CBS News reported on May 12, 2016 that papers published recently by the Dutch Euthanasia Commission reportedly revealed that “a woman in her twenties was allowed to go ahead with assisted suicide based on psychiatrists’ decision that her mental health condition was ‘insufferable,’ and it was therefore illegal to deny her life-ending drugs.”
The woman, who has not been identified, was sexually abused between the ages of 5 and 15, according to Britain’s Independent.
Link to original CBS News article
Is there the slightest doubt that child abuse can do lifelong damage to children? Is there ever a reason to hide these crimes or try to protect the abusive criminals who prey on defenseless young girls and boys? Should there ever be a case when sexual abuse is not reported to the proper authorities?
When I posted this article on my Facebook page, I was asked, “Was she a Jehovah’s Witness?” I replied, “Not that I know of.” I then explained that I posted the article to help people realize that society as a whole, especially in Europe, is now accepting how destructive child sexual abuse is to victims.
Many victims prefer to be called “survivors” but that’s wishful thinking for those who were traumatized by years of mind-numbing abuse who later suffer from PTSD as a consequence. There is no “normal” for them. Death looks attractive to someone who no longer can deal with the horrible memories of abuse that are a daily part of their life.
An attorney handling child abuse cases noted that in some countries there are people expressing annoyance with the amount of media coverage of child sexual abuse – contending that the subject has “become a craze.”
Without a doubt, most Jehovah’s Witnesses do not want to accept that their religion has covered up thousands of cases of child abuse. They want to believe that cases of child abuse by Jehovah’s Witnesses are few and far between.
And as for those abused, many JWs support the idea that the solution for combatting the depression that comes after abuse is to take their mind off themselves by reading the Bible more; support all the meetings, and increase their participation in the evangelizing work.
Then there are those former JWs who are just indifferent or tired of hearing about WT’s child abuse problem.
Such attitudes prove that far too many do not understand how serious the results of child abuse can be. To see how the Netherlands is cooperating with a victim’s death-wish is amazing. It indicates that they realize that for far too many people, their abuse as a child led to mental illness as an adult; for others, it led to their death.
When I was in the Watch Tower’s Writing Department doing research on child sexual abuse some 24-years-ago, I remember reading in a publication that the outcome of severe traumatic child sexual abuse is usually one of three things, i.e., insanity, DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder which was then called Multiple Personality Disorder – MPD), or death.
As this problem continues to grow, policymakers, physicians, journalists around the world are in agreement with this opinion as nations try to cope with the dilemma of dealing with an avalanche of mentally ill adults due to child sexual abuse.
Ask yourself why the Watchtower continues to protect known pedophiles within their Kingdom Halls? Why do they continue to support and require the use of the “two witnesses rule” that protects abusers within their ranks and even allows them to eventually take privileged positions within their congregations – giving them authority and access to new victims?
Fortunately, some victims outgrow their experiences and eventually move on. On the other hand, many others can never forget or forgive, and like the poor woman in Europe – face lifetimes of insecurity along with their mental and physical damage.
No one should ever have to consider suicide as their only way to stop the pain.
Jehovah’s Witnesses should make a stand on behalf of their children and demand that the Watchtower leaders change the misuse of the “two witnesses” rule and begin taking an active role in protecting children and women within their congregations.
Disgusting orginisation, disfellowshiped my mate Ted who couldn’t give up the fags (wife dobbed him in to elders…) Son didn’t invite him to his wedding, family shunned him, he died shortly after from a broken heart I bet. ( officialy a heart attack) Heartless family destroying morons; their end can’t come quick enough…
That happens when you try to live your life by a Law, as in “do not do this” or “do this”, because the Law brings in only death, while the Spirit brings Life. Sad, but – in the end, he died knowing His Creator, and most important, His Creator KNEW his thoughts (which you and I do not). You must believe what His Son said: “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
Ultimately, he IS in a better company, better place and his struggle finished, while yours and mine linger. Sad story, indeed, but The Truth will remain, as always have. Religions will dwindle and die.
john
This “error” (aka ‘sin’) committed on a child and – as Professionals say ‘may conduce to death’, is – and has been – bad enough for The Son of Man – Jesus Himself – to declare a death penalty for those who commit it. He said: “And he said unto his disciples, It is impossible but that occasions of stumbling should come; but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were well for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.”
And then – as to make contrast with a lesser offense (because the first one deserved death) He added:
“Take heed to yourselves: if thy brother sin, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.”
If it is that bad for The Son of God, it must be that bad for me, and the perpetrator “must be delivered to satan”…literally. This was said by Paul. One wanders what “be delivered to satan” means, for he gives no life “he was a slayer of Man, from the beginning”, no?
Are you still a witness, and I meant “witness”, not Witness? I hope so, for He had it written: “Is there a calamity in the city, and I do not know about it”, says Jehovah”? Certainly, He must know. Will you be able to prevent it? No. What happens to those you can’t protect?
Jesus said: “Do you believe it is easy to snatch the lives of any of you, out of the Father’s Hands? Not two birds fall to the ground without the Father knowing it,…” He also mentioned that “..evil must come, but wow of the Man by which evil comes…”
Where do I go with this? “Keep searching for the Kingdom, and ALL other things will be added.” Leave the Witnesses alone; they already have to answer to Him, and that is a lot. Beside, He “knows the difference between one that has served Him and one that did not”, you do not ‘need’ to expose them. “The one who is doing good, continue to do good…” Otherwise this bitter water in your belly will bring death, where there should be life.
Just saying though, what do I know…
dust
I just read the book Crisis of Conscience by Raymond Franz who was an editor on the Watchtower staff, a missionary, and life long Jehovah Witness. He was slandered and libeled too by ONE WITNESS who was an underwriter and a bit disgruntled when anyone corrected his grammar or the validity of his quotes, which was often. This ONE WITNESS brought down Franz and 3 other men he obviously didn’t like by making false allegations that they were coming up with their own church doctrines, that they started their own church, and were baptizing people. To add insult to injury, Franz and his colleagues were even accused of being homosexuals. ONE WITNESS was able to get these men disfellowshipped without them being heard. The one thing that Franz did question was the date 1914 because of the fact that many witnesses had quit good paying jobs with retirement/pensions because they imagined the system of things was going to end in 1976. Many of which lived out their old age in poverty and a financial burden to their kids and to the earthly governments. Also it states in the bible that “Only the Father knows the time.” Franz was a true witness to the end and he believed that Jehovah God would “bring to ruin…wolves in sheep’s clothing.” He did not believe in bringing a lawsuit against his brothers. He died maintaining his true Christian spirit.
After learning how these editors were treated by just ONE WITNESS, I am disgusted. Why on earth do the elders not take into consideration the number of victims of rape and child molesting as a witness to a so called “brother’s” character. Especially when the victims do not know each other? Why do the elders tell the rapists and pedophiles to run and hide when the police/FBI come looking for them? Why do the elders turn on the victims of sexual assault and tell ALL their so called “friends” and family to dump them when they need them for their love and encouragement during such a terrible crisis? Why are elders not educated in psychological issues to better handle the public instead of thinking from their own penises? Because of their obvious blatant disregard for the safety of women and children and their “two to three witness” rule to observing a rapist or pedophile in action (which makes me question their sexuality), this would constitute all Kingdom Halls as men’s clubs and those in charge perverts or pervert sympathizers. A place where women and children have absolutely no voices and are in now way shape or form safe.
In the last sentence: No not now.