Children at prayer, Author Richard Masoner / Cyclelicious, Source https://www.flickr.com/photos/99247795@N00/3750019119 (CC BY-SA 2. 0 Generic)
The Catholic Church sex scandal is well-known. Tragically, it is not isolated.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses
The Jehovah’s Witnesses – considered a cult by mainstream Christian denominations for their failure to recognize the full divinity of Christ – maintain what is believed to be the world’s largest database of undocumented child molesters [1][2][3].
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the non-profit which oversees the more than 8 million Witnesses, has repeatedly refused to comply with Court orders to release that database.
The Watchtower’s Office of Public Information indicates that its policies on child protection comply with the law. Barring a confession, however, no member can be formally accused of committing a sin without two credible witnesses. Of course, sexual abuse is not generally a public event.
When child molestation is uncovered, the Witnesses do not routinely notify police [4].
Substantial jury verdicts have been handed down against this religious organization.
The Amish and Mennonites
Investigation into sexual abuse among Amish and Mennonite communities has revealed abuse as “an open secret spanning generations” [5]. At least 52 cases have come to light in the past 20 years, across seven states. But that number does not reflect the true scope of the problem.
Victims who report rape and incest may be sent to “mental health” facilities or threatened with excommunication. Continue reading
ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse 