silentlambs,
inc.
PUBLIC
AFFAIRS OFFICE
For
Immediate Release
September
19, 2001
William
H. Bowen returned from the
United Kingdom
on
9-18-02
. He attended a conference of
forty former and current Jehovah’s Witnesses spoke about child abuse and its
affect on the organization. Video was shown that had never been seen in
England
concerning media coverage and interviews with victims from around the world
who had been hurt by Jehovah’s Witness policies on handling child abuse.
On Monday at
10:30 am
, Bowen traveled to
London
and delivered a proclamation inviting participation in the silentlambs march
to be held in
Brooklyn
,
NY
on the 27th later this month, along with a stuffed silent lamb as a
symbol for molested children to the home office of Jehovah’s Witnesses in
the
UK
. A spokesman at the gate
politely declined the requested meeting with a letter from the branch
committee and said we would have to come back later to reschedule another
appointment by telephone or letter. In
the enclosed letter the Branch Committee declined any meeting saying they felt
current policy was in no need of adjustment.
Later
that afternoon Bowen met with Ester Rantzen, the
founder of Childline.
Childline is a nationwide service in the
UK
that provides a hotline to assist children in distress.
Ms. Rantzen has worked in media for several
years hosting television programs to assist those in need.
Her current program is considered the number one talk show in England
and frequently addresses issues of the day similar to Oprah here in the USA.
Childline is found on the internet at www.childline.org.uk
If
you would like to view pictures of the visit to
UK
you may do so at:
http://community.webshots.com/album/50410357EOsntJ
silentlambs,
inc,
PO
Box 311
,
Calvert
City
,
Kentucky
42029
USA
.
Contact:
William H. Bowen
Telephone:
270-527-5350 Fax: 270-527-5351
Hotline
for Jehovah’s Witness victims of abuse
1-877-WTABUSE
silentlambs
PO
BOX
311
,
Calvert
City
,
KY
42029
September
10, 2002
Branch
Committee
Watchtower
The
Ridgeway
London
,
U.K.
NW7 1RN
Dear
Brothers,
I wish to request a meeting with the Branch Committee on September 16,
at
11A.M.
to discuss Watchtower Policy on child abuse in the
U.K.
I also would like to see how we
might work together to assist the Governing Body in the
U.S.A.
to adjust policy for better protection of Jehovah’s Witness children.
I
realize this is short notice but I am traveling several thousand miles to be
in your area and feel our meeting could be very productive.
Below
as you will note are the added sentences that did not appear in the letter to
all congregations in the
U.S.A.
dated
5-24-02
. It has given many of our
American brothers and sisters pause to see the difference between these two
letters. The U. K. letter seems
to go one step further than the
U.S.A.
counterpart. It states:
“Our
position is that the secular authorities deal with crime while elders deal
with sin. To avoid a miscarriage of justice elders
must not interfere with, prevent, or impede any secular investigation into
child abuse. They must ensure that secular laws are adhered to.” (Romans
13:1)
“To
that end they are instructed to contact the legal dept at
Bethel
whenever they receive information from even one person who alleges that child
abuse has occurred. When a report is received guidance is given by the legal
dept to ensure that:
1.
The
alleged victim and other potential victims are protected from possible abuse.
2.
The
council is given to report crime to the proper authorities and to comply with
any additional “legal requirements.”
The
elders know that it is the absolute right of the victim, his or her family or
anyone else to report the matter to the authorities, if they so wish.”
(Galatians 6:5)
This difference gives credence to the following questions:
1. Why are U. K. brothers and sisters informed that all child abuse is
reported to the authorities when in the
U.S.A.
they are not?
2. Why did the recent Panorama program in July, have several cases that
indicated exactly the opposite occurred when U. K. Jehovah’s Witness
children were molested?
Page-2
3. Why has there been no acknowledgement or apology to the victims who
were hurt by Watchtower Policy?
4.
Why did various police officials acknowledge that Jehovah’s Witnesses did
not cooperate with them when child molestation was investigated in the U. K.?
Questions like these deserve an honest and Christian answer to help the
public know where the truth lay. It
also serves to help fellow Jehovah’s Witnesses see that the local Branch has
nothing to hide and is willing to do what is right by their children.
In
good faith I look forward to our meeting.
As the Governing Body stated in the
5-24-02
letter to all congregations; “The
moral cleanness of the congregation continues to be of vital concern to the
"faithful and discreet slave.” (Matthew 24:45)
This gives me
hope we can find a productive basis to encourage the Governing
Body to take the Christian course by placing the protection of our children as
the highest priority in a religion that claims to be the only channel to God.
Thank you for your consideration and along with this letter goes my warm
Christian love.
Very
truly yours,
William
H. Bowen
silentlambs
RESPO
NSE:
WATCH
TOWER
BIBLE
AND TRACT SOCIETY OF
BRITAIN
THE
RIDGEWAY
LONDON
NW7
1RN
TELEPHONE
020 8906 2211
September 11, 2002
Mr.
W. Bowen
P
O Box
311
CALVERT
CITY
KY
42029
Dear
Mr. Bowen:
We are receipt of your letter dated
September 14, 2002
requesting a meeting with
the branch committee in
Britain
.
The branch committee respectfully declines your offer to meet with
them. They see no reason to discuss the questions you raise in your
correspondence. The position of Jehovah's Witnesses on this serious issue is
already a matter of public record. Our publications have consistently and
clearly highlighted for many years that child abuse is an abhorrent and an
unacceptable practice. We
strongly believe victims need and deserve sympathy along with loving personal
support and are already committed to doing what we can to render such
assistance.
Yours sincerely,
Watch
Tower
B. & T. Society
O
F B R
I T A I N
Company
registered In England No. 3858051•
Charity Reg. No. 1077061.
Registered
Office:
IBSA House
The Ridgeway London NW7 1RN
United
Kingdom