Truth behind molestation accusations
Reader comment on: Nonprofits Not Shy About Cashing In on Real Estate Gems
in response to reader comment: Real reason Watchtower is selling

Submitted by William Evans, Nov 27, 2006 17:23

I will not deny that there have been cases of molestation. I am personally aware of 2 myself. However, the accusation that there is an organization wide scandal that is being covered up is untrue. There have been cases where local elders have mishandled such cases. In most cases, this really came from ignorance, not a deliberate attempt to engage in a cover-up or to not help the victims.

The Watchtower Society currently has very clear instructions on how to handle such a case. Those include making it clear that the alleged victim has a right to file charges with secular authorities. Also, someone who has such an accusation against them (regardless of whether that accusation can be substantiated) can't serve in a responsible position in the congregation. Anyone with a substantiated accusation against can never serve in a responsible position again.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
Jehovah's Witnesses archaic door to door recruitment is by their own admission an ineffective tactic. They have lost membership in... [MORE]	Danny Haszard	Nov 21, 2006 02:10
The Watchtower membership is flat or in decline in countries with internet access,eight hundred congregations disbanded in Japan alone last... [MORE]	Mike Wallace	Nov 17, 2006 09:32
↔ Why has it become a bashing of JW beliefs? Because you have EX-JW's who have agendas to fill. They just... [MORE]	G	Nov 17, 2006 18:14
↔ ↔ I just read a worldwide report for jehovah's witnesses in 235 different countries and in japan alone it shows a... [MORE]	Micah Benco	Nov 19, 2006 15:08
↔ ↔ ↔ I concur. This is a three page article about Non Profit Organizations taking advantage of the hot real estate market... [MORE]	Christopher Patrick	Nov 23, 2006 17:42
↔ ↔ ↔ I wonder about the basis of your theory about the "real reason" the Watchtower is selling. Were you part of... [MORE]	Kathleen Davis	Nov 16, 2006 21:16
↔ ↔ ↔ So these nonproifts are making big money on property they own. Call them real estate gems or whatever. I believe... [MORE]	Martin	Nov 16, 2006 20:33
↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ The president of the Watchtower does not receive a salary. Everyone who lives and works at Watchtower facilties around the... [MORE]	Paul	Nov 17, 2006 13:16
↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ Regarding unsalaried WBTS leaders,the Pope of Rome similarily claims no personal bank account .The difference is Catholic charities is enormous... [MORE]	Kathy	Nov 18, 2006 05:44
↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ Frankly, the Watchtower has never made traditional charities a focus. They have always kept their primary focus on preaching, teaching... [MORE]	Willby Evans	Nov 27, 2006 16:26
↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ The reason the Watchtower are sellers in this market is because they are losing members and downsizing, and perhaps preparing... [MORE]	Robert Bice	Nov 16, 2006 11:37
↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ That comment is so ridiculous. And so what is the reason everybody else is cashing in on expensive property? Of... [MORE]	Anonymous	Nov 16, 2006 16:53
↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ You speak in ignorance or just plain stupidity. While Watchtower is down-sizing it Brooklyn property its expanded it operation in... [MORE]	BG	Nov 16, 2006 17:15
↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ The Watchtower B&TS is selling and downsizing in Brooklyn, while membership continues to grow. Technology has improved, printing and shipping... [MORE]	Tom	Nov 16, 2006 17:37
↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔	MO	Nov 16, 2006 18:53
↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ Far be it for me to feed into controversy. However, Mr. Bice should do a little research. The Jehovah's Witnesses... [MORE]	Daro Weilburg	Nov 16, 2006 23:21
↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔	June Webber	Nov 17, 2006 17:10
↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ Most of the increase of Jehovah's Witnesses is in third world countries. There has been little or no increase in... [MORE]	Guy Richards	Nov 18, 2006 15:13
↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ Just the facts. 2005 worldwide report for JW's shows 1.3 increase over 2004. also shows them with 112 branch offices... [MORE]	Micah Bencom	Nov 19, 2006 15:25
↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ Third world increases, they have no internet. So called educated countries, no increase or decrease. The internet is a wonderful... [MORE]	Martin	Nov 20, 2006 22:24
↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ I will not deny that there have been cases of molestation. I am personally aware of 2 myself. However, the...	William Evans	Nov 27, 2006 17:23