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A FORMER CHURCH leader in Maryland was indicted in February for
sexually assaulting three women who say they were told by elders not to
report the abuse, and were excommunicated when they did. After additional
s tori es aired recently on TV, a victims’ support group run by William
H. Bowen was deluged with e-mails and phone calls. “Catholics only protect
the priests. Jehovah’s Witnesses do it for any member of the church,”
says Bowen, a former elder from Kentucky . 
 Day
of Atonement
Sara Poisson says that prior to her husband’s conviction for sexually
abusing her daughters, church elders told her to “pray more and be a better
wife.” Church spokesman J. R. Brown says the group instructs local leaders
to notify police when required by law. They also conduct their own investigation:
“That consists of going directly to the accused.” If someone confesses,
says Brown, he will be prohibited from going door-to-door—unless accompanied
by another Witness. Brown points out that people who accuse the church
are often lapsed Witnesses, and “open prey” for exploiters. But victims
like Poisson’s daughter, Heather Berry, 20, say it’s the church that does
the exploiting. “They’re letting the kids down. I don’t think there’s
anything Christian about allowing abuse to continue.” |
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