Jehovah’s Witnesses in Delaware paid $19,500 in fines for failure to report child abuse.

On January 18th, 2018, attorneys representing Jehovah’s WItnesses signed a formal settlement agreement with the State of Delaware, concluding a historic case in which two elders and one congregation were held responsible for withholding detailed knowledge of a sexual relationship between an adult and a 14-year-old minor.

This case is unique, profound, and will likely set a precedent for other States.

According to the terms of the settlement, Jehovah’s Witnesses paid a total of $19,500 to the Delaware Department of Justice, and the body of elders from the Laurel Delaware congregation was required to attend the Stewards of Children training program and pay associated costs.

A third requirement mandated by Delaware included the signing of an affidavit stipulating that Jehovah’s Witness elders must comply with all Delaware statutes involving the reporting of child abuse. Among the itemized requirements, the Coordinator of the Body of Elders, William Perkins, agreed that communications with minors related to matters of abuse would not be treated as “penitential confessions.” This is significant, since attorneys for Jehovah’s Witnesses attempted to claim clergy privilege as their defense for failure to report.

On January 26, 2016, Justice Mary M. Johnston threw out Watchtower’s motion for summary judgment. Johnston pointed out that the elders’ sworn statements suggested that the victim and the perpetrator did not seek out the elders for private confession, which is the basic definition of penitential confession.

The case, formally called the State of Delaware versus Laurel Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Joel Mulchansingh, and William Perkins, was filed November 9th, 2015. It was brought by the Delaware Attorney General’s office following the discovery that 35-Year-old Katheryn Carmean-White had been arrested for engaging in at least 40 incidents of sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old boy. Both were baptized members of the Jehovah’s Witness religion.

Katheryn L. Carmean White
Katheryn L. Carmean-White

Deputy Attorney General Janice Tigani became aware of this case from police reports, which had been filed in 2011. The mother of the 14-year-old victim contacted local authorities. A warrant was issued for Katheryn L. Carmean-White, who was arrested on 10 counts of third-degree rape, continuous sexual abuse of a child and endangering the welfare of a child. Carmean-White is currently incarcerated in the Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution of Delaware, serving a 6-year prison sentence.

Neither William Perkins nor Joel Mulchansingh contacted the police.

Instead, both elders initiated internal Jehovah’s Witness judicial proceedings which resulted in the disfellowshipping of both Carmean-White and her victim. Despite his age, the victim was considered a willing participant in consensual sexual acts. The repetitive nature of these sexual encounters was the foundation for disfellowshipping action by the church.

Delaware Sets the Example

Until now, the national epidemic of child abuse has been brought to light primarily through the efforts of mainstream media and numerous documented civil lawsuits. Such cases have resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements against the Catholic Church and Jehovah’s Witnesses, the religions most notorious for their mishandling of abuse allegations.

While individual states have codified laws penalizing mandated reporters for failure to report child abuse, almost none have brought charges against clergymen, or elders. Tackling religious organizations is often seen as trampling the First Amendment rights of these groups.

According to Deputy Attorney General Tigani, the Delaware case was about to go to trial when Watchtower lawyers opted for a private settlement. In part, the agreement stated:

“WHEREAS this agreement is made solely for the purpose of avoiding the time and expense of further protracted litigation”

Tigani agreed that Watchtower benefitted by conforming to the stipulations of the State of Delaware, in lieu of a protracted public trial. Evidence presented on both sides, including depositions from the two Witness elders, clearly pointed to gross infraction of Delaware law.

The progressive nature of Delaware’s punitive measures for violation of mandatory reporting laws comes on the heels of the worst case of child sexual abuse in United States history. Pediatrician Earl Bradley was sentenced to seven consecutive life terms, plus 165 years in prison for the molestation of hundreds of child patients, whose average age was three. The Bradley case was so egregious that Attorney General Beau Biden abandoned his bid for his father’s vacated Senate seat to funnel all energies into the prosecution of this case.

As Delaware prosecuted and jailed the notorious Bradley, lawmakers began to question how this man could have abused so many children for more than a decade, evading detection and prosecution. In 2010, Governor Jack Markell commissioned the Dean of Widener University Law School, Linda L. Ammons, to investigate what went wrong, and to itemize necessary changes. One key discovery involved the lack of proper reporting of abuse allegations to law enforcement or other state officials. Under the topic “Mandatory Reporters,” Ammons stated:

“It is my finding that no law enforcement agency, health professional or anyone else reported the allegations regarding Dr. Bradley to any administrative or regulatory body in accordance with current Delaware law. “

Pediatrician Earl Bradley Arrested

Families of victims were shocked to discover that allegations against Bradley stemmed back to 1994 in Pennsylvania, where the doctor had completed his residency. Layers of bureaucracy stymied the reporting process. Plausible deniability was contagious, and without enforcement of reporting laws, organizations, members of clergy, and ordinary citizens are without incentive to abide by these statutes. Professor Ammon made numerous recommendations to the Governor of Delaware, including the following:

Increase penalties for violating the mandatory reporting requirements in the Medical Practices Act.”

Delaware agreed. Enforceable penalties were signed into law. Delaware code 914 states:

914 Penalty for violation.  (a) Whoever violates § 903 of this title shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 for the first violation, and not to exceed $50,000 for any subsequent violation.

This code enforcement is not limited to the medical practices field. In fact, every Delaware citizen is expected to report, regardless of their occupation. The Professionals’ Guide to Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect says:

“Professional reporters are often referred to as mandated reporters, although all citizens of Delaware are required to report child abuse and neglect.” [bold, italics ours]

Jehovah’s Witness elders Joel Mulchansingh, and William Perkins were found liable, both as professional mandated reporters, and as citizens of the State of Delaware. The congregation body of elders was also named as a responsible party.

The Settlement

In addition to financial penalties paid, the Laurel Congregation body of elders was required to attend the Stewards of Children training program, an initiative sponsored by the Beau Biden Foundation for the Protection of Children. The Biden foundation is a non-profit organization created in 2015 to further the goals of the late Biden in ensuring that children are afforded every possible protection from predators.

I spoke to a representative of the Stewards of Children program, who confirmed that their educational materials have been sanctioned by courts across the United States on the basis of competent, peer-reviewed research.

The third and final settlement term involved a multi-part affidavit, signed by the Laurel Coordinator of Body of Elders, and distributed to all congregations within the State of Delaware. Terms included:

  • Communications with individual involving acts of abuse shall not be considered as “penitential confessions”
  • Communications with minors involving acts of abuse shall not be considered as “penitential confessions”
  • Elders and the Congregation will comply with the law in accordance with the two items above
  • A copy of the signed and notarized affidavit will be provided by Jehovah’s Witnesses’ attorneys to all congregations within the state of Delaware

While Jehovah’s Witnesses have been forced to comply with the terms of this settlement, there is no evidence to suggest that this organization will participate in mandatory training programs in other states or countries. Currently, Witness policy dictates that the first notification of allegations of child abuse must be made by local elders to the Jehovah’s Witness legal department in Patterson New York. This policy has a profound chilling effect upon justice for victims and protection of the community.

Exterior Sign for Laurel and Seaford Congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses
Exterior Sign for Laurel and Seaford Congregations

Once their legal department advises elders whether they are in a mandatory reporting state or not, the call is handed over to the Service department,  located inside the Witnesses’ Walkill New York compound. These men advise local elders of their internal judicial responsibility, such as whether to disfellowship a minor deemed as a willing participant in sexual acts.

Nowhere in Watchtower literature are victims or others encouraged to immediately contact civil authorities when allegations of abuse become known. By design, Jehovah’s Witnesses are trained to regard local elders as the primary authority, particularly when any sexual contact is discovered between two unmarried persons. 

A Precedent Has Been Set

Delaware’s lawsuit against Jehovah’s Witnesses has broken the barrier which has, until now, protected churches from prosecution for failure to report child abuse.  

In 2006, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s office recommended that charges be filed against Catholic Bishop Daniel Walsh. Walsh failed to file a timely report upon discovery that Catholic Priest Xavier Ochoa sexually abused at least three boys, the youngest being 12. The delay in reporting gave Ochoa the time he needed to escape to Mexico.

According to the San Francisco journal SFGATE:

If prosecutors decide to charge Walsh, the case would appear to mark the first time a U.S. Catholic Church official has faced criminal prosecution for failing to properly report sexual abuse.”

Charges were dropped, however, in lieu of a plea agreement in which Bishop Walsh was required to attend a four-month counseling program.

The State of Delaware did not back down so quickly in its case against Jehovah’s Witnesses, leaving Watchtower attorneys little choice but to settle the case on Delaware’s terms.

Other states may soon follow suit, including Pennsylvania, where police are investigating the abuse of 4-year-old Abby Haugh in 2005. The assault occurred inside the local Kingdom Hall and was reported to congregation elders by the victim’s father, Martin Haugh. Local elders did not contact law enforcement. 

Police are not commenting on this case, as the investigation is currently ongoing.

The terms of the Delaware settlement stipulated that once Jehovah’s Witnesses paid the agreed-upon fines, the State would dismiss civil action with prejudice.  The settlement agreement was obtained by filing a Freedom of Information Act request.

Court Documents:

State of Delaware V Laurel Congregation, with Motion to Dismiss Ruling

Stipulation of Dismissal

Depositions from William Perkins and Joel Mulchansingh

***Final Settlement agreement, with affidavit

Additional Research Documents:

State of Delaware Child Abuse Laws

Delaware Hotline for Reporting Child Abuse

Delaware Professional Guide to Reporting Abuse and Neglect

Mandatory Reporting Requirements for Delaware

How to Identify and Report Child Abuse and Neglect in Delaware

Penalties for Failure to Report Abuse- by State

Commission for Review of Bradley Case

Independent Review of the Earl Brian Bradley Case

Clergy as Mandated Reporters of Child Abuse 

Editor’s Afterthoughts: 

In the course of investigating the Delaware case against Jehovah’s Witnesses, it became apparent that the Witnesses settled for a variety of reasons. Aside from the inability to win the case, this civil matter was in the process of being scheduled for trial. Had the settlement not been reached, a protracted and public trial would have been publicized across Delaware and picked up by media outlets across the U.S.

The monetary fines would not have differed much from the current result, with a maximum penalty of $10,000 per elder (for two elders) along with a $10,000 fine for the collective elder body, resulting in a $30,000 fine, plus court costs and legal fees. The most significant advantage of settling this case with Delaware was the fact that Watchtower was able to pay the fines without admission of guilt.

In the eyes of the public, anyone who reads the court docket for this case will note that the final act of Delaware was to dismiss this case. While dismissal was the net result, it obscures the fact that Watchtower was held accountable for failure to report child abuse. For this reason, I found it necessary to file a Freedom of Information Act request from the State of Delaware, to obtain the documents which prove that Watchtower paid the fines for failure to report, and was forced to agree to compliance with State reporting laws. Additionally, they were required to disperse mandatory reporting materials to all congregations in Delaware.

I hope that the public has a better understanding of what it means when a case is dismissed, and how private, behind-the-scenes settlements often reveal what actually happened.

It is my goal to make such cases transparent, for the benefit of the public.

Mark O’Donnell

I would like to thank the following individuals who were both supportive and informative during the course of my research:

Janice R Tigani, Deputy Attorney General for Delaware

Novene Tate, Case Manager for Justice Johnston

Kim Siegel, FOIA Coordinator for the State of Delaware

Jeffrey Fritz, Attorney, Soloff and Zervanos

Irwin Zalkin, Attorney, Zalkin Law Firm

Michael Rezendez, Boston Globe Spotlight Team

David Gambacorta, Philadelphia Enquirer

Carrie Teegardin, Atlanta Journal Constitution

Professor Marci Hamilton

Natalie Batten, Darkness to Light, Stewards of Children

The JW Survey team

Scrappy, the cat

Mark O'Donnell

Mark O'Donnell is a former Jehovah's Witness turned whistleblower after discovering the disturbing child abuse epidemic within the religion. His story, along with the revelation of a secret database of child molesters were featured in the March 2019 online issue of the Atlantic Magazine: https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2019/03/the-secret-jehovahs-witness-database-of-child-molesters/584311/ O'Donnell continues to investigate allegations of child abuse within the Witness organization, and works with law enforcement, attorneys, and survivors of abuse, writing about his findings on jwsurvey.org and other outlets.

160 thoughts on “Jehovah’s Witness Elders Fined for Failure to Report Child Abuse: Watchtower Settles with Delaware

  • August 1, 2018 at 4:47 pm
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    What about the scripture at lev. 5:1 that states New Living Translation
    “If you are called to testify about something you have seen or that you know about, it is sinful to refuse to testify, and you will be punished for your sin.

    • August 2, 2018 at 2:41 pm
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      you’re not supposed to notice things like that, Happyfading. Oh how churches must pine for the early days when the world was illiterate and they could inflict whatever they chose using that book which is no more than the Google of the day and a fine account of how we thought things worked back then. We did our best to make sense of the world using what little understanding we had at the time using a mixture of what we could see as true and filling the gaps in with pure fantasy. Once the literate and the rulers noticed the power that book had over people by giving them hope of release from the wretched third world misery the world was back then, those poor sheeple were stuffed and belief became mandatory and stayed that way for centuries for lack of an alternative. We now have one.

      • August 2, 2018 at 5:16 pm
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        It’s just so ironic, the witnesses are right about many things, but I have found many scriptures that prove what they believe as incorrect but when you bring it to their attention they just look at you with a blank stare! I think it all comes down to No body or no organization knows everything and the Bible is ambiguous so why do they think they can inforce life altering rules on people!? They need to stop going beyond what is written!!

    • August 16, 2018 at 8:45 am
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      HA. Great find.

  • August 3, 2018 at 5:54 am
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    Happyfading: The WT has always gone beyond what is written. Look at their entire 145 years of existence from 1874 – now. Nothing but rules and more rules, false prophecies one after another, ridiculous changes almost yearly in many cases, flip flopping teachings all the time and demanding each time YOU as a JW must now accept that teaching until further notice. So many things they have done and taught beyond what is written. It gets worse not better. You said they are right about many things? What are they right about? I mean from 1914 teaching to blood transfusions what could they be right about?

    • August 3, 2018 at 9:19 am
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      Well I think that living according to bible principles is the best way of life. Also paradise earth, no trinity, no hellfire, of course that’s open to differing opinions. Also I think most people agree they know the Bible better than almost every other religion, but the problem is imo, is that they interpreted it wrong and claim that they are “spirit directed”, uh …. hum not “inspired”. What kind of double talk is that!!!?

      • August 5, 2018 at 2:59 pm
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        well it’s a funny thing, Happyfading……religion is full of double talk but theres no way to avoid it because the whole bible is full of double talk, so…. garbage in equals garbage out. We’re told the bible is a wonder of cohesion but it’s not and parts of it are just crudely hammered together nonsense that religion now ignores but strangely, will still swear upon everything dear and precious that the whole of the bible, one hundred percent of it, is the immutable word of a wise and loving god and the religious have no choice in this if they want to be seen as true believers. Time and necessity has seen the amount of the bible we actually follow reduced to about ten percent of it’s content with the occasional risky foray back to the other ninety percent when a thin argument needs holding together.
        As in the case of the WT, it will be noticed that the closer the bible is followed, the bigger the mess. The WT likes to keep people too busy to think so they can maintain control over them. A more extreme example of this is Islam, which has those poor saps kneeling with their bums in the air five times a day and controlling most areas of their lives. The WT try to have this amount of control as well but can’t pull it off.
        And speaking of control….religion can dangle a sign in front of a believers face reading – ‘Reason is the Devils Harlot’, and the believer won’t even notice they’re being told that thinking will wake them up and religion will lose control. Religion can hit a believer over the head with a mallet and the only response will be “thank you”.
        To an atheist, christian fundamentalists of all flavors are like a person up on a hypnotists stage running around flapping their arms making chicken noises. Really, it’s that bad and most of the time we make allowances for you but please excuse us if we occasionally can’t stand the sight.

      • August 6, 2018 at 2:53 am
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        Happyfading: Maybe living according to bible principles is the best way of life however that doesn’t mean the JW’s do it better than others or individually anyone can do it they DONT have to belong to the WT to do it. Plus as a JW and myself as x jw Elder we both know more than most people the fallacies in their claim to be such a clean , moral organization. They dont know the bible better than most , they know the WT teaching of it better than most bc they are indoctrinated daily into WT teachings. So as you said the problem is they interpret it wrong? So if they interpret it wrong as you say and I agree then they dont REALLY know the bible do they? I don’t think it is knowing the bible or not knowing it. The Problem is their CONTROL over people and their TREATMENT of the sheep and self serving interest of their own.

        • August 6, 2018 at 1:45 pm
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          Happyfading….If what I wrote sounds like an attack on you, I’m sorry. That wasn’t my intention. Religious fundamentalism and it’s controlling influence was my target.

  • August 6, 2018 at 7:18 pm
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    It’s adorable that so many folks still think this is just a game. If you believe Watchtower’s thinking is isolated and poses no threat to your personal freedom, watch this:

    https://youtu.be/TmjpqD8KabE

    • August 7, 2018 at 8:05 pm
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      I viewed that clip, Resister, and here we have a politician doing exactly what Watchtower and others do and have been doing for centuries in order to impose their will by cherry picking scripture. Jeff Sessions quoted Romans 13.1 which he believes gives gods approval for the separation of children from parents when just along at Romans 13:10 we can read ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.’
      Jeff Sessions clearly demonstrates why the Bishop has always been seated on the right hand side of the King – they have a symbiotic relationship designed to keep the slaves subdued and them in power. When a politician is on the campaign circuit and wants the Christian vote, he just needs to finish the odd sentence with ‘god willing’ a few times and he’s got them. They’re not called sheep for nothing.

  • August 7, 2018 at 6:30 am
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    Failing. Failing is a hallmark of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Watchtower Babble and Tract Society.

    They failed to protect children due to child sex abuse. Failing on several dates. The dates are: 1780, 1798, 1799, 1829, 1840, 1844, 1846, 1873, 1874, 1878, 1880, 1881, 1906, 1910, 1914, 1915, 1917, 1918, 1920, 1921, 1925, 1932, 1935, 1940, 1951, 1975, 1980, 1986, 2000.

    Allowing child kidnapping, parental alienation issues, child abuse, separation of families due to shunning, spotty financial practices, ponzi schemes, privacy issues, bullying, a legal department, workers rights, “this” generation, unethical and immoral practices are all failures that Watchtower faces with no adjustment in sight.

    And, what does the “Governing Body” do about these issues? Absolutely nothing. All they do is talk. And, with the talk is deflection of responsibility. Anthony Morris III is the king of deflection. He has the maturity and brain of a 5th grader. He wants people to see his Bibles in Warwick. The man is abusing the domestics with his erroneous teachings. Anthony Morris III is a failure. He is a relic of the Vietnam War.

    • August 7, 2018 at 5:59 pm
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      What’s this about kidnapping Doc? I’ve seen it mentioned a couple of times but always thought it far fetched.

      • August 13, 2018 at 11:23 am
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        Did you see the Apostasy film? The mother almost abducted the child from the ex-jw daughter. It shows the extent in which Watchtower will go to get their way. It is a must see film.

    • August 16, 2018 at 12:02 pm
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      Doc, since you are saying all those dates are false predictions or whatever could you please give references to what they failed on these dates? I don’t think they were around in 1780,1798,1799, 1829,1840, 1844. What was the significant about 1980, 1986 and 2000. And most of those other dates are when they changed their name etc.

      The brothers were hoping 1975 was a pivotal year but obviously they were wrong.

      What you wrote makes everything you say suspect and disingenuous.

      • August 17, 2018 at 12:08 am
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        Hi Markie, you can read all about dates on JWfacts, there is an article called “changed dates: failed predictions”. Very interesting reading, exaustive article.

        • August 17, 2018 at 11:22 am
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          Makes sense. Go to another website that refers to its self as JW facts. Sure they got all the facts about the Jehovies.

          • August 17, 2018 at 10:40 pm
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            Did you read the article? Jwfact always refers to Wts publications, so it is not self-referring. Otherwise you can go to JWorg and read the white-washed history of the cult. Choose your pick.

          • August 19, 2018 at 11:25 pm
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            Markie, did you read the article? did you find something you don’t agree with or you find not supported by evidence?

          • August 23, 2018 at 4:41 am
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            So Markie, did you find JWfacts as deceitful and self-referring as JW.ORG?

    • August 19, 2018 at 5:19 pm
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      Doc,

      You might as well put every day of every year with their failed predictions. They say at every Memorial “this will be the last one”, every Convention…”the last one”, “it’s so close”, “it’s just around the corner”, “don’t bother with this or that, cause Armageddon is soooo close”.

      They pay out on the Seven Day Adventists for their failed predictions & the “great disappointment”. They are the epitome of great disappointments.

      • August 20, 2018 at 2:16 pm
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        Yep. I agree Gwen. I just put the noteworthy failed dates from Watchtower’s point of view.

  • August 7, 2018 at 11:41 am
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    There you go again, Watchtower. Losing Jehovah’s money. If I lost that type of money, I would be out of a job. That’s reality. Stop being pillowsexual and start following what professionals in the Child Sexual Abuse community have to say. And, just do it.

  • August 8, 2018 at 7:53 am
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    The reference to Ro,13:1 by outandabout reminded
    me of the time when they’d just flipped back ‘again’
    to the superior powers being the civil authorities.

    One brother at the meeting was visibly upset at this
    new/old light, it turned out that when he started
    studying with JWs he was in the army, a taboo
    occupation for a jw, so he needed to get out,

    An interview with his military C,O ensued, in which
    he stated his reason for wanting a discharge i,e,
    he needed to obey the ‘Higher Powers, Jesus &
    Jehovah. His C,O, rightly, pointed out that Ro,13:1
    referred to civil authorities to which he had committed
    when he signed up for the army. So here now was
    this Bro, distraught and disillusioned latest W,T, in his
    hand, all he could say was “My old C,O, was right, I was
    wrong”! So, clearly no divine guidance here, only the
    “Blind leading the blind”.

  • August 8, 2018 at 2:32 pm
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    sure thing, Ted. Ain’t the bible a wonderful thing. Obviously God knew it would be used in this fashion because he knows everything. If a person tried to follow the bible to the letter, there isn’t a country in the world where they wouldn’t be arrested. When people state we should be returning to the bible, does that mean we should be returning to barbarism? When we’ve finally returned back to our barbaric 1st Century state by following the bible to the letter, will the atoms of a Palestinian dead for 2000 yrs suddenly re-assemble themselves to appear before us and rescue us from that barbarism?

  • August 10, 2018 at 6:35 am
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    Failing – The History of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society

    When you were/are in school, you were given written tests on a variety of subjects. If someone got all the questions wrong, they were given an “F” on the test. What did the “F” stand for? Was it for Acing the test or Failing the test? It was for failing.

    So, too, Watchtower keeps getting a variety of tests. They keep answering all the questions wrong. Do we say their imperfect? Or, do we say they failed. Watchtower wants you to believe that getting all the questions wrong is imperfection, not failure.

    We need to start saying Watchtower has failed the test. Watchtower has failed the domestics continually. Are they trying to improve their score? Nope. Watchtower loves failing. Failing is their specialty. How many times have they failed on dates? All the time.

    Child Sexual Abuse? All the time. The 1914 generation teaching? How many times are they in the court room defending their failures? Countless. Do we see a pattern? Stop calling it imperfection. Call it what it is. Failing.

    • August 11, 2018 at 5:03 am
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      The entire history of the WT is one of failure. From dozens of false predictions, to erroneous wrong dates and wrong medical information from Organ transplants, anti vaccine shots, Advising to sit in the sun for hours ( cancer causing ) to blood transfusions,
      Dividing families etc.

  • August 11, 2018 at 5:09 am
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    I always ask my JW apologists friends if the WT is the true ORG than can you show me accurate prophesy they were correct on? Just one is all I ask? One that is without fail undeniably true and proven. They can never come up with one. THe reason is they have none but try to hide behind things like “JESUS” came invisibly in 1914? Or we are preaching the kingdom worldwide. I say yes , you are preaching about a false Kingdom that was NOT set up in 1914 and Jesus did not return in 1914 and the Generation you claimed has passed away and nothing happened. Obviously if you are honest with yourself you must admit the WT is WRONG on everything it teaches.

    • August 12, 2018 at 11:35 pm
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      Actually the prophecy about the rise of another League of Nations proved correct. The beast ‘that was, but is not and is about to rise again’ proved to be right. United Nations rose out of the end of world war II.

      But prophecies about when the end will come will always be false. I could go on but . . .

      • August 13, 2018 at 2:40 am
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        Sarah. Anyone can apply prophecy to anything that fits their agenda in order to fool others. The beast that was but is not and is about to rise again could apply to the power of Rome, first as Roman military power and then the power of the Roman Catholic Church. Or it could apply to the attempts of German domination, first in WW1 and then in WW2.
        It could apply to Watchtower, first by being controlled by individuals and then by being controlled by a Governing Body.

        • August 15, 2018 at 2:50 am
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          Yes, of course. But it’s odd for WT to join an organisation (as an NGO) which is going to go off into destruction.

      • August 15, 2018 at 5:19 am
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        Sara. I thought about what you said about the league of nations that “was” but “IS NOT” and goes off into destruction etc. and that also is very generic and could apply to anything that “was” and became revised but the JW try to use it to their benefit and claim it as a full filled prophecy.
        It also says once it is revised goes off into destruction right? So it has not gone into destruction during the “generation” that would not pass away so this could not be true based on the JW teachings. When I said can the WT show us 1 undeniable prophecy they predicted that has come true I meant not a generic or symbolic item that anyone can claim is the real fulfillment but I meant can they show us a fulfillment such as something accurate with a name, time and a place or event something was going to occur and it did exactly as spoken of by the WT or GB? If the WT had said on Sept 1 2001 the Twin towers of NY will be attacked by Muslim terrorists and it happened I would say these guys have spiritual insight and Jehovah directed them to have this knowledge. They have none of that at all. They talk in generalities an flip flop their teachings. Gog of Magog in now much different than it was just a few years a go, types and anti types eliminated about 400 teachings or more of the JW’s and nobody says a word they just go along with it. What good is a “PROPHECY” if you cannot interpret it ahead of time or if the Identification of the “fulfillment” changes?

  • August 11, 2018 at 11:32 am
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    So many of us have realized that life as a JW is not the spiritual paradise which it is put forward to be. Some of us saw this through the mental and emotional abuse we received by petty self-serving elders. However, when we put it to the elders, even elders who used to be our close friends and who rose up the ranks, that this is not the spiritual paradise which is claimed, we are told that the problem is with us, that for them it is a paradise. When we defend our point, they say that if we aren’t happy we can leave. When the mismatch between reality and what we are told becomes too great to bear that we speak out, then they kick us out.

    When the witnesses are victims of abuse and persecution, they holler loud to any authority they can. When the members are victims of abuse by leadership, the fellow JW’s don’t care.

    Surely the number of victims must reach a tipping point which will effect the organization in some way. Surely sites such as this are having an effect.

    • August 11, 2018 at 8:28 pm
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      Sites like this will be helping, Ricardo, but let’s not forget that Scientology survives on about 60,000 paying members and there will be many completely deluded JW’s who’ll believe and do anything the Governing Body say. All the GB have to do is have ‘new light’ regarding the scripture that enables tithing, inflict it on the remaining million or so and they’re sweet.
      Remember that question in the JW survey – ‘if you discovered your beliefs were false, would you still believe?’, or words to that effect. That wasn’t a trick question. This really happens. Once a belief becomes absolute, that’s it for some people. Even though they hear the question, they don’t. It’s like you’ve asked them “are you willing to die?”

      • August 13, 2018 at 10:34 am
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        Absolutely correct outandabout;

        The “New Light”, regarding tithes, will undoubtably be used to garner more funds for the mental midgets of Warwick. They will be able to use the example of Abraham’s gift to priest/king Melchizedek, which predates the Mosiac Law Covenant, as the example to enact the new tithing arrangement.

        The friends will be coerced into give information on their household earnings and be sent a monthly bill for their contribution payable by check or credit card. Of course, the ‘sheeple’ will follow direction by the faithful slave with little or no protest and will be told that direct payment to the Society is a blessing!

        They could also use the old “temple tax” for upkeep of the Society’s properties both here in the United States and abroad. Fees for touring the world wide H.Q. at Walkill or any overseas branch office could also be initiated.

        In addition, a $ per head seminar fee, that is charged at the one day conventions could easily be applied at the larger 3 day Conventions.

        Will the honest hearted ones pull their heads out from their own arses and see their “Truth” for what it most certainly is; a false, money grubbing cult and man the lifeboats by abandoning this Titanic loser organization of duplicity or will they stay on board and continue to bail it out with teaspoons hoping for a change in circumstances or God’s divine intervention? Those that stay on board will surely founder and will go down with the ship! All salvation and peace is to be found on the lifeboats rowing away from the sinking ship.

    • August 16, 2018 at 6:41 pm
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      Ricardo, news from SEQ, they have merged the Wellington Point Cong with Alex Hills/Capalaba Congo, Wellington Point was down on numbers, no actual KH as they were sharing, but clear cost cutting, i wonder about our Little Cong up here in the Darling Downs, we are shrinking to?

      • August 19, 2018 at 5:27 am
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        Thanks for that info, Whip It. I don’t know anyone from that area, but each closing down of a cong hopefully will wake someone up. Each bit of negative news has a cumulative effect.

  • August 13, 2018 at 9:12 am
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    Regarding Rev,17 – “The Beast and the prostitute”
    W,T, has had to do a lot of tap dancing to avoid events
    shooting them in the foot.
    Up until 1930 they claimed it referred to ‘Pagan Rome and
    The Roman Church, ( A long held Protestant belief ), and
    note that this is 11 years AFTER the League O,N was formed.

    The 1930 W,T publication’ “Light” volume2, now changed step.
    In that book it was now stated that Rev 17:8 was talking about
    “The 1899 Hague International Peace Conference” which
    disappeared with the outbreak of World War1 then popped
    up again as the League of N, ( This was an interpretation that
    had been around via some millenarians for several years before
    W,T, latched on to it.). This version lasted until 1942.

    During World War2 plans were already forming to revive the
    the peace organisation. Knorr in his booklet “Peace can it Last”
    admitted this , in fact 26 nations had already signed up to the
    pact. So it didn’t need a flash of Light from Above to predict
    a re,emerging of of an international peace org, The truth is
    revealed below the surface !

  • August 13, 2018 at 4:26 pm
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    The Borg fleeced all the Congs in the World of the money saved for a refirb, i would imagine Millions grabbed, & no Refirb for us, now they want to upgrade the TV’s in the Hall & guess what, we have to pay for it, well not me anyway, The Sheep are so blind.

  • August 16, 2018 at 6:44 am
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    So much news currently on CNN about the Catholic priests and abuse in Pennsylvania. We need a headline about the org and it’s abuse numbers. What will it take…

    Peace

  • August 17, 2018 at 6:35 am
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    It took me the longest time to figure out where the date 1993 came from. I was active throughout this time and never heard it mentioned. In time I was told that it was a Harold Camping date, Camping never having had any JW connection at all that I know of.

    Still, I think many of them do, if you but go back far enough. Precious few rejected the Trinity, or ‘turned the hose on hell to put out the fire,’ as Russell did. There were those who broke ranks from his time or shortly after, but still expounded on the basic framework.

    Predicting the end is great stuff, a fine passtime. I recommend it.

    http://www.tomsheepandgoats.com/2011/05/how-to-predict-the-end-of-the-world.html

  • August 21, 2018 at 12:06 am
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    When one no longer wants to be a JDevil-u, they are to be shunned by all former JDevil-u associates. Even their own family is forbidden from communicating with such “apostates.” So why is it acceptable to continue having business dealings with such ones? Why is that the exception? How does that jibe with the apostle Paul’s clear counsel to “not even utter a greeting to such a man”? Is Jehovah not supposed to take care of his servants? Even to the point of risking losing one’s job in order to make it to a convention, field service, etc.?

    It is clear that the Almighty Dollar takes precedence over the will of Jehovah.

    • August 21, 2018 at 4:45 pm
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      When you realize that scriptures actually teach since Christ no individual or any collective group of individuals is to be followed religiously, that is followed as a condition to following God, then you start to realize that much, and maybe even most, of what those types of people and groups teach doesn’t jive with scripture. See John 10:5.The Papacy, the WT, and all groups like them left scripture back when, or even before, they started ordering people to do and believe what they wanted them to do and believe. Once taking that position they were too far removed from scripture to come back and make their teachings and ways mesh with scripture. In that fog and trying to make their teachings mesh with scripture their teachings often became contradictory.

      Logically it seems they’d see the huge difference between the way they approach people and how Christ approached people. CHRIST requested and pleaded where they demand. But it has not been given them to see that difference. They cannot see it. Not seeing it they cannot make their teachings make sense even with their own unscriptural teachings. So, they resort to fear, intimidation, and tactics like that if someone resists their teachings.

      • August 22, 2018 at 7:40 am
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        Anyone can become the kind of difficult prick who knows how to resist intimidation tactics.
        From “SAS Interrogation Resistance”:
        9:45- “A lot of people have this imagination that they’ll be tortured all the time. That’s not the case. Even if you control the physical, you still don’t control the man. If you control his mind, then you have him.”
        HA HA bloody HA!!!

  • August 22, 2018 at 10:50 am
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    Man, I would have such fun, and opportunities for profit, if I just went around claiming to be “directed” by the Creator of the Universe, and that when I died I would fly up to heaven to help Him rule the universe. Anybody who still believes that sh-t really needs to have their head examined.
    So the Dope apologized for yet more child abuse in the Cathodick Church. Bully for him. Too bad he never mentioned Watchtower or FLDS. And what’s with that stupid Popemobile? Isn’t he supposed to be God’s Sales Rep? Why the need for bulletproof glass, etc? If God wanted the Dope dead, he’d be dead. If He wanted him alive, He’d protect him. Stopping a lil’ ol’ bullet wouldn’t be such a big deal for Someone who parted the Red Sea.
    And why do the Governing Buttheads of Jehovah’s Witlesses need to beg little kids for their ice-cream money? As an earlier poster pointed out, is the J-Dog not supposed to take care of his servants? Does he not adorn the lilies of the field superabundantly? Does he not know when the tiniest sparrow falls? Okay, Governing Bullies, I know it’s expensive to run a lakeside resort, eat the best food & wine, and prance around in Armani suits, but the labor is FREE, no? Please stop harassing the children. Let them enjoy their ice cream. To misquote Pink Floyd, “Hey, Jehovie, leave those kids alone!” And change your name to The Watchower Society of Privileged Old Senile Perverts. That’s more appropriate for spineless subhuman degenerate maggots like yourselves. Overblown Glorified Window Washers with no Real-World skills, unless you count selling snake oil. You should all be working for Donald Trump. Oh, I forgot, you already are. Thanx for nothing, you illiterate douchebags.
    P.S. There is a special place in Hell being prepared for the likes of you (and your lovely wives). The coals are being lovingly raked as we speak.
    P.P.S. I need my windows cleaned. What do you guys charge? LMFAO

  • August 23, 2018 at 9:16 am
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    Religion has been under scrutiny for abuses that have been uncovered. Religion seems to think that they should not have any restrictions. They often blame the media (a.k.a the press). Or, the religions tell their people that the news is not trustworthy, or fake news.

    The issue is that religions feel that the only bill of right that matters to everyone is their right to freedom of religion. However, misguided that philosophy is, it is not accurate.

    The First Amendment gives people 5 freedoms. Yes, Freedom of Religion is but just one of the five. The other Freedoms are the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to peaceably assemble, and freedom to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

    Yes, religion may be the first, but does not supersede the other bill of rights. In actuality, the Bill of Rights is a form of check-and-balances in its own right. The press, or media, makes sure that things get brought up that need people’s attention. If we did not have the press, religion’s could do absolutely nothing wrong and do whatever they want. But, as we have seen, the press shines a spotlight on them for their wrong course.

    The press also uncovers various other items as well. They force institutions to be proper, or face the consequences. The press, also needs to be fact checked. Editors and owners of the press, or media, also make sure journalistic integrity is at an all time high. If not, press companies often suspend or terminate individuals that do not have journalistic integrity.

    The freedom of speech is protected as well. Protests for various society issues is protected under the First Amendment. Therefore, people can, if they want, protest against any institution for any grievances.

    • August 23, 2018 at 10:34 am
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      “The press, also needs to be fact checked. Editors and owners of the press, or media, also make sure journalistic integrity is at an all time high. If not, press companies often suspend or terminate individuals that do not have journalistic integrity.”

      They fact-check in the light of their own existing biases, which is not exactly the same as fact-checking.

      It is not religion exclusively that is under attack. It is organization of anything that represents thinking outside of the box that is under attack, as though no bad things happen unless people have organized. The greater goal, I believe, it to promote a universal way of thinking, cultivating and encouraging differences in superflouus matters, but demanding conformity in matters that count.

      • August 23, 2018 at 12:44 pm
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        I believe all institutions and people have to have checks and balances in place. I am a firm believer in The Lord Acton’s words: “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Watchtower believes the First Amendment gives them absolute power. Today we are seeing the effects of giving religion “the free exercise thereof” clause. They claim that means that religion has absolute power.

        • August 23, 2018 at 5:56 pm
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          I want to “like” your comment

  • August 23, 2018 at 9:40 pm
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    Suppose I asked you to build me a house, using your tools, your materials, your money, your time and energy. We signed no contract, there would be no remuneration. Only this- a promise that, when you were done, I would give you something amazing. Not even the most brain-dead idiot on earth would accept a deal like that. Yet, that is exactly the deal every religion on earth expects you to happily accept. No contract. Your time. Your energy. Your money. Your whole life spent praying, following crazy rules, feeling guilty, being told you’re unworthy, commuting back and forth to weekly assemblies at your particular place of worship, brainwashing your own offspring, singing hymns that sound like nails on a chalkboard. And for what exactly? A promise of something amazing. Interestingly, no holy scroll on earth elaborates on life in Heaven/Paradise to even the minutest degree. Only that it will be ‘amazing’. How so? What exactly will I be doing from 9-5? Sitting on a cloud, playing a harp? For eternity? Sounds boring. What about Watchtower’s vision? An eternal picnic, rolling around with baby pandas. Even worse. “Oh, but we’ll visit, and have nice chats over dinner.” Hot Flash, Walter Kronkite: We do that now. How about if I blow myself up for Allah, get to Heaven, and receive my 72 female virgins all gift-wrapped and ready to go? Great, unless I’m gay. What if Paradise means I can ride horses all day, or own a fleet of Maserati’s or Lamborghini’s? Again, great, unless I don’t like horses or have no interest in cars. Then there’s those idiots who think Heaven will be an eternal Buffet. You get up in the morning, head down to the trough, and spend the next 8-10 hours stuffing your cakehole without putting on a pound. Sounds okay in theory, unless you’re not too keen on spending eternity around a bunch of disgusting gluttons. Some claim, during a near death experience, they were briefly taken to Heaven. Oh, the golden palaces, the diamond gates, the ruby walkways. So what? What do we do, sit and stare at a diamond castle for all eternity? Sure, Paradise might be awesome for the first 5 minutes. A visit to the dentist is great for the first 5 minutes. I want to know what I’ll be feeling 6 months down the line. Or 6 years. Or 6 million years. Sitting on a cloud playing a harp just won’t cut it. It’s like those people who claim they would volunteer for a one way trip to Mars. Really? Have you thought that one through, guys? The fact is, Man has always thrived on challenge. Take that away from him, and he becomes a marshmallow. Just like the Eloi in H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine. There have been many, many opportunities for mankind to simply bug out, throw in the towel, quit. Yet, they pressed on, against all odds, out of sheer bloody-mindedness, just to prove they could, to defy the odds, Nature, even the Universe. Just to raise their fists and shout “F*** you!” No, we were not made to lounge comfortably in a gilded cage like some animal in a petting zoo. If that was the case, this planet would be a very different place. If you can’t be happy here, you won’t be happy anywhere, diamond castles notwithstanding.

  • August 31, 2018 at 12:32 pm
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    Testing

  • September 1, 2018 at 11:42 pm
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    My mother informed the elders of mental, physical, and sexual abuse within our household by my father about 50 years ago. Elders informed her to stay, pray, and keep family together to prevent shame on Jehovah versus protection for us. I was recently led by Jehovah back to local congregation in another state to share my well forgotten past and recent revelation of Jehovah’s continued guidiance and protection over my life. Brothers quickly acknowledged, that we always belong to Jehovah, regardless of the many decades away. I informed brothers of my early childhood relationship with Jehovah which still continues, past abuse history, and requested a meeting with the SACRED governing body. I was quickly judged, labeled a liar, denied acknowledgement of my continued relationship and guidance by Jehovah versus ever acknowledging my childhood pains. Jehovah, my God is not HEARTLESS and that CULT needs to detach from my heavenly father’s name and stop robbing children of their childhood and their futures. Because Jehovah said so, I will with his continued guidance and protection! Amen!

  • September 3, 2018 at 2:42 am
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    I’m truly hurt by what these victims have had to endure for I was a victim of sexual abuse for many years as a child. My sister had also been raped at the age of five by a cousin who now happens to be an elder. How I ended up commiting to this damned religion a decade later is beyond me. I’m so thankful for this article shining light on the disgusting practice and cover up by JW elders and bringing partial justice for the victims of these horrific crimes.

  • September 3, 2018 at 3:13 am
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    The only “god” the watchtower cult works for is SHAITAN.

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