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Jehovah's Witnesses reportedly under investigation by Pennsylvania attorney general
Jehovah's Witnesses face Pennsylvania grand jury investigation
https://www.jw.org/en/search/?q="Child+Sex+Abuse"&link=/results/E/all?q=
How the two witness rule puts others in danger : exjw
The Watchtower
The Watchtower
Circumstantial evidence vs the 2 witness rule
JW Policy
The Watchtower corporation will take judicial action based on circumstantial evidence of sexual immorality (aka no evidence of anything) against two consenting adults.... But no action if a child reveals he or she is being sexually abused unless there are 2 witnesses to the crime!
Questions From Readers WT July 2018
If an unmarried couple spend the night together under improper circumstances, would that constitute a sin meriting judicial action?
Yes, if there are no extenuating circumstances, a judicial committee would be formed on the basis of strong circumstantial evidence of sexual immorality.
And below is how child abuse has been handled
The Watchtower 1995 Nov 1 pp.28-9 gave the following advice regarding accusations of child abuse.
"What Can Elders Do?
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 abusers 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. This does not mean that such memories are viewed as false (or that they are viewed as true). But Bible principles must be followed in establishing a matter judicially.
What if the one accused though denying the wrong doing is really guilty? Does he get away with it, as it were? Certainly not! The question of his guilt or innocence can be safely left in Jehovah's hands. The sins of some men are publicly manifest, leading directly to judgment, but as for other men their sins also become manifest later. (1Timothy 5:24; Romans 12:19; 14:12) The book of Proverbs says: The expectation of the righteous ones is a rejoicing, but the very hope of the wicked ones will perish. When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes. (Proverbs 10:28; 11:7) Ultimately, Jehovah God and Christ Jesus render everlasting judgment in justice. 1 Corinthians 4:5."
____________________________________________
The JW 2 witness policy is being misapplied and actually goes against the Bible.... As explained below the matter of sin and the matter of law are two separate matters. The judges or "authorities" who are in office should investigate thoroughly. Notice that the Bible differentiates priests from judges yet watchtower combines them.
Deuteronomy 19 16 If a false witness testifies against someone, accusing him of a crime, 17 both parties to the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD, before the priests and judges who are in office at that time. 18 The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is proven to be a liar who has falsely accused his brother, 19 you must do to him as he intended to do to his brother.
The governing authorities were put in place by God!
Romans 13 1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. 2 Consequently, the one who resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval. 4 For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work. 7 Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
Action was taken against the man without 2 or 3 witnesses to the crime!
Deuteronomy 22:25-27 “But if in the field the man finds the girl who is engaged, and the man forces her and lies with her, then only the man who lies with her shall die. But you shall do nothing to the girl; there is no sin in the girl worthy of death, for just as a man rises against his neighbor and murders him, so is this case. When he found her in the field, the engaged girl cried out, but there was no one to save her.”
Seems as if watchtower doesn't comprehend the most basic parts of the Bible!
Watchtowers policies create a safe haven for thousands of not only accused but also of confessed child abusers... Spread the message and expose them for what they are!
Circumstantial evidence vs the 2 witness rule : exjw
Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses face Pennsylvania grand jury investigation
https://www.jw.org/en/search/?q="Child+Sex+Abuse"&link=/results/E/all?q=
How the two witness rule puts others in danger : exjw
The Watchtower
The Watchtower
Circumstantial evidence vs the 2 witness rule
JW Policy
The Watchtower corporation will take judicial action based on circumstantial evidence of sexual immorality (aka no evidence of anything) against two consenting adults.... But no action if a child reveals he or she is being sexually abused unless there are 2 witnesses to the crime!
Questions From Readers WT July 2018
If an unmarried couple spend the night together under improper circumstances, would that constitute a sin meriting judicial action?
Yes, if there are no extenuating circumstances, a judicial committee would be formed on the basis of strong circumstantial evidence of sexual immorality.
And below is how child abuse has been handled
The Watchtower 1995 Nov 1 pp.28-9 gave the following advice regarding accusations of child abuse.
"What Can Elders Do?
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 abusers 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. This does not mean that such memories are viewed as false (or that they are viewed as true). But Bible principles must be followed in establishing a matter judicially.
What if the one accused though denying the wrong doing is really guilty? Does he get away with it, as it were? Certainly not! The question of his guilt or innocence can be safely left in Jehovah's hands. The sins of some men are publicly manifest, leading directly to judgment, but as for other men their sins also become manifest later. (1Timothy 5:24; Romans 12:19; 14:12) The book of Proverbs says: The expectation of the righteous ones is a rejoicing, but the very hope of the wicked ones will perish. When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes. (Proverbs 10:28; 11:7) Ultimately, Jehovah God and Christ Jesus render everlasting judgment in justice. 1 Corinthians 4:5."
____________________________________________
The JW 2 witness policy is being misapplied and actually goes against the Bible.... As explained below the matter of sin and the matter of law are two separate matters. The judges or "authorities" who are in office should investigate thoroughly. Notice that the Bible differentiates priests from judges yet watchtower combines them.
Deuteronomy 19 16 If a false witness testifies against someone, accusing him of a crime, 17 both parties to the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD, before the priests and judges who are in office at that time. 18 The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is proven to be a liar who has falsely accused his brother, 19 you must do to him as he intended to do to his brother.
The governing authorities were put in place by God!
Romans 13 1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. 2 Consequently, the one who resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval. 4 For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work. 7 Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
Action was taken against the man without 2 or 3 witnesses to the crime!
Deuteronomy 22:25-27 “But if in the field the man finds the girl who is engaged, and the man forces her and lies with her, then only the man who lies with her shall die. But you shall do nothing to the girl; there is no sin in the girl worthy of death, for just as a man rises against his neighbor and murders him, so is this case. When he found her in the field, the engaged girl cried out, but there was no one to save her.”
Seems as if watchtower doesn't comprehend the most basic parts of the Bible!
Watchtowers policies create a safe haven for thousands of not only accused but also of confessed child abusers... Spread the message and expose them for what they are!
Circumstantial evidence vs the 2 witness rule : exjw
Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses
