In October 2020 the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses of Australasia submitted an 8 page response to the Joint Select Committee detailing why they disagree with the implementation of the National Redress Scheme. On page 1 of the submission the following is stated: “The religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses has responded and continues to respond directly […]
The aim of this article is to show primarily that scripturally Jesus words in Matthew chapter 18:15-17 cannot be used in support of the requirement that two eye witnesses are necessary in order to form a judicial committee to investigate allegations of the committing of a crime, in particular, child sexual abuse, in congregations of […]
“Before you shut the door on a Jehovah’s Witness,” says an article in the newspaper USA Today, “pause to consider the shameful persecution they suffered not too long ago, as well as the rich contribution they have made to the First Amendment freedoms we all enjoy.” Jehovah’s Witnesses were persecuted in the United States throughout […]
During Geoffrey Jackson’s testimony in the Australian Royal Commission, Angus Stewart tried to determine whether or not Jehovah’s Witnesses would consider changing their policy toward reporting allegations of child sexual abuse to the authorities. Let’s analyze this exchange: Stewart. Mr Jackson, let’s make it a little more concrete, then, in a very specific example. You […]
We Protect Our Children This public announcement was made in 2015. According to Anthony Morris, the Watchtower society has been proactive in alerting its members about the problem of child sexual abuse since 1987. In the same year in Australia The Royal Commission held a public hearing in Sydney. The hearing ran for 7 days from Monday […]
On September 26, 2018 a jury decided the Jehovah’s Witnesses of Thompson Falls Montana, as well as its national headquarters, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, failed to protect one of its members from child sexual abuse. As a result, the victim was awarded $35 million. Sanders County District Judge James Manley ruled that the organization […]
Explanation of Deuteronomy 22:23-27 During Geoffrey Jackson’s testimony in the Australian Royal Commission, Angus Stewart questioned the requirement of at least two witnesses in relation to cases of sexual abuse. He referred to Deuteronomy 22:23-27 to support this proposition. Stewart. Mr Jackson, that is exactly the point I want to get to. You will be […]
Ever since the recent hearings by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Australia, Jehovah’s Witnesses have come under increasing media coverage for the organization’s mishandling of cases that have come to their attention. In an effort to convince their membership that their policies are exemplary and there is nothing to […]
By Rachel Held Evans, on March 18, 2013 No More Silence: An interview with Boz Tchividjian of G.R.A.C.E. This is the second post of a weeklong series, Into the Light: A Series on Abuse and the Church, which featured the stories of abuse survivors, along with insights from professional counselors, legal experts, and church leaders about how […]