A District Attorney in Oklahoma has filed a motion alleging that the Jehovah’s Witness organization, “most especially the governing body of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah Witnesses,” were involved in concealing child molestation crimes.
This astonishing development in the case involving Ronald Lawrence, which was covered by JWsurvey back in November, has been reported by Jeanne LeFlore at the McAlester News-Capital.
It was revealed in news reports at the time that police were investigating whether elders were complicit in helping to conceal Lawrence’s hideous crimes from the authorities. Now it seems evidence may have been uncovered – with culpability being alleged to stretch right to the very top of the Watchtower hierarchy.
On January 28 the local District Attorney filed a motion declaring that the State will give evidence that child molestation crimes were concealed, not just by Lawrence, but by the “entire church body,” including the Governing Body.
According to this motion, “the actions of the church, their banishment of (Lawrence) on one or more occasion and the directives of the governing body toward the victims and their family members regarding these crimes were actions of ‘concealment’ and further actions preventing the victims from reporting the crimes to law enforcement.”
It was back in November that Lawrence was charged in Pittsburg County District Court with 19 felony counts, including 11 of lewd molestation, seven of forcible sodomy and one count of rape by instrumentation. Court documents reveal a litany of horrendous abuses, including the violation of one victim with a wooden spoon.
An affidavit filed in the case claims that Lawrence told police he had confessed his crimes to at least four elders in order to be reinstated back into the congregation in 2005 following his previous disfellowshipping.
Shortly after his arrest, Lawrence was released from jail after posting a $50,000 bond. A condition of the bond is that he is not allowed contact with any of his alleged victims.
Now, with the filing of this new motion, the Governing Body faces the hitherto unimaginable prospect of being forced to appear as defendants in court over alleged collusion to conceal criminal activity.
A court date has yet to be set.
Lawrence’s attorney filed a motion in December stating that the charges should be thrown out because the statute of limitation had expired. But the District Attorney’s motion has responded by saying that this is not the case.
Why the silence?
Noteworthy is the organization’s refusal to cooperate in giving their own account of what happened in this case, with “several calls to the Jehovah Witness Church” by an investigating journalist going unanswered.
Thinking Witnesses will wonder how an organization that claims to have God’s backing could find itself accused in this way of opposing the “superior authorities” (Rom. 13:1,2), and why it refuses to take any steps to set the record straight if it is free of any guilt.
Indeed, how can the Governing Body claim to have a “fine testimony from outsiders” if they won’t even pick up the phone when accused of concealing crimes by a District Attorney? – 1 Tim 3:7
Further reading…
- DA: Jehovah Witness church concealed molestation crimes
- Church elder, 76, charged in 30 year old molestation case
- Jehovah’s Witness church elder Ronald Lawrence arrested over sex abuse claims dating back to 1980s
- Global Dispath article
- SNAP’s response
- JWsurvey article: Oklahoma police investigating whether elders failed to report serial pedophile
- JWsurvey articles on child abuse
The new teaching of the governing body being the faithful slave could be the nail in the coffin. It will never be doctrine that wakes up JWS, but hypocrisy. When JWs can finally see the hypocrisy from the faithful slave, they will no longer have any trust in them. They will no longer be willing to even die for them by not talking blood. They will no longer trust their interpretation of the bible. The cognitive dissonance will drive them to apathy. Also with the internet they can not hide anymore. All they can attempt to do is foster distrust of any media reports. However any JWs in positions of authority know the reports are true. They will be forced to lie to the publishers about the case. This will force some to step down if they have a conscience.
Taking God to court?
How would that work? Are any of the GB members the same today, as when the alleged coverup was happening?
I’m not a lawyer, but wonder if it is actually possible to get any member of this leadership to stand up and answer a question.
They will find a way out of it. :(
Thank you so much for keeping us up to date on this
important information . I missed this one.
This case needs to be closely followed .
Joe Blow: I’m afraid even this won’t be enough to wake up the majority of the rank & file members. Any accusations coming from Satan’s system, will be considered as lies and wrongful persecution… possibly proof that they all need to make a stand for Jehovah.
Look what this world has come to! Accusing the Faithful Slave of being unfaithful! Jehovah will sort this out, not the human court system.
“Jehovah will sort this out, not the human court system.”
I find this comment highly offensive under the circumstances. This is precisely what countless parents of abuse victims have been told by elders over many decades, thus facilitating cover-ups and yet more abuse.
Care to rephrase?
John, he is merely saying what the majority of witnesses will say. You know that anything that looks like persecution is lapped up by the sheep. It is their favourite phrase. ‘Jehovah will sort it out’
We know he wont but they totally believe that any thing that looks bad against the org will be sorted out in God’s due time
Yep, I understand that now. Sorry folks!
God’s sole agent in the dock, eh? A headline writer’s dream.
I think it was meant to represent what the average R and F witnesses reply would be, not her (his?) own personal sentiment.
Ah yes, I see. Well pointed out. I apologise, Faithful Witness!
I think Faithful Witness may have been taking a highly cynical or sarcastic tone.
…Perhaps they should’ve made it a little more explicit instead of ending on that note.
An interesting turn of events with this story nonetheless …keep us posted Cedars!
Also don’t forget guys that past members of the GB or similar have been in the dock before. It could happen again. Though, I can just imagine the smug expressions and responses these old men would give if it ever came to that, with their delusions of grandeur at a fever-pitch…they would have the ability to anger a good judge very quickly.
I was not trying to be offensive, but thinking this is what they are going to say to their members. :(
No worries Faithful Witness, it was my mistake. I misread your comment. Sorry about that! :)
I think it is too much to hope for, seeing any of these men have to face judgment from the world. I think there are MANY JW’s, who would delight in seeing the GB be forced to testify in court.
I apologize again for sounding sarcastic. I would love to see these evil men face the victims of this society’s crimes.
Judgement Day! And the Independent Judicial System did take the 8 headed serpent and it did force the serpents mouths to confess to all the disgusting things that the serpent had done in the name of God.
And the Independent Judicial System did smite the coffers of the serpent, and it did distribute the treasures to the victims.
And God looked down at all that had been done and he did say “Very Good”
Let’s hope that the GB will have to face the consequences for their evil policies. It’s about time that they are brought to book.
Peace be with you
Excelsior!
Cedars, do you really think a member or members of the governing body could be made to testify? That would be so cool. And if it was televised? I’d bet many many JWs would be watching. Then maybe their testimony could appear on YouTube.
To be honest, I’ll believe it when I see it. They’ve become masters at slithering their way out of this sort of thing. That said, the tide does seem to be turning. We shall see!
Wow!
So who is the iinvestigating journalist?
Jeanne LeFlore at the McAlester News-Capital. :)
If they start at the top and work their way down to every Elder in every congregation. Demolition one brick at a time. Well done Cedars! I wonder if each elder has public liability insurance?
Probably no slithering involved nor necessary. If the Oklahoma district attorney involved can establish a direct instructional link from the GB to the elders in the McAlester Congregation then the GB may well be required to give testimony. But in order to establish this link, there would likely need to be some sort of direct correspondence from the GB on down…letters of instruction that specifically refer to this pedophile and the actions of the McAlester elders. I doubt that any such paper trail exists as I don’t believe the GB sends written letters or documents out to individual congregations.
But as the article said, attorneys for the defense have already raised the statute of limitations issue and that is the first hurdle to be crossed. It is important to note here that institutional child abuse has not really been recognized as the crime it is until fairly recently. The district attorney has argued that the crime was only recently revealed and thus the statute of limitations time line has just begun to run. This one issue will need to work its way through the courts before ANY testimony can be sought on any part of this.
The JW’s defense is basically that “God will sort this out.” Indeed. Probably so, and an awful lot of the JW’s who think they are golden or perhaps of the “annointed” are in for a rude surprise if that is the case. But there is I believe, a far larger issue and that is the simple fact that we are today alive here and on this earth. What happens here might well stay here and a life well lived I believe is one that doesn’t need translations, justifications and judgements at some point in time that none of us can truthfully believe will exist.
Hello Roger, I’m confused. Why does there need to be direct chain of correspondence linking the Governing Body to the McAlester elders relating to this case? Would it not be just as damning if the McAlester elders were given instructions from Watchtower based on clear Governing Body directives? If you know more about the legal process than the rest of us, do tell.
Roger M. Woodbury
Do you know about the secret letter that was sent to all elders? Look at the child abuse section on here. The WBTS took this site down for a day because they argued breach of copyright. There is also a video, with a guy who was abused, reading from parts of the letter.
Does anyone have contact with Jeanne LeFlore at the McAlester News-Capital to be able to give her the info such as was used at the Candace Conti trial IE BOE letters stating the way to cover up the story as Rick Simmons brought out at the Conti Trial? Also getting this info to the District Attorney might not be a bad idea also as much of the foot work has already been done.
Such stories will become more public and cause more active JWs to stumble out. The Watchtower’s inability to keep justifying Armageddon’s delay will lead to severe disappointment that will dwarf the one felt in the wake of 1975. Events such as new wars, pandemics, persecution will eventually cease to impress. The Watchtower’s PR machinery will run out of steam, and their doctrine will become more desperate – it’s just a matter of time. Even the Gov Body knows their years are numbered. The signs are here
Whether or not this case results in them being on trial, it’s one more stepping stone to having that happen. As with the Catholic Church, they’re tearing away at their protection one layer at a time, one case at a time. Lawyers are sly dogs who know how to word their cases so as to persuade judges and juries to see the culpability of the powers-that-be.
I’ve wondered if there’s room for lawsuits against the WT for encouraging women to stay with violent and abusive men with not one word mentioned about the abuse of children in those homes. Why can’t children sue them for the damage they suffer? If it’s their words that convince women to stay, especially under the threat of shunning or excommunication if they leave, they are liable for the damages. It’s called taking responsibility for your words; if you don’t have the wa-hoos to do it voluntarily, the law should step in and force you to take that responsibility.
http://questionsforjehovahswitnesses.wordpress.com/2013/12/22/because-who-cares-how-the-children-are-affected-by-violence-and-abuse-thats-why/
You sound bias. Accept these peoples’ sins now.
Dr. Cecil Scott
send some of the GB to jail right now.
Dr. Cecil Scott
Personally, I think that there will be some who will most likely “sigh and groan” over the detestable practices and free themselves but I also think that there will be others who much like mafia members, baptize their babies in the morning,commit murders in the evening and don’t even recognize the dilemma.
They can’t hide from this forever. The UN is looking to pedophilia coverups in the catholic church which I’m sure is being ironically salivated over by active JW who are unaware of the very same issue in their religion. Sooner or later this is going to catch up with them and I hope it’s soon.
Here is a quote from the Watchtower article JWs will be studying this Sunday in their kingdom halls:
“Misleading statements and outright lies about Jehovah’s servants and their beliefs are sometimes featured in the media. Newspaper headlines, television documentaries, and Internet Web pages are used to propagate untruths. As a result, some people become disturbed, gullibly believing such lies.”
This is how the GB attempts to protect itself from rank and file JWs discovering what is really going on in the real world. Unfortunately the vast majority of them blindly obey.
But an increasing number are brought to question and to leave. The GB is clearly worried and that can only be a good thing.
It’s like they knew when this story would break… Oh wait, new scandals emerge almost weekly. This is (always) a timely message, indeed!
Same Watchtower article, “Avoid Being ‘Quickly Shaken From Your Reason’!”(Dec 2013, paragraph 9)
Under 2nd subheading: “Choose Your
Associates Wisely” –
“If ever someone attending our congregation meetings would try to entice us into discussions of personal speculations or critical conversations, we should definitely be on guard.” (2 Thessalonians 3:13-15)
13 For your part, brothers, do not give up in doing good. 14 But if anyone is not obedient to our word through this letter, keep this one marked and stop associating with him, so that he may become ashamed. 15 And yet do not consider him an enemy, but continue admonishing him as a brother.
Thanks for bringing attention to this article (Watchtower 2013). After reading aloud 3 verses that mention “letters from us,” the article ends with some words of encouragement.
The final paragraph asks them to consider the following scripture:
2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
3 Finally, brothers, carry on prayer for us, that the word of Jehovah may keep spreading rapidly and being glorified, just as it is with you, 2 and that we may be rescued from harmful and wicked men, for faith is not a possession of all people. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the wicked one. 4 Moreover, we have confidence in the Lord regarding you, that you are carrying out and will go on carrying out our instructions. 5 May the Lord continue to guide your hearts successfully to the love of God and to the endurance for the Christ.
Governing Body is telling them:
– Pray for us
– Wicked men are after us
– Be faithful, endure, be strong
– Carry out our instructions
I really hope that the DA in charge will request for the congregation to hand out Lawrence’s file. As you all know every congregation keeps in a secret place a file for all and each of its members. I bet the DA won’t like what he will discover.
A direct instructional link from the GB to the elders in the McAlester Congregation and all the congregations around the globe is in the “Shepherd the Flock of God” manual. The DA in Oklahoma and the investigating journalist Jeanne LeFlore both should have a copy as well to better handle the case.
Paragraph 6:
“We do well to ask ourselves: ‘How much do I love the truth? Do I keep up-to-date with our present understanding as set out in the pages of this magazine and other Bible-based publications provided for the worldwide congregation of God’s people?’”
the truth? present understanding?
(“truth” comes from this magazine and other WTS publications)
Every scripture from Thessalonians that they will read aloud, contains a phrase about “a letter from us.”
(it’s from the Bible, but clearly it means a letter coming from the present day Governing Body).
Faithful witness said: “Oh wait, new scandals emerge almost weekly.”
Here’s another one:
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/jehovahs-witness-53-denies-12-6670314
One more thing. As we all know, every JW congregation keeps a personal file for each of its members and these files are kept in a very secure and secret place. I would encourage the DA to request from the congregation the Lawrence’s file. I bet scary things will be found in it that will implicate not only him but the congregation and of course the GB.
Elders are instructed not to provide such information to the authorities. If it is demanded the file will go ‘missing’ and maybe even destroyed. I was told this when I was made an elder many years ago (definitely not an elder anymore!)
Cedars: I am not a lawyer but have had a lot of dealings with lawyers in my own businesses. The burden of proof will lie always with the district attorney. In order to drag the GB directly into the proceedings the District Attorney will need to present some sort of direct evidence that the GB NEW about the specific pedophile activities and offered direct council to the elders of the congregation or the specific person involved. The GB may well be at the head of the organization but their direct involvement in any one case will be exceptionally difficult to prove. My guess is that there will be a series of circuit overseers and other “middle management” who will have to be dragged into court and who will then point the finger upward at the GB. The argument might well end up being a familiar one: “I was only obeying orders!” It is interesting that in Raymond Franz’s book he does discuss the amount of time the GB spends on issues of disfellowshipping, but not specifically on pedophilia. I suspect this was the case because issues that may well directly effect the viability of the organization may be much more highly compartmentalized. Also Franz’s book was written before the issue of child sexual abuse became quite the hot topic publicly that it is becoming now.
Roger, nobody is questioning where the burden of proof lies. Why raise that? And I have had “a lot of dealings” with doctors in my time, but that doesn’t qualify me to dish out medical advice. I have had “a lot of dealings” with mechanics, but I wouldn’t volunteer to fix your carburetor. From what you are suggesting, the Governing Body, as heads of an organizational hierarchy, bear no accountability whatsoever for the guidelines they set forth if these should end up leading directly to a boy or girl being molested, or their molestation being covered up. That is quite a shocking revelation for those like me who believe in justice, accountability, and the rule of law. But I take heart in your confession that, unlike the impression given by your initial comment, you are not a legal professional and therefore no more or less wise regarding these delicate matters than I am.
I think we all want to see justice done for these victims.
It will be interesting to see how far this goes.
Yes, I have read the letter that was withdrawn upon threat of suit because of copyright laws. I also have an elder’s “book” (Sheep Herding the Flock), which I downloaded from somewhere on the Internet. Either document may well not be authentic by the way. Neither document came directly from the JW Website, so as long as it is not an “official” JW document, it really should not be considered as such. I am not questioning whether or not either one or both is a true document, merely saying that either one might not because the Internet is nothing like a secure medium for the exchange of information.
Here we go. You’re now suggesting the October 1st 2012 letter on child abuse is dubious because it was disseminated via the internet? As are any digital copies of the Shepherd Book? What is your motive for trying to discredit this information I wonder?
“the Internet is nothing like a secure medium for the exchange of information”
The Pentagon, MI6, not to mention every bank in the world (including your own!) will be anxious to hear this new revelation you’ve now graced us with.
“Don’t trust the internet! Only JW.org is an official source of information!” Now where have I heard that sort of rhetoric before?
Forgive me for being direct, and please don’t feel backed into a corner. I just find it curious that your first response to hearing of this case is to suggest the Governing Body don’t have a case to answer if they weren’t directly involved with the McAlester elders, and that we should be suspicious of damning material related to child abuse that the organization wants to hide from us if it should become available online without the Governing Body’s consent. Where are you going with all this?
The faithful dont have to rehearse what they will say in court, holy spirit will tell them what to say…..really hope it does because it will be an overlapping sentence for the hate shepherds, hence dont believe the media..when they say we are in jail…..dont believe them because we will be in the cells invisibly in 2014 instead of 1914.
If all these claims are fake, I’m sure the Governing Body will issue an answer, well founded enough to get things aligned.
At this point however, the elders don’t seem to pick up calls.
I also would like to examine anything I see over the internet before I make up my mind, but there are just too much documented cases. As far as this particular case, I’m looking forward to see more details and evidences, etc.
BTW, when I think of such cases, I think the ones that should be put in jail are the parents, for the cases when they knew what was going on with their children. Not the elders, not the Governing Body, I’d start blaming them. If their children notifies them he/she’s been abused, the parent’s job is to protect and help them, and any other potential victims around.
Dear Cedars:I left the cult 3years ago after 45 Years, was elder for 13 yrs in Spanish Cong Monterey California. I dealt with numerous sexual abuse cases; one in particular the Legal Dpt told me NOT to call the police. Ironically the adult abuser was reproved while the minor was disfellowshipped. The recently arrived ex-betelite elder that reproved the adult said that he was too tired and wanted to go home so they reproved her. Major local scandal! My own mother thst has shunned me completly knows the wheresbouts in North Carolina of the jw that sexually abused my brother and even had lunch with him at assembly yet refuses to est a mesl w her abused son, since 1977 to present! My wife and I ate educating people locally using your website as major source of information. May God bless you!!!
Can I comment now please is the problem fixed?
The “GB” will probably spin this that the “world hates them on account if His names sake.” Gullible ones of course will shake their heads in agreement.
Jeses never ran from tough questions, he stayed and talked to anyone who came his way.
I started asking tough questions to two elders who used to visit me, of course now they do not.
Guess when the going gets tough, the JW turns silent and timid. Some “witness” they are giving.
In a few words, I do work for a law firm, not as a lawyer but as head of marketing and client relations. However, I have come to realize, one can never say what the outcome of any case will be for certain, until it has been properly adjudicated. That is obvious from the fact that there are often supporters on both sides believing in the guilt or innocence of those on trial.
As for this case in particular, it underscores one thing in particular for me. As a former elder, the G.B. will have plenty of lawyers protecting their decisions. These men who are put into the position of being elder, are for the most part unaware of the legal implications of the office that they take. Also I am certain they are unaware how much press and negative attention they will receive. No doubt they will be surprised to see how easy it is for the G.B. to not provide them with proper legal protection or more importantly a valid argument of innocence.
In the interest of those who have elders as parents who are still JWs, or the rank and file faithful, hopefully this will give them a close look at who ends up taking the blame for this. No matter who goes down, G.B., elder(s), sadly even the victims their certainly will be retribution for this one, hopefully from our loved ones, by opening their eyes to this evil cult.
With all due respect, the most important thing here is the reporting of the facts. I believe this case along with so many other cases and the astute reporting by good people like Cedars will help bring an end to this religion. Information will shed light into their dark corners and expose the skeletons of bad policy, selfish ambition and the self glorification and immodest behavior of the beasts we have come to call the Governing Body.
“Misleading statements and outright lies about Jehovah’s servants and their beliefs are sometimes featured in the media.” ……
The media is not a one way street, individuals or corporations have a right of reply. The newspaper who prints so-called lies, is required to have printed in their newspaper a right of reply. It is up to the Watchtower Society to take up their right to reply and explain how so-called lies are wrong.
The same principle applies to what the Watchtower Society itself puts to print regarding lies about so-called mentally diseased persons, do they allow a right of reply to these persons. No. For media to be unbiased the case for or the case against, needs to be heard. Most people will not tolerate lies being published about them. The Olin Moyle case is like re-reading history today.
To Willow
Nice Comment.
Crazy perverts hiding under the umbrella of religion. When are they (GB)gonna come out clean on these sex offences? All the talk about honesty in the KH and do-nothings about it. Their (GB and elders) conduct stinks!
I once thought the KH was the most holy place on earth. But now, i do not share those sentiments any more.