In recent years, news reports featuring the Jehovah’s Witnesses have been growing significantly in number.
Yet the subject has not been their famous door to door ministry, or coverage of their international conventions, or even of their controversial refusal of blood transfusions.
No, the reports claim that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the official name for the organisation that governs the Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide, has been engaged in covering up child abuse within the religion on a massive scale.
But are these reports justified? Is this a case of an innocent religion being unfairly maligned because of the actions of one or two bad apples in their ranks? How many victims are there? Do the Governing Body know about these issues? What’s really going in the multiple courtroom cases that Watchtower has been fighting across the world?
To answer these questions Lloyd Evans, founder and Senior Editor of JWsurvey and activist against cult indoctrination, has produced a painstakingly researched documentary that draws together evidence from multiple sources spanning the past twenty five years.
The film takes the viewer step by step through the issue, from the accounts of the survivors and lawyers involved in the court cases, to the interviews from journalists who have investigated the claims. The film takes us to Barbara Anderson, the whistleblower who first raised the alarm on this issue, and shows footage of members of the Governing Body, the group who lead the Jehovah’s Witnesses, being interrogated under oath on the subject by the Australian Royal Commission, and being grilled by reporters at a District Convention.
The results are eye-opening and deeply concerning, and reveal a genuine risk to both the children of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and also to the children of the general public.
We therefore urge everyone to view this video, and to share it as far and wide as possible to raise public awareness of this issue.
We would also like to add a personal message to all Jehovah’s Witnesses who may be reading this and who wish to view the video, but are concerned that they might be exposed to “apostate thinking.”
Genuine truth has nothing to fear from enquiry.
Falsehood posing as truth is terrified of enquiry.
I am a survivor of this cult. After my mother died my father married a Jehovah’s Witness. She was psychotic imo. The church had people who would spy on congregants and report back to the Church. For instance; when I was six I caught an elderly lady fromm the Kingdom Hall spying on us.
My lunatic step-mother was a Fan of Ernie Ford, the gospel singer. My parents didn’t believe me until that afternoon when they were publically chastised, in front of the entire congregation for listening to “The Old Rugged Cross” a big no-no to Jehovah’s Witnesses. They believe Christ was executed on a stake and not a cross.
Funny that. They knew what she was listening to at home but didn’t see the plainly visible signs of over the top physical abuse that I showed up to the Kingdom Hall with week after week.
I’m currently writing a fictionalized account of my experiences as we speak. Sufficenit to say that in four years I took more beatings than hot baths. It left me with complex post traumatic stress disorder. after several years the Statemof Ohio removed me from my home and placed me for adoption. 40 years later I still suffer from the effects of the prolonged ordeal.
The idea that JWs are out there spying on people, that makes no sense whatsoever. Most are just as busy making ends meet, working and caring for, or being part of a family. Just don’t have the time.
I know that it makes sense to focus on recent abuses, but my story goes back to the 1950’s. My grandfather was an Elder and a serial rapist and child molester. The organization protected him, moved him between congregations, accepted his ‘repentance’ on at least two occasions, and penalized him a total of six months of not being an Elder.
He sexually abused all 8 of his children and all 10 of his grandchildren. Witnesses who were brave enough to bring charges to the Elders, ‘witnessed’ his repentance and subsequent hand slap. When my mother wanted to expand past the Witnesses, the organization brought pressure on the other victims to stay silent, to not ‘bring reproach upon Jehovah’s organization’. Police can’t do shit when there are statutes of limitation and victims who refuse to cooperate to protect the religion.
If you do another docuseries I would like to be included. My family is/was part of the highest up part of this org and I was raped or molested multiple times by men I had to watch hold Elder authority over me. My Brother is at the new Warwick location in charge of the library. I got into drugs and worse because of religious trauma and now help others.
Beks
We will be in contact with you shortly
JR
I was molested shortly after we got involved with the JWs. I was 4 when one of my brother’s new friends came into the bathroom where I was bathing and he masturbated in front of me. I told my mom and I’m pretty sure it was never reported to the police. I also have PTSD from daily beatings from my sister.
Hi Evans,
This should be an eye opener for Governing Body.
I am a devoted Jehovahs witnesses.
I am really really really really annoyed the way the GB has acted. They surely neeed to answer to Jehovah.
And they will answer Jehovah…Job 34:10-30 (please read) I am really sad for all the victims and those who have gone out of the organisation especially because of this issue.
Let me tell you, It will be not be surprising when people who are stumbled are in the new world and then who put the stumbling will not be there…Even it be Governing Body. (Matthew 18:6, Mattthew 24:48-51)
Thanks take care