News article sheds light on Watchtower abuses in Spain

One of the things I deeply regret is that, to quote Bruce Willis in the film The Fifth Element, I only speak two languages: English and Bad English. As a result, my knowledge of what is taking place around the world in terms of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is often limited to what is written on English language web sites, and in English language news reports.

As such, it is sadly all to easy for me to be unaware of developments that may be taking place in other languages and cultures. Thus it’s good to get a glimpse into what is taking place in parts of the world that speak other languages.

Take for example a new article on the Spanish language news-site Playground that has shed some light on the plight of many Ex-JW’s in Spain, and also on the efforts of others to help them.

You can view the full article here, but we have a translation for you below, kindly provided by avoidjw.org. We also would like to thank JW Survey community member Average Joe for bringing this article to our attention.

“To leave a sect means to accept that your life has been a hoax”.
Several ex-members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses of Spain have reported abuses against them and most of them needed time to realize that they had been deceived. To understand why, we have talked to an expert on sectarian problems. – By Alba Losada, Monday 9 January 2017
In recent months, several former members of different congregations of Jeovah’s Witnesses in Spain have reported sexual abuse, coercion and interference in their private lives.
The last to do so was Juan Bourgon. Because, as he explained to this newspaper, he was recently expelled from the group by asking about sexual abuse committed by members of the religion in the United States.
Before formulating their complaints, these victimes needed time to realize that more followers of the religious group had been victims of a sectarian system. This was a system that would never bring them “salvation”, as preached by their religion.
To understand why it is so difficult to leave a cult, we talked to Doctor of Psychology and Director of Emaaps (Multidisciplinary Organisation for Counselling and Assistance with Sectarian Problems), Pepe Rodriguez.
These victimes needed time to realize that more than being adherents of a religious group, they had been victims of a sectarian system.
_____________
The Difficulty Of Getting Out Of The “Saving Bubble”
Many followers have little contact with the real world and they live their entire lives locked in a “saving bubble” which they do not want to leave because of the fear inculcated into them.
“What is very difficult for too many people,” says Rodriguez, “is to confront their daily lives and manage their emotions in a minimally adequate way. Those who want to leave a ‘sect’ are only a small part of all those who have tried previously.”
The little connection they have with the outside world does not help them to open their eyes. Beliefs enter the emotional channel, so criticism of them is interpretted as an attack on the same person.
In the case of taking these criticisms into account, they might think that their whole life has been a lie, a failure. This means that “to try to enter dialogue or debate with a member is an impossible mission.”
In the case of taking these criticisms into account, you might think that your whole life has been a deception, a failure.
Many of the people who live in such a hermetic group such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, their only family and friends are members of the congregation. This is another reason why leaving the religions gives them such terror: their family and friends would be the first to marginalise them. “They are prohibited under penalty of expulsion to speak with an excluded member or with one who leaves the group.”
There would be a disconnection from which that one would be left isolated. When they realise that they would be socially isolated and have no one to turn to, they come to understand that if they leave, they lose everything.
Jehovah’s Witnesses cannot use their judgement to analyse or value the ideas that they transmit. Individual thinking and access to information outside of the collective is totally restricted.
Therefore, virtually all ideas, beliefs and behaviours are mediated by what they have learned in the congregation.
“The nullification or severe restriction of freedom of thought is a sectarian manipulation tactic that applies to all religions, but in a small group such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, it is more intense”.
“The members are prohibited under penalty of explusion to speak with the excluded or with those who leave the group.”
There are many who have spent years in the group, or they were even born into it. This has had a permanent influence on their personality. “Families affiliated with some kind of belief are usually strenghtened through rigidity and subordination in the character of their children”. And this only makes them more likely to have blind faith in a sectarian system without being aware of it.
___________
But Deprogramming is Possible
Diego Hidalgo was a Jehovah’s Witness for many years. He became an elder in the congregation – a leader within the religion. Over time, Hidalgo came to realize that his belief system was a fallacy.
Now he is director of Liberados.net, an association that provides advice to members who want to leave the group. He has spent 8 years helping members to deprogram. He attempts to prove to those who want to leave the religion that not everything is true. To do this, he creates reasonable doubts and works on them until he has helped them to see that they have been victims of a lie.
“I confront changes of doctrine and the contradictions that have been made over the years and how this has come to exert a negative effect on members.”
Hidalgo has been a deprogrammer for 8 years, trying to prove to those who want to leave the religion that not everything is true.
However, it has not been an easy task and it has not always been successful. “There are people who do not want to see the truth because they cannot accept it pscyhologically.” But there have been other cases where the therapy has worked. Indeed, throughout this time, he has managed to deprogram about 40 people.
_________
Israel Needed 21 Years
Israel Florez was born a Jehovah’s Witness. In 1979, when he was only 5 years old, a member of the religious organiszation sexually abused him. However, it was not until 2000 that he built up the courage to tell it to Puerta Del Angel Congregation in Madrid. However, the answer was not what he expected. “I was told not to tell anyone”.
Five years later he completely disengaged. He stopped attending meetings and interacting with other members. In this way, he left the group forever. Like most of those who have left, he did it through the back door and practically without the support of anyone.
But, over time, he began to interact with others on social networks. He began to realise that he had not been the only victim. There were other people who coped alone with injustices suffered when they met and joined. Thus was born abusostj.org. This website aims to help victims, offer legal aid and provide visibility in the media.
100 people already make up part of this organisation. They have already made about 20 official complaints. This organisation’s intent is not to destroy Jehovah’s Witnesses. Rather, its purpose is only to effect change in their policies so that no one else has to suffer the same way they have.
These individuals have managed to rewrite their history. Now it is up to anyone else who wants to live their life outside of the organisation.”
This article is a timely reminder that both Watchtower’s abuses against human rights, and the fight to expose and stop them, are taking place all around the globe, in many languages and cultures.
Follow me on twitter @covertfade
Follow avoidjw.org on twitter

35 thoughts on “News article sheds light on Watchtower abuses in Spain

  • January 10, 2017 at 5:30 am
    Permalink

    Thanks for bringing this to the attention of our community. My favourite quote from the article is this one:
    “Jehovah’s Witnesses cannot use their judgement to analyse or value the ideas that they transmit. Individual thinking and access to information outside of the collective is totally restricted. Therefore, virtually all ideas, beliefs and behaviours are mediated by what they have learned in the congregation.”
    That is so true unfortunately.
    Thanks to AvoidJW.org for the translation for the non-Spanish speakers too.

    • January 12, 2017 at 10:18 pm
      Permalink

      In WT theory that may be the case, but this site proves that statement wrong. Seems to me that many who comment here are in fact congregation members. For each one of those that are willing to express themselves here there must be hundreds or thousands that read from this site. Both actions are forbidden by the WT. Also, some of WT’s other policies like their recommendations against dating sites, or WT’s attitude toward higher-education is not shared to by many JWs, and in those areas WT does not control their lives. What other policies might some not agree with? There are others…usually not spoken.

      I’ve spoken to JWs in person who have expressed verbally a disagreement with policies like high-education and dating sites. When you sit in the Kingdom Hall, or conduct your parts from the platform notice the rather high percentage of publishers that practically never or actually never participate in the discussions. Are all silent out of fear? Some are possibly passive aggressive. Those who are really not made to feel part of the congregation, how can they fully support an organization that creates that environment? Even serving elders realize there is a lack of love. They recognize it, and they’ve expressed it to me. So, even if they won’t admit to disagreeing with WT policy, they must in secret, since those policies to some degree create the mood existent in the congregations. And elders must know the Bible well enough to know that love is Christianity’s identifying quality….they realize without that Christianity in an organization doesn’t exist.

      I believe the gb is aware of passive aggression against their authority, which might explain why, against common sense, they keep getting more and more hard-nose with their congregations. Their attacks are aimed at their current members, not the ones they already put out or left.

  • January 10, 2017 at 5:45 am
    Permalink

    Bravo Espana

  • January 10, 2017 at 5:59 am
    Permalink

    I’m really glad you posted this. I want to point out that the word “sect” in French refers to what we call a “cult” in English (and a “cult” in French is a “sect” in English). I imagine this is the same in Spanish. So in the first quote above where it says “To leave a sect means to accept that your life has been a hoax” – is really referring to what we’d call a “cult” in English. A sect is just a group, but a cult has a much more insidious, evil nature to it.

    • January 10, 2017 at 6:15 am
      Permalink

      SUSAN, you are totally right there. In this context “secta” is translated “cult”.

  • January 10, 2017 at 6:32 am
    Permalink

    It’s good to see reports from other countries and quotes from psychologists. They gave a glimpse into, not just the jw mindset, but the cult mindset. This helps people to see the psychological damage that’s done by cult indoctrination and living under a totalitarian religion. It’s yet another inoculation shot to the public regarding JWs.

  • January 10, 2017 at 7:43 am
    Permalink

    Here we go again. More exposure, more deconstruction brick by brick by brick. It is truly amazing to see this sect/cult being revealed. It is good to know there is help for non-English speaking victims. I have wondered abut those trapped in non American/English lands and how they can be helped. Thanks for letting us know . Cheers Ruthlee

  • January 10, 2017 at 8:15 am
    Permalink

    The Swamp continues to be exposed. The more negative publicity of the Bubble Boys, the more the outside world will avoid the JWs.

  • January 10, 2017 at 8:15 am
    Permalink

    Thanks for this. It’s too easy to forget that most of the world does not speak English natively if at all. Watchtower has made it a point to get their abusive message and culture to as many people as possible and now, with much of Europe and North America showing little or negative growth most of their focus and expansion is taking place where English is not the primary or strong secondary language and places where education is harder to obtain. This is one area where it would be best to steal a page from the JW.org playbook and get the message out in as many languages as possible. It would be good to publicize the Spanish ex-JW sites mentioned in this article as well as any others hat you may come across. Nice work!

  • January 10, 2017 at 8:16 am
    Permalink

    The necessity is mutual. The Spanish speaking world lacks the quality of journalism found in this site. While I am strongly convinced that there are amazing writers and other JWs with incredible stories to tell in every corner of the world, the truth is this cult is an American cult and as such, many of the events that shape our understanding of it originates from an English spoken crowd. Just as much as we need to look elsewhere for this type of news (ironically the Spanish speaking world is where they are having success) we also need to make sure Latin America and other countries as well, are able to get the same quality information we get on this site. I am from South America. I can tell you that in many cases, articles such as the ones we read here, are only filtered down by means of some one that just happen to be one of the few that reads English fluently enough to not lose the essence in translation. We need to have sites and articles as these translated. I offered to help in the past and my offer still stands. Thanks for all the work you do.

  • January 10, 2017 at 8:26 am
    Permalink

    I can remember in the past that JW’s always tried to point out that they were not a cult, however, they do appear to be a cult for all intents and purposes. And the bottom line is money. Follow the money. The people giving the money in the form of time and knowledge are not the people receiving the benefits of the money. The whole organization is a ripoff for the “publishers” who devote their time and energy to procure more depositors into the coffers of the “organization”. Wow, what a waste of their time and energy that should be spent on more productive aspirations. I am so glad I never went door to door or got in any deeper than I did. JW’s are not the road to salvation.

    • January 10, 2017 at 1:02 pm
      Permalink

      @ Thelma Jean Hart-Danckert:

      The field ministry, according to the figures released in the yearbook, is being proven daily to be exactly what you have said namely, “a waste of their time and energy that should be spent on more productive aspirations.” I wish I had a dollar for every single hour that was spent in the field ministry warning people about an event that did not come and, at 65, will not live to see, nor my children.

      It is indeed a colossal fraud and probably one of the worst rip-offs perpetrated in modern times! 8 Million adherents that will never see the end of their servitude. Truly a life sentence of misery and death for treasures in heaven that the majority will not be able to withdraw. Pathetic isn’t it? :(

      • January 11, 2017 at 2:44 pm
        Permalink

        @BigB, well said! A great pathetic waste of time. My dad is 92 got in the 1950’s, raised me in from birth. I’m 56, out now 2 years. It is a shame. I got to look at my dad’s 2016 yearbook. I see the numbers on a gradual decline. This religion will never grow like they did in the early years and the 1970’s. People have the internet and power to investigate before they commit.

        • January 11, 2017 at 3:51 pm
          Permalink

          Thanks Peggy:

          The internet “is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” ;) Thank goodness we have such a tool as the WTBTS cannot hide their dirty linens anymore.

          My Dad would be the same age as yours and was baptized into the “Truth” about 1959-60. He literally died ‘at this post’ of a heart attack while conducting the book study in the K.H. over 16 years ago. He was the presiding overseer (coordinator of the body of elders) at the time.

          I often think what he would have thought of all these problems the WTBTS has now especially the 10 year U.N. involvement and child abuse cases. Would he have stepped down? I would like to think so.

  • January 10, 2017 at 8:49 am
    Permalink

    Does anyone know if there are spanish language websites exposing Watchtower? Spanish is not even considered a foreign language group by Watchtower. There are a lot of spanish speaking people that need this information.

    • January 10, 2017 at 9:16 am
      Permalink

      Yes there are several, as I imagine with most major languages too. If you visit http://avoidjw.org/websites/ then scroll down, you will the links to some on there.

      • January 10, 2017 at 2:08 pm
        Permalink

        @average Joe you are amazing…how long can you keep being covert…I feel it’s so important to do it as long as you can because the more people you can help…it must be hard..but carry on caring for the rank and file…they are for the most part treated appallingly…there should be an Average Joe in every hall…there is not in my old congregation…they are all self righteous and judgmental…a recent case Iv heard has made me happy and proud that I am over a year inactive…keep up the good work…you should be writing some articles for the site…they would be very insightful…Peace and Joy.

  • January 10, 2017 at 9:09 am
    Permalink

    I don’t understand why Watchtower doesn’t simply change its policy and let victims report abuse?

    • January 10, 2017 at 4:09 pm
      Permalink

      Carrie,

      I think that they “say” (not sure if it’s written policy) that the victim can report the abuse but it comes with a big axe hanging over your head of coerced guilt.

      Words that sound threatening like… “Not bring reproach on Jehovah” or “don’t take your brother to court”. Also, I know of 3 cases where the mothers of the victims were threatened with disfellowshipping if they spoke with other members. Powerful ways to gag.

  • January 10, 2017 at 10:57 am
    Permalink

    It’s important to understand that the word Cult can denote several levels of meanings depending on how that root word is used in describing a organization no matter what type it is. You hear a lot in business that this is our culture in practices. Or the root word can be seen in the word Occult. But the main idea is it can be rendered in a good or bad light depending upon the actions of those individuals in that particular Culture that they find themselves.
    One of the best books I ever read and which has been recommended by this and other websites is the book by Steve Hassan titled
    “Combating cult mind control”
    It is a must read and will be a invaluable tool in your deprogramming process.

  • January 10, 2017 at 11:33 am
    Permalink

    If a religion leaves a vast trail of angry ex members it is inevitable that and ex and anti movement will develop.

    It seems that JW global growth has all but stalled, and with no let up in the deserved assaults on the cult, the Australian Royal Commission having a revisit in March 2017, the Brit. Charity Commission’s ongoing investigation, Trey Bundy’s unceasing knocks on the JW door and a queue of child abuse cases, a downturn in membership and income must surely be on the horizon.

    If the WT’s only response is to crank up the shunning and to lower the age of baptism, it may well be that JWdom will soon meet its deserved fate; i.e. flushed down the toilet of history.

    • January 12, 2017 at 4:44 am
      Permalink

      I agree, Rowland, that as more and more opposition builds up, it must cause a general erosion of the organization.What concerns me is that the organization is kicking so many own goals: the performance of the leaders at the Royal Commission was embarrassing; the constant bullying by the elders of JW members causes even those inside the organization to lose confidence in our elders and leadership (see Lloyd’s book page 181-185 for a typical example of what happens in almost every congregation for at least one elder, sometimes more, when their position goes to their head); the organization becoming more elder-centric and the GB becoming more paranoid; the present brothers becoming elders are usually born in the truth and have very little experience in what the real world is like. They are usually appointed young due to their own fathers being elders, and are of very little help to us when we are faced with real problems in life. Such white-anting of the elder arrangement (done by the elders themselves), making the quality of elders lower and lower, will inevitably cause the organization to fall.

      It is the implementation of the elder arrangement (not the arrangement itself- if it was implemented properly it would be wonderful), left basically unchanged for the past 40 years, that will bring down this organization. How ironic? Why doesn’t the GB fix it up? Who knows? But the number of victims in the congregations are growing and we are angry. We have had a gutful of the suffering the elders have brought on us, on others, and are continuing to cause on other victims. The sheep are starting to grow teeth. The partiality, nepotism and cronyism which we see happening unstopped in the congregations will certainly be part of the downfall.

      • January 12, 2017 at 10:48 pm
        Permalink

        Ricardo there were also jerk elders 40 years ago; back then they were the same as they are now-some nice, some jerks.

        For a long time I thought it was just the elders and that the gb members were more “spiritual.” But once I saw Mr. Anthony Morris III deliver his talk I realized I was wrong. After hearing from Anthony Morris and seeing the posing that Stephen Lett does, I decided to check these guys out. One of the guys I started viewing was Lloyd, in his video commentaries. I thought him interesting to watch, rather entertaining. And I read Ray Franz’s Crisis book. He’s the last person they should have messed with.

        And they should have stayed off the TV. If they had some of us may not have really looked at this organization. Before I saw these two guys I always thought apostates just tried to argue the trinity or some other Bible doctrine. I never thought that apostates’ primarily voice is telling the truth about the WT, a truth the WT does not want JWs to hear.

  • January 10, 2017 at 2:43 pm
    Permalink

    a bit confused why everyone thinks this is something new?

    a global effort at deconstruction, deprogramming and waking up JW’s has been on since at least 1980’s, but welcome newcomers to the party.

  • January 11, 2017 at 12:44 pm
    Permalink

    You are right,JBob…my Father-n-Law way back when wrote the “Pronoucements” a complilation or facts and info in regards to abuses by JW.org on the wts…He called it “Justice for Jehovah’s People”…I remember my Father reading it, my Mother hollering at him cuz it was…”.Apostate”… Material to never be looked at…heaven forbid one would actually find out the….”truth” in regards to their treatment of their people…go figure…then fundz would go…zup…and their “paradiso” on earth right now namely the Walkhill set up would go…zup…and their power and control….sizzle sizzle pffffttt…My Father -in-Law did this all one his own finances…he tried to go against this empire on his own, with a little help from donations from other advocates against the abuses they suffered …when I first entered this…”world” of so called apostates…I did so with adventure. …and a desire to see for myself…much like …Merida on the show…”Brave”.. I was not that brave but I was wanting to find the …”truth” as to the JW.org…I had encountered the ..”.real”…” truth”… several times in the..backroom in several KHs my adventure took me into! No easy task, cuz I was often on my own…til in I met a sister and her family recently moved from Slovakia…I would help her learn english, assist her in comming to mtngs and in service…she told me of her and her sons treatment in Slovakia, by elders…she came with me to one such mntg…Man that made the elders fume…She told me…Sharon, you no be stupid, you no crying, they like crying, we finish and you crying at home we have coffee…you shutup and I fixit them from Bible…and she proceeded to do such! She, like she said…no scarit…But yeah…I still cried, so sad they could be so heartless and corrupt….I left that day…and little by little did not feel as guilty for hating this religion/ cult that took away so many hrs of my and families life past and present. The result…I am shunned by my mother…but that is ok…sacrifice and freedom are worth suffering for…and my Father-n-law was a good man, not the terrible apostate they made him out to be…his son …an awesome, kind and good husband and Father…all the other older folk labelled apostates I met in my adventure…good, kind and caring folk…who’se lives were affected by this horribke, controlling cult and niw that they were trying to free others, were given the label that even I seen last night on Leahs doc. Scientology uses same…more similarities as to given thise who speak the real …”truth”. So thanx to ones like Cedars, Barbara, Covert, Ordinary Joes…and all who tahnx to modern tech. there is definitely… “new light”…some of us are ok with being out in the open others have to as yet, Fit In…BRAVE!!!! No matter what…It takes courage and guts, plus love for ones fellow man to risk all…to smoke out an very rich and corrupt orgy! Thankyou!!!! And like we say here in Norway….VELDIG BRA!…..SUMP GASS!!!! YEAH! We all could use…Diego Hildalgo! ;))! Good Day to all!!!!

  • January 12, 2017 at 5:23 am
    Permalink

    Am I right in understanding that Israel Florez’ site abusostj.org makes it possible for even present members of the organization to report abuse?

    Is there anywhere in the English sites where we can go to report mental and emotional abuse caused by the elders? I and other victims link up internationally for support and advice on what to do when elders attack, but this is just a collection of friends who know each other. We would love to have our stories publicized and acknowledged so that the true bullying that elders get up to can be revealed. I am traumatized from my experiences. I am probably suffering from Religious Trauma Syndrome (RTS) not from leaving my religion, but from staying in it and getting abused by the elders. I go to the meeting, try not to meet any elders, and after the meeting quickly leave. I do not recognize the position of the elders, but will take action once they do not behave as elders should. Unfortunately they don’t like this. They give the excuse that they are imperfect men. They can mess up our life and our marriage but excuse it because they are imperfect. Yet when they don’t like us they can come down on us like a ton of bricks, expect very high standards, like the elders from my previous congregation did when they wanted me to step down from regular pioneering because I got 839 hours in the year, not 840 hours. 1 hour! I can use the excuse that I am imperfect too, but they don’t want to listen to that.

    Like Covert Fade said in his interview with Lloyd, when troubles come in our life we see behind the curtain of the organization and see that the elders, who we hope care about us, don’t care if we live or die. I have seen behind the curtain and it is not pretty. It is not only disfellowshipped ones who get shunned in this organization. Plenty of us victims get shunned. Once you get on the wrong side of the elders they ignore you and won’t even ask you when you put up your hand to answer at the meetings. Other witnesses in the cong, following the lead of the elders like zombies so as to stay in the good books of the elders, also shun the victims. Thankfully the victims have other victims they can mix with, who understand the abuse they are experiencing.

    The sheep are being treated like dung by these guys. Why? We aren’t dung. We are lovers of Jehovah. The trick the elders use is to make it seem that we are the problem, not them. But the sheer quantity of victims who are supporting one another show it is not our fault. It is not our fault, and the psychological abuse must stop!

    If there is not a site like abusostj.org in English, can someone please make one?

    • January 13, 2017 at 10:39 pm
      Permalink

      Ricardo you might feel a better if you don’t allow these fellows to exercise so much authority over you, but instead little as little as possible to remain a Witness. You can do so, and still follow the primary doctrines of the WT, and remain a JW. But it’s not necessary follow every WT recommendation, or to do God’s work on their terms. You can share the Bible message as much as you’d like without being a pioneer, without using WT literature etc. You can still go out in field service with the friends if you’d like, or not go out if you’re inclined not to; and not turn in a slip if you don’t go out without feeling guilty about it. It’s all up to you. The elders’ desire for you to do things a certain way doesn’t need to effect you, unless for some reason you’re seeking their approval.

      But, why seek the approval of jerks? Christ didn’t do that, and that’s who you should be following, not the elders or the Watchtower Society. If their examples were Christ like I would be wrong, but we know their examples are not Christ like. If they look and act like a Pharisee, well? They are in fact bad association. And as the scripture warned the other elders that associate with the bad ones have also been led into sinning as their companion elders do.

      I’m telling you from experience, you can do things your way, and not act like you have to please them. If you do they’ll probably leave you alone. Try to view the situation as Christ would, and think about what he would do. I think you’ll realize that he would do what I recommend, for isn’t that what he did?

      Don’t buy into the WT excuses. Those excuses they are giving you come from head quarters so they can keep control you. Remember, every brother appointed as a servant from Watchtower is Watchtower. You can’t separate the two. That’s why the WT excuses elders’ actions. Elders are WT’s reps, like the managers of a corporation, or a police force in society. I don’t consider them teachers. Not because none of them have the ability to teach, but because what they do, giving talks or leading discussion is not teaching.

      But my main point is that if they believe you care about what they think about you, they’ve got you, they have control over you. Don’t let them.

      Love you brother.

    • January 13, 2017 at 11:06 pm
      Permalink

      Ricardo this gimmick of theirs, the practice not to call on certain friends during discussions is wide spread and has been going on for years. You may choose any one of the following recommendation. All three have proven effective.
      #1 Write a detailed letter to Bethel. Describe exactly what’s happening, and name the offenders.
      But before sending off the letter continue to raise your hand quite a few times, 6 or more, at each meeting, and do so for at least a couple months, then include the number of times you were skipped over and the time period it spanned in your letter.

      #2. Just stop raising your hand all together. Do to them what they’re doing to you. Don’t play in their ball game as a team player. And make sure they know it. And let them clean up and pay for their kingdom hall, in other words become a liability instead of an asset. Take up a seat, and work with the friends, but let them do all the work. In that way let them pay in some way for their sin.

      #3 Individually, or better yet if you have family members then sit near the front center of the Kingdom hall, and then raise your hand (hands) on every single question. Make it obvious to the congregation what is going on. Elders who do this don’t want the ones that are not the targets to know.

      Any one of these suggestion can be effective.

  • January 12, 2017 at 2:08 pm
    Permalink

    Know exactly what you are speaking about Ricardo…sooo many experiences from sooo many…my cuz single, was asked by an elder much older than her to marry him after his wife…whom he abused in many ways…even made her sit and he actually…gave her a “pot” hair cut! Literally! Died…my cuz said NO!!!! Old perv…from then on she was Marked…and avioded by alot in that cong. and he would never ask for her comment as he conducted the Wt study…he later mived to another cong. where he was regarded as such a fine example of an older brother…I nearly threw up! Course he left much money to the Orgy…meanwhile his wife never had a cent to use to her name…My Aunt…Of Austrian/Polish decent said Yaschow Demonz!!!! Soooo True! He kinda looked a lot like Tony Morris…perhaps related.

    • January 12, 2017 at 9:13 pm
      Permalink

      The suffering caused by elder abuse just goes on and on. One victim I stay in touch with had stepped down as an elder, bullied out of his position by the other elders and the CO. Soon after, his son was taken off from being on the drama. The elders repeatedly refused to tell him why his son was taken off. The distraught mother urged the CO to intervene, and in the ensuing meeting between the CO, elders and mother and father the elders told an incredible porky. In subsequent meetings the porkies continued, ultimately leading to the elders producing a letter they said came from the Governing Body which instructed my friend to make peace with the elders and stop talking to others about the situation. My friend continued his search for justice, and after more CO’s and more meetings with elders, the latest CO investigated and found that the elders had manufactured the letter from the GB themselves to cover their skins. What justice did my friend get? A private apology from the elders! That’s it! An apology. Because they are imperfect men.

      How many times have the elders taken into account that we are imperfect men or women before they start giving us counsel? The CO said that incompetence is not a scriptural reason for the elders to step down.

      How much respect and confidence can we have in our leaders when this sort of rubbish takes place? Additionally, how can an organization continue when it is shooting itself in the foot like this? Just like Communist China where the leaders do whatever they like, sooner or later the tyrannical organization must fall.

      My friend is so angry with this situation he wants to publicize what has happened so that the general public can see what happens in our organization. If somehow the public could be informed of the silly things that go on in the back rooms where judgement is carried out they would find it repugnent. When the psychological abuse, sexual abuse, injustices and bullying become public, making the organization repugnent to the public, who will want to join the witnesses? And whose fault will that be? The organization itself.

      Does anybody know how to publicize the injustices? Will I need to make a forum myself?

Comments are closed.