How can you understand the ‘nature and adequacy of current child protection’ within the Jehovah’s Witnesses, if you do not know how many children have been failed by them?
IICSA (Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse) has the statutory power to request a full data set in relation to records held on child sexual abuse within the Jehovah’s Witnesses, in fact it states on it’s website it has a ‘unique authority to compel both witnesses and any material we feel is necessary in order to investigate where institutions have let children down in the past.’ Why have they not used this ‘unique authority‘ in this way to request the full data and what is the importance of getting the full data set?
I examine below why the full data set is crucial.
But, before I do that, fellow ex-JW, Jill Owens, and another lady who wishes to remain anonymous AKA ‘Nesbo’ have started a petition and written an open letter to IICSA, to compel them to request the full data set from the Jehovah’s Witnesses. You can find our video discussion with Lloyd Evans, the episode “#GettheData – A Call to Action’ at the bottom of this post.
Please give your support to the petition Petition on Change.org
Open letter with more information about the reasons behind the petition Open Letter
Also, here is a link to an article about Jehovah’s Witnesses, child sexual abuse and their database of abusers, published in 2019. It’s a long read, but worth it! The atlantic.com – Jehovah’s Witnesses Secret Database
So, why is the full set of data so important?
As part of the output from the Truth Project, Jehovah’s Witnesses were ranked 3rd highest in terms of the amount of reports of child sexual abuse made to them, within England and Wales. Following the Church of England and Catholic religions.
Third highest!! This is staggering when you think of the relative size of those religions in comparison.
Given the insular nature and discouraging of reporting outside of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, I suspect their numbers are, in truth, much higher. But the fear and potential consequences victims/survivors face within that religion for reporting outside of their strict self imposed policies, means we may never understand the true extent of the problem. So why isn’t this opportunity being seized to uncover the full magnitude of child sexual abuse within their community?
When the CCJWs (Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses) submitted their evidence to the Public Hearing into Child Sexual Abuse within Religious Organisations and Settings earlier this year, they disclosed a set of data in relation to allegations of child sexual abuse within its ranks. They reported 67 instances or allegations within England and Wales during the time period 2009-2019. A further 52 reports were also received during the same time frame, that related to child sexual abuse that predated 2009. So, in total during those 10 years, 119 reports of child sexual abuse were received.
There are a number of issues with this data set, the criteria of which is set by IICSA. It is only allegations against either an elder or a ministerial servant, or that took place within a place of worship from 2009-2019. This is a very narrow subset of data, that we know the Jehovah’s Witness Organisation holds in relation to child sexual abuse.
Whilst 67 allegations, or 119 in total, is enough to prove institutional child sexual abuse, is it enough to show the real extent of the problem of child sexual abuse within the Jehovah’s Witnesses? The 67 reports roughly equate to one report almost every 2 months over that 10 year period. For the total number of reports, 119, it works out to a report of chid sexual abuse every month over those 10 years. Why wasn’t the full data set, that we know they hold, released or examined as part of the inquiry, in the same way it was for C of E (Anglican) and the Catholic Religion investigations? Surely, the religion that is placed 3rd highest in terms of instances of child sexual abuse reports, a religion that claims to abhor child sexual abuse, should also be subject to the same scrutiny? Why does there appear to be an unwillingness to understand the level and scope of the failings with regard to handling of child sexual abuse cases?
The IICSA website states they investigate serious concerns through impartial investigation. Is this approach impartial or is it safe? How can you understand the ‘nature and adequacy of current child protection’ within the Jehovah’s Witnesses, if you do not know how many children have been failed by them? This may well be a resource issue, but, like me, there are many people out there who would volunteer their time.
Leaving out the timeframe for a moment, the 8 years of abuse that I went through, was neither carried out by a serving elder or ministerial servant at the time, he later went on to be both. Neither did the abuse ever happen within the confines of what is defined as a place of worship. How many other instances of child sexual abuse within the Jehovah’s Witnesses falls outside this narrow set of criteria? Instances that we know are recorded by the Jehovah’s Witnesses, in fact they have a database that contains this information. Do these other victims not matter, because they fall outside of criteria that IICSA itself defined? How many abusers is this shielding?
Child sexual abuse, is in nature, is inherently hidden, so why is this being perpetuated, by not uncovering all the data that is held? This is, in effect, allowing the Jehovah’s Witnesses to continue with their insular, hidden and secret ways of dealing with child sexual abuse. The last thing we want is to enable them to continue doing so. What kind of message is this sending?
We also have seen first hand the tactics the Jehovah’s Witnesses have used even under oath to obfuscate, avoid and disguise what truly goes on. Not to mention the lengths they went to in an attempt to discredit and have a core participant removed from the inquiry. You really do have to ask yourselves, why are they so scared and what are they hiding? They do, after all, publicly claim to ‘abhor child sexual abuse’. Are these the actions of an Organisation that makes such claims?
You also have to question why the CCJWs are holding the data in the first place if they don’t even report it to the appropriate authorities? They apparently feel that it has some value to record and retain this data and share it amongst themselves, yet they do not believe it of any significance to bring any justice for these crimes, or further protect anyone from harm. Is that really a loving act? Or is it the same ‘loving provision’ they use to justify why they shun former members? It does nothing but send the message that they shield chid abusers, protect them from criminal prosecution, hush victims and survivors and try and gloss over the fact that there really is a significant issue with child sexual abuse within their organisation. They protect the reputation of their organisation over protecting their most vulnerable.
Yet, the Jehovah’s Witness Organisation continue to claim they ‘abhor child sexual abuse’! At the same time offering no public apology to victims or survivors, when at least 2 chances to offer such an apology, presented themselves at the public hearing. Let them stand by these public outcries of abhorrence and release all the data they hold relating to this.
From their very own teachings, they believe their god will destroy those who publicly claim one thing, yet go on to do detestable things. Why then, are they not practicing what they preach? Why are they making public claims, yet no action to back them up? Empty words and false claims.
‘There is peace! There is peace! When there is no peace! Do they feel ashamed of the detestable things they have done? They feel no shame at all! They do not even know how to feel humiliated! So they will fall among the fallen. When I bring punishment on them they will stumble,” says Jehovah.
Jeremiah 6v14-15 New World Translation
Their teachings aside, for a moment, what about the victims and survivors getting the specialised help that they need? Rather than being told to ‘leave it in Jehovah’s hand’ or be given scriptural counsel from unqualified men. I can assure you, first hand, that neither of those things help to heal the devastation that being sexually abused as a child brings. These victims must be heard!
Knowing what it is like to be a victim of chid sexual abuse within the culture and practices of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, I know that if a victim has had the courage to come forward, it will have only been addressed by the elders within their congregation. Unqualified men, believing their actions and decisions are directed by gods holy spirit; they don’t believe their actions or practices are wrong because they have been personally directed by god. This is deluded and dangerous in its own right! The extent of how many reports internally continues to be hidden, and the ongoing risk to children remains significantly high when the allegations are not formally reported or dealt with by people specifically trained for handling such matters.
When we look at the Australian Royal Commission (ARC) report into child sexual abuse within the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Records of over 1000 abusers and over 1800 victims were released, dating from 1950 – 2015, as part of this investigation. This not only shows they keep meticulous records dating back years, but also that their policies and practices in handling child sexual abuse are allowing abusers to remain hidden and victims and survivors to not get the help or support that need. More staggeringly, it shows the child sexual abuse within that religion is endemic.
For England and Wales, 67, or 119, is not even scratching the surface, based on the narrow set of criteria the data is based on and what ARC has revealed. What about all the other unheard voices? What about the abusers that remain within the rank and file posing as a continued threat, not only within their own community but society in general? Keeping the data hidden is effectively keeping the abuse hidden, and sending the message to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, that this is ok!
This is not ok and it will never be ok!
If IICSA really want to carry out an impartial investigation and exercise its ‘unique authority‘ then it needs to show the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and any other religion for that matter, that is is NOT acceptable to continue their secretive and harmful practices. They must reveal the true extent of the child sexual abuse problem, and not be allowed to keep this data hidden. Why we are even having this conversation in 2020, really baffles me!
The Jehovah’s Witnesses failed me, like they have failed many others. This has to STOP! Let them stand up to their claims of ‘abhorrence’. We need to get the full data and expose the full extent of the child sexual abuse problem within the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The full data is there for the taking, IICSA, please use your ‘unique authority’ to gain access to it! Please show victims and survivors that you care, and that harmful practices in dealing with child sexual abuse, such as within the Jehovah’s Witnesses, really and truly are abhorrent, in the same way they claim that it is! Break the cycle!
If you feel strongly about this issue, please help us by signing the petition to implore IICSA to request the full data. The petition and open letter, organised by Jill Owens and ‘Nesbo’, you can find Jill on twitter, Jill Owens on Twitter .
You can find the petition here Petition on Change.org
Open letter with more information about the reasons behind the petition Open Letter
Also, here is a link to an article about Jehovah’s Witnesses, child sexual abuse and their database of abusers, published in 2019. It’s a long read, but worth it! The atlantic.com – Jehovah’s Witnesses Secret Database
Myself, Jill and ‘Nesbo’ as she is known, joined Lloyd Evans on his channel for the episode ‘#GettheData – A Call to Action’ to discuss the issue. You can view the show below.
I think you get to the heart of this, Sarah. How can IICSA not take the opportunity to obtain the Jehovah’s Witnesses data? How can IICSA be free to say it has made a comprehensive investigation into child sexual abuse if it enables the silencing of potentially thousands of victims?
Heartfelt and compelling. Thank you Sarah for getting to the core of the issue: IICSA’s terms of reference for its inquiry are far too limited and, as your own experience shows, falls short of being part of their inquiry simply because it included a non-Ministerial Servant and non-elder and did not occur in Kingdom Hall premises.
Abuse within institutions covers far more venues than those stipulated by the inquiry!
A couple of points that caught my eye that I’d like to comment on (neither of which detracts from your account):
Your offering to volunteer to go through any further cases in the event that ICCSA summons the full JW database is well intentioned but likely not permissible. Those taking part in the investigation must not be have a ‘vested interest’ in outcomes but be duly qualified persons who are accountable professionally to ICCSA.
Besides if volunteers were allowed to help, relevant parties could allege outcomes were compromised by the volunteer element.
As regards your describing the elders as unqualified, JWs will immediately argue elders ARE qualified men and appointed to their positions as elders by their organization.
In my view, more accurate words to describe JW elders are “untrained” and “unaccountable” to professional bodies (police, survivor support agencies, law courts, etc) who each have codes of conduct and specialised evidence-based training to handle the complexities of investigating allegations of child sexual abuse. Elders are simply untrained me who are accountable to the GB who make up their own policies and are not interested in evidence-based practices.
My feedback aside, yours is one of the most compelling arguments calling for ICCSA to expand its terms of inquiry. Thank you so much.
Hi Rody – thanks for taking the time to comment. I note your points. With regard my comment on volunteering, it was more to show that for those of us who this matter deeply impacts or who are passionate about this issue, would jump at the chance to help get to the bottom of it. I completely understand the workings and requirements for such an inquiry, and the involvement that anyone has as part of that. It was more to demonstrate a point.
Also, I take on board your points in relation to elders. However, my remarks on them being unqualified is specifically in relation to handling child sexual abuse, for which they are unqualified to deal with appropriately. You only have to see the direction from the Elders manual to draw this conclusion, specifically in supporting the child who has been abused along with supporting close family members/carers. This is more likely due to lack of specialist training in these matters, strong belief that their counsel and any action is directed by god (blind confidence if you will) and of course, accountability to only the GB. They may well be qualified to deal with spiritual matters, in the intricacies and impact of CSA, they are not.
It is always good to get feedback 🙂 I appreciate you taking the time to read my piece, and that it compelled you enough to comment. Thank you.