The Mario Moreno
and get down
J.R. Brown Chronicles
How would you like these guys speaking for your church?
Paducah Sun- 1-5-01
A spokesman at the church's headquarters in New York said there
is no
prohibition or discouragement in going to legal authorities in
the event of
child abuse.
J.R. Brown, public affairs director for Jehovah's Witnesses
at the
church's headquarters in Brooklyn, N.Y., said in a statement
that the
members of the faith "abhor all forms of wickedness, including
child
abuse.''
"
If child abuse becomes known to our church elders, they strictly
comply with applicable child abuse reporting laws. We also encourage
the
wrongdoers to do everything they can to set the matter straight
with the
authorities. Furthermore, we do not prohibit or discourage the
victim or the
victim's parents from reporting child abuse to the authorities
even if the
alleged perpetrator is one of Jehovah's Witnesses."
Jehovah's Witnesses abhor all forms of wickedness including
child abuse. We do not condone the actions of those who exploit
children
by this terrible crime and such persons are disfellowshipped
(excommunicated) from the congregation. A known child molester
does not qualify for appointment as a. church elder or for
any other position of responsibility in any congregation of Jehovah's
Witnesses.
PR Statement 1-5-01 Channel 6 News
If child abuse becomes known to our church elders, they strictly
comply with applicable child abuse reporting laws. We also encourage
the wrongdoers to do everything they can to set the matter straight
with the authorities. Furthermore, we do not prohibit or discourage
the victim or the victim's parents from reporting child abuse
to the authorities even if the alleged perpetrator is one of
Jehovah's Witnesses. If you would like to receive more information
on how we report such matters, please contact Mario Moreno, Watchtower
Legal Department. (845) 509-0416 or (845) 306-1000. A primary
focus of Jehovah's Witnesses is to elevate me Bible's strong
family values in all communities and to help willing ones come
to know and serve God acceptably.
Paducah Sun 1-28-01
Mario Moreno, associate general counsel at the church's New
York headquarters, said when church policy is applied to child
molesters, "as a parent, an attorney and an elder, I'm comfortable
with our policy."
Moreno said while he believes in the church's policy, he knows
that some members have been hurt, and "my heart goes out
to them." But he said that some elders don't follow the
policy as they should, and that's where trouble begins.
Moreno said when a Witness goes to an elder with an accusation
of abuse, the first step the elders should take is calling the
church's legal department.
He said there are then three factors considered: protecting
the child, complying with the law, and protecting minister-adherent
confidentiality, with the last receiving the least weight.
The legal department will then advise the elders what is required
by law. Twenty-two states, including Illinois and the District
of Columbia, do not require clergy to report accusations of child
abuse. In those states, Moreno said, the legal department generally
advises the elders not to report the matter to law enforcement
authorities.
J.R. Brown, public affairs director for the church, said the
reason for this is "we do not think, as an ecclesiastical
authority, we should run ahead of Caesar's laws," using
a biblical reference to secular authority. "Even if secular
authority does not require it, generally we have endeavoured
to be more zealous for enforcing and seeing that these laws are
complied with. If Caesar has a law, and it does not conflict
with God's law, we follow it."
Brown said the church does not necessarily equate reporting
the matter to law enforcement to protecting the child because "not
all the time does government authority provide the protection
the child needs. We don't say automatically that, but unfortunately
too many reports show that's the case. You can be sure they're
going to take what action is necessary to see that the child
is protected."
Both Brown and Moreno said that the elders, who volunteer and
are essentially untrained clergy, might err in their application
of a policy both believe puts protecting children first.
"It's a matter of trying to balance confidentiality and
protecting the child," Brown said. "It's not always
easy. Have mistakes been made? Very likely, they have. We're
trying to see that everyone is educated to what needs to be done
to see that innocent children are not victimized."
Moreno agrees with Bowen's claim that no investigation is initiated
in the church if there is only one witness and the accused denies
the charge, but he said elders have the responsibility to watch
the accused more closely. He added that elders sometimes advise
the accused to not put himself or herself in suspicious situations.
He also said that when members are disfellowshipped, the congregation
is told but no reason is given in order to protect confidentiality.
When asked if the parents of the victim would be allowed to tell
fellow congregates why a member is disfellowshipped, Moreno replied, "That
would be their choice. We don't tell them that, but it would
be their choice. Is that encouraged? No."
He agreed with Bowen's charge that a congregation would also
not be told if a pedophile had joined the flock. But he said
because of the church's structure, the fact that such a member,
if male, who would have fewer rights in the congregation, would
not be serving in a leadership role would alert members that "he
obviously lacks spiritual maturity."
Moreno said he believes that while some of the church's critics
on this topic have legitimate concerns, most "have a problem
with pride" and "want the organization to change for
them. We go by what we believe the Bible says, and we don't change
for anybody."
He also said he feels the church is "being picked on" and
added that he would be willing to put the church's policy up
against any other.
Christianity Today 01-26-01
J. R. Brown, director of the public affairs office of the Watchtower
Bible and Tract Society (WTBTS) in Brooklyn, says he shares Bowen's
concern. "We abhor what [molestation] does to children," he
tells Christianity Today.
Witness spokesman Brown says that the incidence of pedophilia
is no worse in his religion than in others, but he admits that
some elders have not reported suspicions of abuse. In 38 states,
the law requires clergy and other professionals to report physical
and sexual abuse of children. Some critics argue that even in
the 22 states that do not require clergy members to report, Witness
elders do not qualify for such a privilege because most are neither
professionally trained nor paid employees of the organization.
Although Witnesses comply with secular laws when necessary,
Witness spokesman Brown says, the group prefers to deal with
such matters spiritually. "We handle wrongdoing, sin, and
transgression," he says. "This is what a religious
organization is supposed to do. We're not getting into law enforcement.
We're just going to handle the repentance."
Louisville Courier-Journal, 1-4-01
Church officials say elders alert authorities to suspected abuse
in states that require reporting. But in other states they prefer
to take steps to protect children that don't breach what they
see as confidential communication between elders and members.
A lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses church, which has nearly
1 million members nationally and 6 million worldwide, said it
complies with those state laws that require church elders to
report abuse.
"If there is a law that mandates reporting, that takes
precedent over any confidentiality, whether in church policy
or statute," said Mario Moreno, associate general counsel
for the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, a legal corporation
of the church.
"In states where there is no reporting requirement, it's
a different scenario," Moreno said.
Elders might have the victim relocated away from the abuser
or have the parent or guardian of the victim, or even the accused
person, report the abuse to police, he said.
"The laws of this country, as well as people's moral values,
tell you there are some things that should be kept private. That's
why laws protect confidential communications between clergy and
their flock."
But Moreno said elders who contact the church's legal department
with cases of suspected sexual abuse -- as they must do -- are
often advised to refer victims to police or other outside help,
even if the law doesn't require it.
Victims and their parents are free, Moreno said, to seek help
from police or therapists and should not blame the church if
they choose not to do so.
"Parents are encouraged to do whatever they need to do
to protect their child," said Moreno.
Church attorney Moreno said church members know they can go
to the authorities on a matter of abuse. "They haven't committed
a sin by turning in a Jehovah's Witness to the authorities," he
said. "It's a very personal decision."
Moreno would not comment on whether elders violated the law
in this case but said, "Once in a while, in a small minority
cases, elders screw up. They screw up because they don't call
here (the Watch Tower legal department). When they call here,
they don't screw up."
Moreno said that eventually, the truth comes out. "Somebody
else comes out of the woodwork and now you can take action," he
said. Moreno said two separate accusers would count as two witnesses
when making a sexual abuse accusation.
Church policy neither encourages nor discourages members to
report suspected or admitted sexual abuse to police, Moreno said.
Elders are instructed to always call the central legal department
of the church in Carmel, N.Y., upon receiving an accusation.
When elders call, church lawyers tell them whether state law
requires them to report abuse to police, Moreno said. A still-valid
1989 church memo also tells elders to call for legal advice before
being interviewed by police, responding to a subpoena or voluntarily
turning over confidential church records, unless police have
a search warrant.
Moreno said church lawyers might advise elders to refer victims
to police or other outside help. "That's a personal decision."
A Jan. 2 statement from J.R. Brown, director of public affairs
for the Jehovah's Witnesses, said church elders "encourage
the wrongdoers to do everything they can to set the matter straight
with the authorities."
Ayers, Rees' stepfather, declined to comment, but church lawyer
Moreno applauded the decision.
"There is no duty to announce to people that 'John Brown'
is a child abuser," he said. If the court had ruled otherwise,
he said, it "would basically discourage people from going
to their ministers and getting help."
"If people could not count on confidentiality when they
go and confess to a Catholic priest, there's going be quite a
chilling effect on religion," he said.
Church lawyer Moreno said it would be "ridiculous" for
any elder to make such a threat, and if one did, it would contradict
church policy.
"That's not scriptural," he said. "We teach the
Scriptures. The Scriptures don't say, 'If you file criminal charges
against an abuser you're going to have eternal damnation.' The
one in danger of eternal damnation is the abuser."
Watch Tower officials are not consistent on how the church punishes
child molesters.
In a Jan. 2 statement, church public affairs director Brown Church
said that child abusers are "disfellowshipped," or
expelled from the congregation. Later, he acknowledged the church
can use less severe penalties.
He defended his original statement, saying that for "mass
consumption it conveys the thought (that elders) do institute
this discipline. They're not soft on abusers."
Said Moreno: "I wouldn't be too happy myself if somebody
abused my child and was reinstated. The bottom line is if an
elder determines a former child abuser has demonstrated repentance,
(he has) a scriptural obligation to reinstate him."
Brown said pedophiles are restricted from working with minors
and must also be with a well-respected church member when they
go door to door.
Pedophiles also might not be sent into neighborhoods where they
might be recognized as molesters, Brown said.
According to church lawyer Moreno, the system worked. Elders
did their job, and victims and police did theirs, he said.
"What was the harm?" Moreno said. "The report
got made.
"You've got a teen, who has been molested, upset at the
elders for not calling the police?" he said. "You can
call the police. You're the one injured.
"Who makes the laws? Not us. Don't blame us for the laws,
please. Talk to the state legislators of Colorado."
Associated Press 2-11-01
J.R. Brown, spokesman at the Jehovah's Witnesses' headquarters
in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, said he believes Bowen
does not have a full understanding of church policies.
Members are free at all times to report abuse to secular authorities,
Brown said. "This is a personal decision on how you want
to handle this," he said.
What is revealed to church leaders is generally kept confidential
unless state law requires that allegations of abuse be turned
over to police, he said.
"We deal with sin, and law enforcement deals with crime," Brown
said.
In some cases, however, the matter is turned over to secular
authorities regardless of the law, Brown said.
Of Bowen, he said: "He's concerned about victims of child
abuse, and we are, too."
Brown said the faith does require at least two witnesses to
prove any kind of wrongdoing -- including child molestation --
because that is what is taught in the Bible. But corroborating
evidence can be used instead of a second witness to prove wrongdoing,
Brown said.
Paducah Sun 2-12-01
Editorial Page JR Brown Response to William Bowen
We are writing regarding allegations made concerning our policy
about handling accusations of child molestation. Some of these
allegations have been reported in the media.
We were very surprised to see that these statements were made,
and we noted how inaccurate they are. Our position on pedophilia
has been well-publicized for decades. Back in 1985, the Jan.
22 issue of Awake! devoted several pages to the subject and stated
that the priority was protection of the child. It stated:
"First, the child — and other children too — must
be protected from any further abuse. This must be done, whatever
the cost. In many cases the accused molester will have to be
confronted. But whatever it takes, it is important that the child
should feel confident that the molester will never be able to
get at her (or him) again."
Our Oct. 8, 1993, issue of Awake! featured a cover series of
14 pages entitled, "Protect Your Children!" In part
it stated:
"If your child discloses sexual abuse, you will no doubt
feel shattered ... Praise the child for being so brave as to
tell you what happened. Repeatedly reassure the child that you
will do your best to provide protection; that the abuse was the
abuser's fault, not the child's; that the child is not ‘bad’;
that you love the child.
"Some legal experts advise reporting the abuse to the authorities
as soon as possible. In some lands the legal system may require
this."
"Parents must therefore make every reasonable effort to
protect their children! Many responsible parents choose to seek
out professional help for an abused child. Just as you would
with a medical doctor, make sure that any such professional will
respect your religious views. Help your child rebuild his or
her shattered self-esteem through a steady outpouring of parental
love."
Following are excerpts from the Jan. 1, 1997, issue of The Watchtower:
"Depending on the law of the land where he lives, the molester
may well have to serve a prison term or face other sanctions
from the state. The congregation will not protect him from this."
"A child molester is subject to severe congregational discipline
and restrictions."
"For the protection of our children, a man known to have
been a child molester does not qualify for a responsible position
in the congregation."
In conclusion, we reiterate that Jehovah's Witnesses do not
shy away from informing people about pedophilia. We abhor the
practice and actively work to keep our congregations free from
such harmful influences. Millions of copies of our journals,
which contain numerous articles that decry child abuse in any
form and instead promote safe, trusting, and strong family relationships,
have been read by our members and distributed to the public internationally.
(Currently, The Watchtower has a circulation of more than 23
million copies per issue, and for Awake! it is more than 20 million.)
Through these magazines and in other ways, Jehovah's Witnesses
strive to contribute to the safety of children and to the building
of strong families in the community.
J.R. BROWN
Director, Public Affairs Office
Jehovah's Witnesses
AP
Tuesday, January 22, 2002
Lawsuit claims Jehovah's Witness church protects pedophiles
Church spokesman J.R. Brown said he could not comment on Rodriguez's
lawsuit because lawyers had not received paperwork.
But he said there is no policy preventing notification of civil
authorities of a crime.
"What we handle is the transgression, or the sin, of child
molestation. We distinguish that from the criminal aspect," Brown
said. "Our view is, the church handles the sin, the secular
authority - Caesar, if you will- handles the criminal activity."
The church - which has about 6 million members worldwide, including
1 million in the United States - requires two witnesses because
the Bible requires it for establishing a sin, he said.
"Where the state requires that this be reported, we comply
fully," he said. "We have designed a policy to protect
the victim of child molestation; to protect innocent children
and to not allow pedophiles to circulate among us."
THE SPOKANE REVIEW
Wednesday, January 23, 2002
Lawsuit accuses church of fostering sexual abuse
Church officials deny that charge.
In an interview from his home in New York on Tuesday, church
spokesman J.R. Brown said elders are told to comply with the
laws requiring professionals to report all allegations of child
abuse.
"It ought to be clear, the church handles all sins and
transgressions in house," he said. "If such sins are
criminal, then it's up to the police."
Brown said he could not comment specifically on the lawsuit.
Brown, the church spokesman, denied that victims are discouraged
from reporting abuse or other crimes.
"We make it clear that it is up to the individual whether
to report. As you know, many choose not to," he said. "We
don't chastise them."
UPI
Tuesday, January 22, 2002
Sexual Abuse Suit Filed Against Jehovah's Witness Leaders; Denomination's
NY Headquarters Called 'Negligent'
No Comments
TRI-CITY HERALD
Wednesday, January 23, 2002
Jehovah's Witnesses congregation in Othello sued in sex abuse
case
However, Watchtower spokesman J.R. Brown, who had not yet seen
the lawsuit and couldn't comment specifically, said the church
does not interfere with the reporting of a crime.
He said church elders are supposed to contact headquarters if
they have questions about a case.
"When we are contacted, we tell elders if they are in a
state where (reporting pedophilia) is required," he said. "We
want to make sure we are legally compliant."
Brown said he is aware that numerous cases have been posted
on Internet sites such as www.silentlambs.org or www.freeminds.org
detailing pedophilia within the Jehovah's Witnesses church.
But he maintains most of the stories were posted by people who
underwent abuse back in the 1980s, when all of society was grappling
with the issue.
"Regrettably, many children probably were molested," he
said.
He said the church has made strong policy changes since then,
including taking suspected or convicted pedophiles out of any
position in the church, not allowing them to be alone with children
and various other restrictions.
Seattle Times
Thursday, January 23, 2002
Church protects pedophiles, victim charges in lawsuit
J.R. Brown, a spokesman for the Brooklyn, N.Y.-based denomination,
said he could not comment on the lawsuit because lawyers had
not received paperwork.
But "we have designed a policy to protect the victim of
child molestation; to protect innocent children and not to allow
pedophiles to circulate among us," he said of the church,
which is officially known as the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.
Brown said the church — which has about 6 million members
worldwide, including 1 million in the United States — requires
two witnesses because the Bible requires that for establishing
a sin.
"Where the state requires that this be reported, we comply
fully," he said.
CNS News
Friday, January 24, 2002
Jehovah's Witness Church Accused of Hiding Sexual Abusers
Jehovah's Witness church officials in New York deny that the
church hides criminal activity. "We have no such policy.
Our policy allows for anyone who wishes to report the matter
to the authorities to do so," J.R. Brown, national spokesman
for the Jehovah's Witness organization, said. "We strictly
comply. We are not in any way resistive to the proper authorities
being notified."
Brown said that while he could not comment on the specifics
of the case, the church typically follows general policy guidelines
in such matters.
"We follow a general policy that we do not support legally
any Jehovah's Witness charged with a crime. We do not use our
donated resources to defend any Jehovah's Witness accused of
a crime," Brown said.
But Brown said the core issue is not the church's image.
"If someone were to feel that our concern for our resources
were greater than that for innocent victims, that simply is not
true," Brown said. "We are concerned, just as any other
organization, about our public image. We are concerned about
our resources because we are recipients of donated funds for
non-profit charitable work. But we are primarily ministers who
are concerned to act as shepherds in a protective and spiritual
sense over the members of the congregation," he said.
"If anyone has been abused by anyone else in the congregation
or whether that person is an appointed elder or not, we view
this as a horrific crime to inflict on a child or anyone else," Brown
said.
SACRAMENTO BEE
Saturday, January 26, 2002
Woman sues Jehovah's Witnesses in sex abuse
Church officials would not comment on Rodriguez's lawsuit, but
did say they report crimes to the proper authorities.
"We have no objection to a crime being handled," said
J.R. Brown, director of the Office of Public Information for
the national organization. "In no way do we conflict with
how police or other authorities handle these cases."
But church officials strongly denied Anderson's allegation.
"The two-witnesses requirement applies to how we handle
transgressions or sins as a church," Brown said. "It
has nothing to do with how we handle a crime.
"We are a church made up of families ... We would not allow
predators to get away with this," Brown said.
THE SPOKANE REVIEW
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Spokane
Reluctant Witness feels betrayed
Members of the faith found guilty of wrongdoing by church elders
can be disfellowshipped, said church spokesman J.R. Brown in
New York City. When that happens other members are encouraged
to cease all contact with the individual.
"That is a biblical standard," Brown said. "We
are pretty strict when it comes to interpreting the Bible."
While Brown said he can't comment on the lawsuit, he said the
church has published several articles over the last 20 years
encouraging members to report sexual abuse and child molesters.
"We handle transgression and sin," he said. "But
if that involves criminal activity, we say that should be reported
to the government."
NEW YORK POST
Monday, January 28, 2002
SUIT ALLEGES JEHOVAH'S KIDDIE-SEX COVERUP
A church spokesman yesterday insisted that the church does not
hide abuse.
LOUISVILLE-COURIER
Wednesday, May 8, 2002
Jehovah's Witnesses act against abuse-policy critics
The Jehovah's Witnesses Office of Public Information declined
to comment specifically on the four cases, citing confidentiality
policies.
Leaders of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, as the organization
is formally known, have disputed these claims, saying they obey
all laws requiring the reporting of child abuse and do not interfere
with police investigations.
They say that in states that do not require reporting of abuse,
they prefer taking steps to protect children while not breaching
what they see as confidential communications between elders
and members.
Church officials say they might advise elders to move victims
out of abusive homes or refer them to counseling.
In its statement, the Jehovah's Witnesses Office of Public Information
quoted biblical references in saying elders must use church discipline
to ''shepherd the flock of God in their care.'' ''In fact, they
are required by the Holy Scriptures to see to it that the congregation
remains clean and unified,'' the statement said. ''No hasty decision
is made in this process.'' The goal is not to expel a member,
but to follow the Apostle Paul's injunction to ''try to readjust
such a man in a spirit of mildness,'' the statement said.
One suit filed in January by Erica Rodriguez, who said she was
repeatedly abused by a church member years ago, claims an elder
at her former congregation in Washington state threatened her
with excommunication if she reported her abuser to police.
A Watchtower statement denies this, saying that there are no
sanctions against anyone who chooses to go to police, and that
church elders and Watchtower did not know of the abuse until
years after it had occurred.
PRESS STATEMENT
For Immediate Release
May 8, 2002
In harmony with what the Bible teaches, elders of Jehovah’s
Witnesses ‘shepherd the flock of god in their care.’ They
have the spiritual welfare of each congregation member in mind.
(1 Peter 5:2) This pastoral work is done confidentially, out
of respect for the congregation and the individual(s) involved.
Even as the local elders are concerned about the spiritual health
of each member of the congregation, they are also concerned for
the spiritual welfare of the congregation as a whole. In fact,
they are required by the Holy Scriptures to see to it that the
congregation remains clean and unified. (1 Corinthians 1:10)
No hasty decision is made in this process. It is never the goal
of local elders to remove someone from the congregation. Rather,
every effort is made, in harmony with Paul’s words, to "try
to readjust such a man in a spirit of mildness." ---Galatians
6:1
Contact J. R. Brown, telephone: (718) 560-5600
NEWSDAY-NY
Jehovah's Witnesses Allege Sexual Abuse
Wednesday, May 8, 2002
Pandelo and the others say they are being targeted because of
their outspokenness, especially on sexual abuse of minors.
A national spokesman for Jehovah's Witnesses, which says it
has 6 million members worldwide, categorically denied the allegations.
"You cannot be a known sex offender and hold any position
of responsibility within the organization," said J.R. Brown,
the spokesman. "We have a very strong and aggressive policy
for handling any sexual molestation that might take place."
Jehovah's Witnesses spokesman Brown said only one hearing has
been held so far and no action has been taken yet against anyone.
Bowen fights excommunication for criticizing witnesses
NewsChannel 6
Bowen fights excommunication for criticizing witnesses
Members at Bowen's old Kingdom Hall in Draffenville say the
church does not bar them from reporting abuse. They say they
may council abusers to report their actions to authorities. But
they admit discouraging members from telling just anybody. "The
difference between needless gossip, let's say, and withholding
information from those who have a right to know is two different
things completely," says Jehovah's Witness Bruce Waite.
J.R. Brown, national Jehovah's Witness public information director,
says proceedings against Bowen are confidential.
New York Post
FOUR FACING JEHOVAH OUSTER
Thursday, May 9, 2002
A spokesman for the Brooklyn-based religion called that claim "absurd."
Both sides agree that all Witnesses - including relatives of
the four - would risk excommunication by having contact with
any excommunicated person, except under certain circumstances.
While the four believe the show's impending broadcast has spurred
the church's actions, church spokesman J.R. Brown said that
before Tuesday, church headquarters had no idea that these
people would be on the show.
He also said local congregations decided to charge them with
various spiritual violations.
AP/CNN
Four Jehovah's Witnesses fight church's handling of child abuse
cases
Thursday, May 9, 2002
In a statement issued from their headquarters,
the Jehovah's Witnesses said that church leaders are "required
by the Holy Scriptures to see to it that the congregation remains
clean and unified."
J.R. Brown, a spokesman for the denomination,
said that parents are not punished by the church for going to
the police first
in cases of child molestation.
And he said that anyone found guilty of molestation by a
church judicial committee is removed from all positions
of responsibility
and cannot evangelize door-to-door without being accompanied
by a fellow Jehovah's Witness.
Steve Lyons, an elder at Bowen's Draffenville church of about
60 members, said Jehovah's Witnesses are responsive to allegations
of child abuse.
"
I think we do as well as we can do," he said. "We comply
with all local laws when it comes to reporting. We do our best
to protect children in cases where even there's just been an
alleged abuse."
The Tullahoma News
Whistleblower could lose her church, family
May 11, 2002
In an interview with the New York Post, JH spokesperson
J.R. Brown stated that the threatened excommunications had nothing
to do with the Dateline interview and that "church headquarters
had no idea that these people would be on the show."
Yet research
displayed more than six internet announcements on the program,
updates and names, all linked to the Silent Lambs
and the Watchtower sites.
Brown also said that local congregation
decided to charge the members with various spiritual violations.
Molestation
case leads to church fight
Published in the Asbury Park Press 5/14/02
A Jehovah's Witnesses national spokesman, David Semonian, cited
confidentiality rules and said the church could not discuss the
Pandelos' case. "The proceedings may focus on sins unrelated
to any public comments on sexual abuse," he said.
Semonian said the church does not have specific rules against
talking to the media, but churches could take action against
those who disrupt the unity of the church.
Semonian said he did not know about the Pandelo case. He said
anyone convicted of child molestation cannot hold a position
of authority in the church and cannot perform church work alone.
Washington Post
Saturday, May 11, 2002;
Ouster Looms for Critics Of Sex Abuse Policy
J.R. Brown, a national spokesman for the Jehovah's Witnesses,
confirmed that the four had been called to the hearings, but
he said the proceedings may focus on "sins" unrelated
to public comments on sexual abuse. He provided no specifics.
The judicial committees will decide whether the four should
be "disfellowshipped," the group's term for excommunication.
Tennessean/ Nashville
Abuse charges put Witness at risk of shunning
Saturday, 05/11/02
''What she (Anderson) alleges is not true at all,'' said J.R.
Brown, a spokesman for the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society
of New York Inc., the incorporated name of the Jehovah's Witnesses.
Brown said he had been talking to Dateline about the show's
story for a year but said he and other organization leaders did
not know which members television producers had interviewed.
''We have no idea what she told Dateline,'' Brown said of Anderson.
The consequences of excommunication are severe for a reason,
Brown said. It is hoped that the harsh isolation that disfellowshipped
members feel will draw them back to the organization.
Other members of the faith are not allowed to speak to disfellowshipped
members. They can't greet them in a store or share a meal with
them. Live-in family members can speak to the person but never
about spiritual issues.
''Our statistics bear out that you have many people every year
be reinstated,'' Brown said.
Brown said Jehovah's Witnesses have a strict policy about child
sexual abuse. If parents come to congregation leaders with concerns
that their child is being abused, the leaders follow state law,
he said. If state law requires parents to report the abuse, congregation
leaders tell them that.
People in the organization who are accused of sex abuse are
subject to a hearing like the one Anderson attended yesterday,
Brown said. They are automatically removed from leadership positions
and can't go door-to-door without other members' being present.
Anderson said she knew of pedophiles in four Middle Tennessee
congregations who had confessed to elders and who had not been
disciplined. She said those elders did not go to authorities
with what they knew.
There was no way yesterday to corroborate the accusations that
Anderson made. Brown said they were false. A call to the local
district attorney at his home yesterday did not yield a return
call. |
