Denmark Media Calls JW's "Satan's Witnesses"Read why- Day 5
PUTTING THEMSELVES ABOVE THE LAW
Sexually abused children pay the price for Jehovah's Witnesses front to look clean and spotless.
Jehovah's Witnesses put their reputation above the Law. This claim is made by Kristian Molbo, chairman of a support group for former members of Jehovah's Witnesses. In this capacity he repeatedly sees how the Witnesses out of fear for their reputation hide and cover up violence as well as child abuse to appear clean and spotless without any criminal elements. “It doesn’t look good if an organization which claims to be chosen by God has problems with violence, crime and incest,” says Kristian Molbo.
That’s why Jehovah's Witnesses has a rule that there must be two or three witnesses in each case if the acc user is to be believed. Such a rule is unfortunately favoring the ab user and completely overlooks the victim’s need for help, he explains.
The last week, Ekstra Bladet has published several instances where the Jehovah leaders have neglected to report sexual abuse of children. If a Jehovah's Witness commit violence or other crimes, the congregation appoints a committee of elders to deals with the problem and gives biblical reprimands instead of going to the police. This way they create a state within a state.
No Brother Against Brother
The elders look upon it as thei r r esponsibility to solve problems in the congregation. They put themselves above the worldly authorities. They are of the opinion that they are chosen by God and thus more competent to deal with such matters. The whole thing originates with a Bible text about brothers ought not to bring other brothers in the congregation into court. This is taken very serious and is a primary reason for not accusing anyone in the congregation in worldly courts, says Kristian Molbo.
Not Educated
His claims are supported by the observations of current elder Ekstra Bladet spoke to a few years ago, and he stated that it is the rule rather then exception not to report violence and incest. “We have done this to stay loyal to the organization,” the elder, who wishes to be anonymous, said. “My private attitude is that we have a duty to report such matters to the proper authorities and acknowledge that we are not educated to deal with these very complicated cases. Such a view has been strongly opposed but today more and more are supporting it.”
Jehovah’s Almighty Pyramid
Jehovah's Witnesses organization has a very hierarchic structure which requires unquestioned loyalty from its members. The members can be persuaded to do anything if the organization tells them it is supported in the Bible. This was told to Ekstra Bladet by a present Elder. He wishes to remain anonymous because of his future in the congregation. This loyalty is at the expense of the individuals in the organization. “The loyalty towards the congregation and the headquarters in New York is so strong that it makes you blind. It causes people to act in a way they would normally never do.”
Demand for Loyalty
The Governing Body based in Brooklyn New York at the world headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses demand absolute loyalty. The members of the Governing Body claims to be the only channel through which worship of God is possible. To oppose them is equal to opposing God in the eyes of the Witnesses. This gives them enormous power over the 6 million members, says the Elder. The Governing Body claims with reference to a text in the Gospel of Matthew to have authority over all Jehovah's Witnesses. It is a psychological mechanism similar to the ones found in all totalitarian systems both within religion and politics.
Black and White
Jehovah's Witnesses are deciding abuse cases with reference to Bible texts. This is from a 1995 issue of the Watchtower “Comfort for Those With a “St rick en Spirit”
“Experience shows that the sufferer is helped if he can rely on the ‘power of the Lord and the mightiness of his strength,’ putting on “the complete suit of armor from God.”
“Wisely, Solomon said: “Do not go forth to conduct a legal case hastily.” ( Proverbs 25:8) If there is some valid reason to suspect that the alleged perpetrator is still abusing children, a warning may have to be given. The congregation elders can help in such a case. Otherwise, take your time. Eventually, you may be content to let the matter drop.”
“If the elders are approached by a member of the congregation who is experiencing flashbacks or “repressed memories” of child abuse, two of them are usually assigned to help. These elders should kindly encourage the afflicted one to focus for the time being on coping with the emotional distress. The names of any “remembered” ab user s should be kept in strict confidence.”
“If the accusation is denied, the elders should explain to the accuser that nothing more can be done in a judicial way. And the congregation will continue to view the one accused as an innocent person. The Bible says that there must be two or three witnesses before judicial action can be taken. (2 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Timothy 5:19) Even if more than one person “remembers” abuse by the same individual, the nature of these recalls is just too uncertain to base judicial decisions on them without other supporting evidence.”
BY RIKKE HALBERG
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EDITORIAL
Satan’s Witnesses II
NORMALLY politician’s pop up like a jack in the box, when the media raises issues which require political action and intervention. This is however not happening in the case of Jehovah's Witnesses sexual abuse of children.
We have in this newspaper the last week published several cases where the sect has neglected to report crimes among their members. The Witness leaders use strange reasoning from the Bible to pressure their members and in particular the children to stay away from the authorities. As a result the children have to endure being molested by their pedophiles.
THIS IS SO SICK, it cries out to heaven. But the cries evidently make no impression upon the Danish P arliament, where the members drag their feet in this case. It must be sheer hell to be born from parents that are Jehovah's Witnesses, because of the much screwed up thinking that goes on in that organization. But growing up being miserable is made more cruel by adults which instead of protecting the defenseless chooses to almost crimina liz e the children that has been victims of sexual abuse. The sect actually demands that there should be two or three witnesses to the rape of a child, before they can intervene. How often is the crime of rape committed in public? Hardly ever.
AND WHILE the politicians are still doing nothing all of us taxpayers participate in pouring millions of dollars down into the already bulging money vault of the Witnesses. For his tori cal reasons the sect is a registered religious society and therefore enjoys full tax-exemption. This arrangement Jehovah's Witnesses use to grant each other subsidies which are tax deductible. The money is used to build Kingdom Halls all over the country, so investment in b rick s is very safe today.
Satan’s Witnesses hide their eyes regarding serious sexual abuse of children are thus rewarded with money by the Danish State month after month, year after year. This is possible because our lawmakers have made it possible that our money can roll into the greedy sect’s money vault.
When will the Danish P arliament wake up and start doing something about this sick sect?
If only for the sake of abused children.
http://ekstrabladet.dk/VisArtikel.iasp?TemplateID=4587
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Article Ekstra Bladet 04-09-05
JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES IN VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION
- But it has to be up to the prosecutors office to prove it, says Radical Niels Helveg Petersen
Jehovah's Witnesses balance on the edge of the Constitution. This is the opinion of Niels Helveg Petersen spokesman for Church politics of the Radical Party.
- It is my immediate understanding that Jehovah's Witnesses attitude toward criminal acts like sexual abuse of children is in violation of the Constitutions Article 67.
- In my opinion it is the duty of the prosecutors office to investigate and eventually prove this before we can strip them of their privileges as a registered church, says Niels Helveg Petersen.
Ekstra Bladet has through the last weeks described how Jehovah's Witnesses request their members not to report criminal offences among them include sexual abuse of children.
Constitution Article 67 states:
’Citizens have the right to unite in congregations to worship God in a accor dan ce with their conviction, it is however under the condition that their teachings or actions do not violate moral conduct and public order.’
Demands Answer from Minister
- If it can be established by a court that Jehovah's Witnesses cover up criminal acts we have to consider whether we should allow them to continue their status as a registered church, says Niels Helveg P etersen.
The spokesman of the Social Democrats, Karen Klint agrees that Jehovah's Witnesses should be investigated:
- I would like a political dialogue about the legality of misinterpreting the scriptures like Jehovah's Witnesses do when they use the Bible as an excuse to carry out their own procedures and cover up criminal acts, says Karen Klint.
She now demands that the Minister of the Church, Tove Fergo (V) answers what possibilities there are of imposing sanctions on churches which violates common law and order and that uses Bible texts to cover up criminal acts.
The two above spokesmen in church policies like their colleagues, Knud Erik Kirkegaard (K) and Jesper Langballe (DF) do urge Jehovah's Witnesses to report all criminal activity, so that State prosecutors can decide if the movement has a problem regarding the Constitution.
FERGO PROTECT THE WITNESSES
The minister of Churches Tove Fergo (V) protects Jehovah's Witnesses as a registered church with all the privileges attached – among others tax exemption. It is her opinion that there isn’t any reason fo r r emoving the church’s privileges even though it is clear that Jehovah's Witnesses do carry out their own investigations and neglect to report sexual abuse of children:
- It is without doubt only a few in the church that carries out criminal acts and sexually abuse children and I am of the opinion that we shouldn’t punish all Jehovah's Witnesses which are not directly involved in such matters by removing the church’s tax, or other privileges from them.
- It is possible that certain illegal activities goes on amon g the Witnesses but without a court decision I am as a Minister not free to take any steps towards sanctions, says the Church Minister.
SHORT SUMMARY OF THE CASE
Ekstra Bladet has through the last weeks published plenty of articles which prove how Jehovah's Witnesses with reference to the Bible encourage their members to neglect reporting criminal acts, including sexual abuse of children.
Former and current members of Jehovah's Witnesses has told us about an organization which carries out their own investigations and protects people which carries out violence and abuse, in order to protect the reputation of the organization.
This closed organization is a registered church and receives extensive state support including tax exemption.
Rikke Halberg
ik@eb.dk