
 I just read your reasoning on the jw resurrection. I am in complete agreement. I have been thinking this for years. Finally you articulated my thoughts better than I did. Thank you. You have an excellent way of thinking.
Reply
 
 
 

 ScotWm says:

 March 24, 2015 at 9:13 pm

As with any medical procedure, there are risks associated with blood transfusions. Unless things have changed, blood recycling is still a matter of conscience for Watchtower adherents. On the other hand, those of us who are not under the spell of Watchtower doctrines may also benefit from the Hemosep filtering machine:
UK ‘blood recycling’ breakthrough will let Jehovah’s Witnesses have major surgery.
Scientist created machine that recycles blood lost in operations.
Will allow Jehovah’s Witnesses to have major surgery as rules out need for blood transfusions which their faith forbids.
Gadget could save NHS millions by reducing demand for donated blood.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2614169/UK-blood-recycling-breakthrough-let-Jehovahs-Witnesses-major-surgery.html
Reply
 
 Steve McRoberts says:

 March 25, 2015 at 5:23 am

This is indeed a beneficial medical breakthrough. But it doesn’t lessen the need for blood donations by all of us who can donate. Blood recycling is great for planned surgery in hospitals where the technology is available. But there are still many situations where donated blood is needed (e.g. in emergency rooms where people come in having already lost a lot of blood; or in this case where — as you point out — the blood was likely contaminated.)
 I appreciate your comment, ScotWm, and I don’t disagree with it. I just don’t want anyone getting the idea that blood donations are no longer desperately needed. 97% of us will need blood at some point in our lives: only 3% of eligible donors currently donate blood. The need for blood continues to outweigh the supply today (platelets too.)
Reply
 
 Gareth says:

 March 25, 2015 at 5:57 am

“97% of us will need blood”, how is this calculated? This seems to imply that 97% of JWs would die due to refusing blood? (Depending on how needy ‘need’ is, haha). But this is obviously not true.
Reply
 
 Steve McRoberts says:

 March 25, 2015 at 6:50 am

My figures were old, but the exact percent is evidently debatable. According to Hofstra University it is 95% of Americans: http://www.hofstra.edu/StudentAffairs/blood/blood_whyshouldi.html
UNC Healthcare gives the range as between 41%-71%, and relates how the figure was obtained. It also states that the “90% or more” figure is overestimated:
http://news.unchealthcare.org/news/2006/Aug/transfusion
Of course, “needing” blood doesn’t necessarily mean that you’d die without it in every case.
Newer figures also state that rather than 3% donating, it is “less than 10%.”
So, I would like to revise my previous statement to: “At least 40% of Americans will need blood at some point in their lives, while less than 10% donate blood.”
It’s less extreme, but still shows a vital need for those of us who can to roll up our sleeves and donate.
Reply
 
 Gareth says:

 March 25, 2015 at 3:44 pm

Thanks for the update.

 
 

 Chuck Turner says:

 March 25, 2015 at 12:53 pm

Last time I checked, 100% of humans need blood. One of the reasons they are (dead) wrong on the subject.
Reply
 
 
 

 Chuck Turner says:

 March 25, 2015 at 12:40 pm

I really think they would rather have one die, though. That way they get the publicity and propaganda.
Reply
 
 

 Mike says:

 March 24, 2015 at 9:39 pm

Rest in peace young lady. Religions are a dangerous thing.
Side note: how come baby showers are not banned? Aren’t they just a form of pre-birth birthday party? And give unduly attention to person, not Jehovah? Baby showers do not exist in my country but I have seen on TV about them in USA. Seriously surprised why they have not been publicly banned…
Reply
 
 Charles Costante says:

 March 25, 2015 at 1:11 am

Baby showers haven’t been banned because they probably haven’t thought about it, Mike (like all their theology). Give them some time and new light will reveal that these celebrations also have pagan roots, i.e. one of the Governing Body will be surfing the Net and accidentally see your post and think, “Mmmmm…….”.
Jehovah, I think not!
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 March 25, 2015 at 5:49 am

The May 1, 1969 Watchtower page 285 talked about wedding showers and they are to “shower” the person with gifts. The article said that when gifts are displayed and opened for all to see, the best thing to do is not say who gave the gift even though the card may have the person’s name on it. That is to not embarrass those who either couldn’t afford a gift or the gift may have been more modest than the more expensive gifts.
Reply
 
 Chuck Turner says:

 March 25, 2015 at 12:42 pm

…as in “eating a fertilized egg on Friday after sundown” and making sure to “wash up to one’s elbows” to be ceremonially clean. :)
Reply
 
 
 
 

 rikos says:

 March 25, 2015 at 2:15 pm

I do believe these 7 man deserving to hang them upside down under the Brooklyn bridge together with their sub leaders,because they make themselves Gods. why these unmoral man don’t live alone people? and stop putting heavy loads on their shoulders? cheating and lie to them? I start to believe their is Satan, and I believe he is using this organization to control people.
Reply
 

 rikos says:

 March 25, 2015 at 2:22 pm

I do believe these 7 man deserving to hang them upside down under the Brooklyn bridge together with their sub leaders,because they make themselves Gods. why these un man don’t live alone people? and stop putting heavy loads on their shoulders? cheating and lie to them? I start to believe their is Satan, and I believe he is using this organization to control people.
Reply
 

 Innocent Son says:

 March 25, 2015 at 2:34 pm

My heart goes out to this poor child left motherless by the edicts of 7 older men, who have the blood ban all wrong….! What is also shocking is the thread with all the deluded misguided comments by Org. Automons who support her decision to kill herself, which is what she did….! Thank God I woke up and got out of this dangerous, destructive Cult…!
Reply
 

 Bob says:

 March 25, 2015 at 10:18 pm

I think in the beginning of the bible. The blood being poured out was not just a sacrifice, but a reminder of who and where life originated from. This life had been taken and had passed. More of a respect and honor issue because, there is no way to get all the blood out of meat unless you use a centerfuge or something. I think it was only a means to remind where life originated from. I’m not a creationist by any means, nor agnostic, nor do I agree with many Evolution theories. I will say this, I have no problem storing my own blood before a major medical issue. It is mine and I will do as I please. I will however not take blood, probably never, not even if it becomes a “conscience matter”. Nor an organ, not with all the meds, if it’s my time well I’ll see when I see ya!
Reply
 
 congrats!! says:

 March 26, 2015 at 12:21 am

XD “Ill see ya when I see ya!” classic…and I must say I agree 100% with everything you shared…100%.
Reply
 
 

 congrats!! says:

 March 26, 2015 at 12:22 am

its almost unheard of nowadays for a mother to die due to blood loss giving birth…it sounds even silly to hear it o_o. usually if they die its because they were unsavable, even if they took blood…
so my thoughts are, what if she had taken blood, and still died…would she be getting the exonerations and praise shes getting now, or the complete opposite :/? *sigh
well im sure the ninnies at the top of the jw pyramid are pleased either way -_-
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 March 26, 2015 at 3:24 am

There are many instances when whole blood or platelets or another “part” of blood is necessary to save the life of a person. When there is major blood loss, a blood expander will not supply the oxygen needed to the cells.
Reply
 

 Shanti says:

 March 26, 2015 at 3:38 am

JW women were found in one study to be at 44 times greater risk of dying in childbirth due to hemorrhage compared to the general population. Here is a link to the study:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/11641673/
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 March 26, 2015 at 5:35 am

Shanti, I ran the figures from that study and they are figuring from live births and not the women who died and if you go by the women who died who were Jehovah’s Witnesses, the actual figure would be 602 women who die out of 100,000 live births who were Jehovah’s Witnesses as compared to 12 women who die from live births who weren’t Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Reply
 
 Steve McRoberts says:

 March 26, 2015 at 10:05 am

Just to clarify what anonymous is saying: when you factor in that some of the women in the study gave birth more than once during the study:
During childbirth, compared to a non-JW woman, a JW woman runs a risk of dying:
44 times greater for any particular delivery.
50 times greater over all deliveries.
So, due to the Watchtower’s ban on blood transfusions, if you’re a JW woman you have a 50 times greater chance of dying during childbirth over the course of your life!
With those odds you’d better be damn sure that the WT is right this [one and only] time on its medical ban!
Reply
 
 Sheree says:

 March 28, 2015 at 9:54 pm

Women have less value so as if the GB would care that they are more likely to die in childbirth. They have no respect for life, especially that of women and babies.

 
 
 
 
 

 anonymous says:

 March 26, 2015 at 4:13 pm

The scripture that Watchtower uses to insist that Christians can’t take blood is Acts. 15:29, where the apostles and older men in Jerusalem came to the decision for new gentile Christians to stay away from blood, things strangled, fornication and foods sacrificed to idols.
That very same injunction is again issued at Acts 21:25 to new gentile converts.
What the Society leaves out when it comes to the other 3 things, i.e. animals strangled, fornication and foods sacrificed to idols is the scriptures at 1 Cor. 8:1-8 where Paul said it was okay to eat foods sacrificed to idols (not to do it though if the eating of foods sacrificed to idols would stumble a person of weak faith).
Isn’t it funny that when it came to eating foods sacrificed to idols, Paul made that decision on his own that it was his decision that Christians didn’t have to listen to the so-called “Governing Body” in Jerusalem?
Witnesses are giving up their lives every day because of that one scripture at Acts 15:29 but do they realize that it was just as important for the Christians to stay away from foods sacrificed to idols????? If a person buys some meat, are there elders standing over them to make sure that the meat wasn’t sacrificed to idols???? Do the elders ever ask the people in the congregation to make sure that they don’t eat foods sacrificed to idols???
What about the fact that Paul went directly against what the so-called Governing Body decided in his letter to the Corinthians?
Should a person give up his life for what the Apostle Paul wrote in Act. 15:29 when he contradicted his own words at 1 Cor. 8:1-8????
Reply
 
 Steve McRoberts says:

 March 27, 2015 at 7:16 am

You’re right, anonymous: this is one of the best Scriptures to debunk the Watchtower’s erroneous blood policy.
But, because it is so important, I’m going to nit-pick a little here.
Paul didn’t write Acts. The injunction against blood etc., in chapter 15 was voiced by James (who unabashedly referred to it as “my decision”) and then was “unanimously adopted” by the “apostles and elders” (no mention of Paul’s reaction is given here.) In fact, Paul was not even given the “privilege” of conveying this message: two men were sent to go with him to do this (Judas and Silas.)
The passage in chapter 21 is once again “James and the elders” reminding Paul of their decision because they have heard rumors of him “teaching an apostasy from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or to follow the customary practices.” Though, of course, this wasn’t a false rumor: it describes exactly what Paul thought (that Christ’s sacrifice released them from the Law). In spite of that, Paul then went ahead and engaged in a Mosaic cleansing ceremony, intending to follow it up with a sacrificial offering — even though he wrote that such adherence to the Law made Christ’s sacrifice null and void!
The point is: Paul went along with whatever would accomplish his goal. “To Jews he became as a Jew…” It wasn’t that he thought ceremonial cleansings, sacrifices, circumcisions, or any other laws were incumbent upon Christians. He engaged in these things and gave lip-service to them in order to mollify the Judaizers: the Christians who thought the Law was still in effect.
Even the decision of James is clearly shown in Acts 15 to have been a reaction to the Judaizers: “Now some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers: ‘Unless you get circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.'” (Acts 15:1)
Likewise, after the decision is stated, the reason for it is given: “For from ancient times Moses has had those who preach him in city after city, because he is read aloud in the synagogues on every sabbath.” (Acts 15:21) Note the reason behind the decision: it is simply for the sake of appearances. The decision was not meant to be taken as commandments handed down by James et al., to be obeyed by all Christians for all time. It was a recommendation to prevent new Christians from offending the Jews given the circumstances in that particular time and place in history (i.e. the presence of Judaizers.)
So, the passage in 1 Corinthians 8:4-8 does not contradict the passages in Acts: it is in complete harmony with them. The decision was never a commandment regarding dietary rules for Christians. Paul would be no worse off if he ate then if he didn’t eat (he specifically mentions food sacrificed to idols, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that the same principle applies to eating blood.)
The whole Watchtower blood doctrine rests on the assumption that the decision in Acts was a Christian commandment, even though the Bible shows (in 1 Corinthians) that it certainly was not, and even though the Bible says there is only one supreme commandment for Christians, and that it supersedes all others:
Do not owe anything to anyone except to love one another; for whoever loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law. For the law code, “You must not commit adultery, you must not murder, you must not steal, you must not covet,” and whatever other commandment there is, is summed up in this saying: “You must love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does not work evil to one’s neighbor; therefore, love is the law’s fulfillment.
–Romans 13:8-10 (NWT)
For the entire Law has been fulfilled in one commandment, namely: “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”
 –Galatians 5:14 (NWT)
Withholding life-saving medical care, far from following a biblical commandment, actually breaks the Bible’s real commandment to love one another.
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 March 27, 2015 at 10:55 am

Hi Steve. Your comment was very interesting. I have been doing a lot of research on the books of Paul and have come to the conclusion that the Apostle Paul might not have even been a real apostle but an imposter.
The reason I say this is because in the book of Acts, when Paul is asked about his conversion, he has 3 separate renditions of how it happened, i.e. Acts 9:7, Acts 22: 7, 9 and Acts 26:14 and no evidence of any other witnesses.
Also, like you said, he became to people whatever it took to convince them, even if he had to pretend to be something he wasn’t. At Romans 3:7 he said “For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my “lie” into his glory, why yet am I also judged a sinner?”
In 1 Cor. chapter 9, it seems that he was saying that preachers should be paid for their preaching work vs. 14 “In this way, too, the Lord ordained for those proclaiming ordained for those proclaiming the good news to live by means of the good news.”
In 2nd Cor. 12: 16,17, it seems that he was accused of using “trickery and being crafty”. In vs. 14 he says he didn’t come for their possessions but for them. Why would he say he didn’t come for their possessions? In that whole chapter, it seems that he was defending himself against trying to trick them out of their possessions.
In the Acts of the Apostles, it says that when they became believers that they were all selling their properties and giving to the church and so when Ananias and Sapphira fell dead because they didn’t turn over all their money for a field they had sold, I am wondering why did they do that? Maybe all those people were compelled to sell all their stuff and give to the church. Why lie about it? That account never made any sense to me except to spread the idea that if you don’t give all your possessions to the church that God was going to strike you down dead like Ananias and Sapphira.
But if you think that the only one who got those tablets for the Mormon church was Joseph Smith and nobody else saw those supposed scrolls, who is to prove or disprove that Saul of Tarsus actually saw Jesus Christ resurrected just as what supposedly happened with Joseph and the Mormon Church? He is the only one who supposedly Jesus appeared to and were there any other witnesses? No. He wrote 51% of the Greek Scriptures and people take what he says as just as important as what Jesus Christ supposedly said.
When you read about Paul, when he was in Jerusalem, he never met with the supposed Governing Body except to be reproved by him as you mentioned is at the account in Acts Chapter 21. When he was being chased and threatened in Jerusalem with his life, where were the other apostles and older men in Jerusalem? They didn’t seem to be in any danger. In the 21st chapter of Acts when Paul had met with the older men and Apostles, they told him he had to go through a ceremonial cleaning and at the end of that a great uproar was in Jerusalem and Paul was beaten almost to death and it was then that he was eventually taken to Caesarea to stand trial for his life.
So, again, why just Paul being beaten like that? Where are the other apostles and older men coming to his defense if he was really an apostle of Jesus? This all happened in Jerusalem where the older men and Apostles were.
Paul was all about having faith in Jesus’ resurrection where the other apostles were faith without works was dead. With Paul it was all about just having faith and that was enough.
The other apostles’ teachings and Paul’s teachings were quite different from each other.
I would have to know for sure if the Apostle Paul was a real apostle of Jesus Christ if I was going to hand over my life on account of what he preached in the Bible.
Just because a bunch of men a long time ago said the whole Bible was inspired of God, doesn’t make it inspired of God to me. Not where I’d die for it anyway.
Reply
 
 Donald Cleveland says:

 April 4, 2015 at 5:34 pm

According to the account in Acts, Ananias and Sapphira did not die because they held back some of the profits from the land sale. They died because they lied about giving it all, when speaking to Peter. Peter even explained, that the money was theirs to do with as they pleased, so there was no need to lie. They lied to build themselves up before the others, all the while holding back some for themselves.
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 April 4, 2015 at 7:02 pm

Donald, do you feel that when people lie to God, then they should be struck dead like Ananias and Sapphira? If that applies to Ananias and Sapphira, then surely there shouldn’t be any double standards when it comes to lying from the Society either, should it? For instance, when Witnesses give money to the Society for the World Wide work, it shouldn’t be going to paying off lawsuits for failing to protect the kids against pedophiles and for the buying of more and more real estate?
The Society shouldn’t be lying when it comes to the real history of the Society and they shouldn’t lie when they quote sources and they shouldn’t lie when they misquote scriptures and even rewrite the Bible to make it say something it never said. They shouldn’t lie when they do shun for taking your name off the roles like they refuse to admit to on jw.org.
Ananias and Sapphira aren’t alive to tell their side of the story are they? I am not so sure there aren’t 2 sides to that pancake.

 
 
 
 

 Innocent Son says:

 March 27, 2015 at 4:20 pm

Thank you for your comments anonymous, I sincerely hope that they help others like myself, escape from this merciless organisation, after examining the scriptures carefully…..!
Reply
 
 

 Steve McRoberts says:

 March 27, 2015 at 11:32 am

I agree 100%. According to the Bible Paul never met Jesus, and was merely a self-appointed “apostle.” Yet Paul is the real inventor of the Christianity we have today. Why do people listen to him when his own conversion story is full of holes?
http://smmcroberts.net/blog/did-paul-invent-christianity/
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 March 27, 2015 at 5:24 pm

That’s right Steve, Saul or Paul lived at the same time as did Jesus and Jesus never met Saul/Paul and Paul only quoted what Jesus said at only one place in his letters and no description of any of Jesus’ supposed miracles. There’s a lot of holes in the apostleship of Paul and yet that is what most “Christian” churches follow, even more so then Jesus teachings and I would say that Jehovah’s Witnesses are among those religions.
Some of the videos I have seen, suggest that Paul started the “Universal” “Catholic” church and so any religion that follows the teachings of Paul are actually all “Catholic”.
Reply
 
 

 Ted says:

 March 28, 2015 at 6:46 pm

Michele aged just 28, a brave trusting lady. Presumably her
 husband is young too. With no sign of the promised paradise,
 and human nature being what it is , it is natural that he’ll feel
 the need of companionship, and perhaps a surrogate mother
 for the little girl eventually.
So if the extremely improbable were to materialise and a paradise
 arrived along with resurrections, I can imagine a lot of torn feelings.
 The husband with feelings for both women, the little girl now bonded
 with new mother, Michelle memories still fresh of her former life,
 now no longer an intimate part of the family, and perhaps the new wife
 wondering where the husbands true feelings lie.
Of course it’s all supposition. There’s not one single reason to have
 confidence in any of WTS, promises. It may sound hard, but the
 reality is that Michelle like so many others has thrown her young
 life away for nothing, under cult duress. It makes me angry and
 so sad.
 ,
Reply
 
 Innocent Son says:

 March 29, 2015 at 1:23 pm

I agree with your comments Ted, this young woman’s life was wasted…! I remember a few years ago,a sister in our congregation died in similar circumstances, the husband remarried, but the elders all applauded her for doing the ” right thing ” I felt so sorry for the children she left behind, none of whom are now ” in the truth ” How many more lives will be wasted because of the blood ban? Shalom
Reply
 
 

 anonymous says:

 March 29, 2015 at 3:19 am

@Sheree, you hit nail right on the head!!!
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 March 29, 2015 at 8:47 am

@Ted . Your Analysis of how the Theory of Paradise
 Will or will not work in practise is good to think through the consequences logically like you have done !! & as you say it is so sad that this sisters lost life will HURT & TRAUMATISE so many close family members when the Reality sets in & being seen as a HERO?? For JEHOVAH has worn off in the days,weeks& years to come as the Grind & daily mundane life carries on!!
 The Questions will come ??? Was it really JEHOVAHs Will or JUST 7 Yankee Rich Men in BROOKLYN changing Doctrine back& forth when the EVIDENCE??? Shows !!
Reply
 
 

 Ted says:

 March 30, 2015 at 10:30 am

@ Steve McRoberts
 @ Scodey
 Assuming an earthly physical resurrection, will they be the same
 people as before, or just copies?
My own un-educated thoughts are. We all came into existence
 by procreation, Fathers sperm, Mothers egg, that process will
 never be repeated, so any recreation ( Resurrection) will require
 an entirely different procedure.- Direct creation, as in Adam’s
 case, thereby making merely “Copies” of former selves.
It would be possible if you were resurrected, to visit your own
 grave and read your own headstone. So which would be the
 real you? The one on top, or the one below?
Reply
 

 Ocma says:

 March 30, 2015 at 10:07 pm

Wonder if any of them said “well, she got an easy way into paradise”. This is what I have had said to me after my mum’s recent passing. (My mum had a heart attack and there was nothing ‘easy’ about it.)
Reply
 

 anonymous says:

 March 31, 2015 at 2:45 am

Ocma, another saying I hear is they took the “underground” route into the paradise.
Reply
 

 Steve McRoberts says:

 March 31, 2015 at 6:22 am

It is the Jehovah’s Witness Lottery: some must die each year in sacrifice to “the Truth” because it’s just the way it is. No “reason” is required: just group-think and tradition:
http://www.jehovahswitnessblog.com/cult/the-jehovahs-witness-lottery/
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 March 31, 2015 at 10:15 am

Steve, I watched “The Lottery” and you are absolutely right about the movie and relating it to Jehovah’s Witnesses and their calloused view of those who die due to the Watchtower’s ban on blood transfusions. What is so chilling about the Witnesses is how cold and unfeeling they are when one of their own dies to the Watchtower god, the Organization.
Reply
 
 

 Ted says:

 April 1, 2015 at 6:33 am

A blood sacrifice to ward off the anger of an invented tribal
 god. Stupendous ignorance from a time when people believed
 the earth was flat and the sun moved around the earth Josh,10/13
The JW, blood. doctrine though, is a cynical tactic, purposely
 intended to draw hostility and publicity. Making the faithful
 believe they are being persecuted for true Christianity.
This along with other manufactured and burdensome rules–.
No birthdays, ban on many religious and national celebrations,
 as well as a 13 year ban on transplants , ( Now repealed, and
 admitted to have no scriptural backing W,T, 15/3/1980, p,31.)
So those who suffered or died for want of an organ transplant
 did so, not for obeying God, but only self appointed prophets,
 of whom there have been many.
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 April 2, 2015 at 3:02 am

Ted, I could not agree more with your comment.
There is one tiny little sentence in the Insight book volume 2 on page 388 under False Messiahs, that totally destroys the Christian faith and this is it:
“After Jesus’ death, the Jews followed many false Messiahs, as Jesus had foretold. (Mt. 24:5)”
Why this sentence destroys the Christian faith is that the whole Christian faith depends on the death and resurrection of a man called Jesus in the first century around 33 C.E. If Jesus didn’t perform the many miracles related in the Bible and he wasn’t resurrected, the whole religion fails.
Even though Josephus mentions a Jesus who was a wise teacher who was crucified by Pilate and talks about James who was the brother of Jesus, that doesn’t corroborate any of the gospel accounts of Jesus.
Tacitus also referred to Christ’s execution by Pontius Pilate and the existence of early Christians in Rome in his final work, written ca. AD 116), book 15 chapter 44.
So, scholars don’t dispute there was a man named Jesus in the first century who was executed. Scholars also don’t dispute John the Baptist and his execution so these men existed. But where is the evidence of miracles and people being raised from the dead?
Just as the Reasoning book said, there were many people claiming to be Christ at the time of Jesus but what makes this one sentence the most important sentence in all of Watchtower literature is that it said it was “after Jesus’ death” that all these false messiahs appeared and they had many followers.
Think about it. If the Jesus of the 4 gospels had really existed and had raised people from the dead and had performed all these miracles and had walked on water and people had actually seen him raised into the heavens at his death in 33 C.E., why would there have been many more men claiming to be the promised Messiah that they were all waiting for to appear? How could any of these men have gotten followers after this most famous man of all history had died and gone to heaven. In real life, they would have been laughed at if they didn’t perform any miracles like the Jesus of the Bible had really done.
Historians talk about a Jesus that was killed and they talk about a John the Baptist who was killed but nothing about any of Jesus’ miracles. Even the apostle Paul says nothing about any of Jesus miracles or where he was born or anything else. All he ever talked about was Jesus’ resurrection. Paul doesn’t even relate any of the sayings of Jesus Christ. Paul even mentions another Jesus called Justus at Colossians 4:11 so Jesus was evidently a popular name, even then.
So, scholars don’t dispute a man called Jesus who was killed but nothing of his miracles or his resurrection. So, where did the Greek Scriptures and the Christian religion come from, that people are giving up their lives for, over want of a blood transfusion?
Was Jesus’ life and miracles and resurrection a work of fiction?????
Such a shame that people are willing to die for a work of fiction.
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 April 2, 2015 at 5:49 am

At the beginning of the 8th paragraph in my last comment, I should have said, instead of the Reasoning book, I should have said the Insight book vol. 2 instead, under the topic of false messiahs.
Reply
 
 
 

 Ted says:

 April 2, 2015 at 9:00 am

@Anonymous, It’s a sound point that you make. If Jesus
 really did defy the fixed laws of the universe and perform
 miracles, what would be the point of these other guys claiming
 to be the messiah. They wouldn’t be able to emulate jesus and
 provide the crowds with a free bread and fish meal ( As its claimed).
As the saying goes, “Follow that”. they just wouldn’t be able to do it.
 Just like the wt, self proclaimed prophets , “No Credentials” yet
 people throw away their life on their baseless authority.
Jesus probably did exist as a charismatic teacher and oral traditions
 grow about such people. The stories then start to idealise them
 and get better in the telling.
Add to this, the fact that copyists have made their own contributions
 to the Jesus story.— The one tale that everyone knows and loves
 (Even people who never open a Bible ) is “Let the one without sin
 Cast the first stone”.
That didn’t appear in any manuscripts until almost a century after
 Jesus lived and is an obvious addition. For me that’s the best story
 in the gospels. Yet it’s something Jesus never said or did.
 So the question must be asked. What else has been added that
 Jesus never said or did?
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 April 2, 2015 at 9:59 am

Ted, if people read the King James Bible printed by the Watchtower Society, they would see that at 2 Cor. 12:16 that Paul admitted to using trickery or guile on the people to get them.
At Romans 2:16, Romans 16:25 and at 2 Tim. 2:8 in the King James (printed by the Watchtower) Paul said that what he preached was “his gospel”, but how the Watchtower decided to render those passages was as “the good news that he preached” instead and at Galatians 1:12, “his” gospel came to him from a revelation from Jesus Christ. There were no other witnesses to this “revelation” either so that makes his “revelation” no different than the “revelation” by Joseph Smith that the Mormons follow over and above the Bible.
So, since the Watchtower freely admits that false Messiahs appeared “after” Jesus supposedly died and went to heaven and they these false messiahs had lots of followers, how would we know if Paul wasn’t talking about one of these “false” messiahs instead. Jesus was a common name in those days. Since the Bible says at Acts 2:41 that there were about 3,000 people baptized, that also adds to the fact that if the Jesus of the Bible actually existed and did all those miracles and people saw him going to heaven, then how could any followers after him claim to be the Messiah that they were looking for without those people also performing the miracles that Jesus supposedly performed with all those 3,000 people running around Jerusalem claiming to be his followers? If they did perform perform miracles like Jesus did, then where are the accounts of them and their supposed followers and what were their names?
It seems that there was a real Jesus who was a teacher and that he was crucified and the fact that the Jews were looking for a messiah, the story of the real Jesus took on legs of it’s own and then religion used those stories to make them feel that the people inherited sin from Adam (Paul’s teaching) and the only way they could gain salvation was through the death of Jesus Christ.
If the “gospel” according to Paul was a made up story of a revelation from a fictionalized Christ, the Christian religion would fall flat on it’s face and an awful lot of people have given up their lives for nothing.
Reply
 
 

 Ted says:

 April 2, 2015 at 12:56 pm

Anonymous, There does seem to be a scarcity of witnesses
 when these miraculous revelations occur. The fact is that
 people are devoting and “Sacrificing” their lives on the basis
 of what is nothing more than “Hearsay”.
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 April 2, 2015 at 3:10 pm

Ted, there weren’t any witnesses. In a courtroom, hearsay isn’t good enough for a conviction.
When a story is repeated over and over again for hundreds of years, eventually, that story becomes a fact because there is no body alive to disprove it anymore.
What is so sad is that the Bible gives comfort to millions of people and that is fine but what is so tragic is when people give up their lives for it by refusing blood and by disowning their own families and friends by disfellowshipping them with no evidence of authenticity. That is the real tragedy.
If any religious clergy have no confidence of the reliability of the Bible and teach it as the “TRUTH”, they are nothing but greedy and self-serving, even letting children die for their greed. That is why, if the Watchtower is really the one and only “true” religion, then the Watchtower should not be afraid to to answer questions from people who have doubts about the Watchtower and the Bible.
If they aren’t willing to answer those questions, then do they really have faith that Bible is from the creator and perfect, or are they only using it for what they can get out of it for themselves and willing to let babies and young mothers die for their greed????
Reply
 
 

 anonymous says:

 April 3, 2015 at 6:06 am

If anyone watches the video on jwbroadcasting about the 138th Gilead Graduation Program at around hour 2 and 20 minutes, Samuel Herd actually shows how the whole JW religion is a scam.
In the 2013 July study edition of the Watchtower, it said that the Faithful and Discreet slave is now only the Governing Body. The Faithful and discreet slave is supposed to be feeding the sheep the food. Samuel Herd went on (2 hours and 20 minutes into the program) and on about all the reading the Governing Body has to do with all the spiritual food that that keeps coming out from the writing department. In fact Samuel Herd said that the Governing Body send almost all their time reading what comes out of the writing department, even spending all their week-ends reading that stuff that comes out of the writing department.
So, my question is: Who is the one spewing out all the “spiritual food”? Is it the Governing Body (the Faithful and discreet slave) or is it the writing department????
If the ones who are spewing out all the spiritual food are the writing department, then the faithful and discreet slave can’t be the Governing Body, can it, since they don’t write any of it, but just read it?
Doesn’t that make the whole thing a scam, if you put your thinking caps on?
Reply
 

 Ted says:

 April 3, 2015 at 8:15 am

Anonymous, I remember a W,T, study article from about
 81or. 82, that. supports your point. It stated “Why would
 you want to study the Bible alone to find answers to your
 questions? When there are brothers at Bethel, whose
 full time job it is, to do this for you” ?
It didn’t say, the gov,body, or members of the remnant,
 ( the supposed F&D Slave, at that time) who will find answers
 for you, (Which I’m sure they would if it was the case,)
 But no, it was “Ordinary Brothers” who were preparing the
 spiritual food.
This was just before I left, after 25 years, it was just one of
 the many things caused me to be disillusioned with it all.
 It was obvious they wanted “Absolute Control” of information
 that we took in. They were treating us like “Automatons” and
 not reasoning humans.
Since then I have found my own answers to Bible questions.
 And if I needed a blood transfusion I would have one.
 And with a completely clear conscience.
Reply
 

 Excelsior! says:

 April 5, 2015 at 6:49 am

Ted and anonymous,
The pertinent point is that this young lady was unlucky enough to be a member of a cult that claims to be a Christian church.
Many religions rely on texts that are claimed to be inspired by a deity/deities. None of them stand up to any scrutiny.
Anonymous, we can debate forever about St Paul. Nevertheless, his letters were accepted as Canon many centuries ago. Indeed, some very uplifting and positive passages are to be found there.
I am an atheist. I do not believe that the bible is inspired. It is a collection of musings by men, living in a social and historical context. It contains some common sense morality, surrounded by Bronze Age and Iron Age brutality.
If anyone can glean some moral guidance, or some comfort, from it, then good luck to them. As long as they don’t hurt other people, then that’s fine.
The WTBTS are far, far from fine. They have used an already unreliable book to back their cult agenda.
We are all united here to help those unfortunate people who are held in their grip.
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
Reply
 

 Ted says:

 April 6, 2015 at 1:25 pm

Love is the Laws fulfilment, it supersedes any other Bible
 command, including the “Surmised” law on blood transfusion.
Love does not work “Evil” to ones neighbour. Rom, 13/ 8-10.
Reply
 

 bw says:

 April 8, 2015 at 5:20 am

So sad that yet another human life has ended and many others will suffer when a possible medical solution may have sustained her mortal life, my sorrow goes out to all the family and friends.
When is this religious organisation going to be made to stand up and be held accountable for all the family’s and live’s it ruins.
I am a 40+ year old 3rd generation that was brought up in that organisation, I know nothing else than the teaching’s and lifestyle expectancy that this group of people as a whole expect of you. But please remember there is still some sort of life after leaving the organisation, I still to do this day (25+ years on) can not bring myself to say or write the name of this organisation as it has caused me so much pain and emotional turmoil, it has split my family and friends apart, it has caused the direct death of my own mother due to her belief structure, it has landed family members being required to be detained for there own safety, due to there emotional state of mind.
 Seriously this whole organisation including ALL members must be held accountable for what they forcefully bring upon others, if I could have my day in court and stand as witness to the mental and physical abuse I alone suffered due to this organisation’s teachings then no judge in the world should let them get away with it for one more day.
I must stress I left associating with these group of people at around aged around 14 and to this day 25+ years on I still have mental torture from the unsolicited damage it inflicted upon me from birth. A
14 year sentence that I know now will last my lifetime.
Yes I know so many more people have had it much worse off than myself, and that is why I have so much pity for the millions of unsuspecting or people that will be brought up into that organisation, but this is surely something, an actual organisation, a company that can be held accountable for its direct actions that has affected so many peoples lives, surely they must be held accountable.
If its proof they need, “here I am, SEND ME, SEND ME”
Reply
 

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← Jehovah’s Witness New Orleans airport machete attacker dies
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Witnesses on Instagram respond to images of tragic JW mother who died refusing blood
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Posted on March 23, 2015

Michelle, who would die refusing blood after giving birth, is pictured at her baby shower
Michelle, who would die refusing blood after giving birth, is pictured at her baby shower

Since a doctrinal decision reached at Watchtower headquarters some time in 1945, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been prohibited from receiving various medical treatments involving blood.
This has resulted in untold numbers of Witnesses over many decades (including children) dying out of what amounts to little more than a token act of loyalty or, some would say, martyrdom.
Not only does the Bible long predate the use of blood transfusions as medical treatments, but even if early Christians could have known about blood transfusions these would likely have been deemed permissible under the Jewish rabbinic tradition of pikuach nefesh, whereby the preservation of life surmounted all other considerations.
Though all needless deaths are saddening, few stories better capture the madness and tragedy of Watchtower’s blood stance than that of a JW mother called Michelle, whose death due to blood-loss while giving birth has been enshrined on an Instagram page.
A friend of Michelle posted a video/photo montage to the “jw_inspirational” handle of Instagram showing a video of her baby shower (which the friend claims to have hosted) set to music, along with pictures of the newborn baby girl – Emma Marie.


In a comment posted to the video, the friend describes the tragedy that unfolded at Emma Marie’s birth:

“Well, while delivering Emma; Michelle lost a lot of blood. So much so that she needed a blood transfusion. Michelle refused. Even after having a tube inserted in her and not being able to speak… She signed NO BLOOD. Our dear sister despite finally having the baby she’s wanted for such a long time remained loyal to the end.”
michelle2

The senseless loss of life of a young 28-year-old woman, whose newborn daughter begins her existence deprived of her mother on purely religious grounds, was predictably greeted with gushing praise and expressions of validation by Jehovah’s Witnesses viewing the thread.
comments1bcomments2b
In case you missed them, here are some of the comments in response to the video…

“Thoughts and prayers go out #seeyouin paradise we will see our loved ones again.”
“I just thought her story was amazing and she was so faithful and loyal. She was so encouraging. Like the brother said in her talk she will continue to move people and look… Just being posted on here she has!!”
“What an awesome organization to be a part of.”
“I love JEHOVAHs organization so much! It’s so amazing that everyone is sharing love to the family and some are even sharing their personal stories. It feels like a bunch of friends talking and getting to know each other. This is amazing!”
“It will soon be over! We have eternity to spend with family and friends.”
“Truly a sad story but faith strengthening. Thank you for sharing.”
“I will meet her in paradise, and she will meet the baby girl.”
As a former Witness, it is shocking to think I would once have either tried excusing or endorsing such mindless comments, or even offered similar sentiments myself. If the coercion in Watchtower literature is potent enough to allow a mother to excuse herself from her baby daughter’s life out of misplaced feelings of loyalty, it is certainly strong enough to make an otherwise intelligent person try to rationalize such a senseless loss of precious human life and put a positive spin on it.
I can only hope that little Emma Marie doesn’t grow up to blame herself, or her mother, for what has happened. Blame for this outrage lies squarely on the shoulders of a group of deluded, cloistered men in Brooklyn who have the power to save lives right now by lifting the needless ban on blood, but refuse to.
If nothing else, any right-minded person can plainly see that claims to moral superiority by Watchtower or its supporters are laughable at best. As far as “Jehovah’s organization” and its Governing Body are concerned, lives are expendable when it comes to showing the world how different they are. And babies can grow up without mothers, or die abstaining from life-saving medical treatment themselves, if it means more precious human life being offered up on Watchtower’s gruesome altar of obedience.
One day enlightened future generations will look back on atrocities such as this, and wonder how on earth cult groups could claim lives so cheaply right under the noses of the civilized world well into the 21st Century. As far as I’m concerned, the day when we can start looking back on these outrages cannot come soon enough.

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Further reading…
◾Friendly Atheist article on Michelle tragedy
◾JWfacts article on blood transfusions
◾JWsurvey articles on blood


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← Jehovah’s Witness New Orleans airport machete attacker dies
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118 Responses to Witnesses on Instagram respond to images of tragic JW mother who died refusing blood

← Older Comments

 rob says:

 March 24, 2015 at 1:18 pm

I remember someone describing the blood fraction nonsense as telling someone that they could eat the toppings on a pizza but not the whole pizza.
As time passes and people come to their own “new light” they will realize that this religion is nothing but a house of cards whose foundation is built upon the sand.
Reply
 

 Chuck Turner says:

 March 24, 2015 at 1:33 pm

The same fundamentalist response from the “loyal” Witnesses as the parents of “Jihadists” that have given their life in suicide bombings. I fail to see any difference.
Reply
 

 Faded says:

 March 24, 2015 at 4:19 pm

This is so sad. Standing on the outside looking in now, it’s more disturbing than ever. I am so sad for that young mother and the husband and baby she left behind.
Reply
 

 D says:

 March 24, 2015 at 8:26 pm

The Jehovah’s Witless murdered this poor woman.
 Simple as that.
Reply
 

 ScotWm says:

 March 24, 2015 at 8:52 pm

From what I have heard, blood recovery methods used during medical procedures have been a matter of conscience for Jehovah’s Witnesses for at least ten years. However, I can only assume that the blood lost by a JW mother called Michelle was probably contaminated by other bodily fluids. This would have ruled out blood recovery even if her extremely-sensitive “bible-trained” conscience would have allowed the procedure.
There are two possible personal consequences to Michelle’s refusal of a life-saving blood transfusion. If Watchtower blood doctrine is correct, her reward for exhibiting unswerving faith will assure her resurrection on a paradise Earth. If Watchtower blood doctrine is incorrect, she has committed suicide and her resurrection prospect is not so certain.
In any event, Michelle has left her newborn daughter, Emma Marie, without a mother. I am assuming that she had a husband whom she also left behind to raise her daughter alone. This is a very sad situation all around.
Unfortunately, this Watchtower blood doctrine is carved in stone. After all of the deaths associated with the refusal of Watchtower believers to accept blood transfusions, the doctrine cannot be declared obsolete.
Reply
 
 Steve McRoberts says:

 March 25, 2015 at 5:12 am

Except that the resurrected being won’t be Michelle, but rather a new being with false memories of having been Michelle. http://smmcroberts.net/blog/you-wont-be-resurrected/
 And she won’t be a wife to her husband anymore (as the resurrected ones are not to be reunited as husband and wife according to the WT.) And Emma Marie will be a grown woman by then, having grown up without her mother.
 Other than that it was a great choice to have made! {sarcasm}
Reply
 
 scodey says:

 March 25, 2015 at 12:45 pm

That’s an interesting perspective, but it’s important to remember:
(1) that (assuming the materialist perspective) ‘you’ are an amalgam of cells that are constantly being replaced. ‘You’ are not the same at the end of the day as ‘you’ are at the beginning.
(2) That OT Jews/Israelites and first century Christians were annihilationists — believing that when the body dies, it truly ceases to exist. It’s clear that this was the majority Jewish opinion from verses like John 11:24.
In fact, this second point is the *whole* reason that Christianity gained the traction it did. There were a number of ‘messiahs’ that came to prominence in and around the first century, each promising to liberate the Jews from under the yoke of the Roman oppressor. All of these men are effectively forgotten. Strangely, it was the peace loving dude who had no (immediate) political ambitions that ends up being the singular most important person in history. Why? Because people were convinced that they were able to eat and talk to a man that everyone was sure was dead. Jesus was a largely unremarkable person that would have probably been completely forgotten were it not for the fact that people would testify on pain of death that they had seen him rise from the dead. If there were any single doctrine at the center of christian belief (outside of say, the existence of a creator god), it would have to the the resurrection (see Paul’s remarks at 1 Cor 15:12-14).
Reply
 
 Steve McRoberts says:

 March 27, 2015 at 7:58 am

Your first point is a fascinating one, Scodey. But I don’t think we’re going to solve the age-old philosophical problem of self-identity here today.
I will just say that brain cells in general are not replaced. We stop producing new ones at about age two, and thereafter only new cells form in one part of the hippocampus: http://www.brainfacts.org/about-neuroscience/ask-an-expert/articles/2012/are-you-born-with-all-your-brain-cells-or-do-you-grow-new-ones
This fact gives us a consistency from day-to-day, and I think it’s what gives us our sense of identity and personal history.
If we had the technology to take a mind-scan and store all of your memories into an android, the android might “think” that it is you. But you would look at the android and know better. You wouldn’t look at it and say, “Okay, I can let this body of mine die now, because I’ll go on living in the android.” You wouldn’t say this because your consciousness would still be encased in your particular brain and body.
That’s why I say that the Watchtower’s version of “resurrection” is not the bringing back to life of the individual that died. It does absolutely nothing for the deceased (no more than Disneyland’s animatronic Abraham Lincoln has restored consciousness to that dead president.) At best it gives the deceased’s loved ones a replicant (though no longer anyone’s spouse.)
Reply
 
 

 Peggy says:

 March 30, 2015 at 9:20 am

@Steve,
 I just read your reasoning on the jw resurrection. I am in complete agreement. I have been thinking this for years. Finally you articulated my thoughts better than I did. Thank you. You have an excellent way of thinking.
Reply
 
 
 

 ScotWm says:

 March 24, 2015 at 9:13 pm

As with any medical procedure, there are risks associated with blood transfusions. Unless things have changed, blood recycling is still a matter of conscience for Watchtower adherents. On the other hand, those of us who are not under the spell of Watchtower doctrines may also benefit from the Hemosep filtering machine:
UK ‘blood recycling’ breakthrough will let Jehovah’s Witnesses have major surgery.
Scientist created machine that recycles blood lost in operations.
Will allow Jehovah’s Witnesses to have major surgery as rules out need for blood transfusions which their faith forbids.
Gadget could save NHS millions by reducing demand for donated blood.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2614169/UK-blood-recycling-breakthrough-let-Jehovahs-Witnesses-major-surgery.html
Reply
 
 Steve McRoberts says:

 March 25, 2015 at 5:23 am

This is indeed a beneficial medical breakthrough. But it doesn’t lessen the need for blood donations by all of us who can donate. Blood recycling is great for planned surgery in hospitals where the technology is available. But there are still many situations where donated blood is needed (e.g. in emergency rooms where people come in having already lost a lot of blood; or in this case where — as you point out — the blood was likely contaminated.)
 I appreciate your comment, ScotWm, and I don’t disagree with it. I just don’t want anyone getting the idea that blood donations are no longer desperately needed. 97% of us will need blood at some point in our lives: only 3% of eligible donors currently donate blood. The need for blood continues to outweigh the supply today (platelets too.)
Reply
 
 Gareth says:

 March 25, 2015 at 5:57 am

“97% of us will need blood”, how is this calculated? This seems to imply that 97% of JWs would die due to refusing blood? (Depending on how needy ‘need’ is, haha). But this is obviously not true.
Reply
 
 Steve McRoberts says:

 March 25, 2015 at 6:50 am

My figures were old, but the exact percent is evidently debatable. According to Hofstra University it is 95% of Americans: http://www.hofstra.edu/StudentAffairs/blood/blood_whyshouldi.html
UNC Healthcare gives the range as between 41%-71%, and relates how the figure was obtained. It also states that the “90% or more” figure is overestimated:
http://news.unchealthcare.org/news/2006/Aug/transfusion
Of course, “needing” blood doesn’t necessarily mean that you’d die without it in every case.
Newer figures also state that rather than 3% donating, it is “less than 10%.”
So, I would like to revise my previous statement to: “At least 40% of Americans will need blood at some point in their lives, while less than 10% donate blood.”
It’s less extreme, but still shows a vital need for those of us who can to roll up our sleeves and donate.
Reply
 
 Gareth says:

 March 25, 2015 at 3:44 pm

Thanks for the update.

 
 

 Chuck Turner says:

 March 25, 2015 at 12:53 pm

Last time I checked, 100% of humans need blood. One of the reasons they are (dead) wrong on the subject.
Reply
 
 
 

 Chuck Turner says:

 March 25, 2015 at 12:40 pm

I really think they would rather have one die, though. That way they get the publicity and propaganda.
Reply
 
 

 Mike says:

 March 24, 2015 at 9:39 pm

Rest in peace young lady. Religions are a dangerous thing.
Side note: how come baby showers are not banned? Aren’t they just a form of pre-birth birthday party? And give unduly attention to person, not Jehovah? Baby showers do not exist in my country but I have seen on TV about them in USA. Seriously surprised why they have not been publicly banned…
Reply
 
 Charles Costante says:

 March 25, 2015 at 1:11 am

Baby showers haven’t been banned because they probably haven’t thought about it, Mike (like all their theology). Give them some time and new light will reveal that these celebrations also have pagan roots, i.e. one of the Governing Body will be surfing the Net and accidentally see your post and think, “Mmmmm…….”.
Jehovah, I think not!
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 March 25, 2015 at 5:49 am

The May 1, 1969 Watchtower page 285 talked about wedding showers and they are to “shower” the person with gifts. The article said that when gifts are displayed and opened for all to see, the best thing to do is not say who gave the gift even though the card may have the person’s name on it. That is to not embarrass those who either couldn’t afford a gift or the gift may have been more modest than the more expensive gifts.
Reply
 
 Chuck Turner says:

 March 25, 2015 at 12:42 pm

…as in “eating a fertilized egg on Friday after sundown” and making sure to “wash up to one’s elbows” to be ceremonially clean. :)
Reply
 
 
 
 

 rikos says:

 March 25, 2015 at 2:15 pm

I do believe these 7 man deserving to hang them upside down under the Brooklyn bridge together with their sub leaders,because they make themselves Gods. why these unmoral man don’t live alone people? and stop putting heavy loads on their shoulders? cheating and lie to them? I start to believe their is Satan, and I believe he is using this organization to control people.
Reply
 

 rikos says:

 March 25, 2015 at 2:22 pm

I do believe these 7 man deserving to hang them upside down under the Brooklyn bridge together with their sub leaders,because they make themselves Gods. why these un man don’t live alone people? and stop putting heavy loads on their shoulders? cheating and lie to them? I start to believe their is Satan, and I believe he is using this organization to control people.
Reply
 

 Innocent Son says:

 March 25, 2015 at 2:34 pm

My heart goes out to this poor child left motherless by the edicts of 7 older men, who have the blood ban all wrong….! What is also shocking is the thread with all the deluded misguided comments by Org. Automons who support her decision to kill herself, which is what she did….! Thank God I woke up and got out of this dangerous, destructive Cult…!
Reply
 

 Bob says:

 March 25, 2015 at 10:18 pm

I think in the beginning of the bible. The blood being poured out was not just a sacrifice, but a reminder of who and where life originated from. This life had been taken and had passed. More of a respect and honor issue because, there is no way to get all the blood out of meat unless you use a centerfuge or something. I think it was only a means to remind where life originated from. I’m not a creationist by any means, nor agnostic, nor do I agree with many Evolution theories. I will say this, I have no problem storing my own blood before a major medical issue. It is mine and I will do as I please. I will however not take blood, probably never, not even if it becomes a “conscience matter”. Nor an organ, not with all the meds, if it’s my time well I’ll see when I see ya!
Reply
 
 congrats!! says:

 March 26, 2015 at 12:21 am

XD “Ill see ya when I see ya!” classic…and I must say I agree 100% with everything you shared…100%.
Reply
 
 

 congrats!! says:

 March 26, 2015 at 12:22 am

its almost unheard of nowadays for a mother to die due to blood loss giving birth…it sounds even silly to hear it o_o. usually if they die its because they were unsavable, even if they took blood…
so my thoughts are, what if she had taken blood, and still died…would she be getting the exonerations and praise shes getting now, or the complete opposite :/? *sigh
well im sure the ninnies at the top of the jw pyramid are pleased either way -_-
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 March 26, 2015 at 3:24 am

There are many instances when whole blood or platelets or another “part” of blood is necessary to save the life of a person. When there is major blood loss, a blood expander will not supply the oxygen needed to the cells.
Reply
 

 Shanti says:

 March 26, 2015 at 3:38 am

JW women were found in one study to be at 44 times greater risk of dying in childbirth due to hemorrhage compared to the general population. Here is a link to the study:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/11641673/
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 March 26, 2015 at 5:35 am

Shanti, I ran the figures from that study and they are figuring from live births and not the women who died and if you go by the women who died who were Jehovah’s Witnesses, the actual figure would be 602 women who die out of 100,000 live births who were Jehovah’s Witnesses as compared to 12 women who die from live births who weren’t Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Reply
 
 Steve McRoberts says:

 March 26, 2015 at 10:05 am

Just to clarify what anonymous is saying: when you factor in that some of the women in the study gave birth more than once during the study:
During childbirth, compared to a non-JW woman, a JW woman runs a risk of dying:
44 times greater for any particular delivery.
50 times greater over all deliveries.
So, due to the Watchtower’s ban on blood transfusions, if you’re a JW woman you have a 50 times greater chance of dying during childbirth over the course of your life!
With those odds you’d better be damn sure that the WT is right this [one and only] time on its medical ban!
Reply
 
 Sheree says:

 March 28, 2015 at 9:54 pm

Women have less value so as if the GB would care that they are more likely to die in childbirth. They have no respect for life, especially that of women and babies.

 
 
 
 
 

 anonymous says:

 March 26, 2015 at 4:13 pm

The scripture that Watchtower uses to insist that Christians can’t take blood is Acts. 15:29, where the apostles and older men in Jerusalem came to the decision for new gentile Christians to stay away from blood, things strangled, fornication and foods sacrificed to idols.
That very same injunction is again issued at Acts 21:25 to new gentile converts.
What the Society leaves out when it comes to the other 3 things, i.e. animals strangled, fornication and foods sacrificed to idols is the scriptures at 1 Cor. 8:1-8 where Paul said it was okay to eat foods sacrificed to idols (not to do it though if the eating of foods sacrificed to idols would stumble a person of weak faith).
Isn’t it funny that when it came to eating foods sacrificed to idols, Paul made that decision on his own that it was his decision that Christians didn’t have to listen to the so-called “Governing Body” in Jerusalem?
Witnesses are giving up their lives every day because of that one scripture at Acts 15:29 but do they realize that it was just as important for the Christians to stay away from foods sacrificed to idols????? If a person buys some meat, are there elders standing over them to make sure that the meat wasn’t sacrificed to idols???? Do the elders ever ask the people in the congregation to make sure that they don’t eat foods sacrificed to idols???
What about the fact that Paul went directly against what the so-called Governing Body decided in his letter to the Corinthians?
Should a person give up his life for what the Apostle Paul wrote in Act. 15:29 when he contradicted his own words at 1 Cor. 8:1-8????
Reply
 
 Steve McRoberts says:

 March 27, 2015 at 7:16 am

You’re right, anonymous: this is one of the best Scriptures to debunk the Watchtower’s erroneous blood policy.
But, because it is so important, I’m going to nit-pick a little here.
Paul didn’t write Acts. The injunction against blood etc., in chapter 15 was voiced by James (who unabashedly referred to it as “my decision”) and then was “unanimously adopted” by the “apostles and elders” (no mention of Paul’s reaction is given here.) In fact, Paul was not even given the “privilege” of conveying this message: two men were sent to go with him to do this (Judas and Silas.)
The passage in chapter 21 is once again “James and the elders” reminding Paul of their decision because they have heard rumors of him “teaching an apostasy from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or to follow the customary practices.” Though, of course, this wasn’t a false rumor: it describes exactly what Paul thought (that Christ’s sacrifice released them from the Law). In spite of that, Paul then went ahead and engaged in a Mosaic cleansing ceremony, intending to follow it up with a sacrificial offering — even though he wrote that such adherence to the Law made Christ’s sacrifice null and void!
The point is: Paul went along with whatever would accomplish his goal. “To Jews he became as a Jew…” It wasn’t that he thought ceremonial cleansings, sacrifices, circumcisions, or any other laws were incumbent upon Christians. He engaged in these things and gave lip-service to them in order to mollify the Judaizers: the Christians who thought the Law was still in effect.
Even the decision of James is clearly shown in Acts 15 to have been a reaction to the Judaizers: “Now some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers: ‘Unless you get circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.'” (Acts 15:1)
Likewise, after the decision is stated, the reason for it is given: “For from ancient times Moses has had those who preach him in city after city, because he is read aloud in the synagogues on every sabbath.” (Acts 15:21) Note the reason behind the decision: it is simply for the sake of appearances. The decision was not meant to be taken as commandments handed down by James et al., to be obeyed by all Christians for all time. It was a recommendation to prevent new Christians from offending the Jews given the circumstances in that particular time and place in history (i.e. the presence of Judaizers.)
So, the passage in 1 Corinthians 8:4-8 does not contradict the passages in Acts: it is in complete harmony with them. The decision was never a commandment regarding dietary rules for Christians. Paul would be no worse off if he ate then if he didn’t eat (he specifically mentions food sacrificed to idols, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that the same principle applies to eating blood.)
The whole Watchtower blood doctrine rests on the assumption that the decision in Acts was a Christian commandment, even though the Bible shows (in 1 Corinthians) that it certainly was not, and even though the Bible says there is only one supreme commandment for Christians, and that it supersedes all others:
Do not owe anything to anyone except to love one another; for whoever loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law. For the law code, “You must not commit adultery, you must not murder, you must not steal, you must not covet,” and whatever other commandment there is, is summed up in this saying: “You must love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does not work evil to one’s neighbor; therefore, love is the law’s fulfillment.
–Romans 13:8-10 (NWT)
For the entire Law has been fulfilled in one commandment, namely: “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”
 –Galatians 5:14 (NWT)
Withholding life-saving medical care, far from following a biblical commandment, actually breaks the Bible’s real commandment to love one another.
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 March 27, 2015 at 10:55 am

Hi Steve. Your comment was very interesting. I have been doing a lot of research on the books of Paul and have come to the conclusion that the Apostle Paul might not have even been a real apostle but an imposter.
The reason I say this is because in the book of Acts, when Paul is asked about his conversion, he has 3 separate renditions of how it happened, i.e. Acts 9:7, Acts 22: 7, 9 and Acts 26:14 and no evidence of any other witnesses.
Also, like you said, he became to people whatever it took to convince them, even if he had to pretend to be something he wasn’t. At Romans 3:7 he said “For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my “lie” into his glory, why yet am I also judged a sinner?”
In 1 Cor. chapter 9, it seems that he was saying that preachers should be paid for their preaching work vs. 14 “In this way, too, the Lord ordained for those proclaiming ordained for those proclaiming the good news to live by means of the good news.”
In 2nd Cor. 12: 16,17, it seems that he was accused of using “trickery and being crafty”. In vs. 14 he says he didn’t come for their possessions but for them. Why would he say he didn’t come for their possessions? In that whole chapter, it seems that he was defending himself against trying to trick them out of their possessions.
In the Acts of the Apostles, it says that when they became believers that they were all selling their properties and giving to the church and so when Ananias and Sapphira fell dead because they didn’t turn over all their money for a field they had sold, I am wondering why did they do that? Maybe all those people were compelled to sell all their stuff and give to the church. Why lie about it? That account never made any sense to me except to spread the idea that if you don’t give all your possessions to the church that God was going to strike you down dead like Ananias and Sapphira.
But if you think that the only one who got those tablets for the Mormon church was Joseph Smith and nobody else saw those supposed scrolls, who is to prove or disprove that Saul of Tarsus actually saw Jesus Christ resurrected just as what supposedly happened with Joseph and the Mormon Church? He is the only one who supposedly Jesus appeared to and were there any other witnesses? No. He wrote 51% of the Greek Scriptures and people take what he says as just as important as what Jesus Christ supposedly said.
When you read about Paul, when he was in Jerusalem, he never met with the supposed Governing Body except to be reproved by him as you mentioned is at the account in Acts Chapter 21. When he was being chased and threatened in Jerusalem with his life, where were the other apostles and older men in Jerusalem? They didn’t seem to be in any danger. In the 21st chapter of Acts when Paul had met with the older men and Apostles, they told him he had to go through a ceremonial cleaning and at the end of that a great uproar was in Jerusalem and Paul was beaten almost to death and it was then that he was eventually taken to Caesarea to stand trial for his life.
So, again, why just Paul being beaten like that? Where are the other apostles and older men coming to his defense if he was really an apostle of Jesus? This all happened in Jerusalem where the older men and Apostles were.
Paul was all about having faith in Jesus’ resurrection where the other apostles were faith without works was dead. With Paul it was all about just having faith and that was enough.
The other apostles’ teachings and Paul’s teachings were quite different from each other.
I would have to know for sure if the Apostle Paul was a real apostle of Jesus Christ if I was going to hand over my life on account of what he preached in the Bible.
Just because a bunch of men a long time ago said the whole Bible was inspired of God, doesn’t make it inspired of God to me. Not where I’d die for it anyway.
Reply
 
 Donald Cleveland says:

 April 4, 2015 at 5:34 pm

According to the account in Acts, Ananias and Sapphira did not die because they held back some of the profits from the land sale. They died because they lied about giving it all, when speaking to Peter. Peter even explained, that the money was theirs to do with as they pleased, so there was no need to lie. They lied to build themselves up before the others, all the while holding back some for themselves.
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 April 4, 2015 at 7:02 pm

Donald, do you feel that when people lie to God, then they should be struck dead like Ananias and Sapphira? If that applies to Ananias and Sapphira, then surely there shouldn’t be any double standards when it comes to lying from the Society either, should it? For instance, when Witnesses give money to the Society for the World Wide work, it shouldn’t be going to paying off lawsuits for failing to protect the kids against pedophiles and for the buying of more and more real estate?
The Society shouldn’t be lying when it comes to the real history of the Society and they shouldn’t lie when they quote sources and they shouldn’t lie when they misquote scriptures and even rewrite the Bible to make it say something it never said. They shouldn’t lie when they do shun for taking your name off the roles like they refuse to admit to on jw.org.
Ananias and Sapphira aren’t alive to tell their side of the story are they? I am not so sure there aren’t 2 sides to that pancake.

 
 
 
 

 Innocent Son says:

 March 27, 2015 at 4:20 pm

Thank you for your comments anonymous, I sincerely hope that they help others like myself, escape from this merciless organisation, after examining the scriptures carefully…..!
Reply
 
 

 Steve McRoberts says:

 March 27, 2015 at 11:32 am

I agree 100%. According to the Bible Paul never met Jesus, and was merely a self-appointed “apostle.” Yet Paul is the real inventor of the Christianity we have today. Why do people listen to him when his own conversion story is full of holes?
http://smmcroberts.net/blog/did-paul-invent-christianity/
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 March 27, 2015 at 5:24 pm

That’s right Steve, Saul or Paul lived at the same time as did Jesus and Jesus never met Saul/Paul and Paul only quoted what Jesus said at only one place in his letters and no description of any of Jesus’ supposed miracles. There’s a lot of holes in the apostleship of Paul and yet that is what most “Christian” churches follow, even more so then Jesus teachings and I would say that Jehovah’s Witnesses are among those religions.
Some of the videos I have seen, suggest that Paul started the “Universal” “Catholic” church and so any religion that follows the teachings of Paul are actually all “Catholic”.
Reply
 
 

 Ted says:

 March 28, 2015 at 6:46 pm

Michele aged just 28, a brave trusting lady. Presumably her
 husband is young too. With no sign of the promised paradise,
 and human nature being what it is , it is natural that he’ll feel
 the need of companionship, and perhaps a surrogate mother
 for the little girl eventually.
So if the extremely improbable were to materialise and a paradise
 arrived along with resurrections, I can imagine a lot of torn feelings.
 The husband with feelings for both women, the little girl now bonded
 with new mother, Michelle memories still fresh of her former life,
 now no longer an intimate part of the family, and perhaps the new wife
 wondering where the husbands true feelings lie.
Of course it’s all supposition. There’s not one single reason to have
 confidence in any of WTS, promises. It may sound hard, but the
 reality is that Michelle like so many others has thrown her young
 life away for nothing, under cult duress. It makes me angry and
 so sad.
 ,
Reply
 
 Innocent Son says:

 March 29, 2015 at 1:23 pm

I agree with your comments Ted, this young woman’s life was wasted…! I remember a few years ago,a sister in our congregation died in similar circumstances, the husband remarried, but the elders all applauded her for doing the ” right thing ” I felt so sorry for the children she left behind, none of whom are now ” in the truth ” How many more lives will be wasted because of the blood ban? Shalom
Reply
 
 

 anonymous says:

 March 29, 2015 at 3:19 am

@Sheree, you hit nail right on the head!!!
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 March 29, 2015 at 8:47 am

@Ted . Your Analysis of how the Theory of Paradise
 Will or will not work in practise is good to think through the consequences logically like you have done !! & as you say it is so sad that this sisters lost life will HURT & TRAUMATISE so many close family members when the Reality sets in & being seen as a HERO?? For JEHOVAH has worn off in the days,weeks& years to come as the Grind & daily mundane life carries on!!
 The Questions will come ??? Was it really JEHOVAHs Will or JUST 7 Yankee Rich Men in BROOKLYN changing Doctrine back& forth when the EVIDENCE??? Shows !!
Reply
 
 

 Ted says:

 March 30, 2015 at 10:30 am

@ Steve McRoberts
 @ Scodey
 Assuming an earthly physical resurrection, will they be the same
 people as before, or just copies?
My own un-educated thoughts are. We all came into existence
 by procreation, Fathers sperm, Mothers egg, that process will
 never be repeated, so any recreation ( Resurrection) will require
 an entirely different procedure.- Direct creation, as in Adam’s
 case, thereby making merely “Copies” of former selves.
It would be possible if you were resurrected, to visit your own
 grave and read your own headstone. So which would be the
 real you? The one on top, or the one below?
Reply
 

 Ocma says:

 March 30, 2015 at 10:07 pm

Wonder if any of them said “well, she got an easy way into paradise”. This is what I have had said to me after my mum’s recent passing. (My mum had a heart attack and there was nothing ‘easy’ about it.)
Reply
 

 anonymous says:

 March 31, 2015 at 2:45 am

Ocma, another saying I hear is they took the “underground” route into the paradise.
Reply
 

 Steve McRoberts says:

 March 31, 2015 at 6:22 am

It is the Jehovah’s Witness Lottery: some must die each year in sacrifice to “the Truth” because it’s just the way it is. No “reason” is required: just group-think and tradition:
http://www.jehovahswitnessblog.com/cult/the-jehovahs-witness-lottery/
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 March 31, 2015 at 10:15 am

Steve, I watched “The Lottery” and you are absolutely right about the movie and relating it to Jehovah’s Witnesses and their calloused view of those who die due to the Watchtower’s ban on blood transfusions. What is so chilling about the Witnesses is how cold and unfeeling they are when one of their own dies to the Watchtower god, the Organization.
Reply
 
 

 Ted says:

 April 1, 2015 at 6:33 am

A blood sacrifice to ward off the anger of an invented tribal
 god. Stupendous ignorance from a time when people believed
 the earth was flat and the sun moved around the earth Josh,10/13
The JW, blood. doctrine though, is a cynical tactic, purposely
 intended to draw hostility and publicity. Making the faithful
 believe they are being persecuted for true Christianity.
This along with other manufactured and burdensome rules–.
No birthdays, ban on many religious and national celebrations,
 as well as a 13 year ban on transplants , ( Now repealed, and
 admitted to have no scriptural backing W,T, 15/3/1980, p,31.)
So those who suffered or died for want of an organ transplant
 did so, not for obeying God, but only self appointed prophets,
 of whom there have been many.
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 April 2, 2015 at 3:02 am

Ted, I could not agree more with your comment.
There is one tiny little sentence in the Insight book volume 2 on page 388 under False Messiahs, that totally destroys the Christian faith and this is it:
“After Jesus’ death, the Jews followed many false Messiahs, as Jesus had foretold. (Mt. 24:5)”
Why this sentence destroys the Christian faith is that the whole Christian faith depends on the death and resurrection of a man called Jesus in the first century around 33 C.E. If Jesus didn’t perform the many miracles related in the Bible and he wasn’t resurrected, the whole religion fails.
Even though Josephus mentions a Jesus who was a wise teacher who was crucified by Pilate and talks about James who was the brother of Jesus, that doesn’t corroborate any of the gospel accounts of Jesus.
Tacitus also referred to Christ’s execution by Pontius Pilate and the existence of early Christians in Rome in his final work, written ca. AD 116), book 15 chapter 44.
So, scholars don’t dispute there was a man named Jesus in the first century who was executed. Scholars also don’t dispute John the Baptist and his execution so these men existed. But where is the evidence of miracles and people being raised from the dead?
Just as the Reasoning book said, there were many people claiming to be Christ at the time of Jesus but what makes this one sentence the most important sentence in all of Watchtower literature is that it said it was “after Jesus’ death” that all these false messiahs appeared and they had many followers.
Think about it. If the Jesus of the 4 gospels had really existed and had raised people from the dead and had performed all these miracles and had walked on water and people had actually seen him raised into the heavens at his death in 33 C.E., why would there have been many more men claiming to be the promised Messiah that they were all waiting for to appear? How could any of these men have gotten followers after this most famous man of all history had died and gone to heaven. In real life, they would have been laughed at if they didn’t perform any miracles like the Jesus of the Bible had really done.
Historians talk about a Jesus that was killed and they talk about a John the Baptist who was killed but nothing about any of Jesus’ miracles. Even the apostle Paul says nothing about any of Jesus miracles or where he was born or anything else. All he ever talked about was Jesus’ resurrection. Paul doesn’t even relate any of the sayings of Jesus Christ. Paul even mentions another Jesus called Justus at Colossians 4:11 so Jesus was evidently a popular name, even then.
So, scholars don’t dispute a man called Jesus who was killed but nothing of his miracles or his resurrection. So, where did the Greek Scriptures and the Christian religion come from, that people are giving up their lives for, over want of a blood transfusion?
Was Jesus’ life and miracles and resurrection a work of fiction?????
Such a shame that people are willing to die for a work of fiction.
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 April 2, 2015 at 5:49 am

At the beginning of the 8th paragraph in my last comment, I should have said, instead of the Reasoning book, I should have said the Insight book vol. 2 instead, under the topic of false messiahs.
Reply
 
 
 

 Ted says:

 April 2, 2015 at 9:00 am

@Anonymous, It’s a sound point that you make. If Jesus
 really did defy the fixed laws of the universe and perform
 miracles, what would be the point of these other guys claiming
 to be the messiah. They wouldn’t be able to emulate jesus and
 provide the crowds with a free bread and fish meal ( As its claimed).
As the saying goes, “Follow that”. they just wouldn’t be able to do it.
 Just like the wt, self proclaimed prophets , “No Credentials” yet
 people throw away their life on their baseless authority.
Jesus probably did exist as a charismatic teacher and oral traditions
 grow about such people. The stories then start to idealise them
 and get better in the telling.
Add to this, the fact that copyists have made their own contributions
 to the Jesus story.— The one tale that everyone knows and loves
 (Even people who never open a Bible ) is “Let the one without sin
 Cast the first stone”.
That didn’t appear in any manuscripts until almost a century after
 Jesus lived and is an obvious addition. For me that’s the best story
 in the gospels. Yet it’s something Jesus never said or did.
 So the question must be asked. What else has been added that
 Jesus never said or did?
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 April 2, 2015 at 9:59 am

Ted, if people read the King James Bible printed by the Watchtower Society, they would see that at 2 Cor. 12:16 that Paul admitted to using trickery or guile on the people to get them.
At Romans 2:16, Romans 16:25 and at 2 Tim. 2:8 in the King James (printed by the Watchtower) Paul said that what he preached was “his gospel”, but how the Watchtower decided to render those passages was as “the good news that he preached” instead and at Galatians 1:12, “his” gospel came to him from a revelation from Jesus Christ. There were no other witnesses to this “revelation” either so that makes his “revelation” no different than the “revelation” by Joseph Smith that the Mormons follow over and above the Bible.
So, since the Watchtower freely admits that false Messiahs appeared “after” Jesus supposedly died and went to heaven and they these false messiahs had lots of followers, how would we know if Paul wasn’t talking about one of these “false” messiahs instead. Jesus was a common name in those days. Since the Bible says at Acts 2:41 that there were about 3,000 people baptized, that also adds to the fact that if the Jesus of the Bible actually existed and did all those miracles and people saw him going to heaven, then how could any followers after him claim to be the Messiah that they were looking for without those people also performing the miracles that Jesus supposedly performed with all those 3,000 people running around Jerusalem claiming to be his followers? If they did perform perform miracles like Jesus did, then where are the accounts of them and their supposed followers and what were their names?
It seems that there was a real Jesus who was a teacher and that he was crucified and the fact that the Jews were looking for a messiah, the story of the real Jesus took on legs of it’s own and then religion used those stories to make them feel that the people inherited sin from Adam (Paul’s teaching) and the only way they could gain salvation was through the death of Jesus Christ.
If the “gospel” according to Paul was a made up story of a revelation from a fictionalized Christ, the Christian religion would fall flat on it’s face and an awful lot of people have given up their lives for nothing.
Reply
 
 

 Ted says:

 April 2, 2015 at 12:56 pm

Anonymous, There does seem to be a scarcity of witnesses
 when these miraculous revelations occur. The fact is that
 people are devoting and “Sacrificing” their lives on the basis
 of what is nothing more than “Hearsay”.
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 April 2, 2015 at 3:10 pm

Ted, there weren’t any witnesses. In a courtroom, hearsay isn’t good enough for a conviction.
When a story is repeated over and over again for hundreds of years, eventually, that story becomes a fact because there is no body alive to disprove it anymore.
What is so sad is that the Bible gives comfort to millions of people and that is fine but what is so tragic is when people give up their lives for it by refusing blood and by disowning their own families and friends by disfellowshipping them with no evidence of authenticity. That is the real tragedy.
If any religious clergy have no confidence of the reliability of the Bible and teach it as the “TRUTH”, they are nothing but greedy and self-serving, even letting children die for their greed. That is why, if the Watchtower is really the one and only “true” religion, then the Watchtower should not be afraid to to answer questions from people who have doubts about the Watchtower and the Bible.
If they aren’t willing to answer those questions, then do they really have faith that Bible is from the creator and perfect, or are they only using it for what they can get out of it for themselves and willing to let babies and young mothers die for their greed????
Reply
 
 

 anonymous says:

 April 3, 2015 at 6:06 am

If anyone watches the video on jwbroadcasting about the 138th Gilead Graduation Program at around hour 2 and 20 minutes, Samuel Herd actually shows how the whole JW religion is a scam.
In the 2013 July study edition of the Watchtower, it said that the Faithful and Discreet slave is now only the Governing Body. The Faithful and discreet slave is supposed to be feeding the sheep the food. Samuel Herd went on (2 hours and 20 minutes into the program) and on about all the reading the Governing Body has to do with all the spiritual food that that keeps coming out from the writing department. In fact Samuel Herd said that the Governing Body send almost all their time reading what comes out of the writing department, even spending all their week-ends reading that stuff that comes out of the writing department.
So, my question is: Who is the one spewing out all the “spiritual food”? Is it the Governing Body (the Faithful and discreet slave) or is it the writing department????
If the ones who are spewing out all the spiritual food are the writing department, then the faithful and discreet slave can’t be the Governing Body, can it, since they don’t write any of it, but just read it?
Doesn’t that make the whole thing a scam, if you put your thinking caps on?
Reply
 

 Ted says:

 April 3, 2015 at 8:15 am

Anonymous, I remember a W,T, study article from about
 81or. 82, that. supports your point. It stated “Why would
 you want to study the Bible alone to find answers to your
 questions? When there are brothers at Bethel, whose
 full time job it is, to do this for you” ?
It didn’t say, the gov,body, or members of the remnant,
 ( the supposed F&D Slave, at that time) who will find answers
 for you, (Which I’m sure they would if it was the case,)
 But no, it was “Ordinary Brothers” who were preparing the
 spiritual food.
This was just before I left, after 25 years, it was just one of
 the many things caused me to be disillusioned with it all.
 It was obvious they wanted “Absolute Control” of information
 that we took in. They were treating us like “Automatons” and
 not reasoning humans.
Since then I have found my own answers to Bible questions.
 And if I needed a blood transfusion I would have one.
 And with a completely clear conscience.
Reply
 

 Excelsior! says:

 April 5, 2015 at 6:49 am

Ted and anonymous,
The pertinent point is that this young lady was unlucky enough to be a member of a cult that claims to be a Christian church.
Many religions rely on texts that are claimed to be inspired by a deity/deities. None of them stand up to any scrutiny.
Anonymous, we can debate forever about St Paul. Nevertheless, his letters were accepted as Canon many centuries ago. Indeed, some very uplifting and positive passages are to be found there.
I am an atheist. I do not believe that the bible is inspired. It is a collection of musings by men, living in a social and historical context. It contains some common sense morality, surrounded by Bronze Age and Iron Age brutality.
If anyone can glean some moral guidance, or some comfort, from it, then good luck to them. As long as they don’t hurt other people, then that’s fine.
The WTBTS are far, far from fine. They have used an already unreliable book to back their cult agenda.
We are all united here to help those unfortunate people who are held in their grip.
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
Reply
 

 Ted says:

 April 6, 2015 at 1:25 pm

Love is the Laws fulfilment, it supersedes any other Bible
 command, including the “Surmised” law on blood transfusion.
Love does not work “Evil” to ones neighbour. Rom, 13/ 8-10.
Reply
 

 bw says:

 April 8, 2015 at 5:20 am

So sad that yet another human life has ended and many others will suffer when a possible medical solution may have sustained her mortal life, my sorrow goes out to all the family and friends.
When is this religious organisation going to be made to stand up and be held accountable for all the family’s and live’s it ruins.
I am a 40+ year old 3rd generation that was brought up in that organisation, I know nothing else than the teaching’s and lifestyle expectancy that this group of people as a whole expect of you. But please remember there is still some sort of life after leaving the organisation, I still to do this day (25+ years on) can not bring myself to say or write the name of this organisation as it has caused me so much pain and emotional turmoil, it has split my family and friends apart, it has caused the direct death of my own mother due to her belief structure, it has landed family members being required to be detained for there own safety, due to there emotional state of mind.
 Seriously this whole organisation including ALL members must be held accountable for what they forcefully bring upon others, if I could have my day in court and stand as witness to the mental and physical abuse I alone suffered due to this organisation’s teachings then no judge in the world should let them get away with it for one more day.
I must stress I left associating with these group of people at around aged around 14 and to this day 25+ years on I still have mental torture from the unsolicited damage it inflicted upon me from birth. A
14 year sentence that I know now will last my lifetime.
Yes I know so many more people have had it much worse off than myself, and that is why I have so much pity for the millions of unsuspecting or people that will be brought up into that organisation, but this is surely something, an actual organisation, a company that can be held accountable for its direct actions that has affected so many peoples lives, surely they must be held accountable.
If its proof they need, “here I am, SEND ME, SEND ME”
Reply
 

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My response to the haters (and why I can’t always shake it off)
avatar
Posted on April 11, 2015

Abuse from fanatical Cedars-bashers like Tony Balchen (pictured) is beginning to take its toll
Abuse from fanatical Cedars-bashers like Tony Balchen (pictured) is beginning to take its toll

I suffer from depression, but even at my darkest moments, when my mind has briefly flirted with notions of suicide, I’ve always thought what a bad choice that would be.
There are just so many different ways a person’s life could be configured. So whenever it feels like there is no way out, I’ve always found myself able to reason that surely there MUST be another way of living that is less soul-destroying – even if the journey to that change of circumstances might be difficult.
Many of you will remember I was attacked towards the end of last year for voicing an opinion on “aggressive activism,” which is my definition for the goading, taunting and confronting of bewildered cult victims – either at places of worship or during their public preaching work – by indignant, vengeful exJWs.
In response to simply offering my opinion on this issue (doing so without naming any names), I was accused of being a stalker, a wife beater, a cult leader, a cyber-bully, and even a potential pedophile – with my baby daughter seemingly at risk from me.
As hurtful as this torrent of abuse has been, what has been even more alarming is the ease with which the ringleaders behind these accusations have managed to recruit a group of sympathizers, and manipulated these into believing that THEY are the true victims in this whole scenario – not me.
Also troubling is the complete lack of restraint and basic human decency from this mob, many of whom claim to be Christian. For example, two particularly vocal critics of mine called Mike and Kim are so passionate about bringing Jehovah’s Witnesses to Christ that they have apparently set up their own state-registered ministry.
These same people have sat in front of a camera to deliver a 90-minute tirade featuring all of the aforementioned accusations, apparently seeing no conflict with their Holy Book’s calls to “suffer evil” and “be peaceable with all men.”
Though I expect proponents of evangelical activism (“leave Watchtower and embrace our, correct version of Christianity”) to take issue with my openness about my agnosticism/atheism, I find it troubling that the likes of Mike and Kim have been so successful in exploiting the aggressive activism controversy as a smokescreen to pursue their agenda of trying to silence my agnostic views – to the point of hoodwinking even non-religious exJWs into flocking to their anti-Cedars banner.
When the backlash reached its zenith just before Christmas, I seriously considered breaking some of the tension with a light-hearted video in which I would sing a parody song aimed at debunking Mike and Kim’s accusation that I am obsessed with their daughter, who previously helped me with my work. I envisioned a video in which I would be seated at a piano, Gary Barlow-style, singing plaintively to a framed picture of her, delivering a mock confession of my love for her, and mourning that it was unrequited.
But thankfully I snapped out of doing this video when I remembered that the person in question has been known to suffer from depression. However funny the video might have been to some, and however successful it might have been at rubbishing the claims that I was fixated with this girl, how would I have felt if she had committed suicide soon after it was circulated? I would have felt utterly devastated, and responsible for her loss.
All about the money?
Since all of that, there has been a fresh wave of attacks. Apparently my already-long list of fabricated/embellished crimes has been added to, with claims that I am profiteering from my work as an activist (to the tune of over $10,000 per year), that I live in a “hole” of a country, that I make my wife work while I do nothing, that I “disfellowship” people who disagree with me, that I am fat and ugly (well, maybe that’s true), and that I have been too ready to defend myself in conversations with trolls on Facebook and YouTube.
I’ve mostly been able to shrug off all this mud-slinging, knowing full well I have nothing to hide.
As far as my finances are concerned – yes I have Google ads on my website, but so does JWfacts. Yes I have a PayPal button for donations, but so does JWstruggle (and a LOT of other exJW websites, none of which seem to be under siege for the heresy of accepting money). And I also plead guilty to having a Patreon button at the end of my videos for people who want to donate to my work – but nobody is forced to click through and pledge donations.
My articles and videos are available to people entirely free of charge, and will remain so.
Any proceeds from Google Ad impressions* ($125 per month), YouTube ad impressions ($110 per month), or regular donations ($63 per month) get ploughed straight into my business to help pay for new equipment and justify the considerable time spent away from my regular job (translating and proofreading) while doing research and producing content. (For example, my 2-hour rebuttal video to the Gerrit Losch JW broadcasting episode took three days to put together, which would be hard to justify if it wasn’t part of my job.)
There have been occasions where large, one-off donations have been made either to help our family (most notably when we had Jessica’s baby shower) or to assist with my activism (i.e. when two large donations were received to help fund our trip to London for the conference on undue influence) – but this money has never come with strings attached, i.e. that I must endorse Christianity and stay silent about my unbelief. My supporters have simply been willing to help out as the need arises, and they have been placed under no compulsion to do so.
Unlike many of the people who are styling me as a rich cult leader sponging off gormless followers and abuse victims, I don’t yet have a fridge, a TV, a sofa or a kitchen. I REALLY AM doing my activism because I want to free people both now and in the future from cult indoctrination. My work is offered freely, and I don’t see why I should be made to turn down acts of kindness when these are extended simply to appease my critics.
The only work I ever intend to charge for will be my book, which I will aim to price as reasonably as possible once it is finally finished and published. No doubt once it goes on sale I will receive a fresh wave of abuse from people who will quickly forget how much they paid to read the words of Steven Hassan, Jim Penton, Carl Olof Jonsson or Ray Franz and paint me as a greedy profiteer all over again – but it is pointless trying to keep such people happy.
Is blocking someone on Facebook “shunning?”
I have also come under fire for my practice of blocking people on Facebook who are either critical of my activism, or abusive towards me, or supportive/defensive of those who are abusive towards me. I fail to understand why I am obliged to use Facebook, not as a tool for keeping in touch with my friends and readers, but as an implement of ritual self-flagellation that I must use to entertain the scathing rants and banal sniping of my mostly-anonymous, mostly-evangelical critics on a daily basis.
Telling me I’m not allowed to block or unfriend people on Facebook who are nasty is like telling me I MUST stand and listen to random people shout at and berate me if I encounter them while out shopping. I am perfectly within my rights to walk away from any such situation and get on with whatever it was I was doing. I don’t HAVE to punish myself with nonsense just for the sake of it.
It’s worth remembering that nobody is forcing anyone to watch my videos OR read my blog articles. If you hate me and my work so much I have excellent news – you don’t HAVE to follow me or read/watch my work. You can do activism the way YOU want to do it, or find an activist whose videos and blogs are more to your liking. Or you can avoid taking in “apostate” material altogether, if that’s your problem.
And no, I am not in the business of “shunning” people who disagree with me. I am merely choosy about who my friends are. I have plenty of people on my Facebook friends list with whom I don’t see eye to eye on a range of issues, but I find they are able to put their points across without evangelizing or resorting to ad hominem insults and accusations, so I am only too happy to keep them in my circle and benefit from their perspective.
And frankly, I find the use of the word “shunning” in describing any situation other than estrangement from family or close friends to be an insult – especially by people who should know the difference between being prevented from commenting on a blog or Facebook page and having all contact with family terminated forever.
Taking its toll
Usually I am able to shrug off all the above silliness, content with the fact that I am doing the best I can for all the right motives, and making some modest headway in waking people up (if my email inbox is to be believed).
But today I was out mingling with some of my friends who live in my village, and something fairly innocuous happened that sent me spiraling into the realization that the level of abuse being directed at me from self-righteous keyboard warriors on the other side of the Atlantic really is starting to take its toll.
I didn’t feel suicidal, but I definitely felt a huge wave of sadness and futility.
I went home and talked to my wife Dijana about what I was feeling, and she told me she was feeling pressured by the situation too. Whenever I am talked about, or our family is talked about, by obsessive lunatics who are more fixated with me than they are with Watchtower, Dijana finds herself worrying and fretting over what effect this will have on me, and whether we are safe from these clearly disturbed individuals (bearing in mind we have already received two menacing cards through the post from an individual in America calling himself/herself “John Smith”).
john-smith-cards
What upsets Dijana most is that, amidst all this hatred and vitriol, she feels forced to put on a brave face for our daughter Jessica, because she is worried that if she lets her sadness show when spending time with our baby this might subconsciously rub off on her, or make her feel that she is somehow not living up to expectations.
Dijana also can’t help but feel enraged when she sees her picture (taken from our translation company website), being shared around on Facebook “hate Cedars” groups, the members of whom then speculate that she is the victim of an oppressive, abusive husband. If she were herself an outspoken activist, or vocal about anything beyond whale conservation, she could perhaps understand all the scrutiny – but she is content to let me get on with my activism and focus on being a mother, and thus finds it all very intrusive.
This conversation with Dijana, and the realization that the fanatical obsessions of a few troubled individuals in America are having a tangible impact on our family has led to my writing this article by way of pleading with any exJWs out there who might have been swayed by my attackers to apply some logic and reason, and show some compassion.
I am not a cult leader. I am not a leader of any sort, and would repudiate any attempts to make me one. I am an ordinary man with a wife and daughter who just happens to be an activist against a cruel cult. And yes, I happen to not be religious.
Of course I have made mistakes, and perhaps gone too far at times when confronting trolls and critics on Facebook and YouTube – but nothing I have said or done has even remotely warranted the tsunami of hatred and vitriol that has been directed against me and my family over the past few months.
A plea for decency
All I ask of my fellow ex cult-members is some basic human decency – the same instincts of solidarity and compassion that made me pull back from making a stupid piano video that I would have almost certainly regretted.
I am not a suicide threat, and my depression is manageable, but I do have a wife and baby daughter – and when you attack me with completely unfounded and specious allegations, you attack them as well. Dijana in particular really does feel the reverberations, to the point of wanting to write to some of the ringleaders herself.
It has long been a notable irony that the majority of opposition to my activism work comes, not from Watchtower or Jehovah’s Witnesses, but from my fellow ex-JWs. I’ve noticed from conversations with activists against other cults that this is not an isolated phenomenon. People who have exited other high-control groups have also been known to turn on each other, and make each other scapegoats for their issues and frustrations.
If it were only me who was taking the heat for having an opinion, and not being afraid to voice it, I think I could handle much of what I’ve been subjected to – content to simply block persistent trolls and fanatics who are hell-bent on character-assassinating me.
But when it starts to affect my family, I do feel a need to draw the line. This abuse has to stop. If you happen to be involved in any way, I implore you to please find something or someone else who is worthy of your frustrations. There are seven men in Brooklyn who export truckloads of pain and misery on a daily basis that I can strongly recommend.

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*An ad impression is when an ad is shown on a page or video. Simply by having the ad appear on the blog page you are reading, or the YouTube video you are watching, I receive a small amount of money from Google, who in turn receive money from the company whose ad was shown.


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← Harmful beliefs – woman and her unborn child perish after she refuses a blood transfusion
Conti appeal: Watchtower’s punitive damages reversed but negligence for lack of field service supervision is affirmed →

183 Responses to My response to the haters (and why I can’t always shake it off)

← Older Comments

 Grace says:

 April 13, 2015 at 8:43 pm

I just want to say that jw.org is here to say, I’m sure of it.
 There will always be die hard followers of the cult. We have needed this site and ones like it to keep helping us & others who are going through their awakening. The WT needs to have someone telling the other side of their propaganda story.
Thank you again to John, his helpers & the commentators on here because I am now in a place where I have no emotional attachment to this religion.
Reply
 
 James Broughton says:

 April 14, 2015 at 6:28 am

Grace, thank you for your comment. Most helpful.
Reply
 

 Innocent Son says:

 April 15, 2015 at 1:44 pm

Glad you found this site Grace and the comments helpful, I am in a similar position myself, I have no fear or place in the Org. after my awakening…..Keep up the good work John, there will always be the doubters and haters, rise above it, you’re doing a great job helping others to break free… Big Respect
Reply
 
 

 Vikki says:

 April 13, 2015 at 11:45 pm

Once you put yourself out in the public and people know details of your private life there will always be criticism against you. It’s the nature of the beast. At the same time the work you are doing does appeal to certain people and these people have been able to make a break from the JW’s.
Reply
 

 theGreenWitness says:

 April 14, 2015 at 3:17 am

I haven’t always agreed with everything you put up Lloyd, but thats the fun world of opinion! Some people just cant manage other peoples opinion beyond their own dim tunnel vision in a normal human manner. I truly believe your intentions are in the right place. Critical thinking is one of the blessings of having a full functioning human brain at our disposal! Also, word of advice from what i’ve heard youtubers say regarding hate comments and trolling; for every 1 hateful comment you read, read 10 positive ones. Its the thing with our brains, we will notice the negative more than the positive, its a survival technique that served us better in the past when negative things usually meant real threats to our life. Stay strong and keep up the good work! :)
Reply
 

 Shanti says:

 April 14, 2015 at 4:22 am

It is our JW training to be prejudice and critical of anything that is different from us. Many of us have to constantly fight it. Many of us do not realize we are still not our own person but our personalities are still being shaped by the brainwashing techniques instilled by the organization. Some people can not grow out of it but just make a lateral move. I do believe your website is for those who want a better life and want to improve their situations. It is immensely beneficial to those who are seeking and need help and direction for climbing out of the JW darkness. And for those who want to understand what happened to them and how they could have been so manipulated. We want to know there are others just like us. Your website is the voice of reason and provides a much needed service. Please know that you are deeply appreciated.
Reply
 

 Melka says:

 April 14, 2015 at 6:05 am

Back when this whole feud started, I liked Mike and Kim, and saw the rebuttal or video regarding Cedars on their channel, and I actually knew nothing about it, but watched it, and listened to their extremely obnoxious over-pronounced re-reading the email, and when you just listened to the words that were written by Cedars, there was absolutely nothing nasty or wrong with it, it was just in the absurd voice that Shyla was using to read it to make it seem like it was mean. I immediately stopped subscribing to their channels and stopped watching their videos, and all these other people started making rebuttal videos, which I didn’t watch, and stopped watching their videos all together. It felt too much like another clique situation. That’s the reason I don’t miss Jehovah’s Witnesses, the gossip, the elitism, the way you can’t say anything honest to anybody, because they simply can’t handle it, and someone with a lot of clout and a gang backing them up can make your life miserable. It’s the mentality of someone born and raised in the cult.
Maybe it’s a conscious decision we all have to make to not act like a middle school clique anymore, because it’s simply not acceptable in the real world. People have to be able to state their opinions and discuss them, it’s the only way to grow and learn from others.
Some people raised like that are still emotionally underdeveloped, which is so sad. It’s really sad they don’t understand fully what the Watchtower has done to them.
When you have a bully in your life, it makes perfect sense to cut those people out of your life because they’re toxic, but the internet and your prominence makes it very hard.
 Nobody would blame you if you stepped back. Your bravery, knowledge, sincerity and honesty have inspired so many people to take up activism and educate themselves, I know the activism would continue.
And the people who visit this website and discuss the articles openly and honestly, I’m sure do so for the same reason that I do, because it’s the only place I feel I can do just that.
We only want the best for you and your family, and I know I’m not alone in my appreciation for you and your family. I’m so sorry it’s at such a cost. When you’re trying to help people who may be severely emotionally scared and damaged (not just Jehovah’s Witnesses), it can be so draining and sometimes dangerous, but you have to know when you’re burnt out or worn out. Take care of yourself and your family. We got you.
Reply
 
 Lola says:

 April 19, 2015 at 5:00 pm

My thoughts exactly! The obnoxious voice was ridiculous and an infantile way to present what was being said. It took away all credibility from Shyla.
Reply
 
 

 James Broughton says:

 April 14, 2015 at 6:24 am

Lloyd, hang on in there. That was the advice given to me by my bishop when I was in full-time ministry in the Anglican church. You have some good friends. I particularly liked Melka’s comment. Yes, I do want to see JWs won for Christ but not at the expense of their integrity. I recommend a book “When a Church becomes a Cult” written by a fellow Anglican Stephen Wookey who shows how easy it is for a mainstream church to become as repressive as a cult and I am not surprised that people have been put off. Please continue with your very helpful ministry.
Reply
 

 Everyday Explorer says:

 April 14, 2015 at 8:42 am

Cedars (Lloyd), your post took courage; I really hope it helped a bit to share your very natural depression about the bullying and threatening you’ve experienced. It’s resolutely human to feel depressed when we’re bullied and threatened.
My spouse and I respect your diligent and compassionate work greatly and do our best to raise awareness about it, and you can see from the comments previously posted here how much you facilitate others to begin their own journey of exploration. But sometimes we need to take time out to connect back with our vital core being — the core that started all this in the first place!
Of course you have the right to block abusive people; I, personally, wouldn’t engage with them any further but I know that can be easier said than done. Of course you have the right not to impoverish yourself because you are an activist; I, for one, look forward to seeing your book published, and expect to pay RRP for it. But I know you know all the arguments around such issues already, really.
Perhaps take a break for a short while — regroup, recover, revive. See how you feel about your personal public involvement after that break. It might just be that you need to carve out more sacrosanct ‘you time’ with yourself, your wife, child, and very close friends).
Whatever you decide, I do hope that book gets completed. And, on a professional level, please do use our email address to contact me re the possibility of placing reviews of your book in the UK media (free, naturally). [More details should you choose to privately email.]
Sending waves of positive, warm vibes to you and Dijana and your child from Everyday Explorer and Everyday Explorer Spouse (yes, we’ve got to find a new name for that one!)
Reply
 

 Boonfleeky says:

 April 14, 2015 at 8:52 am

Hang tough Brotha. Your work is invaluable. You’ve helped folks like me in the process of “waking up” and understanding that one can have a positive, productive life outside this harmful cult.
I’m sorry you have to deal with the ill will but you’re too vital to the cause, don’t let them wear you down.
Reply
 

 Cedars says:

 April 14, 2015 at 10:05 am

I’d like to thank all my readers for the kind words of support and encouragement. Though this episode has been very draining, I am recovering well with Dijana’s support and coaching. I can’t walk away from my activism because it’s too important to me, but I think there is scope to manage myself better – perhaps by giving myself 1 or 2 days off each week where I don’t answer emails or go on Facebook. Whatever solution I arrive at, I really do appreciate the kind sentiments I’ve received, which strengthen my resolve to continue.
Reply
 
 Nay Franz says:

 April 16, 2015 at 7:39 am

Thank you so much for your work that help me a lot awaking. Big love from Canada to you and your little family :)
Reply
 
 

 Louis says:

 April 14, 2015 at 11:35 am

Lloyd and Dijana, I am sorry to hear that you are having to experience such behavior. This is saddening and is a bit unsettling news. Commentor Melka and several others have touched on several of my same sentiments to you. I and my family personally cannot express enough how thankful we are for all that you have done up to this point for exposing the others to TTAT. Right next to JWFacts, your videos were the first we came across after leaving the cult. Your videos show that there is life (a good life) after the Witchtower, and that an “apostate” is not a miserable hateful person. But a happy, loving individual you cares about others; breaking the stereotype created by the WT. You present information in a way that is palatable. I could go on and on, but would like to say I hope the best for you and the family in whatever decision you make. You are truly giving a voice to the silent majority.
Reply
 

 Jenh says:

 April 14, 2015 at 11:42 am

I appreciate all you have done to bring to light so many things for me, individually. You have shared your story and your family, and I appreciate that. I am no longer a JW, and always struggled with it until I found your youtube channel. I check back daily to watch videos, I watch past videos. It is tough to be so public. Sending positive thoughts and American hugs to you and your family.
Reply
 

 Tim says:

 April 14, 2015 at 5:06 pm

Greetings from Canada! Lloyd, I have never left a comment on your site but today I feel I must. When I read your post today it broke my heart. The hatred some have shown towards you has made me rethink the loyalty I expected from all Ex-JW’s. Evidently there is a subculture whose only mission is to subvert others, just the same as it was in the Organization, some old habits are hard to shake. Over the past 15 months I have developed a health condition which has forced me to take a leave of absence from work which has given me much extra time, which gave the the incredible opportunity to find your site. I have been disassociated since 1995, I am a 3rd generation JW, my Grandfather was a District Overseer, my Father an Elder was always the PO (I understand this title has now changed), both parents and my Sister were pioneers, I have cousins in the Canadian Branch serving on the Legal Committee. Both my parents are close friends with David and Linda Splane since the early 80’s when he was our Circuit Overseer. Personally I never bought into any of the teachings, the first thing I remember is when we had to put in a sticker over a paragraph in the Revelation book with a “new light”, that just did not seem right. Lloyd, I want you to know I also suffer from depression and it is a direct result of this destructive decisive cult. I attempted suicide twice thinking it would be better to leave this world behind and wake up in the Resurrection than have to live a lie to myself. The point I am trying to make is you have helped me tremendously. I find both yourself and Eric at JWStruggle to be very approachable in your manner. Although we have never had any direct communication between us I do consider you a friend. Thank you for your activism, it has made a positive difference in my life. I wish you nothing but happiness to you, your Wife and Daughter.
Reply
 
 James Broughton says:

 April 16, 2015 at 9:18 am

Tim, that was a beautiful and uplifting comment. You might like to see my earlier comment to Lloyd.
Reply
 
 

 Leigh says:

 April 14, 2015 at 6:50 pm

I am sorry to hear you are being attacked by some folks on youtube. I saw a couple of the videos and those folks appear to be unstable. I absolutely love your site and videos and I often redirect folks to your material. You do a great job of presenting your ideas and opinions. My teenage stepdaughter has just recently “woke up” from the JW cult and has watched a couple of your videos and thinks you are great. You don’t come off as being fanatical or condescending. Take care of yourself and your family. Don’t let them get you down, sending hugs from the USA.
Reply
 

 Michele says:

 April 14, 2015 at 7:28 pm

I just wanted to say “thanks” for all your hard work on this site. I look forward to new updates, which are very well articulated and presented. I was born in but left about 10 years ago. It is still a struggle dealing/not dealing with my family. I just want you to know I appreciate your effort and take comfort in knowing that I’m not alone. I think I speak for many ex jws in saying that you are the most respectful and intelligent voice out there. Don’t let the haters bring you down.
Reply
 

 JudyQ says:

 April 14, 2015 at 8:30 pm

I also feel the need to make a comment, although I have not done so in the past. My husband and I left together almost a year ago. We’ve found your witty, insightful, well researched articles and videos unquantifiably helpful, reassuring us that we made the right decision. I echo everyone else’s comments about how much we truly understand and appreciate the hard work you put into all that you do.
Sadly, it is very difficult for some to leave behind the thoughts and attitudes so prevalent in the organization. Judgement, character assassination, false accusation- are these not the hallmarks of what we left behind? It speaks more to the character of the accuser than the accused.
We’ve all been at conventions when protesters were outside with placards and megaphones- we ignored them as instructed, feeling all the more righteous, convinced by the “persecution” that this was God’s organization. It’s been proven time and again to be, at best, a minimally effective technique in “waking people up”. One has to question if “waking people up” is the motivation of such ones or is their rage at being duped for so long, understandable though it may be, just uncontrolled.
“Divide and conquer” is one of the most effective weapons in battle. Sadly, targeting each other can make us less, not more, effective in exposing the falsehoods of the organization.
Everyone is entitled to state their opinion in a respectful way- bullying does not have to be tolerated and I applaud you for standing up against it. It can be hard but a truly mature, brave person will do it.
You’re family, health and mental health come first- thought we all value the work you do, you need to take time for yourself and your family. You can’t give if the well is dry- though we’ll be missing your thoughts if you take some time away, it’s essential to do so if you want to keep doing this work that you truly excel at and that we all value so highly.
Jim and I send you, Dijana and Jessica our warmest wishes, thoughts and hugs from Canada!!!
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 Diana says:

 April 14, 2015 at 10:33 pm

I’m terribly sorry to hear this but very glad I stumbled upon it. I almost got involved with a Mike and Kim in my desperation for emotional support. But I saw them in a youtube video and they seemed a little “off” to me. I also didn’t want to connect with ex- JWs that were still religious. It seemed like another dead end to me. However, I waver in my decision because I’m left so utterly alone. This has strengthened my resolve to look elsewhere for support. I have received some emotional support from atheists in Canada. There’s just no accounting for the behavior of some. Religion messes over people’s minds. I fear I will not live long enough to get myself untwisted. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with so much crazy making behavior from religious opposers. But you seem to have a good head about these things. Please know that there are people like me who find these articles life saving and are filled with gratitude that you have made the effort. It takes great strength and courage to do what you have done. Thank you.
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 Doily says:

 April 14, 2015 at 11:52 pm

John, the great Mark Twain said, “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.”
As a former JW from Lancashire, England, I appreciate your work. But if it’s damaging you and your dearest, why carry on? It’s YOUR life. You’re not even going to get a gold watch and carriage clock for your efforts. That said I can feel your purpose in doing this. Take comfort in knowing the WTS is dying. Even when it sinks below the waterline, thousands will still cling to its festering remains. Whenever you get despondent due to venomous lowlife, think of the Twain quote.
Doily.
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 Searcher says:

 April 15, 2015 at 7:54 am

Hi Lloyd,
 First, I want to thank you (and your family) for all the time you have spent on this site in encouraging others by revealing the lies, deception, and untruth of the “Truth”. JOB WELL DONE!!!
I made a comment here that was presumptuous about one of your positions. You respectfully rebutted that I was incorrect in my assumption. I didn’t take offense, because we are two different people with two different interpretations. We can live together in this world with differing opinions.
As for those that cannot accept your opinions, I say, “Consider the source!” Obviously, these detractors are speaking from a religiously dogmatic point of view, and easily have their feelings hurt when someone disagrees with them. They think they’re sane and everybody who disagrees with them is either crazy or evil. Sound familiar? When you put yourself in a public light, such as this blog, there will always be detractors that WILL NOT rest without verbally beating a retraction out of you (or physically if they could). Again, sound familiar? Throughout history, there have always been religious bully-boys like the GB and religious tyrants of Islamic, Christian, and Jewish persuasions. Unfortunately, I believe there always will be according to human nature. If they aren’t crazy, then religious tyrants have always used religion for power by misleading the uneducated masses. Once again, sound familiar?
Don’t let these people stop you from helping those who so deservedly need the support, help, and relief from religious tyrants such as the GB. You have my support and can do anything you like with a donation from me (I’m giving $25US after this posting). Buy a pint of beer or bottle of wine if you would like! You earned it. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!
Mike (aka: Searcher)
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 JKL says:

 April 15, 2015 at 12:21 pm

Dear friend.
I write friend, Lloyd, because i consider you as my friend. And that is so, even though we have never met in person nor online. You see, this is my first time to write a comment on an ex-JW forum. But after your post and the many sweet comments on your behalf, i just had to.
I ended my activities with JW not so long ago. My convictions had become very different from that of JW, so i saw no other way. That has left me almost completely isolated, since i had no friends not being JW, and because my limited size JW family find it difficult to deal with the situation. So even though i have no wish to see the Watchtower-religion destroyed as such, on so many levels i see myself as a classic victim of a cult. So after ending my activities with JW, i was curious to see if there were others out there like me. And i was shocked, but in a good way. I just did not know. There are so many out there with similar experiences and research like me. Friends like you. That helps me a lot. I have read your block for a few months now, and i really enjoy it. You and your co-writers are intelligent but modest. Like me you seek truth, facts. You have skills that are very valuable, like using modern technology, communication etc. But most importantly, you are willing to spend yourself. We are so many that appreciate that. Thank you.
I would love it if you continue writing. But i am not you. So whether you decide to continue, slow down or stop, it will be met with understanding and respect.
Again. Thank you so much for all your work untill now. And thanks to your family too.
JKL
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 GEM says:

 April 16, 2015 at 1:06 am

Dear Lloyd, Dijana and Jessica:
What a lovely little family, You have. Please ignore personal attacks from folk who have basic psychiatric problems, fuelled by Religious mania.
My partner was the subject of Police “enfitment” ten years ago. Three police officers lied under oath and bore false witness. I am about to go on a surprise holiday (they don’t know it) to Cuba…out of appreciation for the ONE officer that stood by my partner and saved a tragic suicide attempt on the Brecon Beacons.
Ten years on we have weathered the hate of the ignorant, built a successful, family run business and found out who our “True” friends are. It has strengthened us to look through the “magnifying glass” again and look at “the Truth” of all things from many different angles. Suddenly our Kaleidoscope is pretty, ever changing and we humbly accept our different circumstances and views as part of the rich Tapestry of Life.
At the risk of treading on toes here, a certain person said: “You will know the Truth and The Truth will set you free….” OK…I am not an Atheist, I feel I am probably an Agnostic now .. but veering towards the love of a Higher Power, A Creator if You will. But, that is my Comfort Platform.
What can possible be wrong Lloyd…if you are seeking to establish the Truth in All Things.
Ignore the Sickos who would pull you down and try to plant their own venomous creed to all that would listen to or read it.
Stick up for the real Truth…and, at the same time let us be humble too, when we are proved to be wrong.
Scrum down and large shoulders for you All… from this side of my PC!
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 Deborah Baumbarger says:

 April 16, 2015 at 5:56 am

John, although I totally understand your inner sadness and frustration when you are being verbally attacked by people without cause, you should try to consider the source.
 You are doing a fine job helping people wake up to the fact that the Watchtower is a man made cult that is deceiving millions!
 Thanks for all of your videos.
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 Zandrea says:

 April 16, 2015 at 7:55 pm

You’re doing a good thing John. My sanity is in part due to you and your work.
 I love the work you do and big up to your wife for supporting you…
From Jamaica
 With one love…
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 zeebo says:

 April 17, 2015 at 5:16 am

Sad to see the XJW front crumble at the same time the WT get a victory in court.
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 BB5179 says:

 April 17, 2015 at 5:36 am

Lloyd,
 What can i say…. Iam from the UK also and have been out for just over a year… It was your site that helped me get out… Your site that has helped me get my wife and children out, and your site that has helped me get over the emotional stress.. I have seen parts of Mike and Kims youtube tirade against you and it is absolutely disgusting and utter utter rubbish… Your honest and emotional comments have helped me and my family no end and probably saved our lives… I have watched some of Mike and Kims videos before this and felt they were very odd and best stayed away from… They are not helping they just come off as nuts….. Please do not let them and people like them get you down, take a break whenever you need to have time for yourself…. I suffer from depression so i know what you are going though… SO if felt i had to comment to let you know that you are not alone my friend.. I do count you as one even though we have never met.. Why because when i was in my darkest hour of need and wondering how i could have fallen for such a cult.. You were always there and helped with your comments and videos and in my mind thats what friend are for… Now its time to return the favour we are all here for you and your family… All the best from Me and mine…. AND A BIG BIG THANK YOU for being one of the best friends ive ever had!!!
BB5179
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 Ted says:

 April 17, 2015 at 3:25 pm

zeebo, Check out the number of sites, exposing WT,
“Absurdities”.
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 Garrett says:

 April 17, 2015 at 9:21 pm

I’m stunned. I never would have thought that others who left don’t appreciate all you have done like I do. I really don’t get it.
 You wound think that people who left a high pressure control group would be the last ones to want to inflict that on others.
 I would recommend just posting your blog and podcast and cutting yourself off from others posts and comments. Who needs em?
 But people like me who left definitely need you .
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 anonymous says:

 April 18, 2015 at 3:56 am

I didn’t know Tony Prime had a video out where he was attacking Lloyd until I saw Lloyd’s article here so out of curiosity, I watched Tony’s video several times. I also went to Joel’s unwitness video that Tony said that Lloyd had spent all day going back and forth with a guy by the name of David and that David accused Lloyd of making comments and then deleting them so that David had saved all the comments that Lloyd had removed and reposted them so I read all the comments that Lloyd had made that day and also David’s comments and what I saw from David’s comments were nothing but attacks on Lloyd saying that Lloyd thought he was an elder still and all he wanted was money and on and on. It was nothing but character assignations against Lloyd because it seemed Lloyd had taken Joel’s video as against Lloyd’s video personally on how he couldn’t support “agressive” activism anymore. That is what that David character was so mad about. That David character could have just said that they agreed to disagree but no, he went on and on with his cruel comments about Lloyd. Lloyd’s comments were short and not cruel but that David’s comments were cruel and very long. Then Mike and Kim chimed in with their comments about Lloyd’s making money etc.
I feel sorry for Tony. It seems that he’s very angry but it seems that most of his anger is directed at Lloyd because Lloyd has said that if it weren’t for the generous donations from some people, that he wouldn’t be able to spend as much time on his videos. I have seen Eric’s JWstruggle video where he was also asking if people could help him so he could do better videos too. Others also depend on donations. When I saw Eric’s video, I sent him some money. I don’t think Eric is making money when he says that with a few bucks, he can update his camera. That to me, tells me that these guys are doing their work for the love of the people still stuck in the cult but that they are poor, like the rest of us.
Mike and Kim had a donation button on their web site and they took it down because they were accused of “making money” but they said all they got was something like $19 so it wasn’t worth the grief they got so they took the donation money button down. Also, when they first opened up their web site, they said that somebody donated the money to fund the web site for a year or they could never have done it so obviously it is very expensive to operate and own a web site such as jwsurvey. Lloyd has never said how much time he spends on this web site and how much time he spends reading literature and watching videos so he can come up with quality videos and he has never said how much time it takes away from his family and his paying job of translating either and he could do that, but hasn’t.
Tony Prime should take a step back and reason on what he said in that video. If he reasoned it all out, there was no reason for that video. It is very sad and there was nothing for Lloyd to do but explain his side of it.
By the way, when I first came into the “truth”, I wanted to be a pioneer and missionary. Anybody in the “truth” who really loves it, would want to be an elder if they are a young man. We all loved it until we learned that the “truth” really wasn’t the “truth” after all.
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 Lola says:

 April 19, 2015 at 8:56 pm

What’s really sad is that Tony Prime made an animated baby Cedars photo and posted it on Facebook, saying that the doctor recommended terminating the fetus. This is just unacceptable!!! Do these people even realize their own cruelty and inhumanity? THEY are behaving like sociopaths…NOT Cedars!
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 Charles Costante says:

 April 19, 2015 at 10:57 pm

That’s appalling, Lola! The only thing I’ve seen of his was the first 5 minutes or so of a YouTube video where he gate crashed one of the 2015 Memorial celebrations in the States. I didn’t bother to watch the whole thing because I found it rather embarrassing.
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 Melka says:

 April 18, 2015 at 5:28 am

@Anonymous,
 I watched the video too since I was home sick, and all I saw an attempted smear campaign. But I also feel bad for Tony Prime. It seems like he’s a pawn, but when you just take a step back, it doesn’t make sense. But from what the comments suggest, is there is a little group on a vicious witch hunt, and if you suggest anything “against” their accusations, you’re against them.
 But regarding the donations with they actually made a huge deal about: When I first woke up and was trying to find out what was really going on in the world of politics, I couldn’t find out a clear story or believe anything I was reading, because I found out all the tv stations and radio stations and media in general was being bought off by someone who decides what the public is supposed to read and hear about. It’s all propaganda, so my favorite radio station and news station on the internet is independently run, and I kid you not, they ask for donations probably once every 10 minutes. But I donate, because that’s the only way they can operate, obviously. Nobody’s buying them off. And the insults about how Cedars travels but doesn’t have a fridge. It made my heart hurt. Here he goes out and spends his own money to travel and interview people, and the quality of information he puts out is so good, that’s why people wake up. It’s not someone sitting on their couch telling someone else their “opinions”, there’s always tons of research involved. That’s why this whole thing makes me so furious. What these people are doing is just plain idiotic. They’re not putting out the same kind of material, we better hope they’re not successful in the smear campaign they’re running. We both woke up because of this website.
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 Faded says:

 April 19, 2015 at 10:31 am

How horrible that people treated you in such a disrespectful manner. I strongly feel if they don’t like what you are posting, why can’t they just move on? Ugh.
 I, for one, appreciate your YouTube videos and this blog so much, and do think of you as a friend. Your blog and videos have helped me tremendously as I escaped this horrible religion. Any ex JW worth their salt, knows the hard work and time that you put into to your videos and blog. Studying for meetings was a cakewalk compared to the study and research you’re doing NOW in your activism.
 I get the depression. I get that you had a moment and wanted to tell someone off on Facebook or a YouTube comment. You work hard, your intentions are pure, who wouldn’t be hurt and angry and depressed when one is attacked trying to help others???
 I say those who attack are those who have serious issues. Maybe they’re just disgruntled disfellowshipped people that still want to be witnesses and can’t, so they keep the mentality and try to form their own religious beliefs and shoot down any who don’t agree. In other words, they’re just disfellowshipped ‘wanna be’ witnesses with a wacky agenda.
 Lloyd, you’ve completely and successfully left this cult with a sound mind and heart. The nutcases don’t like that. I left. I wish nothing bad on any practicing witness. I see you don’t either. But these wacky ex witnesses just keep hating and bashing and carrying on with their nutty agendas, rather than exposing the “truth” for what it is. Falsehood. Man made doctrine. Baloney. Wacky teachings that keep changing with “new light”.
I’ve spent years struggling with depression and struggled being raised in a religion that constantly made me feel I wasn’t good enough. That I was certain to die if I didn’t make all the meetings or get the required field service time in. Recipe for depression if you ask me. Then add disfellowshipping and complete estrangement from family. THAT’S not depressing. :/
 My sincere hope is that you take care of yourself and your wife and daughter. Understand the haters are projecting their hatred of themselves onto you. Ridiculous. Of course it’s hurtful. These people haven’t worked through their issues and attack the one person who makes sense. You.
 I wish you all the best, and if I were rich, I’d buy you a house!! That’s how much gratitude I have for all the work you’ve done.
 Take care, Lloyd. Please know you are respected and held in high esteem by many.
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 Gameisover says:

 April 20, 2015 at 4:06 am

I just posted a comment that got lost
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 Stephen says:

 April 21, 2015 at 9:58 am

Every once in awhile I find myself presented with a situation that warrants attention. I believe this to be one of those occasions. I say these words with as much objectivity as I can.
 Hello Mr. Cedar;
 My girlfriend was trapped within the JW organization for the first 35 yrs of her life(literally trapped) as only a JW could know what I mean. She introduced me to your You Tube shows over these last couple years and out of all the variety of peoples videos she has shown me I do think yours offer the most effecient methods of peeling away the layers of crud this organization stacks in ones being.
 I thank you for all your great words of wisdom and thank you for your compassion and approach towards this sensitive topic. I believe in your approach, it is rooted with kindness and empathy. I have seen first hand the results of your method unpacking all the damaging luggage that my girlfriend has had to carry around for so long. So I say thank you
 In return for your kindness, generosity and selfless acts. I wish to give you what I can. You and your family are always welcome in my home and if I am lucky enough to ever get the opportunity to help you in any way I surely will.
 Some things I have learned:
 The past is regret and the future is fear so all I have is now.
 I can not control outside events, I can only control how I react to those events
 the eyeball can not look at itself, meaning we all need each other to for self evaluation.
 I have more but will save those for another time. The bottom line is, I wish you and your family well, and will always be grateful for your hard work.
 Peas Out
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 Stacey says:

 April 21, 2015 at 10:30 am

I have been reading the articles you post and watching your videos for the past few months. While I don’t agree with everything you have to say, I still enjoy them and have found them really helpful in what has been a very stressful time in my life. I appreciate very much all of the hard work you put in to helping people like myself wake up to the fact that they have been involved in a religion that is not chosen by God, but a harmful, deceptive cult that breaks up families. I have tried to watch Mike and Kim, but found them very grating and they come across in an unintelligent way. You come across as someone who is informed, well read, and you present your information with warmth and humor. I am sorry you have had to suffer at the hands of others who I am sure are just jealous of your abilities, but I hope you will be able to continue your work, as there are a lot of us out here who appreciate it!
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 Gameisover says:

 April 23, 2015 at 9:25 am

Where is my post of April 20th? Eliminated, lost, spammed?
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 Cedars says:

 April 23, 2015 at 9:53 am

The only comment you made on April 20th that shows up on our records is “I just posted a comment that got lost.”
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 Katie Tuck says:

 April 24, 2015 at 5:24 am

So sad that we escaped from one group of loveless people to the outside world, then found that Jehovahs witnesses are partially right in saying that there’s no love in the world.
 I’m also annoyed by the over righteous that have jumped ship to another narrow mindset.
 John, you are a valuable person to a lot of us in the ex-jw arena. Thank you for bearing your soul. It makes the opposition I get from ex-jws who have turned christian, easier to bear.
 I hope you recover from this undeserved tirade of abuse soon.
 I just wanted you to know that I care.
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 Pickled brain says:

 April 14, 2015 at 9:15 am

Lovely positive comments from everyone!
 Lloyd (John) . ALL of The COMMENTS posted so far have Been BEAUTIFUL & SO ENCOURAGING Not just to Lloyd & His Family But to ALL of us who Log on to this Website. There are SO MANY KIND CARING EX-JWs out there Not Full of Hate & Anger.
 So Please Keep the Positive Comments coming.
 Why shouldn’t you ,Lloyd make some Contributions? out of your hard work & Long Long hours & Emotional Energy that goes into producing this website& You Tube Channel.
 When I think of the BILLIONS the Governing Body have got from Real Estate,Wills,Stocks&Shares,etc from JWs who have Died it is Tantamount to BLOOD MONEY??? When Thousands have Died because of not having Vaccinations,Organ Transplants,Blood Transfusions in Emergencies. Let Alone the MISERY of BREAKING up FAMILIES through SHUNNING because of Disagreements over Doctrine or the way the GB has handled Paedophiles? If you pardon the Expression!
 As I said before You, Lloyd , Have SAVED MANY LIVES!!! Keep up the good work : THERE ARE MORE WITH US THAN AGAINST US as good old Elijah said !!
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 Pickled brain says:

 April 16, 2015 at 12:03 am

@Lloyd(John) . What I have noticed Because of your Honesty & Humility in showing us your Feelings & Vulnerability HAS CAUSED People who have NEVER COMMENTED BEFORE to Feel IMPELLED to Comment on this Site to SHOW that YOU Lloyd have CHANGED JWs & Ex-JWs Lives for the better& Keep on giving them the Inner Strength to Fight their INNER FEARS & INSECURITIES Created by 7 American MEN in BROOKLYN who CHOP & CHANGE their Interpretations of Scripture so Frequently it is Frightening!!
 Any one who reads this site & hasn’t commented , PLEASE Have the INNER DETERMINATION to Support Lloyd& His Wife& Child!! They as a FAMILY have SACRIFICED SO MUCH in terms of Emotional Time,Energy,Money etc. It must be draining!
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 Pickled brain says:

 April 17, 2015 at 8:04 am

@Zeebo . With due respect the XJW front is NOT CRUMBLING. Just look at the BEAUTIFUL & HEARTWARMING Comments here in Support of Lloyd(John) We are all STRONGER & FIGHTING the Fine Fight of a Spiritual Warfare to SAVE Hearts & Minds from 7 Controlling AMERICAN MEN.
 & the Candace Conti Court Case is a VICTORY because it is has SHOWN how CORRUPT the Inner Workings of a Judicial Committee of 3 Elders& the Abuser facing the Poor Victim who was a Child . The WORLD can SEE HOW DISGUSTING this is !!!
 The Victory is For all XJW who have shown how this Filthy the JW Organisation is :
 Please read January 15th 2015 Watchtower page 24 paragraph 4:
‘MANY Christians have watched lurid material on the Internet,have been to sexually explicit movies,Stage shows,some have visited strip shows,massage parlours& Nightclubs as well as viewing Pornography. ‘
This is in a STUDY WATCHTOWER which we studied on Sunday a few weeks ago!!
 An OPEN ADMISSION that this is RIFE in the JW Organisation Because the words’MANY CHRISTIANS’ meaning JWS !!
 Our Children should not be allowed to be ALONE in the Ministry unless a Criminal Record Check is made on each individual!!
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 anonymous says:

 April 17, 2015 at 4:01 pm

@Pickled Brain, that article is coming right out and saying that viewing pornography, reading erotic literature, or watching lurid material on the internet and watching sexually explicit movies, naked stage shows, and watching sexually explicit television shows, visiting nightclubs and strip shows and getting sensual messages are NOT WRONG because this is how that paragraph starts:
“How is it possible for a Christian to be drawn into immoral conduct: The disastrous path of immorality often starts with the eyes. Jesus explained: “Everyone who keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matt. 5:27, 28: 2 Pet. 2:14) Many Christians who have fallen into wrongdoing have weakened their moral defenses by viewing pornography, reading erotic literature” …and so on.
Those paragraphs under ” Guard Your Heart” is telling the reader that the only wrong doing happens when the person has committed adultery with another person so doing porn and going to strip clubs etc. and all the rest only LEADS TO WRONGDOING. A paragraph like that is telling a man that as long as he doesn’t commit adultery, those other things are not wrong doing.
Tell that to a wife who catches her JW husband going to strip clubs and watching porn on their computer that he hasn’t done any wrongdoing and see if it washes with her.
See if she then thinks this is a “clean” organization when the only “wrongdoing” is only when he actually commits adultery. It’s then that a woman will find out that it’s an “old boys club”. What I am saying is that if a JW claims to be a JW, then he should not be doing those things because that is the impression that the Watchtower wants the world to think. The Watchtower wants the world to think that JW men don’t go to strip clubs and X rated movies and watch porn on television on their computers. But in reality, the JW men are being given a green light for all those things to do but the women are being blindly deceived into thinking that the guy they are marrying wouldn’t do those things but when she catches her husband doing that stuff, nothing happens to him. Her feelings about the matter are dismissed as “not forgiving”. It makes me wonder just how many elders are doing it and thinking to themselves that as long as they don’t actually commit adultery, it’s between them and Jehovah. Who cares about what the wife thinks? After all, it’s not the wife they are sinning against, is it? It’s Jehovah they are sinning against. But according to that paragraph, they aren’t even sinning against Jehovah when they do that stuff.
When a person abuses a child, you can better believe that that person was first addicted to porn. The porn starts small and it takes more and more perverted porn to get the “high” that they first had so the porn gets more and more perverted. That is how child abusers get started down that road.
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 zeebo says:

 April 18, 2015 at 1:29 am

What i meant was it’s sad to see the in fighting and factions within this small group. Once leaving the WT was an awakening and there was a seemingly united effort to welcome people to the ‘real world’.
I’m just saying the WT has forever said things like ‘where will you go?’ and ‘who else loves like us’.. we all know its a load of crud but such vicious in-fighting makes us look pretty small.
If you watch the Tonyprime video attaching John, you will see many many equally sympathetic and supportive messages. So it isn’t really proof of anything.
I think (and i believe this article says as much) that we should all put the personality to one side and get on with WT exposure.
As for funding, the argument against Lloyd is just crazy.. Like him or not, these sites take a lot of admin and people are free to not visit if they wish.. Until a monthly subscription is requested, there is absolutely nothing wrong. Its just madness to begrudge a few googleads and an optional way to donate..
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 Pickled brain says:

 April 17, 2015 at 7:19 pm

@Anonymous. Your Dead Right about it being a BOYS CLUB !! In Judicial Committees my Father-in- Law who over 40 years of sitting on MANY said ‘If a Brother who Committed Adultery said his wife had NOT Been Providing the Marriage Due(Sexual Intercourse) Then the Elders would take that into consideration & Be More Lenient with him !! In other words it was the wife’s fault why he comitted Adultery??? So my Question is what WEIRD Reasoning do these Elders come up with when a Brother commits Pedophilia ??
 THIS ORGANISATION is RUN BY MEN for MEN !!
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 Gareth says:

 April 18, 2015 at 5:32 am

anonymous, I think you’re off the mark here. The WT article nowhere says pornography is not wrongdoing. This doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt the partner (it does), but that’s not WT’s agenda.
I think we agree though, but you highlight it a little differently. The WT’s agenda is loyalty to the organization. This article’s tool towards that end is “Jehovah’s view of marriage”. So the WT is arguing that pornography is disrespecting the marriage bond (which was supposedly instituted by Jehovah). That’s why it follows up in paragraph 8 how to keep learning about Jehovah (through the WT of course! haha).
So the perversion here is not “JW men are given the green light”, or that women are ignored per se, but that pornography hurts the relationship with God by ignoring the WT counsel (basically). It’s all Jehovah wants-this-or-that.
Your “…when she catches him… nothing happens to him” is slightly misleading; I would say that seeing how the wife is hurt by the man’s actions should lead to sorrow and regret and his part. If it doesn’t… well then it’s a problem with this man, not necessarily the WT. Because the counter-side is… would you want the reason for your husband to love you more (or at least act like it because of WT fear) because he was restricted or even publicly humiliated in some way?
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 Cedars says:

 April 18, 2015 at 1:40 am

“Infighting” implies acts of mutual aggression. I have been on the receiving end of a number of videos from various YouTubers all aimed at character-assassinating me through a range of wild and spurious accusations ranging from “he’s a stalker” to “he’s a wife-beater and potential pedophile.” In contrast, videos I have made singling out other activists for criticism are conspicuous by their absence.
 True, I have written this article as an attempt to draw a line under these attacks and explain the motives behind some of them as I see it, but I am perfectly entitled to defend myself when my family’s happiness is on the line. I wish people would stop giving credence to the claims that I am some kind of “cyber bully” by implying this is a two-way conflict. Yes, I have written this article in the hopes of answering my accusers, and yes I have stooped to getting embroiled in arguments on YouTube and Facebook that I probably shouldn’t have – but apart from those defensive actions this “infighting” is entirely one-way.
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 anonymous says:

 April 18, 2015 at 9:15 pm

Gareth, If I had a problem with pornography and I was reading that paragraph, I would see that the real sin wasn’t the porn, but adultery. That is the message I would get if I had a problem with going to strip clubs or going on the internet looking for porn. No where in those paragraphs, does it imply or say that any of those things was it sinning against Jehovah but that it LEADS to sinning. I remember arguing with a district overseer a couple of years ago because those are the very words he used in his talk at the circuit assembly. I keep looking for it in the literature and that is the way the Society always words it.
I don’t know how any more plain it can be.
Reply
 

 zeebo says:

 April 19, 2015 at 1:49 am

I guess what i mean by community is that this issue has ploarised everyone and they have got stupid. I happen to think the fact you are at the eye of the storm is incidental.. could have been anyone else who is on public display. But the reactions and frankly horrible things being said put shame one us all. I say comments (albeit joking) about physical violence. Not funny. Anyway I hope you can sandbox this and not let it effect you too much. There will always be trolls
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My response to the haters (and why I can’t always shake it off)
avatar
Posted on April 11, 2015

Abuse from fanatical Cedars-bashers like Tony Balchen (pictured) is beginning to take its toll
Abuse from fanatical Cedars-bashers like Tony Balchen (pictured) is beginning to take its toll

I suffer from depression, but even at my darkest moments, when my mind has briefly flirted with notions of suicide, I’ve always thought what a bad choice that would be.
There are just so many different ways a person’s life could be configured. So whenever it feels like there is no way out, I’ve always found myself able to reason that surely there MUST be another way of living that is less soul-destroying – even if the journey to that change of circumstances might be difficult.
Many of you will remember I was attacked towards the end of last year for voicing an opinion on “aggressive activism,” which is my definition for the goading, taunting and confronting of bewildered cult victims – either at places of worship or during their public preaching work – by indignant, vengeful exJWs.
In response to simply offering my opinion on this issue (doing so without naming any names), I was accused of being a stalker, a wife beater, a cult leader, a cyber-bully, and even a potential pedophile – with my baby daughter seemingly at risk from me.
As hurtful as this torrent of abuse has been, what has been even more alarming is the ease with which the ringleaders behind these accusations have managed to recruit a group of sympathizers, and manipulated these into believing that THEY are the true victims in this whole scenario – not me.
Also troubling is the complete lack of restraint and basic human decency from this mob, many of whom claim to be Christian. For example, two particularly vocal critics of mine called Mike and Kim are so passionate about bringing Jehovah’s Witnesses to Christ that they have apparently set up their own state-registered ministry.
These same people have sat in front of a camera to deliver a 90-minute tirade featuring all of the aforementioned accusations, apparently seeing no conflict with their Holy Book’s calls to “suffer evil” and “be peaceable with all men.”
Though I expect proponents of evangelical activism (“leave Watchtower and embrace our, correct version of Christianity”) to take issue with my openness about my agnosticism/atheism, I find it troubling that the likes of Mike and Kim have been so successful in exploiting the aggressive activism controversy as a smokescreen to pursue their agenda of trying to silence my agnostic views – to the point of hoodwinking even non-religious exJWs into flocking to their anti-Cedars banner.
When the backlash reached its zenith just before Christmas, I seriously considered breaking some of the tension with a light-hearted video in which I would sing a parody song aimed at debunking Mike and Kim’s accusation that I am obsessed with their daughter, who previously helped me with my work. I envisioned a video in which I would be seated at a piano, Gary Barlow-style, singing plaintively to a framed picture of her, delivering a mock confession of my love for her, and mourning that it was unrequited.
But thankfully I snapped out of doing this video when I remembered that the person in question has been known to suffer from depression. However funny the video might have been to some, and however successful it might have been at rubbishing the claims that I was fixated with this girl, how would I have felt if she had committed suicide soon after it was circulated? I would have felt utterly devastated, and responsible for her loss.
All about the money?
Since all of that, there has been a fresh wave of attacks. Apparently my already-long list of fabricated/embellished crimes has been added to, with claims that I am profiteering from my work as an activist (to the tune of over $10,000 per year), that I live in a “hole” of a country, that I make my wife work while I do nothing, that I “disfellowship” people who disagree with me, that I am fat and ugly (well, maybe that’s true), and that I have been too ready to defend myself in conversations with trolls on Facebook and YouTube.
I’ve mostly been able to shrug off all this mud-slinging, knowing full well I have nothing to hide.
As far as my finances are concerned – yes I have Google ads on my website, but so does JWfacts. Yes I have a PayPal button for donations, but so does JWstruggle (and a LOT of other exJW websites, none of which seem to be under siege for the heresy of accepting money). And I also plead guilty to having a Patreon button at the end of my videos for people who want to donate to my work – but nobody is forced to click through and pledge donations.
My articles and videos are available to people entirely free of charge, and will remain so.
Any proceeds from Google Ad impressions* ($125 per month), YouTube ad impressions ($110 per month), or regular donations ($63 per month) get ploughed straight into my business to help pay for new equipment and justify the considerable time spent away from my regular job (translating and proofreading) while doing research and producing content. (For example, my 2-hour rebuttal video to the Gerrit Losch JW broadcasting episode took three days to put together, which would be hard to justify if it wasn’t part of my job.)
There have been occasions where large, one-off donations have been made either to help our family (most notably when we had Jessica’s baby shower) or to assist with my activism (i.e. when two large donations were received to help fund our trip to London for the conference on undue influence) – but this money has never come with strings attached, i.e. that I must endorse Christianity and stay silent about my unbelief. My supporters have simply been willing to help out as the need arises, and they have been placed under no compulsion to do so.
Unlike many of the people who are styling me as a rich cult leader sponging off gormless followers and abuse victims, I don’t yet have a fridge, a TV, a sofa or a kitchen. I REALLY AM doing my activism because I want to free people both now and in the future from cult indoctrination. My work is offered freely, and I don’t see why I should be made to turn down acts of kindness when these are extended simply to appease my critics.
The only work I ever intend to charge for will be my book, which I will aim to price as reasonably as possible once it is finally finished and published. No doubt once it goes on sale I will receive a fresh wave of abuse from people who will quickly forget how much they paid to read the words of Steven Hassan, Jim Penton, Carl Olof Jonsson or Ray Franz and paint me as a greedy profiteer all over again – but it is pointless trying to keep such people happy.
Is blocking someone on Facebook “shunning?”
I have also come under fire for my practice of blocking people on Facebook who are either critical of my activism, or abusive towards me, or supportive/defensive of those who are abusive towards me. I fail to understand why I am obliged to use Facebook, not as a tool for keeping in touch with my friends and readers, but as an implement of ritual self-flagellation that I must use to entertain the scathing rants and banal sniping of my mostly-anonymous, mostly-evangelical critics on a daily basis.
Telling me I’m not allowed to block or unfriend people on Facebook who are nasty is like telling me I MUST stand and listen to random people shout at and berate me if I encounter them while out shopping. I am perfectly within my rights to walk away from any such situation and get on with whatever it was I was doing. I don’t HAVE to punish myself with nonsense just for the sake of it.
It’s worth remembering that nobody is forcing anyone to watch my videos OR read my blog articles. If you hate me and my work so much I have excellent news – you don’t HAVE to follow me or read/watch my work. You can do activism the way YOU want to do it, or find an activist whose videos and blogs are more to your liking. Or you can avoid taking in “apostate” material altogether, if that’s your problem.
And no, I am not in the business of “shunning” people who disagree with me. I am merely choosy about who my friends are. I have plenty of people on my Facebook friends list with whom I don’t see eye to eye on a range of issues, but I find they are able to put their points across without evangelizing or resorting to ad hominem insults and accusations, so I am only too happy to keep them in my circle and benefit from their perspective.
And frankly, I find the use of the word “shunning” in describing any situation other than estrangement from family or close friends to be an insult – especially by people who should know the difference between being prevented from commenting on a blog or Facebook page and having all contact with family terminated forever.
Taking its toll
Usually I am able to shrug off all the above silliness, content with the fact that I am doing the best I can for all the right motives, and making some modest headway in waking people up (if my email inbox is to be believed).
But today I was out mingling with some of my friends who live in my village, and something fairly innocuous happened that sent me spiraling into the realization that the level of abuse being directed at me from self-righteous keyboard warriors on the other side of the Atlantic really is starting to take its toll.
I didn’t feel suicidal, but I definitely felt a huge wave of sadness and futility.
I went home and talked to my wife Dijana about what I was feeling, and she told me she was feeling pressured by the situation too. Whenever I am talked about, or our family is talked about, by obsessive lunatics who are more fixated with me than they are with Watchtower, Dijana finds herself worrying and fretting over what effect this will have on me, and whether we are safe from these clearly disturbed individuals (bearing in mind we have already received two menacing cards through the post from an individual in America calling himself/herself “John Smith”).
john-smith-cards
What upsets Dijana most is that, amidst all this hatred and vitriol, she feels forced to put on a brave face for our daughter Jessica, because she is worried that if she lets her sadness show when spending time with our baby this might subconsciously rub off on her, or make her feel that she is somehow not living up to expectations.
Dijana also can’t help but feel enraged when she sees her picture (taken from our translation company website), being shared around on Facebook “hate Cedars” groups, the members of whom then speculate that she is the victim of an oppressive, abusive husband. If she were herself an outspoken activist, or vocal about anything beyond whale conservation, she could perhaps understand all the scrutiny – but she is content to let me get on with my activism and focus on being a mother, and thus finds it all very intrusive.
This conversation with Dijana, and the realization that the fanatical obsessions of a few troubled individuals in America are having a tangible impact on our family has led to my writing this article by way of pleading with any exJWs out there who might have been swayed by my attackers to apply some logic and reason, and show some compassion.
I am not a cult leader. I am not a leader of any sort, and would repudiate any attempts to make me one. I am an ordinary man with a wife and daughter who just happens to be an activist against a cruel cult. And yes, I happen to not be religious.
Of course I have made mistakes, and perhaps gone too far at times when confronting trolls and critics on Facebook and YouTube – but nothing I have said or done has even remotely warranted the tsunami of hatred and vitriol that has been directed against me and my family over the past few months.
A plea for decency
All I ask of my fellow ex cult-members is some basic human decency – the same instincts of solidarity and compassion that made me pull back from making a stupid piano video that I would have almost certainly regretted.
I am not a suicide threat, and my depression is manageable, but I do have a wife and baby daughter – and when you attack me with completely unfounded and specious allegations, you attack them as well. Dijana in particular really does feel the reverberations, to the point of wanting to write to some of the ringleaders herself.
It has long been a notable irony that the majority of opposition to my activism work comes, not from Watchtower or Jehovah’s Witnesses, but from my fellow ex-JWs. I’ve noticed from conversations with activists against other cults that this is not an isolated phenomenon. People who have exited other high-control groups have also been known to turn on each other, and make each other scapegoats for their issues and frustrations.
If it were only me who was taking the heat for having an opinion, and not being afraid to voice it, I think I could handle much of what I’ve been subjected to – content to simply block persistent trolls and fanatics who are hell-bent on character-assassinating me.
But when it starts to affect my family, I do feel a need to draw the line. This abuse has to stop. If you happen to be involved in any way, I implore you to please find something or someone else who is worthy of your frustrations. There are seven men in Brooklyn who export truckloads of pain and misery on a daily basis that I can strongly recommend.

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*An ad impression is when an ad is shown on a page or video. Simply by having the ad appear on the blog page you are reading, or the YouTube video you are watching, I receive a small amount of money from Google, who in turn receive money from the company whose ad was shown.


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← Harmful beliefs – woman and her unborn child perish after she refuses a blood transfusion
Conti appeal: Watchtower’s punitive damages reversed but negligence for lack of field service supervision is affirmed →

183 Responses to My response to the haters (and why I can’t always shake it off)

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 Grace says:

 April 13, 2015 at 8:43 pm

I just want to say that jw.org is here to say, I’m sure of it.
 There will always be die hard followers of the cult. We have needed this site and ones like it to keep helping us & others who are going through their awakening. The WT needs to have someone telling the other side of their propaganda story.
Thank you again to John, his helpers & the commentators on here because I am now in a place where I have no emotional attachment to this religion.
Reply
 
 James Broughton says:

 April 14, 2015 at 6:28 am

Grace, thank you for your comment. Most helpful.
Reply
 

 Innocent Son says:

 April 15, 2015 at 1:44 pm

Glad you found this site Grace and the comments helpful, I am in a similar position myself, I have no fear or place in the Org. after my awakening…..Keep up the good work John, there will always be the doubters and haters, rise above it, you’re doing a great job helping others to break free… Big Respect
Reply
 
 

 Vikki says:

 April 13, 2015 at 11:45 pm

Once you put yourself out in the public and people know details of your private life there will always be criticism against you. It’s the nature of the beast. At the same time the work you are doing does appeal to certain people and these people have been able to make a break from the JW’s.
Reply
 

 theGreenWitness says:

 April 14, 2015 at 3:17 am

I haven’t always agreed with everything you put up Lloyd, but thats the fun world of opinion! Some people just cant manage other peoples opinion beyond their own dim tunnel vision in a normal human manner. I truly believe your intentions are in the right place. Critical thinking is one of the blessings of having a full functioning human brain at our disposal! Also, word of advice from what i’ve heard youtubers say regarding hate comments and trolling; for every 1 hateful comment you read, read 10 positive ones. Its the thing with our brains, we will notice the negative more than the positive, its a survival technique that served us better in the past when negative things usually meant real threats to our life. Stay strong and keep up the good work! :)
Reply
 

 Shanti says:

 April 14, 2015 at 4:22 am

It is our JW training to be prejudice and critical of anything that is different from us. Many of us have to constantly fight it. Many of us do not realize we are still not our own person but our personalities are still being shaped by the brainwashing techniques instilled by the organization. Some people can not grow out of it but just make a lateral move. I do believe your website is for those who want a better life and want to improve their situations. It is immensely beneficial to those who are seeking and need help and direction for climbing out of the JW darkness. And for those who want to understand what happened to them and how they could have been so manipulated. We want to know there are others just like us. Your website is the voice of reason and provides a much needed service. Please know that you are deeply appreciated.
Reply
 

 Melka says:

 April 14, 2015 at 6:05 am

Back when this whole feud started, I liked Mike and Kim, and saw the rebuttal or video regarding Cedars on their channel, and I actually knew nothing about it, but watched it, and listened to their extremely obnoxious over-pronounced re-reading the email, and when you just listened to the words that were written by Cedars, there was absolutely nothing nasty or wrong with it, it was just in the absurd voice that Shyla was using to read it to make it seem like it was mean. I immediately stopped subscribing to their channels and stopped watching their videos, and all these other people started making rebuttal videos, which I didn’t watch, and stopped watching their videos all together. It felt too much like another clique situation. That’s the reason I don’t miss Jehovah’s Witnesses, the gossip, the elitism, the way you can’t say anything honest to anybody, because they simply can’t handle it, and someone with a lot of clout and a gang backing them up can make your life miserable. It’s the mentality of someone born and raised in the cult.
Maybe it’s a conscious decision we all have to make to not act like a middle school clique anymore, because it’s simply not acceptable in the real world. People have to be able to state their opinions and discuss them, it’s the only way to grow and learn from others.
Some people raised like that are still emotionally underdeveloped, which is so sad. It’s really sad they don’t understand fully what the Watchtower has done to them.
When you have a bully in your life, it makes perfect sense to cut those people out of your life because they’re toxic, but the internet and your prominence makes it very hard.
 Nobody would blame you if you stepped back. Your bravery, knowledge, sincerity and honesty have inspired so many people to take up activism and educate themselves, I know the activism would continue.
And the people who visit this website and discuss the articles openly and honestly, I’m sure do so for the same reason that I do, because it’s the only place I feel I can do just that.
We only want the best for you and your family, and I know I’m not alone in my appreciation for you and your family. I’m so sorry it’s at such a cost. When you’re trying to help people who may be severely emotionally scared and damaged (not just Jehovah’s Witnesses), it can be so draining and sometimes dangerous, but you have to know when you’re burnt out or worn out. Take care of yourself and your family. We got you.
Reply
 
 Lola says:

 April 19, 2015 at 5:00 pm

My thoughts exactly! The obnoxious voice was ridiculous and an infantile way to present what was being said. It took away all credibility from Shyla.
Reply
 
 

 James Broughton says:

 April 14, 2015 at 6:24 am

Lloyd, hang on in there. That was the advice given to me by my bishop when I was in full-time ministry in the Anglican church. You have some good friends. I particularly liked Melka’s comment. Yes, I do want to see JWs won for Christ but not at the expense of their integrity. I recommend a book “When a Church becomes a Cult” written by a fellow Anglican Stephen Wookey who shows how easy it is for a mainstream church to become as repressive as a cult and I am not surprised that people have been put off. Please continue with your very helpful ministry.
Reply
 

 Everyday Explorer says:

 April 14, 2015 at 8:42 am

Cedars (Lloyd), your post took courage; I really hope it helped a bit to share your very natural depression about the bullying and threatening you’ve experienced. It’s resolutely human to feel depressed when we’re bullied and threatened.
My spouse and I respect your diligent and compassionate work greatly and do our best to raise awareness about it, and you can see from the comments previously posted here how much you facilitate others to begin their own journey of exploration. But sometimes we need to take time out to connect back with our vital core being — the core that started all this in the first place!
Of course you have the right to block abusive people; I, personally, wouldn’t engage with them any further but I know that can be easier said than done. Of course you have the right not to impoverish yourself because you are an activist; I, for one, look forward to seeing your book published, and expect to pay RRP for it. But I know you know all the arguments around such issues already, really.
Perhaps take a break for a short while — regroup, recover, revive. See how you feel about your personal public involvement after that break. It might just be that you need to carve out more sacrosanct ‘you time’ with yourself, your wife, child, and very close friends).
Whatever you decide, I do hope that book gets completed. And, on a professional level, please do use our email address to contact me re the possibility of placing reviews of your book in the UK media (free, naturally). [More details should you choose to privately email.]
Sending waves of positive, warm vibes to you and Dijana and your child from Everyday Explorer and Everyday Explorer Spouse (yes, we’ve got to find a new name for that one!)
Reply
 

 Boonfleeky says:

 April 14, 2015 at 8:52 am

Hang tough Brotha. Your work is invaluable. You’ve helped folks like me in the process of “waking up” and understanding that one can have a positive, productive life outside this harmful cult.
I’m sorry you have to deal with the ill will but you’re too vital to the cause, don’t let them wear you down.
Reply
 

 Cedars says:

 April 14, 2015 at 10:05 am

I’d like to thank all my readers for the kind words of support and encouragement. Though this episode has been very draining, I am recovering well with Dijana’s support and coaching. I can’t walk away from my activism because it’s too important to me, but I think there is scope to manage myself better – perhaps by giving myself 1 or 2 days off each week where I don’t answer emails or go on Facebook. Whatever solution I arrive at, I really do appreciate the kind sentiments I’ve received, which strengthen my resolve to continue.
Reply
 
 Nay Franz says:

 April 16, 2015 at 7:39 am

Thank you so much for your work that help me a lot awaking. Big love from Canada to you and your little family :)
Reply
 
 

 Louis says:

 April 14, 2015 at 11:35 am

Lloyd and Dijana, I am sorry to hear that you are having to experience such behavior. This is saddening and is a bit unsettling news. Commentor Melka and several others have touched on several of my same sentiments to you. I and my family personally cannot express enough how thankful we are for all that you have done up to this point for exposing the others to TTAT. Right next to JWFacts, your videos were the first we came across after leaving the cult. Your videos show that there is life (a good life) after the Witchtower, and that an “apostate” is not a miserable hateful person. But a happy, loving individual you cares about others; breaking the stereotype created by the WT. You present information in a way that is palatable. I could go on and on, but would like to say I hope the best for you and the family in whatever decision you make. You are truly giving a voice to the silent majority.
Reply
 

 Jenh says:

 April 14, 2015 at 11:42 am

I appreciate all you have done to bring to light so many things for me, individually. You have shared your story and your family, and I appreciate that. I am no longer a JW, and always struggled with it until I found your youtube channel. I check back daily to watch videos, I watch past videos. It is tough to be so public. Sending positive thoughts and American hugs to you and your family.
Reply
 

 Tim says:

 April 14, 2015 at 5:06 pm

Greetings from Canada! Lloyd, I have never left a comment on your site but today I feel I must. When I read your post today it broke my heart. The hatred some have shown towards you has made me rethink the loyalty I expected from all Ex-JW’s. Evidently there is a subculture whose only mission is to subvert others, just the same as it was in the Organization, some old habits are hard to shake. Over the past 15 months I have developed a health condition which has forced me to take a leave of absence from work which has given me much extra time, which gave the the incredible opportunity to find your site. I have been disassociated since 1995, I am a 3rd generation JW, my Grandfather was a District Overseer, my Father an Elder was always the PO (I understand this title has now changed), both parents and my Sister were pioneers, I have cousins in the Canadian Branch serving on the Legal Committee. Both my parents are close friends with David and Linda Splane since the early 80’s when he was our Circuit Overseer. Personally I never bought into any of the teachings, the first thing I remember is when we had to put in a sticker over a paragraph in the Revelation book with a “new light”, that just did not seem right. Lloyd, I want you to know I also suffer from depression and it is a direct result of this destructive decisive cult. I attempted suicide twice thinking it would be better to leave this world behind and wake up in the Resurrection than have to live a lie to myself. The point I am trying to make is you have helped me tremendously. I find both yourself and Eric at JWStruggle to be very approachable in your manner. Although we have never had any direct communication between us I do consider you a friend. Thank you for your activism, it has made a positive difference in my life. I wish you nothing but happiness to you, your Wife and Daughter.
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 James Broughton says:

 April 16, 2015 at 9:18 am

Tim, that was a beautiful and uplifting comment. You might like to see my earlier comment to Lloyd.
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 Leigh says:

 April 14, 2015 at 6:50 pm

I am sorry to hear you are being attacked by some folks on youtube. I saw a couple of the videos and those folks appear to be unstable. I absolutely love your site and videos and I often redirect folks to your material. You do a great job of presenting your ideas and opinions. My teenage stepdaughter has just recently “woke up” from the JW cult and has watched a couple of your videos and thinks you are great. You don’t come off as being fanatical or condescending. Take care of yourself and your family. Don’t let them get you down, sending hugs from the USA.
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 Michele says:

 April 14, 2015 at 7:28 pm

I just wanted to say “thanks” for all your hard work on this site. I look forward to new updates, which are very well articulated and presented. I was born in but left about 10 years ago. It is still a struggle dealing/not dealing with my family. I just want you to know I appreciate your effort and take comfort in knowing that I’m not alone. I think I speak for many ex jws in saying that you are the most respectful and intelligent voice out there. Don’t let the haters bring you down.
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 JudyQ says:

 April 14, 2015 at 8:30 pm

I also feel the need to make a comment, although I have not done so in the past. My husband and I left together almost a year ago. We’ve found your witty, insightful, well researched articles and videos unquantifiably helpful, reassuring us that we made the right decision. I echo everyone else’s comments about how much we truly understand and appreciate the hard work you put into all that you do.
Sadly, it is very difficult for some to leave behind the thoughts and attitudes so prevalent in the organization. Judgement, character assassination, false accusation- are these not the hallmarks of what we left behind? It speaks more to the character of the accuser than the accused.
We’ve all been at conventions when protesters were outside with placards and megaphones- we ignored them as instructed, feeling all the more righteous, convinced by the “persecution” that this was God’s organization. It’s been proven time and again to be, at best, a minimally effective technique in “waking people up”. One has to question if “waking people up” is the motivation of such ones or is their rage at being duped for so long, understandable though it may be, just uncontrolled.
“Divide and conquer” is one of the most effective weapons in battle. Sadly, targeting each other can make us less, not more, effective in exposing the falsehoods of the organization.
Everyone is entitled to state their opinion in a respectful way- bullying does not have to be tolerated and I applaud you for standing up against it. It can be hard but a truly mature, brave person will do it.
You’re family, health and mental health come first- thought we all value the work you do, you need to take time for yourself and your family. You can’t give if the well is dry- though we’ll be missing your thoughts if you take some time away, it’s essential to do so if you want to keep doing this work that you truly excel at and that we all value so highly.
Jim and I send you, Dijana and Jessica our warmest wishes, thoughts and hugs from Canada!!!
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 Diana says:

 April 14, 2015 at 10:33 pm

I’m terribly sorry to hear this but very glad I stumbled upon it. I almost got involved with a Mike and Kim in my desperation for emotional support. But I saw them in a youtube video and they seemed a little “off” to me. I also didn’t want to connect with ex- JWs that were still religious. It seemed like another dead end to me. However, I waver in my decision because I’m left so utterly alone. This has strengthened my resolve to look elsewhere for support. I have received some emotional support from atheists in Canada. There’s just no accounting for the behavior of some. Religion messes over people’s minds. I fear I will not live long enough to get myself untwisted. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with so much crazy making behavior from religious opposers. But you seem to have a good head about these things. Please know that there are people like me who find these articles life saving and are filled with gratitude that you have made the effort. It takes great strength and courage to do what you have done. Thank you.
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 Doily says:

 April 14, 2015 at 11:52 pm

John, the great Mark Twain said, “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.”
As a former JW from Lancashire, England, I appreciate your work. But if it’s damaging you and your dearest, why carry on? It’s YOUR life. You’re not even going to get a gold watch and carriage clock for your efforts. That said I can feel your purpose in doing this. Take comfort in knowing the WTS is dying. Even when it sinks below the waterline, thousands will still cling to its festering remains. Whenever you get despondent due to venomous lowlife, think of the Twain quote.
Doily.
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 Searcher says:

 April 15, 2015 at 7:54 am

Hi Lloyd,
 First, I want to thank you (and your family) for all the time you have spent on this site in encouraging others by revealing the lies, deception, and untruth of the “Truth”. JOB WELL DONE!!!
I made a comment here that was presumptuous about one of your positions. You respectfully rebutted that I was incorrect in my assumption. I didn’t take offense, because we are two different people with two different interpretations. We can live together in this world with differing opinions.
As for those that cannot accept your opinions, I say, “Consider the source!” Obviously, these detractors are speaking from a religiously dogmatic point of view, and easily have their feelings hurt when someone disagrees with them. They think they’re sane and everybody who disagrees with them is either crazy or evil. Sound familiar? When you put yourself in a public light, such as this blog, there will always be detractors that WILL NOT rest without verbally beating a retraction out of you (or physically if they could). Again, sound familiar? Throughout history, there have always been religious bully-boys like the GB and religious tyrants of Islamic, Christian, and Jewish persuasions. Unfortunately, I believe there always will be according to human nature. If they aren’t crazy, then religious tyrants have always used religion for power by misleading the uneducated masses. Once again, sound familiar?
Don’t let these people stop you from helping those who so deservedly need the support, help, and relief from religious tyrants such as the GB. You have my support and can do anything you like with a donation from me (I’m giving $25US after this posting). Buy a pint of beer or bottle of wine if you would like! You earned it. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!
Mike (aka: Searcher)
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 JKL says:

 April 15, 2015 at 12:21 pm

Dear friend.
I write friend, Lloyd, because i consider you as my friend. And that is so, even though we have never met in person nor online. You see, this is my first time to write a comment on an ex-JW forum. But after your post and the many sweet comments on your behalf, i just had to.
I ended my activities with JW not so long ago. My convictions had become very different from that of JW, so i saw no other way. That has left me almost completely isolated, since i had no friends not being JW, and because my limited size JW family find it difficult to deal with the situation. So even though i have no wish to see the Watchtower-religion destroyed as such, on so many levels i see myself as a classic victim of a cult. So after ending my activities with JW, i was curious to see if there were others out there like me. And i was shocked, but in a good way. I just did not know. There are so many out there with similar experiences and research like me. Friends like you. That helps me a lot. I have read your block for a few months now, and i really enjoy it. You and your co-writers are intelligent but modest. Like me you seek truth, facts. You have skills that are very valuable, like using modern technology, communication etc. But most importantly, you are willing to spend yourself. We are so many that appreciate that. Thank you.
I would love it if you continue writing. But i am not you. So whether you decide to continue, slow down or stop, it will be met with understanding and respect.
Again. Thank you so much for all your work untill now. And thanks to your family too.
JKL
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 GEM says:

 April 16, 2015 at 1:06 am

Dear Lloyd, Dijana and Jessica:
What a lovely little family, You have. Please ignore personal attacks from folk who have basic psychiatric problems, fuelled by Religious mania.
My partner was the subject of Police “enfitment” ten years ago. Three police officers lied under oath and bore false witness. I am about to go on a surprise holiday (they don’t know it) to Cuba…out of appreciation for the ONE officer that stood by my partner and saved a tragic suicide attempt on the Brecon Beacons.
Ten years on we have weathered the hate of the ignorant, built a successful, family run business and found out who our “True” friends are. It has strengthened us to look through the “magnifying glass” again and look at “the Truth” of all things from many different angles. Suddenly our Kaleidoscope is pretty, ever changing and we humbly accept our different circumstances and views as part of the rich Tapestry of Life.
At the risk of treading on toes here, a certain person said: “You will know the Truth and The Truth will set you free….” OK…I am not an Atheist, I feel I am probably an Agnostic now .. but veering towards the love of a Higher Power, A Creator if You will. But, that is my Comfort Platform.
What can possible be wrong Lloyd…if you are seeking to establish the Truth in All Things.
Ignore the Sickos who would pull you down and try to plant their own venomous creed to all that would listen to or read it.
Stick up for the real Truth…and, at the same time let us be humble too, when we are proved to be wrong.
Scrum down and large shoulders for you All… from this side of my PC!
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 Deborah Baumbarger says:

 April 16, 2015 at 5:56 am

John, although I totally understand your inner sadness and frustration when you are being verbally attacked by people without cause, you should try to consider the source.
 You are doing a fine job helping people wake up to the fact that the Watchtower is a man made cult that is deceiving millions!
 Thanks for all of your videos.
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 Zandrea says:

 April 16, 2015 at 7:55 pm

You’re doing a good thing John. My sanity is in part due to you and your work.
 I love the work you do and big up to your wife for supporting you…
From Jamaica
 With one love…
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 zeebo says:

 April 17, 2015 at 5:16 am

Sad to see the XJW front crumble at the same time the WT get a victory in court.
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 BB5179 says:

 April 17, 2015 at 5:36 am

Lloyd,
 What can i say…. Iam from the UK also and have been out for just over a year… It was your site that helped me get out… Your site that has helped me get my wife and children out, and your site that has helped me get over the emotional stress.. I have seen parts of Mike and Kims youtube tirade against you and it is absolutely disgusting and utter utter rubbish… Your honest and emotional comments have helped me and my family no end and probably saved our lives… I have watched some of Mike and Kims videos before this and felt they were very odd and best stayed away from… They are not helping they just come off as nuts….. Please do not let them and people like them get you down, take a break whenever you need to have time for yourself…. I suffer from depression so i know what you are going though… SO if felt i had to comment to let you know that you are not alone my friend.. I do count you as one even though we have never met.. Why because when i was in my darkest hour of need and wondering how i could have fallen for such a cult.. You were always there and helped with your comments and videos and in my mind thats what friend are for… Now its time to return the favour we are all here for you and your family… All the best from Me and mine…. AND A BIG BIG THANK YOU for being one of the best friends ive ever had!!!
BB5179
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 Ted says:

 April 17, 2015 at 3:25 pm

zeebo, Check out the number of sites, exposing WT,
“Absurdities”.
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 Garrett says:

 April 17, 2015 at 9:21 pm

I’m stunned. I never would have thought that others who left don’t appreciate all you have done like I do. I really don’t get it.
 You wound think that people who left a high pressure control group would be the last ones to want to inflict that on others.
 I would recommend just posting your blog and podcast and cutting yourself off from others posts and comments. Who needs em?
 But people like me who left definitely need you .
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 anonymous says:

 April 18, 2015 at 3:56 am

I didn’t know Tony Prime had a video out where he was attacking Lloyd until I saw Lloyd’s article here so out of curiosity, I watched Tony’s video several times. I also went to Joel’s unwitness video that Tony said that Lloyd had spent all day going back and forth with a guy by the name of David and that David accused Lloyd of making comments and then deleting them so that David had saved all the comments that Lloyd had removed and reposted them so I read all the comments that Lloyd had made that day and also David’s comments and what I saw from David’s comments were nothing but attacks on Lloyd saying that Lloyd thought he was an elder still and all he wanted was money and on and on. It was nothing but character assignations against Lloyd because it seemed Lloyd had taken Joel’s video as against Lloyd’s video personally on how he couldn’t support “agressive” activism anymore. That is what that David character was so mad about. That David character could have just said that they agreed to disagree but no, he went on and on with his cruel comments about Lloyd. Lloyd’s comments were short and not cruel but that David’s comments were cruel and very long. Then Mike and Kim chimed in with their comments about Lloyd’s making money etc.
I feel sorry for Tony. It seems that he’s very angry but it seems that most of his anger is directed at Lloyd because Lloyd has said that if it weren’t for the generous donations from some people, that he wouldn’t be able to spend as much time on his videos. I have seen Eric’s JWstruggle video where he was also asking if people could help him so he could do better videos too. Others also depend on donations. When I saw Eric’s video, I sent him some money. I don’t think Eric is making money when he says that with a few bucks, he can update his camera. That to me, tells me that these guys are doing their work for the love of the people still stuck in the cult but that they are poor, like the rest of us.
Mike and Kim had a donation button on their web site and they took it down because they were accused of “making money” but they said all they got was something like $19 so it wasn’t worth the grief they got so they took the donation money button down. Also, when they first opened up their web site, they said that somebody donated the money to fund the web site for a year or they could never have done it so obviously it is very expensive to operate and own a web site such as jwsurvey. Lloyd has never said how much time he spends on this web site and how much time he spends reading literature and watching videos so he can come up with quality videos and he has never said how much time it takes away from his family and his paying job of translating either and he could do that, but hasn’t.
Tony Prime should take a step back and reason on what he said in that video. If he reasoned it all out, there was no reason for that video. It is very sad and there was nothing for Lloyd to do but explain his side of it.
By the way, when I first came into the “truth”, I wanted to be a pioneer and missionary. Anybody in the “truth” who really loves it, would want to be an elder if they are a young man. We all loved it until we learned that the “truth” really wasn’t the “truth” after all.
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 Lola says:

 April 19, 2015 at 8:56 pm

What’s really sad is that Tony Prime made an animated baby Cedars photo and posted it on Facebook, saying that the doctor recommended terminating the fetus. This is just unacceptable!!! Do these people even realize their own cruelty and inhumanity? THEY are behaving like sociopaths…NOT Cedars!
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 Charles Costante says:

 April 19, 2015 at 10:57 pm

That’s appalling, Lola! The only thing I’ve seen of his was the first 5 minutes or so of a YouTube video where he gate crashed one of the 2015 Memorial celebrations in the States. I didn’t bother to watch the whole thing because I found it rather embarrassing.
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 Melka says:

 April 18, 2015 at 5:28 am

@Anonymous,
 I watched the video too since I was home sick, and all I saw an attempted smear campaign. But I also feel bad for Tony Prime. It seems like he’s a pawn, but when you just take a step back, it doesn’t make sense. But from what the comments suggest, is there is a little group on a vicious witch hunt, and if you suggest anything “against” their accusations, you’re against them.
 But regarding the donations with they actually made a huge deal about: When I first woke up and was trying to find out what was really going on in the world of politics, I couldn’t find out a clear story or believe anything I was reading, because I found out all the tv stations and radio stations and media in general was being bought off by someone who decides what the public is supposed to read and hear about. It’s all propaganda, so my favorite radio station and news station on the internet is independently run, and I kid you not, they ask for donations probably once every 10 minutes. But I donate, because that’s the only way they can operate, obviously. Nobody’s buying them off. And the insults about how Cedars travels but doesn’t have a fridge. It made my heart hurt. Here he goes out and spends his own money to travel and interview people, and the quality of information he puts out is so good, that’s why people wake up. It’s not someone sitting on their couch telling someone else their “opinions”, there’s always tons of research involved. That’s why this whole thing makes me so furious. What these people are doing is just plain idiotic. They’re not putting out the same kind of material, we better hope they’re not successful in the smear campaign they’re running. We both woke up because of this website.
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 Faded says:

 April 19, 2015 at 10:31 am

How horrible that people treated you in such a disrespectful manner. I strongly feel if they don’t like what you are posting, why can’t they just move on? Ugh.
 I, for one, appreciate your YouTube videos and this blog so much, and do think of you as a friend. Your blog and videos have helped me tremendously as I escaped this horrible religion. Any ex JW worth their salt, knows the hard work and time that you put into to your videos and blog. Studying for meetings was a cakewalk compared to the study and research you’re doing NOW in your activism.
 I get the depression. I get that you had a moment and wanted to tell someone off on Facebook or a YouTube comment. You work hard, your intentions are pure, who wouldn’t be hurt and angry and depressed when one is attacked trying to help others???
 I say those who attack are those who have serious issues. Maybe they’re just disgruntled disfellowshipped people that still want to be witnesses and can’t, so they keep the mentality and try to form their own religious beliefs and shoot down any who don’t agree. In other words, they’re just disfellowshipped ‘wanna be’ witnesses with a wacky agenda.
 Lloyd, you’ve completely and successfully left this cult with a sound mind and heart. The nutcases don’t like that. I left. I wish nothing bad on any practicing witness. I see you don’t either. But these wacky ex witnesses just keep hating and bashing and carrying on with their nutty agendas, rather than exposing the “truth” for what it is. Falsehood. Man made doctrine. Baloney. Wacky teachings that keep changing with “new light”.
I’ve spent years struggling with depression and struggled being raised in a religion that constantly made me feel I wasn’t good enough. That I was certain to die if I didn’t make all the meetings or get the required field service time in. Recipe for depression if you ask me. Then add disfellowshipping and complete estrangement from family. THAT’S not depressing. :/
 My sincere hope is that you take care of yourself and your wife and daughter. Understand the haters are projecting their hatred of themselves onto you. Ridiculous. Of course it’s hurtful. These people haven’t worked through their issues and attack the one person who makes sense. You.
 I wish you all the best, and if I were rich, I’d buy you a house!! That’s how much gratitude I have for all the work you’ve done.
 Take care, Lloyd. Please know you are respected and held in high esteem by many.
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 Gameisover says:

 April 20, 2015 at 4:06 am

I just posted a comment that got lost
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 Stephen says:

 April 21, 2015 at 9:58 am

Every once in awhile I find myself presented with a situation that warrants attention. I believe this to be one of those occasions. I say these words with as much objectivity as I can.
 Hello Mr. Cedar;
 My girlfriend was trapped within the JW organization for the first 35 yrs of her life(literally trapped) as only a JW could know what I mean. She introduced me to your You Tube shows over these last couple years and out of all the variety of peoples videos she has shown me I do think yours offer the most effecient methods of peeling away the layers of crud this organization stacks in ones being.
 I thank you for all your great words of wisdom and thank you for your compassion and approach towards this sensitive topic. I believe in your approach, it is rooted with kindness and empathy. I have seen first hand the results of your method unpacking all the damaging luggage that my girlfriend has had to carry around for so long. So I say thank you
 In return for your kindness, generosity and selfless acts. I wish to give you what I can. You and your family are always welcome in my home and if I am lucky enough to ever get the opportunity to help you in any way I surely will.
 Some things I have learned:
 The past is regret and the future is fear so all I have is now.
 I can not control outside events, I can only control how I react to those events
 the eyeball can not look at itself, meaning we all need each other to for self evaluation.
 I have more but will save those for another time. The bottom line is, I wish you and your family well, and will always be grateful for your hard work.
 Peas Out
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 Stacey says:

 April 21, 2015 at 10:30 am

I have been reading the articles you post and watching your videos for the past few months. While I don’t agree with everything you have to say, I still enjoy them and have found them really helpful in what has been a very stressful time in my life. I appreciate very much all of the hard work you put in to helping people like myself wake up to the fact that they have been involved in a religion that is not chosen by God, but a harmful, deceptive cult that breaks up families. I have tried to watch Mike and Kim, but found them very grating and they come across in an unintelligent way. You come across as someone who is informed, well read, and you present your information with warmth and humor. I am sorry you have had to suffer at the hands of others who I am sure are just jealous of your abilities, but I hope you will be able to continue your work, as there are a lot of us out here who appreciate it!
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 Gameisover says:

 April 23, 2015 at 9:25 am

Where is my post of April 20th? Eliminated, lost, spammed?
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 Cedars says:

 April 23, 2015 at 9:53 am

The only comment you made on April 20th that shows up on our records is “I just posted a comment that got lost.”
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 Katie Tuck says:

 April 24, 2015 at 5:24 am

So sad that we escaped from one group of loveless people to the outside world, then found that Jehovahs witnesses are partially right in saying that there’s no love in the world.
 I’m also annoyed by the over righteous that have jumped ship to another narrow mindset.
 John, you are a valuable person to a lot of us in the ex-jw arena. Thank you for bearing your soul. It makes the opposition I get from ex-jws who have turned christian, easier to bear.
 I hope you recover from this undeserved tirade of abuse soon.
 I just wanted you to know that I care.
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 Pickled brain says:

 April 14, 2015 at 9:15 am

Lovely positive comments from everyone!
 Lloyd (John) . ALL of The COMMENTS posted so far have Been BEAUTIFUL & SO ENCOURAGING Not just to Lloyd & His Family But to ALL of us who Log on to this Website. There are SO MANY KIND CARING EX-JWs out there Not Full of Hate & Anger.
 So Please Keep the Positive Comments coming.
 Why shouldn’t you ,Lloyd make some Contributions? out of your hard work & Long Long hours & Emotional Energy that goes into producing this website& You Tube Channel.
 When I think of the BILLIONS the Governing Body have got from Real Estate,Wills,Stocks&Shares,etc from JWs who have Died it is Tantamount to BLOOD MONEY??? When Thousands have Died because of not having Vaccinations,Organ Transplants,Blood Transfusions in Emergencies. Let Alone the MISERY of BREAKING up FAMILIES through SHUNNING because of Disagreements over Doctrine or the way the GB has handled Paedophiles? If you pardon the Expression!
 As I said before You, Lloyd , Have SAVED MANY LIVES!!! Keep up the good work : THERE ARE MORE WITH US THAN AGAINST US as good old Elijah said !!
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 Pickled brain says:

 April 16, 2015 at 12:03 am

@Lloyd(John) . What I have noticed Because of your Honesty & Humility in showing us your Feelings & Vulnerability HAS CAUSED People who have NEVER COMMENTED BEFORE to Feel IMPELLED to Comment on this Site to SHOW that YOU Lloyd have CHANGED JWs & Ex-JWs Lives for the better& Keep on giving them the Inner Strength to Fight their INNER FEARS & INSECURITIES Created by 7 American MEN in BROOKLYN who CHOP & CHANGE their Interpretations of Scripture so Frequently it is Frightening!!
 Any one who reads this site & hasn’t commented , PLEASE Have the INNER DETERMINATION to Support Lloyd& His Wife& Child!! They as a FAMILY have SACRIFICED SO MUCH in terms of Emotional Time,Energy,Money etc. It must be draining!
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 Pickled brain says:

 April 17, 2015 at 8:04 am

@Zeebo . With due respect the XJW front is NOT CRUMBLING. Just look at the BEAUTIFUL & HEARTWARMING Comments here in Support of Lloyd(John) We are all STRONGER & FIGHTING the Fine Fight of a Spiritual Warfare to SAVE Hearts & Minds from 7 Controlling AMERICAN MEN.
 & the Candace Conti Court Case is a VICTORY because it is has SHOWN how CORRUPT the Inner Workings of a Judicial Committee of 3 Elders& the Abuser facing the Poor Victim who was a Child . The WORLD can SEE HOW DISGUSTING this is !!!
 The Victory is For all XJW who have shown how this Filthy the JW Organisation is :
 Please read January 15th 2015 Watchtower page 24 paragraph 4:
‘MANY Christians have watched lurid material on the Internet,have been to sexually explicit movies,Stage shows,some have visited strip shows,massage parlours& Nightclubs as well as viewing Pornography. ‘
This is in a STUDY WATCHTOWER which we studied on Sunday a few weeks ago!!
 An OPEN ADMISSION that this is RIFE in the JW Organisation Because the words’MANY CHRISTIANS’ meaning JWS !!
 Our Children should not be allowed to be ALONE in the Ministry unless a Criminal Record Check is made on each individual!!
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 anonymous says:

 April 17, 2015 at 4:01 pm

@Pickled Brain, that article is coming right out and saying that viewing pornography, reading erotic literature, or watching lurid material on the internet and watching sexually explicit movies, naked stage shows, and watching sexually explicit television shows, visiting nightclubs and strip shows and getting sensual messages are NOT WRONG because this is how that paragraph starts:
“How is it possible for a Christian to be drawn into immoral conduct: The disastrous path of immorality often starts with the eyes. Jesus explained: “Everyone who keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matt. 5:27, 28: 2 Pet. 2:14) Many Christians who have fallen into wrongdoing have weakened their moral defenses by viewing pornography, reading erotic literature” …and so on.
Those paragraphs under ” Guard Your Heart” is telling the reader that the only wrong doing happens when the person has committed adultery with another person so doing porn and going to strip clubs etc. and all the rest only LEADS TO WRONGDOING. A paragraph like that is telling a man that as long as he doesn’t commit adultery, those other things are not wrong doing.
Tell that to a wife who catches her JW husband going to strip clubs and watching porn on their computer that he hasn’t done any wrongdoing and see if it washes with her.
See if she then thinks this is a “clean” organization when the only “wrongdoing” is only when he actually commits adultery. It’s then that a woman will find out that it’s an “old boys club”. What I am saying is that if a JW claims to be a JW, then he should not be doing those things because that is the impression that the Watchtower wants the world to think. The Watchtower wants the world to think that JW men don’t go to strip clubs and X rated movies and watch porn on television on their computers. But in reality, the JW men are being given a green light for all those things to do but the women are being blindly deceived into thinking that the guy they are marrying wouldn’t do those things but when she catches her husband doing that stuff, nothing happens to him. Her feelings about the matter are dismissed as “not forgiving”. It makes me wonder just how many elders are doing it and thinking to themselves that as long as they don’t actually commit adultery, it’s between them and Jehovah. Who cares about what the wife thinks? After all, it’s not the wife they are sinning against, is it? It’s Jehovah they are sinning against. But according to that paragraph, they aren’t even sinning against Jehovah when they do that stuff.
When a person abuses a child, you can better believe that that person was first addicted to porn. The porn starts small and it takes more and more perverted porn to get the “high” that they first had so the porn gets more and more perverted. That is how child abusers get started down that road.
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 zeebo says:

 April 18, 2015 at 1:29 am

What i meant was it’s sad to see the in fighting and factions within this small group. Once leaving the WT was an awakening and there was a seemingly united effort to welcome people to the ‘real world’.
I’m just saying the WT has forever said things like ‘where will you go?’ and ‘who else loves like us’.. we all know its a load of crud but such vicious in-fighting makes us look pretty small.
If you watch the Tonyprime video attaching John, you will see many many equally sympathetic and supportive messages. So it isn’t really proof of anything.
I think (and i believe this article says as much) that we should all put the personality to one side and get on with WT exposure.
As for funding, the argument against Lloyd is just crazy.. Like him or not, these sites take a lot of admin and people are free to not visit if they wish.. Until a monthly subscription is requested, there is absolutely nothing wrong. Its just madness to begrudge a few googleads and an optional way to donate..
Reply
 

 Pickled brain says:

 April 17, 2015 at 7:19 pm

@Anonymous. Your Dead Right about it being a BOYS CLUB !! In Judicial Committees my Father-in- Law who over 40 years of sitting on MANY said ‘If a Brother who Committed Adultery said his wife had NOT Been Providing the Marriage Due(Sexual Intercourse) Then the Elders would take that into consideration & Be More Lenient with him !! In other words it was the wife’s fault why he comitted Adultery??? So my Question is what WEIRD Reasoning do these Elders come up with when a Brother commits Pedophilia ??
 THIS ORGANISATION is RUN BY MEN for MEN !!
Reply
 

 Gareth says:

 April 18, 2015 at 5:32 am

anonymous, I think you’re off the mark here. The WT article nowhere says pornography is not wrongdoing. This doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt the partner (it does), but that’s not WT’s agenda.
I think we agree though, but you highlight it a little differently. The WT’s agenda is loyalty to the organization. This article’s tool towards that end is “Jehovah’s view of marriage”. So the WT is arguing that pornography is disrespecting the marriage bond (which was supposedly instituted by Jehovah). That’s why it follows up in paragraph 8 how to keep learning about Jehovah (through the WT of course! haha).
So the perversion here is not “JW men are given the green light”, or that women are ignored per se, but that pornography hurts the relationship with God by ignoring the WT counsel (basically). It’s all Jehovah wants-this-or-that.
Your “…when she catches him… nothing happens to him” is slightly misleading; I would say that seeing how the wife is hurt by the man’s actions should lead to sorrow and regret and his part. If it doesn’t… well then it’s a problem with this man, not necessarily the WT. Because the counter-side is… would you want the reason for your husband to love you more (or at least act like it because of WT fear) because he was restricted or even publicly humiliated in some way?
Reply
 

 Cedars says:

 April 18, 2015 at 1:40 am

“Infighting” implies acts of mutual aggression. I have been on the receiving end of a number of videos from various YouTubers all aimed at character-assassinating me through a range of wild and spurious accusations ranging from “he’s a stalker” to “he’s a wife-beater and potential pedophile.” In contrast, videos I have made singling out other activists for criticism are conspicuous by their absence.
 True, I have written this article as an attempt to draw a line under these attacks and explain the motives behind some of them as I see it, but I am perfectly entitled to defend myself when my family’s happiness is on the line. I wish people would stop giving credence to the claims that I am some kind of “cyber bully” by implying this is a two-way conflict. Yes, I have written this article in the hopes of answering my accusers, and yes I have stooped to getting embroiled in arguments on YouTube and Facebook that I probably shouldn’t have – but apart from those defensive actions this “infighting” is entirely one-way.
Reply
 

 anonymous says:

 April 18, 2015 at 9:15 pm

Gareth, If I had a problem with pornography and I was reading that paragraph, I would see that the real sin wasn’t the porn, but adultery. That is the message I would get if I had a problem with going to strip clubs or going on the internet looking for porn. No where in those paragraphs, does it imply or say that any of those things was it sinning against Jehovah but that it LEADS to sinning. I remember arguing with a district overseer a couple of years ago because those are the very words he used in his talk at the circuit assembly. I keep looking for it in the literature and that is the way the Society always words it.
I don’t know how any more plain it can be.
Reply
 

 zeebo says:

 April 19, 2015 at 1:49 am

I guess what i mean by community is that this issue has ploarised everyone and they have got stupid. I happen to think the fact you are at the eye of the storm is incidental.. could have been anyone else who is on public display. But the reactions and frankly horrible things being said put shame one us all. I say comments (albeit joking) about physical violence. Not funny. Anyway I hope you can sandbox this and not let it effect you too much. There will always be trolls
Reply
 

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← “We are not done yet!” – Candace reacts to appeal court decision

JW.org does partial U-turn over Awake! magazine Rama Singh misquote
avatar
Posted on April 19, 2015

JW.org has removed their misquote of Rama Singh from digital versions of Awake! magazine
JW.org has removed their misquote of Rama Singh from digital versions of Awake! magazine

Some of you will remember that back in January we reported on the latest example of a Watchtower publication misquoting an academic to get its anti-science views across. Biologist Rama Singh was quoted in the January 2015 Awake! magazine with comments that seemed to suggest he was a denier of evolutionary theory, when in actual fact he is anything but.
“JW has indeed misquoted me and I do not agree with their article and its anti-evolution stand,” he said on being alerted to the matter.
In an open letter to Awake! magazine editors, Singh made this request (bold is mine):

“So I am asking you first to remove the misquotation from your article immediately and second print an unconditional apology for what I consider is a deliberate damaging action on your part to my reputation.”
Well… it seems Awake! has done the first part. Digital versions of the January 2015 Awake! magazine, including the PDF download, no longer feature the Rama Singh quote as the following images show…
BEFORE…
11126905_10153245677955859_1438907929721439922_n
AFTER…
11054860_10153245678865859_3962693436555226232_n
The only thing that is conspicuous by its absence is the second part of Singh’s request – namely a printed, unconditional apology from Awake! editors for misquoting him. Unfortunately for Singh, who has since written about the incident in the Hamilton Spectator, it is extremely doubtful he will receive any such thing.
Despite professing “Christlike humility,” the “spiritual men” who work on the Governing Body’s Writing Committee are not renowned for their willingness to issue apologies or print retractions.
Needless to say, the whole affair smacks of hypocrisy. A religion that is the first to point the finger at others for deception and subterfuge is not above stooping to such methods if it means duping people into embracing their backwards views.
The scandal also makes a mockery of this quote from page 13 of the 2011 Yearbook:

“In summary, the Writing Department insists on using only material that is accurate and truthful, even regarding seemingly insignificant details. As a result, ‘the faithful and discreet slave’ can consistently supply spiritual food that brings honor to ‘the God of truth,’ Jehovah.—Ps. 31:5.”

new-cedars-signature2






Further reading…
◾JWsurvey: Watchtower AGAIN misquotes scientist to argue against evolution – and this time, it’s personal!
◾Hamilton Spectator (by Rama Singh): Religion, science driven by reason
◾INQUISITR: Biology Professor Says Creationist Magazine Misquoted Him To Perpetuate Lies Against Evolution
◾Friendly Atheist: Jehovah’s Witness Publication Cites Professor Who Doubts Evolution… but Professor Says He Was Unfairly Misquoted
◾JWsurvey articles on evolution and creation


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← “We are not done yet!” – Candace reacts to appeal court decision

61 Responses to JW.org does partial U-turn over Awake! magazine Rama Singh misquote

← Older Comments

 AlF says:

 April 23, 2015 at 4:50 pm

Excelsior, Obviously, sir, you need to learn the meaning of the word “euphemism.” Saying I want those people buried does not have to be taken literally. In defense of notanapologist, I assume he knew innocent people died on those planes. He was likely just using a historical event as an analogy to make his point. No need to go through his comments with a fine-tooth comb. As for your “free and fair trial” for the governing body, let me ask you this, did the victims of the watchtower’s molesters get a “fair trial” before they were taken advantage of? And how long will your proposed “re-education” program take, to wean the masses off their opiate of religion? A century, a millennium, or more? By then, our charming Middle Eastern friends will have beheaded, incinerated or thrown us all off tall buildings. Patience is a virtue, sir, but only to a point.
Reply
 

 Tim smith says:

 April 23, 2015 at 7:45 pm

The audio version of the Awake has not changed. It still reads as the original was printed as of yesterday.
Reply
 

 Excelsior! says:

 April 24, 2015 at 5:01 am

AIF,
Thank you for your reply. I have just checked the meaning of euphemism and it does not apply here.
An euphemism is where a less controversial word is used to replace one that may be taboo etc.
No, the victims did not have a free and fair trial. They weren’t on trial, were they? They were abused by disgusting individuals who need to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. That is something that we both agree with, sir.
As for how long this education programme will take – I have no idea. In my opinion, regardless of how long it takes, it is preferable to aggression and violence. We can, of course, disagree.
I have stated that all religions must be held to account by thr same laws as all citizens. This is something we can all help with by engaging with our Representatives, and lobbying for this.
We must agree to disagree, sir. I thank you sincerely for your polite response. I appreciate it.
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
Reply
 

 Excelsior! says:

 April 24, 2015 at 8:41 am

AIF,
I think the device used by your good self and notanapologist was hyperbole. This is using exaggeration to make a point.
I did not pick up on this, so I apologise for that. I had no context to judge the comments as hyperbole, and there were no punctuation clues, like the use of exclamation marks.
Anyway, point taken, sir. I am glad that we have been able to clarify our opinions in this polite manner.
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
Reply
 
 AlF says:

 April 24, 2015 at 2:54 pm

I think you think too much.
Reply
 
 

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← “We are not done yet!” – Candace reacts to appeal court decision

JW.org does partial U-turn over Awake! magazine Rama Singh misquote
avatar
Posted on April 19, 2015

JW.org has removed their misquote of Rama Singh from digital versions of Awake! magazine
JW.org has removed their misquote of Rama Singh from digital versions of Awake! magazine

Some of you will remember that back in January we reported on the latest example of a Watchtower publication misquoting an academic to get its anti-science views across. Biologist Rama Singh was quoted in the January 2015 Awake! magazine with comments that seemed to suggest he was a denier of evolutionary theory, when in actual fact he is anything but.
“JW has indeed misquoted me and I do not agree with their article and its anti-evolution stand,” he said on being alerted to the matter.
In an open letter to Awake! magazine editors, Singh made this request (bold is mine):

“So I am asking you first to remove the misquotation from your article immediately and second print an unconditional apology for what I consider is a deliberate damaging action on your part to my reputation.”
Well… it seems Awake! has done the first part. Digital versions of the January 2015 Awake! magazine, including the PDF download, no longer feature the Rama Singh quote as the following images show…
BEFORE…
11126905_10153245677955859_1438907929721439922_n
AFTER…
11054860_10153245678865859_3962693436555226232_n
The only thing that is conspicuous by its absence is the second part of Singh’s request – namely a printed, unconditional apology from Awake! editors for misquoting him. Unfortunately for Singh, who has since written about the incident in the Hamilton Spectator, it is extremely doubtful he will receive any such thing.
Despite professing “Christlike humility,” the “spiritual men” who work on the Governing Body’s Writing Committee are not renowned for their willingness to issue apologies or print retractions.
Needless to say, the whole affair smacks of hypocrisy. A religion that is the first to point the finger at others for deception and subterfuge is not above stooping to such methods if it means duping people into embracing their backwards views.
The scandal also makes a mockery of this quote from page 13 of the 2011 Yearbook:

“In summary, the Writing Department insists on using only material that is accurate and truthful, even regarding seemingly insignificant details. As a result, ‘the faithful and discreet slave’ can consistently supply spiritual food that brings honor to ‘the God of truth,’ Jehovah.—Ps. 31:5.”

new-cedars-signature2






Further reading…
◾JWsurvey: Watchtower AGAIN misquotes scientist to argue against evolution – and this time, it’s personal!
◾Hamilton Spectator (by Rama Singh): Religion, science driven by reason
◾INQUISITR: Biology Professor Says Creationist Magazine Misquoted Him To Perpetuate Lies Against Evolution
◾Friendly Atheist: Jehovah’s Witness Publication Cites Professor Who Doubts Evolution… but Professor Says He Was Unfairly Misquoted
◾JWsurvey articles on evolution and creation


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← “We are not done yet!” – Candace reacts to appeal court decision

61 Responses to JW.org does partial U-turn over Awake! magazine Rama Singh misquote

← Older Comments

 AlF says:

 April 23, 2015 at 4:50 pm

Excelsior, Obviously, sir, you need to learn the meaning of the word “euphemism.” Saying I want those people buried does not have to be taken literally. In defense of notanapologist, I assume he knew innocent people died on those planes. He was likely just using a historical event as an analogy to make his point. No need to go through his comments with a fine-tooth comb. As for your “free and fair trial” for the governing body, let me ask you this, did the victims of the watchtower’s molesters get a “fair trial” before they were taken advantage of? And how long will your proposed “re-education” program take, to wean the masses off their opiate of religion? A century, a millennium, or more? By then, our charming Middle Eastern friends will have beheaded, incinerated or thrown us all off tall buildings. Patience is a virtue, sir, but only to a point.
Reply
 

 Tim smith says:

 April 23, 2015 at 7:45 pm

The audio version of the Awake has not changed. It still reads as the original was printed as of yesterday.
Reply
 

 Excelsior! says:

 April 24, 2015 at 5:01 am

AIF,
Thank you for your reply. I have just checked the meaning of euphemism and it does not apply here.
An euphemism is where a less controversial word is used to replace one that may be taboo etc.
No, the victims did not have a free and fair trial. They weren’t on trial, were they? They were abused by disgusting individuals who need to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. That is something that we both agree with, sir.
As for how long this education programme will take – I have no idea. In my opinion, regardless of how long it takes, it is preferable to aggression and violence. We can, of course, disagree.
I have stated that all religions must be held to account by thr same laws as all citizens. This is something we can all help with by engaging with our Representatives, and lobbying for this.
We must agree to disagree, sir. I thank you sincerely for your polite response. I appreciate it.
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
Reply
 

 Excelsior! says:

 April 24, 2015 at 8:41 am

AIF,
I think the device used by your good self and notanapologist was hyperbole. This is using exaggeration to make a point.
I did not pick up on this, so I apologise for that. I had no context to judge the comments as hyperbole, and there were no punctuation clues, like the use of exclamation marks.
Anyway, point taken, sir. I am glad that we have been able to clarify our opinions in this polite manner.
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
Reply
 
 AlF says:

 April 24, 2015 at 2:54 pm

I think you think too much.
Reply
 
 

← Older Comments

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← Conti appeal: Watchtower’s punitive damages reversed but negligence for lack of field service supervision is affirmed
JW.org does partial U-turn over Awake! magazine Rama Singh misquote →

“We are not done yet!” – Candace reacts to appeal court decision
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Posted on April 16, 2015

Candace Conti (pictured in her interview with ABC) has spoken out for the first time about the appeal court decision
Candace Conti (pictured in her interview with ABC) has spoken out for the first time about the appeal court decision

As current and former Jehovah’s Witnesses digest the news that Watchtower’s appeal against the Candace Conti verdict has faltered, albeit with the punitive element of the judgment reversed, Candace has reacted for the first time by telling me: “We are not done yet.”
News spread on Monday that the State appeals court in San Francisco had upheld the $2.8 million compensatory damages in the original June 2012 verdict, but overturned the $8.6 million punitive award against Watchtower.
The court decided that, though Watchtower had neglected its responsibility to supervise known pedophile Jonathan Kendrick in field ministry, a “church-sponsored activity,” the organization had NO duty to warn parents in the congregation that a pedophile was in their midst or report him to authorities.
An insightful report by investigative reporter Trey Bundy has suggested that the court reached its decision because the precedent set by the Conti verdict might be too burdensome to enforce.
“The burden would be considerable because the precedent could require a church to intervene whenever it has reason to believe that a congregation member is capable of doing harm, and the scope of that duty could not be limited with any precision,” the judges wrote.
Candace’s attorney Rick Simons responded by pointedly telling Bundy: “They think in public policy terms that there’s too much risk in broadening the church’s responsibility and liability so that it burdens what churches do. We think there’s too much child abuse in these institutions.”
Simons has also gone on record with the Contra Costa Times / Bay City News Service saying: “This is really a public policy issue, and of course we disagree as to what is the best public policy. Ms. Conti is of the view that public policy should favor requiring churches to do all they can to prevent further abuse by identified child molesters from happening, rather than just requiring that they pay money to victims after the abuse occurs.”
Now Candace has herself spoken out, indicating that she is prepared to take this matter all the way to the Supreme Court if she must in order to see children protected and justice fully served.
Referring to the ruling on Monday, Candace told me: “This is just another step. It will not change the amount of money but it might help change the laws. And you know me, I’m all about the laws. We have the chance to make positive changes in the Supreme Court for how children are protected. We may have another year and a half to go.”
When I pressed her on whether she is definitely taking her case to the Supreme Court, Candace replied: “It’s questionable now but we are trying to make the best case, and we might only take it to the Supreme Court if Watchtower takes it there. Other than that we are waiting. The ball is still unfortunately in their court.”
During our exchange I couldn’t help but wonder whether Rick Simons shared Candace’s optimism. After all, it is one thing for Candace to shrug off the financial aspect in such a convoluted legal struggle in favor of pursuing justice, but lawyers are known to be a little more cautious and pragmatic.
“Oh Rick, is the energizer bunny. He is just ready for whatever comes, and is willing to take it as far as I am willing to go!” – Candace assured me.
Whether the case ends up in the Supreme Court remains to be seen. And as Candace indicated, it will depend largely on whether Watchtower is content to lick its wounds and consolidate its losses, or fight to the death under the delusion that Jehovah will carry them to victory against Satan’s hoards.
Before our conversation ended, Candace assured me that she would keep me posted on future developments once the next step in her long journey becomes clear.
Whatever happens next, it is encouraging to see that Candace’s appetite to see justice served is unwavering, and is matched by her lawyer. Let’s hope that political concerns over burdensome “adverse social consequences” yield to basic common sense, and it is finally recognized that, irrespective of local reporting laws, parents deserve to know if a pedophile is in their church and has access to their children.

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Further reading…
◾Contra Costa times article
◾Trey Bundy’s “Reveal” piece
◾JWsurvey initial reaction to appeal court decision
◾JWsurvey articles on child abuse


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← Conti appeal: Watchtower’s punitive damages reversed but negligence for lack of field service supervision is affirmed
JW.org does partial U-turn over Awake! magazine Rama Singh misquote →

68 Responses to “We are not done yet!” – Candace reacts to appeal court decision

 Pat says:

 April 16, 2015 at 3:52 am

I am so happy that this verdict hasn’t dampened Candace’s spirit! She is one hell of a woman and shows courage that is beyond the pale. Thanks for this post because it has lifted my spirit too.
Reply
 

 Hakizimana Jean de Dieu says:

 April 16, 2015 at 4:06 am

I tend to think the Watchtower will “fight to the death under the delusion that Jehovah will carry them to victory against Satan’s hoards.”!
“Any weapon . . . formed against you will have no success.”—ISAIAH 54:17. (w07 12/15 p. 21)
Such verses fuel delusion and push JWs deep in their Cognitive dissonance and fail to reconcile the reality and what their call the truth!
Reply
 

 Excelsior! says:

 April 16, 2015 at 5:35 am

Folks,
Candace Conti, and her mother, are heroes indeed. The WTBTS will perhaps continue to appeal this case.
Whatever happens, the fearless and compassionate actions of Candace have already led to so much good for others.
We shall watch this case with interest, as we all try, in our own ways, to highlight the disgusting “two witness rule” and the damage this causes to innocent children.
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
Reply
 

 not a JW but surrounded by JW says:

 April 16, 2015 at 6:05 am

Candace is a hero, and has no doubt already saved many children due to her persistence.
 I don’t understand how the court didn’t comprehend the fact that this religious organization is not like most in that it requires members to cut off anyone who isn’t a JW in good standing so they are completely dependent on JW’s for all of their support, and then the congregations are kept small so that only leaves members a very small pool to choose from. Then they are blasted every week with the information that Armageddon is coming soon and run to the Watchtower for safety. If the talk isn’t on “run to the Watchtower Armegedon is coming soon”, then the talk is on “how great the only true Christian Congregation is” Or a combination of both.
Other Christian Churches rarely talk about themselves, they talk about how great Jesus is, and if they do talk about themselves it’s about how we are all sinners.
 The pastor at the church I attend now even preached a couple of months ago how you can’t trust someone just because they say they are a Christian or go to our church. Some people are there for the wrong motives. All volunteers are background checked, and there are strict rules, like children’s workers are not allowed to have a child over 2 in their lap. Only women are allowed to take children to the restroom and then there has to be 2 of them.
The witnesses claimed in the past to be the true shephards taking care of their flock (JW Members), still claim in recent talks that they do not have pedophiles and that they are totally clean.
The mentality of every JW I’ve ever know is if someone is a witness that means they can be trusted 100%. My daughter asked her grandmother, if she trusted her new cleaning lady. the snooty reply was, “oh, she’s a SISTER!” Case closed, she’s even from another congregation and had never met her.
This stiff-necked child crushing organization needs to have policies in place that protect children. They need to shout from the rooftops that just because someone is a witness does not mean they can be trusted. They won’t do it unless it costs them lots of money. The court is the only one that can make them pay. The court failed. Can someone sue the court?
Reply
 

 Shunned For Life says:

 April 16, 2015 at 6:53 am

One almost wonders if some of these lawmakers have pedophile leanings. Come ON, too burdensome? How would requiring that congregations issue a general warning be too burdensome? A general warning could be issued (without naming names) that children might be at risk and for parents to use appropriate caution.
The Society has proven time and again, that they are willing to endanger innocent children, instead of initiating common-sense steps to protect them, but it is a sad day when lawmakers refuse to recognize that simple steps do not necessarily have to be “burdensome.”
Putting up roadblocks instead of protecting children from predators could be said to be a crime in itself.
Reply
 
 Tontonton says:

 April 18, 2015 at 1:12 am

Nada que! La tal C Conti iba por el dinero de la WT. Ella no esta conforme porque le restaron la suma de dolares; esa es la realidad. Sinceramente creo que poco le importan los niños de las congregaciones. ¡Si quere dinero que trabaje!. Muchas instituciones religiosas encubren la pederastia en sus congregaciones por sus nexos con funcionarios corruptos y por tanto no se les castiga. Ejemplo grande, la ICAR.
Una pregunta final ¿Si el veredicto hibiese sido lo contario hubieran dudado del honorable jurado y de los dirigentes del tibunal?…
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 April 18, 2015 at 3:25 am

@Tontonton, What makes you think that all Ms. Conti and her lawyers care about is the money? What makes you think that she doesn’t care about the children?
What this woman did first was to go to the congregation where she was abused and ask them if they could warn parents of molesters in their congregation and they were told that no, the Society has orders for elders that if a molester is in their congregation, that it has to be kept quiet. So, then she went to the congregation where Kendrick had molested his step granddaughter and she asked them too if they couldn’t warn parents of known molesters and she was given the same answer. So, then she wrote to the Society and they refused to answer her back so that is when she decided to take it to the courts. She was only asking for $1,444.00 in compensatory damages and it was the courts that validated her claim for the abuse of all the children with $28 million dollars and the reason for that is to bring it to the Society’s attention. Anything less would have not mattered to the Society. Before the verdict, the Society could have cared less about Ms. Conti in that they paid no attention to her letter but after the verdict, they at least sat up and took notice of Ms. Conti.
Ms. Conti is responsible for not taking big pay outs like all the other victims have done who have tried to sue the Society.
She decided to not take the “bribes” to keep quiet. You have no reason to make the statement that you did that it’s only about the money for her and that she doesn’t care about the children who are being and have been molested in the congregations.
Reply
 

 Ruben says:

 April 18, 2015 at 11:45 am

Tontonton,it´s always the same with you, the JW´s, as soon as U face something that cuestions your system of beliefs, the first reaction is to put the blame on the ICAR.
 Putting the blame in someone else is like a bleach bath for your “Mother Organzation”, and if the catholics sucks all the faults of your beloved WT,way better!
 Who cares about justice and love and care! Let´s blame catholics for global warming, air poisoning and whatever comes in mind, as soon as the WT keeps the cleanest image they sell in their tabloids Watchtower and Awake, BOTH a monument to phariseeism.
 Si no te cabe, no repartas!
Reply
 
 
 

 Cécile says:

 April 16, 2015 at 7:21 am

Thank you! You’re wonderful for all that you’re doing for the children to be really protected, as the Convention of New-York (1991) says: the “supreme interest of the child” that has sadly been forgotten one more time… It’s so encouraging for us who suffered very bad things in our childhood because of the Watchtower, to see that there is in the world so brave “never done” people making it changes step by step, for the best! Take care of you… THANK YOU Candace and John and all of the people who help you….
Reply
 

 Gayle says:

 April 16, 2015 at 7:24 am

Such admiration for Candace through all this!
If a honest religion cannot protect the children, then what is it for? Schools and medical facilities are required this fundamental requirement, even for volunteers. It is not too “burdensome” for them (schools, facilities). Even many neighborhoods put up posters if a previously convicted sex offender moves in.
Now, will the California Supreme Court, accept a petition by Candace? The California Supreme Court accepts only 4%-5% cases.
Reply
 

 Jennifer says:

 April 16, 2015 at 7:51 am

No matter what you decide to do Candace you are an amazing young woman and I am behind you 100%.
Reply
 

 Tam Emers says:

 April 16, 2015 at 8:13 am

Trey Bundy highlights an important issue to consider–it isn’t just the JW kids that are at risk when the congregations keep to this ridiculous policy of protecting the privacy of known pedophiles, it is the children in the community where these pedophiles are proselytizing. It is chilling to think that one’s child could unknowingly open the door to a sex offender, but the fact is that existing WT policy has left space for exactly this sort of situation to happen.
To me, it is unconscionable that WT allows known sex offenders and pedophiles to engage in the public ministry. They could easily protect the community by restricting these criminals to letter writing or telephone witnessing, but don’t. This shows the supreme disregard and contempt this organization has for anyone not in their membership and in good standing.
This shows how important it is to support the fight of Candace and other victims of WT abuse, and I hope that justice will in the end be served. Keep fighting the good fight, there are many who support your work Candace–also you Cedars, for bringing this news to the world. Thank you for your activism!
Reply
 

 Julia Douglas says:

 April 16, 2015 at 8:25 am

If the elders were required to warn the congregation when there was a confessed or convicted pedophile attending the Kingdom Hall, that right there could go a long way in protecting children. How is that a burden to enforce? What about the burden that a child bears for a lifetime after they have been abused?
As well, simply requiring all publishers to undergo a Child Abuse Registry check before allowing them to go door-to-door should hardly be regarded as a burden. Most churches require their volunteers to go through background checks just to work in a charity shop or food bank… how much more should this be required of Jehovah’s Witnesses who are required to go door-to-door offering home Bible studies to members of the community?
Reply
 

 anonymous says:

 April 16, 2015 at 9:57 am

We all know that the Watchtower is negligent when it comes to protecting children within the organization and I believe that if Candace takes her case to the Supreme Court that she will win. If her lawyers feel that she can win the case, then I hope she takes it all the way to the Supreme court.
The reason that the Watchtower Society is negligent when it comes to protecting the kids is because the Society decides what gets published in the magazines and books and they never warn in any of those publications that an abuser will most likely be either a family member or a close friend of the family or a babysitter and we all know that the only people that Jehovah’s Witnesses are allowed to associate with are other Jehovah’s Witnesses. The Watchtower never warns anybody that an abuser could be another Witness. The Watchtower wants the whole world to believe that Witnesses are the most trusted and “clean” people in the whole world and will do anything to maintain that “lie”.
90% of all child molestations occur within the family or close family friends but the Society only warns parents and children about stranger danger, not family or friends danger. This lack of warning has to be deliberate from the Society’s side.
It all comes down to the two witness rule. Inside the Organization, we all know that if a child comes forward with a molestation accusation, that if they don’t have another witness to the molestation, that the congregation will not stand behind them if they turn the abuser in to authorities.
They will be on their own against the abuser and most likely will be shunned for “bringing reproach on Jehovah’s name”. They are intimidated into keeping it quiet.
Then if the abuser or their family should tell anybody about the abuse, they will be called before a committee for slander and they will be told to be quiet about their accusations or they themselves will be disfellowshipped (kept quiet) and not allowed to warn anybody else about the abuser. This makes an impossible situation for the victim and their family.
This makes it a pedophile paradise for abusers. The only thing abusers have to do is to make sure that when they abuse a child, that they have to do it with no witnesses.
In the case of Kendrick, he insinuated himself into Candace’s family because her mother and father were unable to care for her properly and he took advantage of that, which is what abusers do. They see a situation like that and they know that the child is looking for attention and that is called “grooming”. The better a pedophile is at “grooming” a child, the less likely it is that the child will even realize what is happening and the less likely it is that they will turn the guy in, once they realize what has happened to them. Pedophiles know what they are doing and a lot of times, they can get away with abusing many children over many years before they finally get caught. It is very difficult to turn in an abuser, once that person has made the child “fall in love” with them.
If he had never molested another child, a person could believe that maybe Candace was lying but the fact is, that when he remarried when he moved to another congregation, he molested his new step granddaughter. That time, he had to serve prison time for it. He admitted his crime both to her and his first stepdaughter. So, he is a pedophile and so that is the 2nd witness for Candace. The first one was his first stepdaughter and her 2nd witness was the step granddaughter.
How did this guy divorce and remarry with no repercussions? How did that happen? In my neck of the woods, if he did something to his stepdaughter where his wife was able to divorce him and he was able to remarry, that tells me that what he did could have been considered adultery, since he remarried without being considered adultery. So, is that all it takes to get a scriptural divorce nowadays? “Touching” somebody’s breast? It seems that was all it took in his case. That would be enough for a lot of wives and mothers to get a divorce, but is that the case now? Those elders were told to keep him away from kids but that was all that happened to him and even then, they let him insinuate himself into Candace’s family, knowing that he had a problem with pedophilia. So, he touches his step daughter and his wife divorces him for it and then the elders let him off the hook with a warning from the Society and he goes to another congregation and remarries with a letter from his old congregation that in effect was a recommendation for him to hang out with kids.
Somebody has to pay for this.
If you look at his case in California, he used drugs on at least one of those girls. It was more than than just “touching”.
I hope that Candace writes a book some day. There is so much to this story that needs to be said.
Reply
 

 David says:

 April 16, 2015 at 10:02 am

We live in a strange world. Governments regarding religion should be fair to both parties, the institution and people.
 It is unbelievable that in today’s world these organisations are allowed to break families and ruin people lives when someone decide that cannot support certain teachings and ideas.
 They are getting allowances and protection while thousands of people must deal with abuse and physiological harm.
 If freedom is a human right should be for everybody not just for modern religion organizations.
Reply
 
 Mandalay says:

 April 18, 2015 at 10:20 am

@David
JWs are one of the organizations bankrolled by the powerful banking elite early on for the purpose of subverting Christianity, and there are many ways to skin a cat. A heavy focus on Old Testament study, stealth consolidation of property by the corporation, rules that are anti-family, absolute control by a few, and world-destruction-rapture doctrines (fake prophecy invented by Jews in 15th century) are some of the hallmarks of these religions in America. That the JWs haven’t become raving Zionist lunatics like many other subversive sects is a complete mystery, and, I must reluctantly admit, to their credit.
I always pray Candice and her lawyers continue the fight against the child-endangerment policies of the Watchtower. At present, I know of some JW congregations that have given public notice about the presence of registered pedophiles in their membership, but I can’t honestly say that this organization has done all that it can to protect children. It is not their agenda.
I apologize if this comment appears more than once. I was having trouble posting; it was not appearing at all until I changed my hardware and re-submitted it.
Reply
 
 

 Ted says:

 April 16, 2015 at 10:16 am

This is a very difficult issue for the legal system to deal with.
 In the U,K, we have, “Sarah’s Law” whereby a parent or
 guardian can have access to info, regarding anyone having
 contact with children. As to whether such persons have
 convictions for offences against minors.
This concession is tempered with the proviso that, “There must
 be sufficient access or connection with the child, to justify
 disclosure.”
We’re all aware of the Police’s fears about open disclosure.
 The possibility of vigilante action and of the paedo, moving
 to another area and off their Radar. I can’t envision a law,
 allowing announcements from pulpit or platform, identifying
 a paedophile in the midst of the congregation.
The Org, were guilty of lax supervision of a known child molester,
 this needs sorting out. First of all the bird brained 2 witness rule
 has to be scrapped, Police should be called “First” in the event
 of any accusation, ( not the branch office ), anyone proven guilty
 should be banned from field service and conducting Bible studies.
 ( A JW, in our area of Yorkshire, molested a 14 year old girl he was
 studying with.) I could hardly believe it, he was the last person
 I would have suspected.
No doubt Elders will be getting more instructions on this subject.
 Not with the aim of caring for the flock. But of protecting WTs,
 reputation and material assets. And probably with the object
 of shifting responsibility onto the slaves (Elders) and away from
 the Masters.
Reply
 
 Jack says:

 April 16, 2015 at 11:17 am

I’d like to engage Ted on something here: you say call the police. Ok, what justice system is perfect? You do realize that people have been falsely accused, falsely put to death, people have gotten away with rape, murder, etc…using secular courts as well. Secondly, elders do not handle the criminal aspect anyway. Their job is to determine if something happened in order to take congregational action, NOT civil action. Whether or not the police is called depends on the accuser. You’re not barred from calling the cops yourself. The “two-witness” rule (if you understand it) cannot be thrown out, as it’s used in ANY accusation — not just issues of abuse. Imagine a scenario in which you’re accused of stealing money from a business account your share with a fellow witness. You didn’t do it, however, with no two-witness rule, the accusation is taken as factual with no need of further evidence (second-witness), and you’re kicked out. This is what you’re asking for if you scrap the rule. The rule prevents the “he said, she said” nonsense. Additionally, courts use the rule, in a sense, all the time. They ask for evidence (second witness) to corroborate accusations. Evidence people…you always need evidence. This standard cannot be brushed aside. That’s the spirit of the two-witness rule.
Reply
 
 Cedars says:

 April 16, 2015 at 11:20 am

Jack…
“Evidence people…you always need evidence. This standard cannot be brushed aside. That’s the spirit of the two-witness rule.”
Are you seriously expecting us to believe that police are incapable of gathering evidence beyond questioning people? Are you further expecting us to believe that part-time janitors (I mean elders) are better equipped to investigate an allegation of child abuse than the police are?
Reply
 
 Jack says:

 April 16, 2015 at 11:38 am

Cedars, that’s not what I said. I never even mentioned the competences of the police. The elders deal with the congregation, the cops deal with criminals. That’s the point of my post. Also, folks are acting as if justice is assured if you “let the police handle it”. Do I NEED to mention the swaths of mishandlings, false imprisonments, false lethal executions done by secular courts to make my point?
Reply
 
 Cedars says:

 April 16, 2015 at 11:41 am

“The elders deal with the congregation, the cops deal with criminals. ”
By defending Watchtower’s two witness rule you are taking a stand precisely against that sentiment. The two witness rule robs authorities of the chance to deal with criminals.
But thanks for showing your true colors so quickly.

 
 
 

 KB says:

 April 16, 2015 at 11:44 am

Further, Jack,
 Are you aware of what mandated reporters must do? While not applicable in all states, required reporters must report to the police even a suspected act of child abuse. This includes sexual abuse but also encompasses domestic abuse as well.
Reply
 

 Louis says:

 April 16, 2015 at 4:19 pm

Jack, not sure if you’re an active JW in a position or have held a position of responsibility in the congregation or not (not that it matters), but as someone who recently (11/14) left the organization after years of serving on the elder body (up until 11/14) I can tell you the two witness policy is flawed. The last elder body I served with found it difficult to agree on all aspects of it. It makes you wonder how many other BOE are facing the same crisis. The points you make are from a WT policy perspective; a perspective that has a history of being very unreliable and written in double talk at the cost of its members. The two witness policy does have its place in certain congregation matters, but not all. It especially does not have its place when it comes to incidents involving sexual abuse. What rapist has an audience (the second witness) to their acts? Since the release of the Shepherd the Flock of God book; the number of BOE letters sent to append, revise or correct sections related to pornia, sexting, deviant behavior or acts of greed to be inserted in the book made the book appear to be flawed and quickly become difficult to refer to when a serious/judicial congregation matter arose. The WTBTS recognized this, with the assistance of Candace and other lawsuits, when it came to sexual abuse of a minor and so quickly sent out the BOE letter with the direction to contact the legal department directly, NOT the authorities. By doing this, the WTBTS has taken it upon themselves to become the law. You are right “Whether or not the police is called depends on the accuser. You’re not barred from calling the cops yourself.” This is classic JW deflection speech. It’s yet to be seen a situation turn out well or in favor of a JW who goes “around” the congregation arrangement, let alone straight to the authorities with a matter. The congregation and the organization have a history to quickly vilify the individual(s) who do such actions. The two witness policy, much like the blood policy, is part of the undue influence the organization has on its members. A person knows what the common sense step to take is, but instead is stuck questioning their loyalty to Jah (WTBTS) and/or risk being ostracized for not “believing or following” the direction of the slave.
You mentioned “Evidence people…you always need evidence. This standard cannot be brushed aside. That’s the spirit of the two-witness rule.” The scriptural account (De. 22:23-27) of how cases involving rape were to be handled mentions that if no one was around (a second witness) to rescue the girl from the man assaulting her than the act of screaming served to absolve her from being judicially dealt with (no evidence needed and no second witness needed), and the man is to die. In the spirit of this scripture, couldn’t it be said that the victims of sexual abuse are “screaming out” when they report the assault even though no second witness is around?
“We are not done yet” – Candace Conti
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 Innocent Son says:

 April 16, 2015 at 10:40 am

Candace, you are an inspiration to us all….! Keep fighting the good fight and clear your name! May you keep strong and focused.Much love to you and your family.
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 Erik says:

 April 17, 2015 at 5:43 am

HER NAME WAS ALREADY CLEAR.
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 Mama Joy says:

 April 16, 2015 at 11:01 am

Adverse social consequences??? You mean like what Disfellowshipping does?
There should be no safe haven for child rapists.
Reply
 

 Mama Joy says:

 April 16, 2015 at 11:15 am

**Warning!**
There is a child molester still in good standing that has HIV at North congregation in Toledo, OH. USA
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 Mammothmouth says:

 April 17, 2015 at 6:33 am

@ Mama Joy:
**Warning!**
“There is a child molester still in good standing that has HIV at North congregation in Toledo, OH. USA”
Was or is he an Elder (again) currently in Monroe Michigan and are his initials “LM” and his wife named Letha? Because if so, You need to take it to the FBI in detail. It’s no secret and that is his home congregation. That and Manhattan congregation.
https://tips.fbi.gov
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 Jeff Barnett says:

 April 16, 2015 at 11:30 am

Bottom line is that our system of law MUST be changed regarding the protection of children. The idea that criminals are protected with privacy because they, in private, confessed a crime against a child to officials of a non profit organization should be criminal in itself. Freedom of religion is not free and should not include the freedom to withhold information regarding a crime against children to authorities or members of that organization.
#1. If officials of a religious institution are informed of any potential crime committed against a minor They MUST report it to local authorities within 24 hours.
#2. Local, State and Federal laws trump any and all laws mandated by a religious organization.
#3. Anyone that is a member of a religious organization who has committed a crime against a minor MUST be identified to its membership.
#4. Violations of these laws MUST deliver stiff penalties including loss of non profit status, prosecution, incarceration and financial loss.
If these fundamental laws of reason are not applied, I guarantee that children will continue to be abused and covered up.
The saddest part of all this? That we are even having this conversation. That our law makers are allowing this to happen. That we have allowed religion to run free. We should not have the right to believe, teach and practice anything in the name of religious freedom! Now take my previous sentence and really understand what that means because if we do not get our heads around what religious freedom should mean, anything is protected under our current laws.
“With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.”
Steven Weinberg
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 Christian Sparlock Freedom says:

 April 16, 2015 at 11:32 am

Thanks for this update.Way to go Candace.
 If something evil like Watchtower can be exposed by the Truth it fully deserves to be. Information is the enemy
 of charlatans like the JW Governing Body they hate
 the light of disclosure.
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 Searcher says:

 April 17, 2015 at 9:15 am

Yaaaaa!!!! Sparlock’s my hero!!!!
Reply
 
 

 John Baptist says:

 April 16, 2015 at 12:18 pm

What were seeing here is the failures that we see from time to time in the Judicial system. The court ruled as it did because they are not the Supreme Court and don’t want to accept the responsibility of making that decision and setting the precedent for future cases. It is usually reserved for the Supreme Court to make those kind of decisions. Cases like this drag on for years but either way they eventually get settled. No matter the outcome people are going to weigh in on this case and of course most favor a decision based on the truth and common sense. It’s all part of a process. Long after it’s over this girl will be known as the one who forced the Watchtower to deal with these thousands of reports that lay in their own file system. It’s just a matter of time where they will have to make a change because religion aside it’s the RIGHT AND HONORABLE THING TO DO ESPECIALLY ON BEHALF OF THESE VICTIMS.
Reply
 

 Big D says:

 April 16, 2015 at 12:43 pm

Remember “We’re Carlie Hebdo” after the Paris attacks? Well, how about “We’re Candace Conti!” I mean look, I personally haven’t suffered any abuse from this cult, but I’ve seen plenty of lives ruined. Let’s stand with her, shoulder to shoulder. There are other cases pending, so her battle will have opened the door for those victims as well.
Ms. Conti, I hope you read these posts, because here is your…I mean OUR anthem:


Reply
 

 Ted says:

 April 16, 2015 at 2:38 pm

@Jack, Surely you realise, producing witnesses to sexual
 crime is virtually impossible. These are crimes carried out
 in lonely dark places, or behind locked doors. In such cases
 the 2 witness rule is totally inappropriate.
If a relative of yours claimed they were violated by a JW
 and there were no witnesses. Would you go to the Elders
 for justice or to the police ?
The first option would result in an impasse. If you took the
 second route and the police gave you the same line as. the
 Elders,- No witnesses, can’t take any further action.
 Would you and your family victim be content with that ?
Of course there is a third option often suggested by Elders.
“Leave it in Jehovahs hands”- which simply means we’re
 baffled.
Jack, I don’t see the point of your mentioning that people have
 been unjustly convicted. Does this mean we should abandon
 the Law and rely ( as Cedars pointed out ) on janitors?
I noticed that when the GB, challenges the law, they don’t put
 window cleaners and janitors up, but educated @Jack, Surely you realise, producing witnesses to sexual
 crime is virtually impossible. These are crimes carried out
 in lonely dark places, or behind locked doors. In such cases
 the 2 witness rule is totally inappropriate.
If a relative of yours claimed they were violated by a JW
 and there were no witnesses. Would you go to the Elders
 for justice or to the police ?
The first option would result in an impasse. If you took the
 second route and the police gave you the same line as. the
 Elders,- No witnesses, can’t take any further action.
 Would you and your family victim be content with that ?
Of course there is a third option often suggested by Elders.
“Leave it in Jehovahs hands”- which simply means we’re
 baffled.
Jack, I don’t see the point of your mentioning that people have
 been unjustly convicted. Does this mean we should abandon
 the Law and rely ( as Cedars pointed out ) on janitors?
I noticed that when the GB, challenges the law, they don’t put
 window cleaners and janitors up, but educated lawyers.
Reply
 

 Ted says:

 April 16, 2015 at 2:43 pm

Comment duplicated, sorry.
Reply
 

 Grace says:

 April 16, 2015 at 4:10 pm

I just wish Zalkin & Simons would collaborate. What a powerhouse of opponents to the WT that would make.
“This is really a public policy issue”.
It very much is. I thought that there was a case last year with 2 boys that were found out in field service by a pioneer who went on to molest them. Correct me if I’m wrong but that’s where a big lightbulb moment happened for me when I read somewhere that it was asked… “who is knocking at your door”.
Has WT changed their policy on allowing a child rapist or any rapist go out door knocking?
I was out on field service one day & because others had pre-arranged partners, I was put with this brother that I hardly knew, although we were in a group the whole time. The Elder that took the group told me to be with him when he went to the door as he was not to be left alone to do the door. He didn’t tell me anymore than that as you can imagine my mind went in to overdrive as what this man had done to be in this position. I look back now & wonder why the Elder left that responsibility to me & why it was okay for me to be with him.
I can see how easy it would be for a female of any age to be put in a vulnerable situation because you are being obedient to those taking the lead. I didn’t question the Elder about it but now I wish I had of. I think I had every right to know the answer since I was the one chaperoning him.
Reply
 

 Ted says:

 April 16, 2015 at 4:31 pm

Jack, Do elders take an active, positive step in exposing
 the dreadful crime of Paedophillia. Or do they sit on the
 fence, keeping quiet, hoping the victim will take no action?
Reply
 

 rikos says:

 April 16, 2015 at 4:57 pm

what make my sick to through up to watchtower is because these people claiming they are Jesus spiritual brothers and the faithful slave.
 if Jesus was the leader of the christian congregation and was a child molestation case what he would do? He will use the worldly institutions to claim innocent ? or he will use this legal laws to win over thousands of crimes child molestations? when Jesus was front of pilot he said my kingdom is not from this world. or apostle Paul he wrote to the Corinthians do not go to worldly courts . if these people was real Christians they will admitted right the way and would apologize for what happen to thousand of innocent children in their congregations. these people are demonic.
Reply
 

 Thinking of leaving says:

 April 16, 2015 at 6:14 pm

I hope I don’t get shot for saying this but I can kind of understand the courts decision. Just imagine the litigation that would arise for all organizations if they were required to tell their members if someone had a criminal history.
 For example say I joined a tennise club where it was known by the president and secretary that one of its members had a conviction for fraud. Unbeknown to me I then do business with him and he rips me off. Hey it would of been nice if the tennise club had informed me but they were by no means obliged to. So what we are saying here is that it’s the tennise clubs fault that this guy ripped me off. Perhaps there could be some responsibility but it would never stand up in court.
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 April 17, 2015 at 5:08 am

@ Thinking of leaving, Of course it doesn’t make sense for any congregation elder to take it upon themselves to warn the congregation of a sex offender without solid proof. The elders should stay out of it.
All Witnesses should be told that if somebody in the congregation was abused that they should take it to the police and let the police do their investigation and let the police decide if there was a crime or not. If there was a crime, then it’s put in the papers and the person is tried and then everyone knows what happened. That is how everyone knows that a certain person is a danger to children and will be smart enough not to let their child be alone with that person.
The janitors for living elders take that job upon themselves to determine if there was a crime and if there wasn’t another witness to the crime, the elders can’t do anything to the abuser and either it’s dropped and “put in Jehovah’s hand” or else the victim and the family either drop it or they take it to the police. If the elders haven’t determined that there was a crime committed, the victim and the family will be held to account from the organization as if it was them that some how “brought reproach on Jehovah’s good name” and they will be the ones shunned and not the abuser.
That is wrong. That is why abusers get away with their crimes in the Organization. The abusers know what a huge risk the victim and their family are taking when they decide to go to the police. The abuser knows that the family and the victim stand to lose all their friends and family over their reporting the abuse to the authorities if they supposedly “turn in” a man in the Organization who is still in “good standing” and not been disfellowshipped. That is what abusers in the Organization are counting on. It all boils down to the two witness rule and shunning if there isn’t solid proof that the elders can determine with their limited knowledge of such crimes.
That is what is wrong with this whole thing. The Organization only cares about it’s reputation. They don’t care about the kids at all.
They know that they don’t have to tell the victims that they can’t report the abuse to the police.
Everyone in the Organization knows the repercussions and 99% of the time, they won’t report the abuse to the authorities because of those repercussions. That is what the Society is counting on.
The Society has all it’s bases covered when it comes to child abuse. They are expert cult leaders in every respect and they know it. They know how to work the system to their benefit and they have the lawyers to make sure the can get away with it legally.
Reply
 

 Erik says:

 April 17, 2015 at 6:07 am

The tennis club never claimed you could trust them to protect you.
Reply
 

 Gareth says:

 April 17, 2015 at 8:33 am

In most cases, the tennis club wouldn’t know about the fraud either. But suppose you let your children take lessons at a tennis club; and the club’s management has learned about an abuse case; you really don’t expect anything from them?
Reply
 
 

 Man from the lions pit says:

 April 16, 2015 at 8:14 pm

@thinking of leaving
 if I would elaborate on your reasoning than this could be even stretch further.A side of any state,county,school,work place…any street or neighborhood has it’s own people with some criminal history ,so if somebody what to move in than the responsible local authority-municipality should inform him about all these “folks” with some criminal history.Thieves,robbers,other crooks…etc.
 because there is a change that I may be harm or wrong in some way after my move.It may seem like a crazy idea but why not.Why not to go to such extend in order to prevent or protect.I thing it should be in public interest.There problem is that crimes are not committed only by previous offenders but also by “new” first time offenders.So that all of us as potential criminals.Than what ?
 Society or states in general tend to be forgiving and doesn’t want to discriminate such individuals by publicly exposing them preventive measure are insufficient in this respect.
 However child molestation is extremely sensitive matter and some countries have the publicly accessible registry of such offenders.But looks like even this is not enough to prevent such crimes.As the saying goes: “There is no safety lock which can stop the thieve.”
Having said that there should be NO excuse for leadership of JW to have weak ,insufficient or flaw policies in this matter !
 Interest of child must be in forefront of any organization or institution ,moreover if they claim to be Christian !
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 April 16, 2015 at 11:28 pm

The society 40 years ago used to name people & Give the reason WHY they were Reproved or DISFELLOWSHIPPED but they got SCARED of Legal Consequences so now it is Announced that such a person is no longer one of JW or Reproved & doesn’t specify the Reason .
 SO NOW THE GB choose NOT to FOLLOW SCRIPTURE When it SUITS THEM!!!
 The Apostle Paul at 1 Corinthians ch.5 NAMED the MAN in Front of The WHOLE CONGREGATION & NAMED the SIN of SEXUAL IMMORALITY with his STEPMOTHER!! If GODS LAW Supercedes Caesars Law as the GB maintain in the 2 witness rule ,WHY AREN’T the Governing Body CONSISTENT????
 As I have said before The GB will change when it becomes Financially in their interests to do so .!!
Reply
 
 Searcher says:

 April 17, 2015 at 9:31 am

Agreed Pickled, but let’s take that one step further in relation to the Conti case.
The WTS (i.e. GB) always says something like “fight to the death under the delusion that Jehovah will carry them to victory against Satan’s hoards.” Basically, they are a bag of hot air, just like their predecessor Rutherford. If they do carry this out, then they are likely to run the risk of actually getting the $8M reinstated. However, if they think with their wallet (which I believe they will), then you won’t hear another peep from them. I tend to think they won’t shoot their mouth off any more about this case.
Like Conti and her lawyer, let’s see what they do.
Reply
 

 Searcher says:

 April 17, 2015 at 9:46 am

Whoops! They wouldn’t say “under the delusion…” What I meant is something like, “we’ll fight the hoards of satan’s minions to the highest court in the land!” and Isaiah XXX…. You know what I mean.
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 anonymous says:

 April 17, 2015 at 7:26 am

The problem with the Organization is that they don’t do a good enough job when it comes to warning parents about child abuse. They only touch on the subject. Pedophiles molest babies up to age 16. Babies are not capable of telling parents that their babysitter or father or brother or cousin has abused them. Children up to the age of about 4 or 5 aren’t capable of telling parents and 90% of child abuse is from close family members or family “friends”.
People in the Organization should be made aware of this and are left in the dark. If parents in the Organization were made aware of how sneaky these people are and made aware of the fact that it’s a CRIME and not a “sin”, they could take it more seriously. As long as the Society wants to claim it’s a “weakness” due to imperfection and not treat it as a CRIME, the children will always be discounted and their lives ruined.
In the United States, some states have 3 times and you are out. That means if you have been convicted of any crime 3 times, you will be put in prison for the rest of your life. It doesn’t even have to be the same crime. That should be true of child abuse.
If the person has been left out on the street after having served his time (as Kendrick’s wife said), and they commit the same CRIME or any other crimes, they should be put away for life away from children. Kendrick committed this crime 3 times and shows he is not to be trusted around children. There is no excuse for him walking the streets a free man.
In the Organization, this man is not restricted from field service. In the Organization, he is EXPECTED TO GO DOOR TO DOOR.
In the United States, it goes state by state but in my state, each city has a sex offender registry list and if you have a computer and type in sex offenders and your city, each person’s address will show up as a red dot so that parents can locate where these people live. They are not to live close to schools etc. This isn’t enough to protect the kids but at least it’s a start.
They should have something tattooed across their forehead or something like that. The tattoo wouldn’t kill them or anything but it could be an inducement for them not to commit the crime in the first place if they knew that was what would happen to them if they were caught. Just a thought.
Reply
 

 rob says:

 April 17, 2015 at 9:01 am

I often wonder how this religion in all good conscience can actually claim to be “God’s spirit directed organization” while trying to defend themselves in court for covering up the abuse suffered by innocent children within the congregation. It appears that they care little about their members and really their only concern is their image and their money.
Finally everyone is starting to see the sludge that lies beneath the shiny polished surface of this religion and the more individuals who come forward, the more we see all the dirt and grime.
Of course they don’t want the rank and file to go directly to the police as they want to keep this “in house” so they can keep it all under wraps and sweep everything under the carpet. In their eyes the child who was molested is simply collateral damage and the image of the watchtower is first and foremost. Anyone who does not put the watchtower first and who does not follow the watchtower protocol is not following the spiritual direction provided by the watchtower and is therefore no longer considered to be a true follower and everyone in the congregation will look at this person with disgust.
It really is a no win situation for those who are trapped within the confines of a religion whose members are imprisoned within a jailhouse with no real walls.
Reply
 
 Searcher says:

 April 17, 2015 at 9:38 am

Rob, you are so right. If it was God’s one and only organization, then the abuse that Conti and other suffered would not have happened in the first place. The “Bible Teach” book shows a trash ridden candy sucker to demonstrate how disgusting churches are to the WTS. I think this is now a self-portrait of the WTS itself.
Greedy, Disgusting, and Dirty!!!
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 April 17, 2015 at 7:36 pm

@Rob . your Analysis of how the JW Organisation works is SPOT ON . Elders must go to the LEGAL DEPARTMENT FIRST before the Police !! WELL ‘GET STUFFED ‘ Governing Body ,My Child’s Welfare comes first & I AM GOING To the Police & to the courts !! The scripture the GB MISAPPLY is 1 Corinthians 6v7 about Brothers not taking out Lawsuits against one another BUT if the CONTEXT is Read before& After scriptures is CLEARLY talking about FINANCIAL MATTERS !!! So if a CRIME is Committed ‘ GO TO The POLICE ‘
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 April 17, 2015 at 7:48 pm

@Searcher . Agree totally with your comment & your Final Conclusion!
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 Vivian says:

 April 17, 2015 at 10:21 pm

I am / was a born in jw to a single parent family so i would say my family with multiple children would have been a perfect target for abuse or mistreatment of many and any kinds of abuse in the organization. This never happened to my family. And I never heard of it happen to any of my friends and family. Obviously this doesnt mean it wasnt happening or didnt happen to them. Im just saying from my long experience as a witness and in a vulnerable spot i saw no weaknesses in this regard amongst jw. Heck, they seem to love to announce a persons shortcomings from the stage. I dont believe jw policy is meant to cover and protect sinners. I think it does the opposite. the way i see it: If a victim/ member of congregation comes to an elder or ANYONE in congregation and as soon as the MENTION of sexual abuse is heard, the listener immediately tells victim to contact police, and if a child, phones the police for them and supports them if requested to the station. Thats the problem i see. No phoning of the service committee.
I havent researched the nature of child sex abuse so i dont understand all the nature of it, but i do know in my country it is handled specifically and different than other crimes. And rightfully so. So jw’s or really any religious organization thinking they can handle and control the crime within their religious “court” is near sighted. In jw’s for instance, the most they could do is disfellowship the accused which would of course only serve to isolate the vicitim and accused and increase the abuse. And its obvious that a two witness rule makes this sort of crime a free for all bc theres rarely another witness. Again, i dont believe witnesses are trying to “hide” a sexual predator problem. I just think they need to look at the nature of the crime more seriously and that their “two witness” policy cant apply to every crime.
Something that makes little sense to me is ppl complaining that the elders arent alerting others of past crime. When i move to a new area, i always consult the sex offender registry for my neighborhood and area. Its my responsibility. Also, i would never imagine or expect the elder body or a person in the congregation to tell me everyones past serious sins. So and so was convicted of murder, manslaughter, domestic abuse, etc etc. I wouldnt want to hear it. Where would the reporting of past serious sins stop? I protect my family not the elders. Same as at my daughters school. I dont expect the teacher or principle to give me a low down of what info they have acquired of whats going on in a students life at home, ie if a parent is reported as an offender. If i let my child play at their house and they were abused would i accuse the school of not letting my family know that info? NO. The general population has a lot of nasty bad people in it, some are catholic, hindu, baptist, jw, jewish etc. And if the law doesnt require these organizations to report then the weight of the vicitims tragedy falls plainly on the law of that land/ state.
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 Pickled brain says:

 April 17, 2015 at 11:49 pm

@Vivian . You sound A Nice but Niave JW . Don’t you see what is wrong when you research the Dozens of court cases the Elders, Victim & Abuser have faced each other in a Judicial Committee & the POOR ABUSED VICTIMS have to Recount the Whole EVIL CRIME in Front of these Men so they can Disfellowship IF & it is A BIG IF the Abuser is found Guilty .
 If Vivian you follow the Bible the Elders should Announce Publicly in front of the Whole Congregation what the CRIME is like the Apostle Paul did at 1 Corinthians chapter 5 when the man was found guilty of sexual immorality with his stepmother, There are LOADS more Holes in your Argument like when Brothers at field service arrangements when they assign brothers to work with children .
 Also read January 15 2015 study watchtower Page 24 paragraph 4 and see the Disgusting sexual things that the Governing Body ADMIT their own Brothers are committing!!
Reply
 

 anonymous says:

 April 18, 2015 at 4:32 am

@Vivian, like Pickled brain said, you are naive’. Just because your family didn’t suffer from sexual abuse, you are discounting all those who have been abused.
You seem to think that if a person comes to the elders that the elders would first and foremost tell the victim and their family to go to the police? You are only assuming that, but my question is, why would the victim go to the elders first, if they weren’t told to do that?
The reason is clear. To accuse another witness of sexual abuse of a child is a very serious crime and the Witness knows it’s a crime and they know that in order to do the “right” thing when it comes to the congregation, the first thing they would do is to go to the elders first and let them tell the victim and the family what to do because they know how serious it is.
Why are Witnesses compelled to go to the elders first? Why are then the elders told to get in touch with the Branch to let the Branch lawyers tell the elders what to do? You are leaving out all that.
You should do some research before making the assumption that the Society is squeaky clean when it comes to covering up child sex abuse.
You seem like the kind of person, that unless it actually happened to you or your family that you don’t believe the stories.
Reply
 
 

 Ted says:

 April 18, 2015 at 12:14 pm

Stephen Lett’s quote, denying accusations that the religion
 provides a shelter for paedophiles. —
“If anybody takes ACTION against someone. who would threaten
 our young ones, and takes ACTION to protect our young ones,
 it’s Jehovah’s Organisation”.
Never was the word, ACTION more misapplied. ACTION means
“Doing something.”
A victim goes to elders, no witnesses, ( which are virtually impossible
 to provide, ) so NO ACTION is taken, and a possible molester left
 free to cause more distress.
Victim asks, should I contact the police? Elders have no option but
 to follow instructions from Shepherding the Flock, book.
“If you are asked, make it clear that it is a personal decision”
So once again a passive response, no involvement, NO ACTION.
 So “Jehovahs Organisation” rather than making protection of the
 children a priority, gives the paedophile a 50/50, or better, chance
 of remaining at large, ( Odds would be influenced by how pressurised
 the victim felt .)
Mr, Lett’s talk of ACTION then, is just empty rhetoric of which his
 organisation have perfected into a fine art.
Reply
 

 Excelsior! says:

 April 18, 2015 at 1:42 pm

Vivian,
Welcome to JW Survey and thank you for your comment. I am glad to read that you have no experience of child abuse in your family and social group. Thank goodness for that.
I would entreat you to fully research the true child protection policy of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. You will be shocked and saddened by what you discover.
As a Christian, would you agree that Christians are held to a higher standard of morality than some other people?
Why do you blame the “superior authorities” (Romans 13) for the failure of Jehovah’s Witnesses to report child abuse accusations to the authorities, when not legally obliged to?
Should not a Christian organisation go beyond the law and do what is right? Wouldn’t you want to inform the police if you discovered that the crime of child molestation had occurred? What would JESUS want you to do? What is the loving thing to do in this situation?
I hope that we can benefit from your opinion in the future.
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
Reply
 
 Vivian says:

 April 20, 2015 at 10:08 pm

Thanks for your response. Ive noticed a bit of bullying on these forums, including this one. Maybe not so much bullying as jumping to conclusions and making assumptions as to a responders opinions, outlooks and general character. I am slowly leaving jws with my family with little ones so its slow and careful. But I can tell everyone this. Being a born in jw with all the thought control and lack of tolerance for differing opinion and thought,(my mother, a born in jw as well) I am determined to be as unbiased, thoughtful and reflective as I can be. And teach my children the same. I don’t care if you are a jw or aren’t, or a member of the gb or a hobo on the street or Candice conti, I will do me own evaluations of information. I think jw policy should be completely hands off when it comes to alligations of sex abuse. Complete and quick referral to legal authorities and the courts that can actually stop the abuse and lock the abuser. The law unfortunately is on jw side so the case can only go so far. Until the law is reconsidered.
People come into the jw congregation sometimes as past abusers, same as in all types of organizations. If jws or the general population thinks jws have less occurrence of pedophiles than the general population I can see some efforts and exposing that misunderstanding. But I just don’t believe its a “paradise for pedophiles”. Having a complete and lengthy experience with the group I don’t support the idea. I see other terrible human right violations by the group that are carried out in a more black and white and obvious manner.
Reply
 
 Vivian says:

 April 20, 2015 at 10:24 pm

I am failing to say (with too many words) that JWs do need reform on many policies. They obviously look at themselves with a halo of their heads and maybe the rest of the world does as well. The group needs honest exposure of its weaknesses but I don’t think child molestation is the biggest problem. Those laws need to be changed across the board. You make it safer for jw kids but not other groups? the group as a whole thinks and wants to be the “chosen” and really cant see its own flaws and self righteousness. I don’t even think its hypocrisy… bc is so ingrained from childhood. My very large, entire family has been caught and swallowed by this strange goofy group. I want to see it exposed. But not on this issue.
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 April 21, 2015 at 3:06 am

@Vivian. I agree with what you said. It should be taken out of the hands of the congregation elders altogether and it should be a law that when a case of child molestations accusation has happened and the elders or anybody else knows about it, that the person who knows about it, has to report it to the authorities.
Doctors and teachers are forced by law to report abuse of children when they know about it, but when it comes to clergy and lawyers, they don’t have to because of “confidentiality”.
Those laws should be changed to include everyone who learns of the abuse of a child since the child needs an advocate for them since they are just children and a lot of times, the abuser is an uncle, father, mother or cousin or close friend of the family.
As it is now, the Watchtower Society is a pedophile paradise and the laws of the land are what is making it possible for these men to get away with their crimes against children in the congregation and it probably is like that in any other religion as well. The difference is that in any other religion, the victims aren’t going to be shunned for turning in the abuser because most people aren’t regular church goers.
In the United States, the statistics are that only 1 in 5 people actually belong to a church where they go to church every Sunday but in the JW religion, they go to church a lot more and the organization is a lot more close knit so in the general population so when molestation occurs, it’s most likely going to be within the family or close friends from the Hall. The general population isn’t going to have to worry about reporting the abuse to elders like what Jehovah’s Witnesses would do. The general population (even if they belong to a church and a fellow church member was the molester) doesn’t have to worry about “Jehovah’s name” being dragged through the mud. Do you see the difference? The general population won’t have the 2 witness rule either.
The problem is so very complicated and if it was the law that all child abuse that has become known, has to be reported to the authorities, it would be taken out of the hands of the elders. That is the way it should be.
If a person has a conscience and sees that a child is living in a condition where a child is being abused and the child doesn’t have 2 witnesses, the 2 witness rule should not be the abusers way out where they can continue to abuse the child.
Anyone with a conscience would get that child out of the situation and not tell them or the parents “leave it in Jehovah’s hands” just because there wasn’t a 2nd witness to the crime, while that child is still in that situation.
If the parents decide to report the abuse, then the elders and congregation need to be neutral and stay out of it until the police have concluded the examination.
Reply
 
 
 
 

 Robert says:

 April 18, 2015 at 4:26 pm

TAKE A STAND! Next time a JW comes to your door.Express this: When the Watchtower decides to take a different stance on protecting young ones, you will then open the door for them, until then— your door is closed, for any discussion.Don’t take their literature, don’t engage in discussion.Close the door politely.
 Their own policy states if they know of a wrongdoing and don’t report it, they are equally guilty of the crime.
 Tell them take a hike…all of them. Don’t associate with child molesters, or any of the elders keeping them in secrecy.
 Thank you.
Reply
 
 Searcher says:

 April 20, 2015 at 9:35 am

Excellent response!
Those guys will have a lot more than dust to shake off their feet when walking back to the car.
I’ve always wanted to ask a crew coming to my door, “Your religion is open, right?” Wait for their response, the follow with, “If so, then let me review your “Sheparding the Flock” book on how you handle child molestation accusations.” “Oh, you can’t? I thought you were an open religion, not a secret society.”
I can only hope.
Reply
 
 

 kat says:

 April 18, 2015 at 6:26 pm

Next time a JW come to your door two brothers together ask if one is an elder if so ask if he is supervising a pedophile in case.
Reply
 

 Excelsior! says:

 April 21, 2015 at 6:47 am

Vivian,
Thank you for your thoughtful and interesting reponse. I hope that you have not been the victim of bullying on this site. Sadly, we have a problem with this in the ex JW community at the moment.
I am working with others to change the law in the UK, to make it compulsory to report accusations of child sexual abuse to the authorities. This will help to protect ALL children in the UK.
This will not, in itself, solve the problem, but it will help to solve it.
I have to respectfully disagree with you on not using child abuse as an issue to expose the WTBTS cult.
I do so because I am primarily concerned with the children, and I think that we can help starve the WTBTS of new converts by exposing this disgraceful situation.
We can agree to disagree, and I will at no time insult your opinion.
Thank you for your input on this very important issue.
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
Reply
 
 Vivian says:

 April 21, 2015 at 1:13 pm

I suppose even if I don’t believe it is a “pedophile paradise”, because of its policies and determination to protect their image/ name it could easily become one. its commendable that you are making efforts to protect jw and all children by reversing and changing policy/law.
Reply
 
 

 Ted says:

 April 21, 2015 at 5:00 pm

Candace has great courage, refusing to be cowed and intimidated
 by the corporate bullies and their expensive lawyers.
While laws requiring public identification of paedophiles in a
 congregation may not get approval from the judiciary,
 Many states and countries make it “Mandatory” to report any
 accusation of child abuse.
It’s feasible then that this could become “Universally” accepted,
 I think campaigning for this is a realistic aim.
The WT Org, would not then be able to do the Pontius Pilate act
Anyone found guilty would then be identified in the media and
 exposed in this way ( as anonymous has already suggested. )
Reply
 

 Excelsior! says:

 April 22, 2015 at 4:42 am

Vivian,
Thank you for your kind and supportive comment.
We can all help with this issue, wherever we live.
I would encourage you to write to your Representative, and ask them about mandatory reporting. Some States in the USA have mandatory reporting, but not all of them.
Here in the UK, there is no legal obligation for all citizens to report accusations of child sexual abuse to the authorities. Some groups do, like teachers and doctors etc. I will continue to press for mandatory reporting in the UK.
There are issues surrounding this, but they can be debated and solved.
The most important thing is that children and young people are protected as fully as possible from the paedophiles who want to prey on them. This is something that all people want, and so I am confident that we can make some progress here.
I wish you success with your eventual exit from the WTBTS. There are many people here and on other sites who will help you as much as they can.
Thank you for your comments. They have been of great interest and benefit to our discussion of this very serious issue.
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
Reply
 

 Innocent Son says:

 April 23, 2015 at 12:57 pm

Eric that was my point exactly, if you read my comments accurately you would see that….! Candace’s name has been besmurched and tarnished by the Watchtower Org. This needs to be put right.
Reply
 

 Art Fern says:

 April 23, 2015 at 10:52 pm

There is a lot of heartbreak in this news, the local congregations will see their Elder’s spiking the ball in victory a dramatic contrast from the humble way Candace and her mother explained the previous decision. The next step although I didn’t see it mentioned in any articles, is the 9th District Federal Court also in San Fran. The 9th Federal District includes Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, California, Washington and Oregon, and like the city it’s based in is the most Liberal court in America. They are the people who struck down not one but two voter approved changes in California law that defined marriage as ONLY between one man and one woman. The attorney would need to add an attorney who is authorized to present cases at the federal level just as he had to join with an appellate attorney to deal with the State Court of Appeals. Nothing was said of the California State Supreme Court in Sacramento which would be the natural next stop, after that the 9th Federal, and then an application to the Supremes in Washington DC. I personally cannot imagine the 9th Federal Court placing the rights of this sick and twisted church over the rights of the children they have an obligation to protect. If they were looking to avoid opening a can of vipers and to support the right of religious dogma, they would not have kicked Prop 8 the Prohibition on Gay Marriage to the curb, Twice! I see a great deal of hope and many opportunities to reverse the reversal.
Reply
 

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← Conti appeal: Watchtower’s punitive damages reversed but negligence for lack of field service supervision is affirmed
JW.org does partial U-turn over Awake! magazine Rama Singh misquote →

“We are not done yet!” – Candace reacts to appeal court decision
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Posted on April 16, 2015

Candace Conti (pictured in her interview with ABC) has spoken out for the first time about the appeal court decision
Candace Conti (pictured in her interview with ABC) has spoken out for the first time about the appeal court decision

As current and former Jehovah’s Witnesses digest the news that Watchtower’s appeal against the Candace Conti verdict has faltered, albeit with the punitive element of the judgment reversed, Candace has reacted for the first time by telling me: “We are not done yet.”
News spread on Monday that the State appeals court in San Francisco had upheld the $2.8 million compensatory damages in the original June 2012 verdict, but overturned the $8.6 million punitive award against Watchtower.
The court decided that, though Watchtower had neglected its responsibility to supervise known pedophile Jonathan Kendrick in field ministry, a “church-sponsored activity,” the organization had NO duty to warn parents in the congregation that a pedophile was in their midst or report him to authorities.
An insightful report by investigative reporter Trey Bundy has suggested that the court reached its decision because the precedent set by the Conti verdict might be too burdensome to enforce.
“The burden would be considerable because the precedent could require a church to intervene whenever it has reason to believe that a congregation member is capable of doing harm, and the scope of that duty could not be limited with any precision,” the judges wrote.
Candace’s attorney Rick Simons responded by pointedly telling Bundy: “They think in public policy terms that there’s too much risk in broadening the church’s responsibility and liability so that it burdens what churches do. We think there’s too much child abuse in these institutions.”
Simons has also gone on record with the Contra Costa Times / Bay City News Service saying: “This is really a public policy issue, and of course we disagree as to what is the best public policy. Ms. Conti is of the view that public policy should favor requiring churches to do all they can to prevent further abuse by identified child molesters from happening, rather than just requiring that they pay money to victims after the abuse occurs.”
Now Candace has herself spoken out, indicating that she is prepared to take this matter all the way to the Supreme Court if she must in order to see children protected and justice fully served.
Referring to the ruling on Monday, Candace told me: “This is just another step. It will not change the amount of money but it might help change the laws. And you know me, I’m all about the laws. We have the chance to make positive changes in the Supreme Court for how children are protected. We may have another year and a half to go.”
When I pressed her on whether she is definitely taking her case to the Supreme Court, Candace replied: “It’s questionable now but we are trying to make the best case, and we might only take it to the Supreme Court if Watchtower takes it there. Other than that we are waiting. The ball is still unfortunately in their court.”
During our exchange I couldn’t help but wonder whether Rick Simons shared Candace’s optimism. After all, it is one thing for Candace to shrug off the financial aspect in such a convoluted legal struggle in favor of pursuing justice, but lawyers are known to be a little more cautious and pragmatic.
“Oh Rick, is the energizer bunny. He is just ready for whatever comes, and is willing to take it as far as I am willing to go!” – Candace assured me.
Whether the case ends up in the Supreme Court remains to be seen. And as Candace indicated, it will depend largely on whether Watchtower is content to lick its wounds and consolidate its losses, or fight to the death under the delusion that Jehovah will carry them to victory against Satan’s hoards.
Before our conversation ended, Candace assured me that she would keep me posted on future developments once the next step in her long journey becomes clear.
Whatever happens next, it is encouraging to see that Candace’s appetite to see justice served is unwavering, and is matched by her lawyer. Let’s hope that political concerns over burdensome “adverse social consequences” yield to basic common sense, and it is finally recognized that, irrespective of local reporting laws, parents deserve to know if a pedophile is in their church and has access to their children.

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Further reading…
◾Contra Costa times article
◾Trey Bundy’s “Reveal” piece
◾JWsurvey initial reaction to appeal court decision
◾JWsurvey articles on child abuse


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← Conti appeal: Watchtower’s punitive damages reversed but negligence for lack of field service supervision is affirmed
JW.org does partial U-turn over Awake! magazine Rama Singh misquote →

68 Responses to “We are not done yet!” – Candace reacts to appeal court decision

 Pat says:

 April 16, 2015 at 3:52 am

I am so happy that this verdict hasn’t dampened Candace’s spirit! She is one hell of a woman and shows courage that is beyond the pale. Thanks for this post because it has lifted my spirit too.
Reply
 

 Hakizimana Jean de Dieu says:

 April 16, 2015 at 4:06 am

I tend to think the Watchtower will “fight to the death under the delusion that Jehovah will carry them to victory against Satan’s hoards.”!
“Any weapon . . . formed against you will have no success.”—ISAIAH 54:17. (w07 12/15 p. 21)
Such verses fuel delusion and push JWs deep in their Cognitive dissonance and fail to reconcile the reality and what their call the truth!
Reply
 

 Excelsior! says:

 April 16, 2015 at 5:35 am

Folks,
Candace Conti, and her mother, are heroes indeed. The WTBTS will perhaps continue to appeal this case.
Whatever happens, the fearless and compassionate actions of Candace have already led to so much good for others.
We shall watch this case with interest, as we all try, in our own ways, to highlight the disgusting “two witness rule” and the damage this causes to innocent children.
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
Reply
 

 not a JW but surrounded by JW says:

 April 16, 2015 at 6:05 am

Candace is a hero, and has no doubt already saved many children due to her persistence.
 I don’t understand how the court didn’t comprehend the fact that this religious organization is not like most in that it requires members to cut off anyone who isn’t a JW in good standing so they are completely dependent on JW’s for all of their support, and then the congregations are kept small so that only leaves members a very small pool to choose from. Then they are blasted every week with the information that Armageddon is coming soon and run to the Watchtower for safety. If the talk isn’t on “run to the Watchtower Armegedon is coming soon”, then the talk is on “how great the only true Christian Congregation is” Or a combination of both.
Other Christian Churches rarely talk about themselves, they talk about how great Jesus is, and if they do talk about themselves it’s about how we are all sinners.
 The pastor at the church I attend now even preached a couple of months ago how you can’t trust someone just because they say they are a Christian or go to our church. Some people are there for the wrong motives. All volunteers are background checked, and there are strict rules, like children’s workers are not allowed to have a child over 2 in their lap. Only women are allowed to take children to the restroom and then there has to be 2 of them.
The witnesses claimed in the past to be the true shephards taking care of their flock (JW Members), still claim in recent talks that they do not have pedophiles and that they are totally clean.
The mentality of every JW I’ve ever know is if someone is a witness that means they can be trusted 100%. My daughter asked her grandmother, if she trusted her new cleaning lady. the snooty reply was, “oh, she’s a SISTER!” Case closed, she’s even from another congregation and had never met her.
This stiff-necked child crushing organization needs to have policies in place that protect children. They need to shout from the rooftops that just because someone is a witness does not mean they can be trusted. They won’t do it unless it costs them lots of money. The court is the only one that can make them pay. The court failed. Can someone sue the court?
Reply
 

 Shunned For Life says:

 April 16, 2015 at 6:53 am

One almost wonders if some of these lawmakers have pedophile leanings. Come ON, too burdensome? How would requiring that congregations issue a general warning be too burdensome? A general warning could be issued (without naming names) that children might be at risk and for parents to use appropriate caution.
The Society has proven time and again, that they are willing to endanger innocent children, instead of initiating common-sense steps to protect them, but it is a sad day when lawmakers refuse to recognize that simple steps do not necessarily have to be “burdensome.”
Putting up roadblocks instead of protecting children from predators could be said to be a crime in itself.
Reply
 
 Tontonton says:

 April 18, 2015 at 1:12 am

Nada que! La tal C Conti iba por el dinero de la WT. Ella no esta conforme porque le restaron la suma de dolares; esa es la realidad. Sinceramente creo que poco le importan los niños de las congregaciones. ¡Si quere dinero que trabaje!. Muchas instituciones religiosas encubren la pederastia en sus congregaciones por sus nexos con funcionarios corruptos y por tanto no se les castiga. Ejemplo grande, la ICAR.
Una pregunta final ¿Si el veredicto hibiese sido lo contario hubieran dudado del honorable jurado y de los dirigentes del tibunal?…
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 April 18, 2015 at 3:25 am

@Tontonton, What makes you think that all Ms. Conti and her lawyers care about is the money? What makes you think that she doesn’t care about the children?
What this woman did first was to go to the congregation where she was abused and ask them if they could warn parents of molesters in their congregation and they were told that no, the Society has orders for elders that if a molester is in their congregation, that it has to be kept quiet. So, then she went to the congregation where Kendrick had molested his step granddaughter and she asked them too if they couldn’t warn parents of known molesters and she was given the same answer. So, then she wrote to the Society and they refused to answer her back so that is when she decided to take it to the courts. She was only asking for $1,444.00 in compensatory damages and it was the courts that validated her claim for the abuse of all the children with $28 million dollars and the reason for that is to bring it to the Society’s attention. Anything less would have not mattered to the Society. Before the verdict, the Society could have cared less about Ms. Conti in that they paid no attention to her letter but after the verdict, they at least sat up and took notice of Ms. Conti.
Ms. Conti is responsible for not taking big pay outs like all the other victims have done who have tried to sue the Society.
She decided to not take the “bribes” to keep quiet. You have no reason to make the statement that you did that it’s only about the money for her and that she doesn’t care about the children who are being and have been molested in the congregations.
Reply
 

 Ruben says:

 April 18, 2015 at 11:45 am

Tontonton,it´s always the same with you, the JW´s, as soon as U face something that cuestions your system of beliefs, the first reaction is to put the blame on the ICAR.
 Putting the blame in someone else is like a bleach bath for your “Mother Organzation”, and if the catholics sucks all the faults of your beloved WT,way better!
 Who cares about justice and love and care! Let´s blame catholics for global warming, air poisoning and whatever comes in mind, as soon as the WT keeps the cleanest image they sell in their tabloids Watchtower and Awake, BOTH a monument to phariseeism.
 Si no te cabe, no repartas!
Reply
 
 
 

 Cécile says:

 April 16, 2015 at 7:21 am

Thank you! You’re wonderful for all that you’re doing for the children to be really protected, as the Convention of New-York (1991) says: the “supreme interest of the child” that has sadly been forgotten one more time… It’s so encouraging for us who suffered very bad things in our childhood because of the Watchtower, to see that there is in the world so brave “never done” people making it changes step by step, for the best! Take care of you… THANK YOU Candace and John and all of the people who help you….
Reply
 

 Gayle says:

 April 16, 2015 at 7:24 am

Such admiration for Candace through all this!
If a honest religion cannot protect the children, then what is it for? Schools and medical facilities are required this fundamental requirement, even for volunteers. It is not too “burdensome” for them (schools, facilities). Even many neighborhoods put up posters if a previously convicted sex offender moves in.
Now, will the California Supreme Court, accept a petition by Candace? The California Supreme Court accepts only 4%-5% cases.
Reply
 

 Jennifer says:

 April 16, 2015 at 7:51 am

No matter what you decide to do Candace you are an amazing young woman and I am behind you 100%.
Reply
 

 Tam Emers says:

 April 16, 2015 at 8:13 am

Trey Bundy highlights an important issue to consider–it isn’t just the JW kids that are at risk when the congregations keep to this ridiculous policy of protecting the privacy of known pedophiles, it is the children in the community where these pedophiles are proselytizing. It is chilling to think that one’s child could unknowingly open the door to a sex offender, but the fact is that existing WT policy has left space for exactly this sort of situation to happen.
To me, it is unconscionable that WT allows known sex offenders and pedophiles to engage in the public ministry. They could easily protect the community by restricting these criminals to letter writing or telephone witnessing, but don’t. This shows the supreme disregard and contempt this organization has for anyone not in their membership and in good standing.
This shows how important it is to support the fight of Candace and other victims of WT abuse, and I hope that justice will in the end be served. Keep fighting the good fight, there are many who support your work Candace–also you Cedars, for bringing this news to the world. Thank you for your activism!
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 Julia Douglas says:

 April 16, 2015 at 8:25 am

If the elders were required to warn the congregation when there was a confessed or convicted pedophile attending the Kingdom Hall, that right there could go a long way in protecting children. How is that a burden to enforce? What about the burden that a child bears for a lifetime after they have been abused?
As well, simply requiring all publishers to undergo a Child Abuse Registry check before allowing them to go door-to-door should hardly be regarded as a burden. Most churches require their volunteers to go through background checks just to work in a charity shop or food bank… how much more should this be required of Jehovah’s Witnesses who are required to go door-to-door offering home Bible studies to members of the community?
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 anonymous says:

 April 16, 2015 at 9:57 am

We all know that the Watchtower is negligent when it comes to protecting children within the organization and I believe that if Candace takes her case to the Supreme Court that she will win. If her lawyers feel that she can win the case, then I hope she takes it all the way to the Supreme court.
The reason that the Watchtower Society is negligent when it comes to protecting the kids is because the Society decides what gets published in the magazines and books and they never warn in any of those publications that an abuser will most likely be either a family member or a close friend of the family or a babysitter and we all know that the only people that Jehovah’s Witnesses are allowed to associate with are other Jehovah’s Witnesses. The Watchtower never warns anybody that an abuser could be another Witness. The Watchtower wants the whole world to believe that Witnesses are the most trusted and “clean” people in the whole world and will do anything to maintain that “lie”.
90% of all child molestations occur within the family or close family friends but the Society only warns parents and children about stranger danger, not family or friends danger. This lack of warning has to be deliberate from the Society’s side.
It all comes down to the two witness rule. Inside the Organization, we all know that if a child comes forward with a molestation accusation, that if they don’t have another witness to the molestation, that the congregation will not stand behind them if they turn the abuser in to authorities.
They will be on their own against the abuser and most likely will be shunned for “bringing reproach on Jehovah’s name”. They are intimidated into keeping it quiet.
Then if the abuser or their family should tell anybody about the abuse, they will be called before a committee for slander and they will be told to be quiet about their accusations or they themselves will be disfellowshipped (kept quiet) and not allowed to warn anybody else about the abuser. This makes an impossible situation for the victim and their family.
This makes it a pedophile paradise for abusers. The only thing abusers have to do is to make sure that when they abuse a child, that they have to do it with no witnesses.
In the case of Kendrick, he insinuated himself into Candace’s family because her mother and father were unable to care for her properly and he took advantage of that, which is what abusers do. They see a situation like that and they know that the child is looking for attention and that is called “grooming”. The better a pedophile is at “grooming” a child, the less likely it is that the child will even realize what is happening and the less likely it is that they will turn the guy in, once they realize what has happened to them. Pedophiles know what they are doing and a lot of times, they can get away with abusing many children over many years before they finally get caught. It is very difficult to turn in an abuser, once that person has made the child “fall in love” with them.
If he had never molested another child, a person could believe that maybe Candace was lying but the fact is, that when he remarried when he moved to another congregation, he molested his new step granddaughter. That time, he had to serve prison time for it. He admitted his crime both to her and his first stepdaughter. So, he is a pedophile and so that is the 2nd witness for Candace. The first one was his first stepdaughter and her 2nd witness was the step granddaughter.
How did this guy divorce and remarry with no repercussions? How did that happen? In my neck of the woods, if he did something to his stepdaughter where his wife was able to divorce him and he was able to remarry, that tells me that what he did could have been considered adultery, since he remarried without being considered adultery. So, is that all it takes to get a scriptural divorce nowadays? “Touching” somebody’s breast? It seems that was all it took in his case. That would be enough for a lot of wives and mothers to get a divorce, but is that the case now? Those elders were told to keep him away from kids but that was all that happened to him and even then, they let him insinuate himself into Candace’s family, knowing that he had a problem with pedophilia. So, he touches his step daughter and his wife divorces him for it and then the elders let him off the hook with a warning from the Society and he goes to another congregation and remarries with a letter from his old congregation that in effect was a recommendation for him to hang out with kids.
Somebody has to pay for this.
If you look at his case in California, he used drugs on at least one of those girls. It was more than than just “touching”.
I hope that Candace writes a book some day. There is so much to this story that needs to be said.
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 David says:

 April 16, 2015 at 10:02 am

We live in a strange world. Governments regarding religion should be fair to both parties, the institution and people.
 It is unbelievable that in today’s world these organisations are allowed to break families and ruin people lives when someone decide that cannot support certain teachings and ideas.
 They are getting allowances and protection while thousands of people must deal with abuse and physiological harm.
 If freedom is a human right should be for everybody not just for modern religion organizations.
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 Mandalay says:

 April 18, 2015 at 10:20 am

@David
JWs are one of the organizations bankrolled by the powerful banking elite early on for the purpose of subverting Christianity, and there are many ways to skin a cat. A heavy focus on Old Testament study, stealth consolidation of property by the corporation, rules that are anti-family, absolute control by a few, and world-destruction-rapture doctrines (fake prophecy invented by Jews in 15th century) are some of the hallmarks of these religions in America. That the JWs haven’t become raving Zionist lunatics like many other subversive sects is a complete mystery, and, I must reluctantly admit, to their credit.
I always pray Candice and her lawyers continue the fight against the child-endangerment policies of the Watchtower. At present, I know of some JW congregations that have given public notice about the presence of registered pedophiles in their membership, but I can’t honestly say that this organization has done all that it can to protect children. It is not their agenda.
I apologize if this comment appears more than once. I was having trouble posting; it was not appearing at all until I changed my hardware and re-submitted it.
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 Ted says:

 April 16, 2015 at 10:16 am

This is a very difficult issue for the legal system to deal with.
 In the U,K, we have, “Sarah’s Law” whereby a parent or
 guardian can have access to info, regarding anyone having
 contact with children. As to whether such persons have
 convictions for offences against minors.
This concession is tempered with the proviso that, “There must
 be sufficient access or connection with the child, to justify
 disclosure.”
We’re all aware of the Police’s fears about open disclosure.
 The possibility of vigilante action and of the paedo, moving
 to another area and off their Radar. I can’t envision a law,
 allowing announcements from pulpit or platform, identifying
 a paedophile in the midst of the congregation.
The Org, were guilty of lax supervision of a known child molester,
 this needs sorting out. First of all the bird brained 2 witness rule
 has to be scrapped, Police should be called “First” in the event
 of any accusation, ( not the branch office ), anyone proven guilty
 should be banned from field service and conducting Bible studies.
 ( A JW, in our area of Yorkshire, molested a 14 year old girl he was
 studying with.) I could hardly believe it, he was the last person
 I would have suspected.
No doubt Elders will be getting more instructions on this subject.
 Not with the aim of caring for the flock. But of protecting WTs,
 reputation and material assets. And probably with the object
 of shifting responsibility onto the slaves (Elders) and away from
 the Masters.
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 Jack says:

 April 16, 2015 at 11:17 am

I’d like to engage Ted on something here: you say call the police. Ok, what justice system is perfect? You do realize that people have been falsely accused, falsely put to death, people have gotten away with rape, murder, etc…using secular courts as well. Secondly, elders do not handle the criminal aspect anyway. Their job is to determine if something happened in order to take congregational action, NOT civil action. Whether or not the police is called depends on the accuser. You’re not barred from calling the cops yourself. The “two-witness” rule (if you understand it) cannot be thrown out, as it’s used in ANY accusation — not just issues of abuse. Imagine a scenario in which you’re accused of stealing money from a business account your share with a fellow witness. You didn’t do it, however, with no two-witness rule, the accusation is taken as factual with no need of further evidence (second-witness), and you’re kicked out. This is what you’re asking for if you scrap the rule. The rule prevents the “he said, she said” nonsense. Additionally, courts use the rule, in a sense, all the time. They ask for evidence (second witness) to corroborate accusations. Evidence people…you always need evidence. This standard cannot be brushed aside. That’s the spirit of the two-witness rule.
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 Cedars says:

 April 16, 2015 at 11:20 am

Jack…
“Evidence people…you always need evidence. This standard cannot be brushed aside. That’s the spirit of the two-witness rule.”
Are you seriously expecting us to believe that police are incapable of gathering evidence beyond questioning people? Are you further expecting us to believe that part-time janitors (I mean elders) are better equipped to investigate an allegation of child abuse than the police are?
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 Jack says:

 April 16, 2015 at 11:38 am

Cedars, that’s not what I said. I never even mentioned the competences of the police. The elders deal with the congregation, the cops deal with criminals. That’s the point of my post. Also, folks are acting as if justice is assured if you “let the police handle it”. Do I NEED to mention the swaths of mishandlings, false imprisonments, false lethal executions done by secular courts to make my point?
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 Cedars says:

 April 16, 2015 at 11:41 am

“The elders deal with the congregation, the cops deal with criminals. ”
By defending Watchtower’s two witness rule you are taking a stand precisely against that sentiment. The two witness rule robs authorities of the chance to deal with criminals.
But thanks for showing your true colors so quickly.

 
 
 

 KB says:

 April 16, 2015 at 11:44 am

Further, Jack,
 Are you aware of what mandated reporters must do? While not applicable in all states, required reporters must report to the police even a suspected act of child abuse. This includes sexual abuse but also encompasses domestic abuse as well.
Reply
 

 Louis says:

 April 16, 2015 at 4:19 pm

Jack, not sure if you’re an active JW in a position or have held a position of responsibility in the congregation or not (not that it matters), but as someone who recently (11/14) left the organization after years of serving on the elder body (up until 11/14) I can tell you the two witness policy is flawed. The last elder body I served with found it difficult to agree on all aspects of it. It makes you wonder how many other BOE are facing the same crisis. The points you make are from a WT policy perspective; a perspective that has a history of being very unreliable and written in double talk at the cost of its members. The two witness policy does have its place in certain congregation matters, but not all. It especially does not have its place when it comes to incidents involving sexual abuse. What rapist has an audience (the second witness) to their acts? Since the release of the Shepherd the Flock of God book; the number of BOE letters sent to append, revise or correct sections related to pornia, sexting, deviant behavior or acts of greed to be inserted in the book made the book appear to be flawed and quickly become difficult to refer to when a serious/judicial congregation matter arose. The WTBTS recognized this, with the assistance of Candace and other lawsuits, when it came to sexual abuse of a minor and so quickly sent out the BOE letter with the direction to contact the legal department directly, NOT the authorities. By doing this, the WTBTS has taken it upon themselves to become the law. You are right “Whether or not the police is called depends on the accuser. You’re not barred from calling the cops yourself.” This is classic JW deflection speech. It’s yet to be seen a situation turn out well or in favor of a JW who goes “around” the congregation arrangement, let alone straight to the authorities with a matter. The congregation and the organization have a history to quickly vilify the individual(s) who do such actions. The two witness policy, much like the blood policy, is part of the undue influence the organization has on its members. A person knows what the common sense step to take is, but instead is stuck questioning their loyalty to Jah (WTBTS) and/or risk being ostracized for not “believing or following” the direction of the slave.
You mentioned “Evidence people…you always need evidence. This standard cannot be brushed aside. That’s the spirit of the two-witness rule.” The scriptural account (De. 22:23-27) of how cases involving rape were to be handled mentions that if no one was around (a second witness) to rescue the girl from the man assaulting her than the act of screaming served to absolve her from being judicially dealt with (no evidence needed and no second witness needed), and the man is to die. In the spirit of this scripture, couldn’t it be said that the victims of sexual abuse are “screaming out” when they report the assault even though no second witness is around?
“We are not done yet” – Candace Conti
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 Innocent Son says:

 April 16, 2015 at 10:40 am

Candace, you are an inspiration to us all….! Keep fighting the good fight and clear your name! May you keep strong and focused.Much love to you and your family.
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 Erik says:

 April 17, 2015 at 5:43 am

HER NAME WAS ALREADY CLEAR.
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 Mama Joy says:

 April 16, 2015 at 11:01 am

Adverse social consequences??? You mean like what Disfellowshipping does?
There should be no safe haven for child rapists.
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 Mama Joy says:

 April 16, 2015 at 11:15 am

**Warning!**
There is a child molester still in good standing that has HIV at North congregation in Toledo, OH. USA
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 Mammothmouth says:

 April 17, 2015 at 6:33 am

@ Mama Joy:
**Warning!**
“There is a child molester still in good standing that has HIV at North congregation in Toledo, OH. USA”
Was or is he an Elder (again) currently in Monroe Michigan and are his initials “LM” and his wife named Letha? Because if so, You need to take it to the FBI in detail. It’s no secret and that is his home congregation. That and Manhattan congregation.
https://tips.fbi.gov
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 Jeff Barnett says:

 April 16, 2015 at 11:30 am

Bottom line is that our system of law MUST be changed regarding the protection of children. The idea that criminals are protected with privacy because they, in private, confessed a crime against a child to officials of a non profit organization should be criminal in itself. Freedom of religion is not free and should not include the freedom to withhold information regarding a crime against children to authorities or members of that organization.
#1. If officials of a religious institution are informed of any potential crime committed against a minor They MUST report it to local authorities within 24 hours.
#2. Local, State and Federal laws trump any and all laws mandated by a religious organization.
#3. Anyone that is a member of a religious organization who has committed a crime against a minor MUST be identified to its membership.
#4. Violations of these laws MUST deliver stiff penalties including loss of non profit status, prosecution, incarceration and financial loss.
If these fundamental laws of reason are not applied, I guarantee that children will continue to be abused and covered up.
The saddest part of all this? That we are even having this conversation. That our law makers are allowing this to happen. That we have allowed religion to run free. We should not have the right to believe, teach and practice anything in the name of religious freedom! Now take my previous sentence and really understand what that means because if we do not get our heads around what religious freedom should mean, anything is protected under our current laws.
“With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.”
Steven Weinberg
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 Christian Sparlock Freedom says:

 April 16, 2015 at 11:32 am

Thanks for this update.Way to go Candace.
 If something evil like Watchtower can be exposed by the Truth it fully deserves to be. Information is the enemy
 of charlatans like the JW Governing Body they hate
 the light of disclosure.
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 Searcher says:

 April 17, 2015 at 9:15 am

Yaaaaa!!!! Sparlock’s my hero!!!!
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 John Baptist says:

 April 16, 2015 at 12:18 pm

What were seeing here is the failures that we see from time to time in the Judicial system. The court ruled as it did because they are not the Supreme Court and don’t want to accept the responsibility of making that decision and setting the precedent for future cases. It is usually reserved for the Supreme Court to make those kind of decisions. Cases like this drag on for years but either way they eventually get settled. No matter the outcome people are going to weigh in on this case and of course most favor a decision based on the truth and common sense. It’s all part of a process. Long after it’s over this girl will be known as the one who forced the Watchtower to deal with these thousands of reports that lay in their own file system. It’s just a matter of time where they will have to make a change because religion aside it’s the RIGHT AND HONORABLE THING TO DO ESPECIALLY ON BEHALF OF THESE VICTIMS.
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 Big D says:

 April 16, 2015 at 12:43 pm

Remember “We’re Carlie Hebdo” after the Paris attacks? Well, how about “We’re Candace Conti!” I mean look, I personally haven’t suffered any abuse from this cult, but I’ve seen plenty of lives ruined. Let’s stand with her, shoulder to shoulder. There are other cases pending, so her battle will have opened the door for those victims as well.
Ms. Conti, I hope you read these posts, because here is your…I mean OUR anthem:


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 Ted says:

 April 16, 2015 at 2:38 pm

@Jack, Surely you realise, producing witnesses to sexual
 crime is virtually impossible. These are crimes carried out
 in lonely dark places, or behind locked doors. In such cases
 the 2 witness rule is totally inappropriate.
If a relative of yours claimed they were violated by a JW
 and there were no witnesses. Would you go to the Elders
 for justice or to the police ?
The first option would result in an impasse. If you took the
 second route and the police gave you the same line as. the
 Elders,- No witnesses, can’t take any further action.
 Would you and your family victim be content with that ?
Of course there is a third option often suggested by Elders.
“Leave it in Jehovahs hands”- which simply means we’re
 baffled.
Jack, I don’t see the point of your mentioning that people have
 been unjustly convicted. Does this mean we should abandon
 the Law and rely ( as Cedars pointed out ) on janitors?
I noticed that when the GB, challenges the law, they don’t put
 window cleaners and janitors up, but educated @Jack, Surely you realise, producing witnesses to sexual
 crime is virtually impossible. These are crimes carried out
 in lonely dark places, or behind locked doors. In such cases
 the 2 witness rule is totally inappropriate.
If a relative of yours claimed they were violated by a JW
 and there were no witnesses. Would you go to the Elders
 for justice or to the police ?
The first option would result in an impasse. If you took the
 second route and the police gave you the same line as. the
 Elders,- No witnesses, can’t take any further action.
 Would you and your family victim be content with that ?
Of course there is a third option often suggested by Elders.
“Leave it in Jehovahs hands”- which simply means we’re
 baffled.
Jack, I don’t see the point of your mentioning that people have
 been unjustly convicted. Does this mean we should abandon
 the Law and rely ( as Cedars pointed out ) on janitors?
I noticed that when the GB, challenges the law, they don’t put
 window cleaners and janitors up, but educated lawyers.
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 Ted says:

 April 16, 2015 at 2:43 pm

Comment duplicated, sorry.
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 Grace says:

 April 16, 2015 at 4:10 pm

I just wish Zalkin & Simons would collaborate. What a powerhouse of opponents to the WT that would make.
“This is really a public policy issue”.
It very much is. I thought that there was a case last year with 2 boys that were found out in field service by a pioneer who went on to molest them. Correct me if I’m wrong but that’s where a big lightbulb moment happened for me when I read somewhere that it was asked… “who is knocking at your door”.
Has WT changed their policy on allowing a child rapist or any rapist go out door knocking?
I was out on field service one day & because others had pre-arranged partners, I was put with this brother that I hardly knew, although we were in a group the whole time. The Elder that took the group told me to be with him when he went to the door as he was not to be left alone to do the door. He didn’t tell me anymore than that as you can imagine my mind went in to overdrive as what this man had done to be in this position. I look back now & wonder why the Elder left that responsibility to me & why it was okay for me to be with him.
I can see how easy it would be for a female of any age to be put in a vulnerable situation because you are being obedient to those taking the lead. I didn’t question the Elder about it but now I wish I had of. I think I had every right to know the answer since I was the one chaperoning him.
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 Ted says:

 April 16, 2015 at 4:31 pm

Jack, Do elders take an active, positive step in exposing
 the dreadful crime of Paedophillia. Or do they sit on the
 fence, keeping quiet, hoping the victim will take no action?
Reply
 

 rikos says:

 April 16, 2015 at 4:57 pm

what make my sick to through up to watchtower is because these people claiming they are Jesus spiritual brothers and the faithful slave.
 if Jesus was the leader of the christian congregation and was a child molestation case what he would do? He will use the worldly institutions to claim innocent ? or he will use this legal laws to win over thousands of crimes child molestations? when Jesus was front of pilot he said my kingdom is not from this world. or apostle Paul he wrote to the Corinthians do not go to worldly courts . if these people was real Christians they will admitted right the way and would apologize for what happen to thousand of innocent children in their congregations. these people are demonic.
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 Thinking of leaving says:

 April 16, 2015 at 6:14 pm

I hope I don’t get shot for saying this but I can kind of understand the courts decision. Just imagine the litigation that would arise for all organizations if they were required to tell their members if someone had a criminal history.
 For example say I joined a tennise club where it was known by the president and secretary that one of its members had a conviction for fraud. Unbeknown to me I then do business with him and he rips me off. Hey it would of been nice if the tennise club had informed me but they were by no means obliged to. So what we are saying here is that it’s the tennise clubs fault that this guy ripped me off. Perhaps there could be some responsibility but it would never stand up in court.
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 anonymous says:

 April 17, 2015 at 5:08 am

@ Thinking of leaving, Of course it doesn’t make sense for any congregation elder to take it upon themselves to warn the congregation of a sex offender without solid proof. The elders should stay out of it.
All Witnesses should be told that if somebody in the congregation was abused that they should take it to the police and let the police do their investigation and let the police decide if there was a crime or not. If there was a crime, then it’s put in the papers and the person is tried and then everyone knows what happened. That is how everyone knows that a certain person is a danger to children and will be smart enough not to let their child be alone with that person.
The janitors for living elders take that job upon themselves to determine if there was a crime and if there wasn’t another witness to the crime, the elders can’t do anything to the abuser and either it’s dropped and “put in Jehovah’s hand” or else the victim and the family either drop it or they take it to the police. If the elders haven’t determined that there was a crime committed, the victim and the family will be held to account from the organization as if it was them that some how “brought reproach on Jehovah’s good name” and they will be the ones shunned and not the abuser.
That is wrong. That is why abusers get away with their crimes in the Organization. The abusers know what a huge risk the victim and their family are taking when they decide to go to the police. The abuser knows that the family and the victim stand to lose all their friends and family over their reporting the abuse to the authorities if they supposedly “turn in” a man in the Organization who is still in “good standing” and not been disfellowshipped. That is what abusers in the Organization are counting on. It all boils down to the two witness rule and shunning if there isn’t solid proof that the elders can determine with their limited knowledge of such crimes.
That is what is wrong with this whole thing. The Organization only cares about it’s reputation. They don’t care about the kids at all.
They know that they don’t have to tell the victims that they can’t report the abuse to the police.
Everyone in the Organization knows the repercussions and 99% of the time, they won’t report the abuse to the authorities because of those repercussions. That is what the Society is counting on.
The Society has all it’s bases covered when it comes to child abuse. They are expert cult leaders in every respect and they know it. They know how to work the system to their benefit and they have the lawyers to make sure the can get away with it legally.
Reply
 

 Erik says:

 April 17, 2015 at 6:07 am

The tennis club never claimed you could trust them to protect you.
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 Gareth says:

 April 17, 2015 at 8:33 am

In most cases, the tennis club wouldn’t know about the fraud either. But suppose you let your children take lessons at a tennis club; and the club’s management has learned about an abuse case; you really don’t expect anything from them?
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 Man from the lions pit says:

 April 16, 2015 at 8:14 pm

@thinking of leaving
 if I would elaborate on your reasoning than this could be even stretch further.A side of any state,county,school,work place…any street or neighborhood has it’s own people with some criminal history ,so if somebody what to move in than the responsible local authority-municipality should inform him about all these “folks” with some criminal history.Thieves,robbers,other crooks…etc.
 because there is a change that I may be harm or wrong in some way after my move.It may seem like a crazy idea but why not.Why not to go to such extend in order to prevent or protect.I thing it should be in public interest.There problem is that crimes are not committed only by previous offenders but also by “new” first time offenders.So that all of us as potential criminals.Than what ?
 Society or states in general tend to be forgiving and doesn’t want to discriminate such individuals by publicly exposing them preventive measure are insufficient in this respect.
 However child molestation is extremely sensitive matter and some countries have the publicly accessible registry of such offenders.But looks like even this is not enough to prevent such crimes.As the saying goes: “There is no safety lock which can stop the thieve.”
Having said that there should be NO excuse for leadership of JW to have weak ,insufficient or flaw policies in this matter !
 Interest of child must be in forefront of any organization or institution ,moreover if they claim to be Christian !
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 Pickled brain says:

 April 16, 2015 at 11:28 pm

The society 40 years ago used to name people & Give the reason WHY they were Reproved or DISFELLOWSHIPPED but they got SCARED of Legal Consequences so now it is Announced that such a person is no longer one of JW or Reproved & doesn’t specify the Reason .
 SO NOW THE GB choose NOT to FOLLOW SCRIPTURE When it SUITS THEM!!!
 The Apostle Paul at 1 Corinthians ch.5 NAMED the MAN in Front of The WHOLE CONGREGATION & NAMED the SIN of SEXUAL IMMORALITY with his STEPMOTHER!! If GODS LAW Supercedes Caesars Law as the GB maintain in the 2 witness rule ,WHY AREN’T the Governing Body CONSISTENT????
 As I have said before The GB will change when it becomes Financially in their interests to do so .!!
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 Searcher says:

 April 17, 2015 at 9:31 am

Agreed Pickled, but let’s take that one step further in relation to the Conti case.
The WTS (i.e. GB) always says something like “fight to the death under the delusion that Jehovah will carry them to victory against Satan’s hoards.” Basically, they are a bag of hot air, just like their predecessor Rutherford. If they do carry this out, then they are likely to run the risk of actually getting the $8M reinstated. However, if they think with their wallet (which I believe they will), then you won’t hear another peep from them. I tend to think they won’t shoot their mouth off any more about this case.
Like Conti and her lawyer, let’s see what they do.
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 Searcher says:

 April 17, 2015 at 9:46 am

Whoops! They wouldn’t say “under the delusion…” What I meant is something like, “we’ll fight the hoards of satan’s minions to the highest court in the land!” and Isaiah XXX…. You know what I mean.
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 anonymous says:

 April 17, 2015 at 7:26 am

The problem with the Organization is that they don’t do a good enough job when it comes to warning parents about child abuse. They only touch on the subject. Pedophiles molest babies up to age 16. Babies are not capable of telling parents that their babysitter or father or brother or cousin has abused them. Children up to the age of about 4 or 5 aren’t capable of telling parents and 90% of child abuse is from close family members or family “friends”.
People in the Organization should be made aware of this and are left in the dark. If parents in the Organization were made aware of how sneaky these people are and made aware of the fact that it’s a CRIME and not a “sin”, they could take it more seriously. As long as the Society wants to claim it’s a “weakness” due to imperfection and not treat it as a CRIME, the children will always be discounted and their lives ruined.
In the United States, some states have 3 times and you are out. That means if you have been convicted of any crime 3 times, you will be put in prison for the rest of your life. It doesn’t even have to be the same crime. That should be true of child abuse.
If the person has been left out on the street after having served his time (as Kendrick’s wife said), and they commit the same CRIME or any other crimes, they should be put away for life away from children. Kendrick committed this crime 3 times and shows he is not to be trusted around children. There is no excuse for him walking the streets a free man.
In the Organization, this man is not restricted from field service. In the Organization, he is EXPECTED TO GO DOOR TO DOOR.
In the United States, it goes state by state but in my state, each city has a sex offender registry list and if you have a computer and type in sex offenders and your city, each person’s address will show up as a red dot so that parents can locate where these people live. They are not to live close to schools etc. This isn’t enough to protect the kids but at least it’s a start.
They should have something tattooed across their forehead or something like that. The tattoo wouldn’t kill them or anything but it could be an inducement for them not to commit the crime in the first place if they knew that was what would happen to them if they were caught. Just a thought.
Reply
 

 rob says:

 April 17, 2015 at 9:01 am

I often wonder how this religion in all good conscience can actually claim to be “God’s spirit directed organization” while trying to defend themselves in court for covering up the abuse suffered by innocent children within the congregation. It appears that they care little about their members and really their only concern is their image and their money.
Finally everyone is starting to see the sludge that lies beneath the shiny polished surface of this religion and the more individuals who come forward, the more we see all the dirt and grime.
Of course they don’t want the rank and file to go directly to the police as they want to keep this “in house” so they can keep it all under wraps and sweep everything under the carpet. In their eyes the child who was molested is simply collateral damage and the image of the watchtower is first and foremost. Anyone who does not put the watchtower first and who does not follow the watchtower protocol is not following the spiritual direction provided by the watchtower and is therefore no longer considered to be a true follower and everyone in the congregation will look at this person with disgust.
It really is a no win situation for those who are trapped within the confines of a religion whose members are imprisoned within a jailhouse with no real walls.
Reply
 
 Searcher says:

 April 17, 2015 at 9:38 am

Rob, you are so right. If it was God’s one and only organization, then the abuse that Conti and other suffered would not have happened in the first place. The “Bible Teach” book shows a trash ridden candy sucker to demonstrate how disgusting churches are to the WTS. I think this is now a self-portrait of the WTS itself.
Greedy, Disgusting, and Dirty!!!
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 April 17, 2015 at 7:36 pm

@Rob . your Analysis of how the JW Organisation works is SPOT ON . Elders must go to the LEGAL DEPARTMENT FIRST before the Police !! WELL ‘GET STUFFED ‘ Governing Body ,My Child’s Welfare comes first & I AM GOING To the Police & to the courts !! The scripture the GB MISAPPLY is 1 Corinthians 6v7 about Brothers not taking out Lawsuits against one another BUT if the CONTEXT is Read before& After scriptures is CLEARLY talking about FINANCIAL MATTERS !!! So if a CRIME is Committed ‘ GO TO The POLICE ‘
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 April 17, 2015 at 7:48 pm

@Searcher . Agree totally with your comment & your Final Conclusion!
Reply
 
 
 
 

 Vivian says:

 April 17, 2015 at 10:21 pm

I am / was a born in jw to a single parent family so i would say my family with multiple children would have been a perfect target for abuse or mistreatment of many and any kinds of abuse in the organization. This never happened to my family. And I never heard of it happen to any of my friends and family. Obviously this doesnt mean it wasnt happening or didnt happen to them. Im just saying from my long experience as a witness and in a vulnerable spot i saw no weaknesses in this regard amongst jw. Heck, they seem to love to announce a persons shortcomings from the stage. I dont believe jw policy is meant to cover and protect sinners. I think it does the opposite. the way i see it: If a victim/ member of congregation comes to an elder or ANYONE in congregation and as soon as the MENTION of sexual abuse is heard, the listener immediately tells victim to contact police, and if a child, phones the police for them and supports them if requested to the station. Thats the problem i see. No phoning of the service committee.
I havent researched the nature of child sex abuse so i dont understand all the nature of it, but i do know in my country it is handled specifically and different than other crimes. And rightfully so. So jw’s or really any religious organization thinking they can handle and control the crime within their religious “court” is near sighted. In jw’s for instance, the most they could do is disfellowship the accused which would of course only serve to isolate the vicitim and accused and increase the abuse. And its obvious that a two witness rule makes this sort of crime a free for all bc theres rarely another witness. Again, i dont believe witnesses are trying to “hide” a sexual predator problem. I just think they need to look at the nature of the crime more seriously and that their “two witness” policy cant apply to every crime.
Something that makes little sense to me is ppl complaining that the elders arent alerting others of past crime. When i move to a new area, i always consult the sex offender registry for my neighborhood and area. Its my responsibility. Also, i would never imagine or expect the elder body or a person in the congregation to tell me everyones past serious sins. So and so was convicted of murder, manslaughter, domestic abuse, etc etc. I wouldnt want to hear it. Where would the reporting of past serious sins stop? I protect my family not the elders. Same as at my daughters school. I dont expect the teacher or principle to give me a low down of what info they have acquired of whats going on in a students life at home, ie if a parent is reported as an offender. If i let my child play at their house and they were abused would i accuse the school of not letting my family know that info? NO. The general population has a lot of nasty bad people in it, some are catholic, hindu, baptist, jw, jewish etc. And if the law doesnt require these organizations to report then the weight of the vicitims tragedy falls plainly on the law of that land/ state.
Reply
 
 Pickled brain says:

 April 17, 2015 at 11:49 pm

@Vivian . You sound A Nice but Niave JW . Don’t you see what is wrong when you research the Dozens of court cases the Elders, Victim & Abuser have faced each other in a Judicial Committee & the POOR ABUSED VICTIMS have to Recount the Whole EVIL CRIME in Front of these Men so they can Disfellowship IF & it is A BIG IF the Abuser is found Guilty .
 If Vivian you follow the Bible the Elders should Announce Publicly in front of the Whole Congregation what the CRIME is like the Apostle Paul did at 1 Corinthians chapter 5 when the man was found guilty of sexual immorality with his stepmother, There are LOADS more Holes in your Argument like when Brothers at field service arrangements when they assign brothers to work with children .
 Also read January 15 2015 study watchtower Page 24 paragraph 4 and see the Disgusting sexual things that the Governing Body ADMIT their own Brothers are committing!!
Reply
 

 anonymous says:

 April 18, 2015 at 4:32 am

@Vivian, like Pickled brain said, you are naive’. Just because your family didn’t suffer from sexual abuse, you are discounting all those who have been abused.
You seem to think that if a person comes to the elders that the elders would first and foremost tell the victim and their family to go to the police? You are only assuming that, but my question is, why would the victim go to the elders first, if they weren’t told to do that?
The reason is clear. To accuse another witness of sexual abuse of a child is a very serious crime and the Witness knows it’s a crime and they know that in order to do the “right” thing when it comes to the congregation, the first thing they would do is to go to the elders first and let them tell the victim and the family what to do because they know how serious it is.
Why are Witnesses compelled to go to the elders first? Why are then the elders told to get in touch with the Branch to let the Branch lawyers tell the elders what to do? You are leaving out all that.
You should do some research before making the assumption that the Society is squeaky clean when it comes to covering up child sex abuse.
You seem like the kind of person, that unless it actually happened to you or your family that you don’t believe the stories.
Reply
 
 

 Ted says:

 April 18, 2015 at 12:14 pm

Stephen Lett’s quote, denying accusations that the religion
 provides a shelter for paedophiles. —
“If anybody takes ACTION against someone. who would threaten
 our young ones, and takes ACTION to protect our young ones,
 it’s Jehovah’s Organisation”.
Never was the word, ACTION more misapplied. ACTION means
“Doing something.”
A victim goes to elders, no witnesses, ( which are virtually impossible
 to provide, ) so NO ACTION is taken, and a possible molester left
 free to cause more distress.
Victim asks, should I contact the police? Elders have no option but
 to follow instructions from Shepherding the Flock, book.
“If you are asked, make it clear that it is a personal decision”
So once again a passive response, no involvement, NO ACTION.
 So “Jehovahs Organisation” rather than making protection of the
 children a priority, gives the paedophile a 50/50, or better, chance
 of remaining at large, ( Odds would be influenced by how pressurised
 the victim felt .)
Mr, Lett’s talk of ACTION then, is just empty rhetoric of which his
 organisation have perfected into a fine art.
Reply
 

 Excelsior! says:

 April 18, 2015 at 1:42 pm

Vivian,
Welcome to JW Survey and thank you for your comment. I am glad to read that you have no experience of child abuse in your family and social group. Thank goodness for that.
I would entreat you to fully research the true child protection policy of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. You will be shocked and saddened by what you discover.
As a Christian, would you agree that Christians are held to a higher standard of morality than some other people?
Why do you blame the “superior authorities” (Romans 13) for the failure of Jehovah’s Witnesses to report child abuse accusations to the authorities, when not legally obliged to?
Should not a Christian organisation go beyond the law and do what is right? Wouldn’t you want to inform the police if you discovered that the crime of child molestation had occurred? What would JESUS want you to do? What is the loving thing to do in this situation?
I hope that we can benefit from your opinion in the future.
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
Reply
 
 Vivian says:

 April 20, 2015 at 10:08 pm

Thanks for your response. Ive noticed a bit of bullying on these forums, including this one. Maybe not so much bullying as jumping to conclusions and making assumptions as to a responders opinions, outlooks and general character. I am slowly leaving jws with my family with little ones so its slow and careful. But I can tell everyone this. Being a born in jw with all the thought control and lack of tolerance for differing opinion and thought,(my mother, a born in jw as well) I am determined to be as unbiased, thoughtful and reflective as I can be. And teach my children the same. I don’t care if you are a jw or aren’t, or a member of the gb or a hobo on the street or Candice conti, I will do me own evaluations of information. I think jw policy should be completely hands off when it comes to alligations of sex abuse. Complete and quick referral to legal authorities and the courts that can actually stop the abuse and lock the abuser. The law unfortunately is on jw side so the case can only go so far. Until the law is reconsidered.
People come into the jw congregation sometimes as past abusers, same as in all types of organizations. If jws or the general population thinks jws have less occurrence of pedophiles than the general population I can see some efforts and exposing that misunderstanding. But I just don’t believe its a “paradise for pedophiles”. Having a complete and lengthy experience with the group I don’t support the idea. I see other terrible human right violations by the group that are carried out in a more black and white and obvious manner.
Reply
 
 Vivian says:

 April 20, 2015 at 10:24 pm

I am failing to say (with too many words) that JWs do need reform on many policies. They obviously look at themselves with a halo of their heads and maybe the rest of the world does as well. The group needs honest exposure of its weaknesses but I don’t think child molestation is the biggest problem. Those laws need to be changed across the board. You make it safer for jw kids but not other groups? the group as a whole thinks and wants to be the “chosen” and really cant see its own flaws and self righteousness. I don’t even think its hypocrisy… bc is so ingrained from childhood. My very large, entire family has been caught and swallowed by this strange goofy group. I want to see it exposed. But not on this issue.
Reply
 
 anonymous says:

 April 21, 2015 at 3:06 am

@Vivian. I agree with what you said. It should be taken out of the hands of the congregation elders altogether and it should be a law that when a case of child molestations accusation has happened and the elders or anybody else knows about it, that the person who knows about it, has to report it to the authorities.
Doctors and teachers are forced by law to report abuse of children when they know about it, but when it comes to clergy and lawyers, they don’t have to because of “confidentiality”.
Those laws should be changed to include everyone who learns of the abuse of a child since the child needs an advocate for them since they are just children and a lot of times, the abuser is an uncle, father, mother or cousin or close friend of the family.
As it is now, the Watchtower Society is a pedophile paradise and the laws of the land are what is making it possible for these men to get away with their crimes against children in the congregation and it probably is like that in any other religion as well. The difference is that in any other religion, the victims aren’t going to be shunned for turning in the abuser because most people aren’t regular church goers.
In the United States, the statistics are that only 1 in 5 people actually belong to a church where they go to church every Sunday but in the JW religion, they go to church a lot more and the organization is a lot more close knit so in the general population so when molestation occurs, it’s most likely going to be within the family or close friends from the Hall. The general population isn’t going to have to worry about reporting the abuse to elders like what Jehovah’s Witnesses would do. The general population (even if they belong to a church and a fellow church member was the molester) doesn’t have to worry about “Jehovah’s name” being dragged through the mud. Do you see the difference? The general population won’t have the 2 witness rule either.
The problem is so very complicated and if it was the law that all child abuse that has become known, has to be reported to the authorities, it would be taken out of the hands of the elders. That is the way it should be.
If a person has a conscience and sees that a child is living in a condition where a child is being abused and the child doesn’t have 2 witnesses, the 2 witness rule should not be the abusers way out where they can continue to abuse the child.
Anyone with a conscience would get that child out of the situation and not tell them or the parents “leave it in Jehovah’s hands” just because there wasn’t a 2nd witness to the crime, while that child is still in that situation.
If the parents decide to report the abuse, then the elders and congregation need to be neutral and stay out of it until the police have concluded the examination.
Reply
 
 
 
 

 Robert says:

 April 18, 2015 at 4:26 pm

TAKE A STAND! Next time a JW comes to your door.Express this: When the Watchtower decides to take a different stance on protecting young ones, you will then open the door for them, until then— your door is closed, for any discussion.Don’t take their literature, don’t engage in discussion.Close the door politely.
 Their own policy states if they know of a wrongdoing and don’t report it, they are equally guilty of the crime.
 Tell them take a hike…all of them. Don’t associate with child molesters, or any of the elders keeping them in secrecy.
 Thank you.
Reply
 
 Searcher says:

 April 20, 2015 at 9:35 am

Excellent response!
Those guys will have a lot more than dust to shake off their feet when walking back to the car.
I’ve always wanted to ask a crew coming to my door, “Your religion is open, right?” Wait for their response, the follow with, “If so, then let me review your “Sheparding the Flock” book on how you handle child molestation accusations.” “Oh, you can’t? I thought you were an open religion, not a secret society.”
I can only hope.
Reply
 
 

 kat says:

 April 18, 2015 at 6:26 pm

Next time a JW come to your door two brothers together ask if one is an elder if so ask if he is supervising a pedophile in case.
Reply
 

 Excelsior! says:

 April 21, 2015 at 6:47 am

Vivian,
Thank you for your thoughtful and interesting reponse. I hope that you have not been the victim of bullying on this site. Sadly, we have a problem with this in the ex JW community at the moment.
I am working with others to change the law in the UK, to make it compulsory to report accusations of child sexual abuse to the authorities. This will help to protect ALL children in the UK.
This will not, in itself, solve the problem, but it will help to solve it.
I have to respectfully disagree with you on not using child abuse as an issue to expose the WTBTS cult.
I do so because I am primarily concerned with the children, and I think that we can help starve the WTBTS of new converts by exposing this disgraceful situation.
We can agree to disagree, and I will at no time insult your opinion.
Thank you for your input on this very important issue.
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
Reply
 
 Vivian says:

 April 21, 2015 at 1:13 pm

I suppose even if I don’t believe it is a “pedophile paradise”, because of its policies and determination to protect their image/ name it could easily become one. its commendable that you are making efforts to protect jw and all children by reversing and changing policy/law.
Reply
 
 

 Ted says:

 April 21, 2015 at 5:00 pm

Candace has great courage, refusing to be cowed and intimidated
 by the corporate bullies and their expensive lawyers.
While laws requiring public identification of paedophiles in a
 congregation may not get approval from the judiciary,
 Many states and countries make it “Mandatory” to report any
 accusation of child abuse.
It’s feasible then that this could become “Universally” accepted,
 I think campaigning for this is a realistic aim.
The WT Org, would not then be able to do the Pontius Pilate act
Anyone found guilty would then be identified in the media and
 exposed in this way ( as anonymous has already suggested. )
Reply
 

 Excelsior! says:

 April 22, 2015 at 4:42 am

Vivian,
Thank you for your kind and supportive comment.
We can all help with this issue, wherever we live.
I would encourage you to write to your Representative, and ask them about mandatory reporting. Some States in the USA have mandatory reporting, but not all of them.
Here in the UK, there is no legal obligation for all citizens to report accusations of child sexual abuse to the authorities. Some groups do, like teachers and doctors etc. I will continue to press for mandatory reporting in the UK.
There are issues surrounding this, but they can be debated and solved.
The most important thing is that children and young people are protected as fully as possible from the paedophiles who want to prey on them. This is something that all people want, and so I am confident that we can make some progress here.
I wish you success with your eventual exit from the WTBTS. There are many people here and on other sites who will help you as much as they can.
Thank you for your comments. They have been of great interest and benefit to our discussion of this very serious issue.
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
Reply
 

 Innocent Son says:

 April 23, 2015 at 12:57 pm

Eric that was my point exactly, if you read my comments accurately you would see that….! Candace’s name has been besmurched and tarnished by the Watchtower Org. This needs to be put right.
Reply
 

 Art Fern says:

 April 23, 2015 at 10:52 pm

There is a lot of heartbreak in this news, the local congregations will see their Elder’s spiking the ball in victory a dramatic contrast from the humble way Candace and her mother explained the previous decision. The next step although I didn’t see it mentioned in any articles, is the 9th District Federal Court also in San Fran. The 9th Federal District includes Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, California, Washington and Oregon, and like the city it’s based in is the most Liberal court in America. They are the people who struck down not one but two voter approved changes in California law that defined marriage as ONLY between one man and one woman. The attorney would need to add an attorney who is authorized to present cases at the federal level just as he had to join with an appellate attorney to deal with the State Court of Appeals. Nothing was said of the California State Supreme Court in Sacramento which would be the natural next stop, after that the 9th Federal, and then an application to the Supremes in Washington DC. I personally cannot imagine the 9th Federal Court placing the rights of this sick and twisted church over the rights of the children they have an obligation to protect. If they were looking to avoid opening a can of vipers and to support the right of religious dogma, they would not have kicked Prop 8 the Prohibition on Gay Marriage to the curb, Twice! I see a great deal of hope and many opportunities to reverse the reversal.
Reply
 

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SHUNNING THE SHUNNERS




August 15, 2013














I recently heard a portion of a talk being given at the God's Word is Truth District Convention of Jehovah's Witnesses, entitled:  The Truth brings "N...





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WHAT IS THE "BLUE BOOK VALUE" OF BEING A JEHOVAH'S WITNESS? AND HOW MUCH WILL IT COST YOU?




June 5, 2013














Let's say you're looking to purchase a used car.  You haven't decided on a make and model yet, but you go to a dealership to see what deals, if any, y...





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WAIT--IT'S A SIN TO BE A PIG-HUMPER?




May 26, 2013














Right around the age of 5, I received a gift from my grandmother. A stuffed pig.  It was of medium height, pink, and pretty firm for a stuffed animal....





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CHILD ABUSE AND JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES




May 20, 2013














If you found out that a man you trusted had molested your child, how would you feel? What would you do? A natural reaction would be anger, devastation...





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Freedom of Mind Group Database Search

Search:
Alphabetical Group Listing
Group Information

Title Jehovah's Witnesses - aka Watchtower Bible and Tract Society 
Affiliated
Organizations

Founder Charles Taze Russell, est. 1879 
Leader Don A. Adams (pres. Watch Tower Society) 
Description

Behavior
Control



















   

Information
Control

























   

Thought
Control



















   

Emotional
Control































   

Group
Websites watchtower.org 
Critical
Websites Letters From The Governing Body Of Jehovah's Witnesses
Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses Online
Freeminds.org
Comments from the Friends
Watchtower News
JW Survey
Doubts Over Organizational Solidarity

Other
Resources
(articles, videos, information) Babies returned to Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses - Court dismisses case: Couple kicked out after saying church covered up sexual abuse
Jehovah's Witnesses - Ex-Jehovah Witness whistleblower calls it as he sees it
Jehovah's Witnesses - Interview with Bill Bowen (silentlambs.org)
Jehovah’s Witnesses & Clergy Abuse Developments in Denmark and California
Jehovah's Witnesses - Life or Death Decision
Jehovah’s Witnesses -Second Canadian sextuplet dies
Jehovah’s Witnesses - Sextuplets’ parents live life by the Bible: “We are not fanatics”
Jehovah's Witnesses - The fight for the sextuplets
Jehovah's Witnesses - Winnipeg Jehovah’s Witness teen loses fight to refuse blood transfusions
Watchtower Dates, Dates, and More Dates
AnswerJW.com
Associated Jehovah's Witnesses For Reform on Blood
JW Files Research Outline On The Watchtower Society
Jehovah’s Witnesses Custody


How the Watchtower Uses Undue Influence to Enforce Its Blood Policy





CHILD ABUSE:
Suffer the little children
Secret database protects paedophiles
silentlambs.org
Jehovah's Witness in door to door sex assault scandal
Jehovah's Witness pedophile walked free from court; one of his victims was a baby
Audio/Video:
Interview with Bill Bowen of silentlambs.org
Life or Death Decision
Randy Watters, ex-JW elder, interviews Steven Hassan about Steve's new book, "Freedom of Mind." (August 2012)
A comparison of Mormons to Jehovah's Witnesses
Shocking Jehovah's Witness Convention Talk


HOME
SERVICES
INFORMATION
MEDIA
CONTACT
 ADDRESS
716 Beacon Street
#590443
Newton, MA 02459
Phone: 617 396-4638
Fax: (617) 628-8153  FOLLOW US
Facebook
Twitter
Vimeo
YouTube
LinkedIn 
COPYRIGHT © 2014 FREEDOM OF MIND RESOURCE CENTER INC.






https://freedomofmind.com//Info/infoDet.php?id=114










     


HOME
About Us

Mission Statement


SERVICES
Help for Ex-Member of Group

Help for Someone in Group

Help With Estranged Family Member

Help With A Controlling Relationship

Our Team
Steve Hassan, M.Ed. LMHC, NCC, Director

Rachel Bernstein, LMFT, MSED



INFORMATION
About Us
Mission Statement

Privacy Policy


Articles

BITE Model of Unethical Influence

Blogs

Books

FAQ

Friends of FOM Resoruce Center

Groups
Group Database

Submit Info About A Group


Human Trafficking

Recent News

Terrorism


MEDIA
Steve Hassan Press Kit Resources

Video Archives


CONTACT
Send Us An Email

Join Our Contact List

Submit Information On A Group

Facebook (Cult Expert)

Facebook (FOM)

Twitter

LinkedIn

Youtube

Vimeo



 

Freedom of Mind Group Database Search

Search:
Alphabetical Group Listing
Group Information

Title Jehovah's Witnesses - aka Watchtower Bible and Tract Society 
Affiliated
Organizations

Founder Charles Taze Russell, est. 1879 
Leader Don A. Adams (pres. Watch Tower Society) 
Description

Behavior
Control



















   

Information
Control

























   

Thought
Control



















   

Emotional
Control































   

Group
Websites watchtower.org 
Critical
Websites Letters From The Governing Body Of Jehovah's Witnesses
Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses Online
Freeminds.org
Comments from the Friends
Watchtower News
JW Survey
Doubts Over Organizational Solidarity

Other
Resources
(articles, videos, information) Babies returned to Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses - Court dismisses case: Couple kicked out after saying church covered up sexual abuse
Jehovah's Witnesses - Ex-Jehovah Witness whistleblower calls it as he sees it
Jehovah's Witnesses - Interview with Bill Bowen (silentlambs.org)
Jehovah’s Witnesses & Clergy Abuse Developments in Denmark and California
Jehovah's Witnesses - Life or Death Decision
Jehovah’s Witnesses -Second Canadian sextuplet dies
Jehovah’s Witnesses - Sextuplets’ parents live life by the Bible: “We are not fanatics”
Jehovah's Witnesses - The fight for the sextuplets
Jehovah's Witnesses - Winnipeg Jehovah’s Witness teen loses fight to refuse blood transfusions
Watchtower Dates, Dates, and More Dates
AnswerJW.com
Associated Jehovah's Witnesses For Reform on Blood
JW Files Research Outline On The Watchtower Society
Jehovah’s Witnesses Custody


How the Watchtower Uses Undue Influence to Enforce Its Blood Policy





CHILD ABUSE:
Suffer the little children
Secret database protects paedophiles
silentlambs.org
Jehovah's Witness in door to door sex assault scandal
Jehovah's Witness pedophile walked free from court; one of his victims was a baby
Audio/Video:
Interview with Bill Bowen of silentlambs.org
Life or Death Decision
Randy Watters, ex-JW elder, interviews Steven Hassan about Steve's new book, "Freedom of Mind." (August 2012)
A comparison of Mormons to Jehovah's Witnesses
Shocking Jehovah's Witness Convention Talk


HOME
SERVICES
INFORMATION
MEDIA
CONTACT
 ADDRESS
716 Beacon Street
#590443
Newton, MA 02459
Phone: 617 396-4638
Fax: (617) 628-8153  FOLLOW US
Facebook
Twitter
Vimeo
YouTube
LinkedIn 
COPYRIGHT © 2014 FREEDOM OF MIND RESOURCE CENTER INC.








https://freedomofmind.com//Info/infoDet.php?id=114