Monday, January 28

Contact:
Laura Barrett 314-645-5915 w 314-443-5915 cell
William H. Bowen at: 270-527-5350, www.silentlambs.org
Jeff Anderson (attorney) 651-227-9990, 612-817-8665
Timothy Kosnoff (attorney) 425-637-3070
David Clohessy 314-869-7436 ext. 2426, 314-903-3498 pager

More Sexual Abuse Suits Against Jehovah's Witnesses Will Follow, Predicts Ex-Church Elder & Legal Expert

Denomination On "The Edge
Of A Crisis," Says Long Time Witness

New Support Group for Molestation Victims Forms

A federal civil sexual abuse lawsuit filed last week in Spokane , Washington against the Brooklyn-based Jehovah's Witness organization is "just the tip of the iceberg," according to the leader of a new nationwide support group for church members who have been abused by Jehovah Witness members and leaders. A plaintiff's attorney who has represented more than 400 people who were molested by clergy agrees.

Dozens more victims of other abusive church leaders may file similar suits, they predict.

Last Tuesday, a 23 year old Sacramento woman, Erica R odriguez, sued the Jehovah's Witness minister who repeatedly abused her and the New York-based denomination which "routinely" gives pedophiles "sanctuary, protection, sympathy and support," the suit claims. Manuel Beliz of the Othello Washington Spanish Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses was convicted of raping and molesting Rodriguez during her childhood and sentenced to 11 years in prison.
          
The case is significant because it is one of a relatively small number filed against the Jehovah's Witnesses' national headquarters.

One of Rodriguez' attorney’s in the case, Jeffrey Anderson of St. Paul Minnesota, has filed more sexual abuse suits against religious bodies than any other legal expert. "In my experience over the last 20 years, a handful of brave victims step forward in any denomination. Then, others who are hurting become inspired to seek healing too," he said.

"Our denomination is now where the Catholic Church was 20 years ago - right on the edge of a crisis," said William H. Bowen of Calvert City , Kentucky . A former church elder in his local congregation and a Jehovah's Witness for 43 years, Bowen now heads "silentlambs," a new national self-help group for men and women molested by Jehovah's Witness members. (www.silentlambs.org, 1-877-WTABUSE) He resigned as Presiding Overseer last year to support victims and push the denomination's leaders to respond more sympathetically to abuse victims and turn over alleged molesters to the criminal justice system.

"In just a few months, with a shoestring budget and a volunteer staff, our group has been contacted by nearly 1,000 Witnesses and former Witnesses who have been raped or molested by church members," Bowen claimed. The alleged victims range in age from 2 to 15 from Maine to California and several foreign countries.

Repressive and insular church policies, a rigid hierarchy and a strong emphasis on obeying church authorities combine to "trap victims in a cult of silence," Bowen believes. Members of other faith groups who are abused are more apt to speak up and consult attorneys or turn to police, he feels.

"Both formally and informally, Witnesses are taught to take all matters, especially controversial matters, to church leaders, and to avoid bringing shame on the church," said Barbara Anderson, another leader in "silentlambs." Anderson served for 10 years at " Bethel ," the Brooklyn New York headquarters of the denomination. Like Bowen, she became disillusioned after being assigned as a researcher on how church leaders handled abuse accusations.


But that "cult of silence" is slowly changing, she believes. "More and more Witnesses realize that exposing sexual crimes is God's will. They recognize that getting rid of molesters is healthy for the church." Witnesses are "encouraged, even inspired" by the example of victims in Catholic and Protestant denominations who have sued their perpetrators with increasing success in recent years, she said.

"We find that the more conservative and controlling a church group is, the harder it is for someone who has been victimized to come forward," said attorney Timothy Kosnoff of Bellevue Washington . Kosnoff also represents Rodriguez and has handled sexual abuse claims against other religious organizations.

"That's why having a support group is so helpful, and that's why getting the police or a therapist or any outside professional involved is critical," he said.

While the Jehovah's Witnesses headquarters maintains extensive internal files on accused molesters within the church, they refuse to make public this information. In many cases, they do not report the crime to police, Bowen said.  As a result, no solid figures exist on the number of Jehovah's Witnesses who have been accused of sexual molestation.

"Whatever that number is, you can be sure it's going to start growing quickly and dramatically," said Bowen. "Victims are starting to discover that the church can no longer bully them into silence."

The denomination has one million members in the United States and six million across the world.

Please offer comments to the NY post article click the URL above and follow the instructions below. This is very important as it will open the way for future press and interest, so if you can, follow through asap and send in your comments.

http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/letters/letters_editor.htm

Thanks,

Bill

 

 

Suggestions on Writing Letters to the Editor

Be brief, be quick and leave your phone numbers. These are the three most important things to remember when writing letters to the editor.

Be brief, because there's a lot of competition for a small amount of space. 

Be quick in writing because the best letter in the world won't get run if the news paper gets it 3 or 4 weeks after the original article it refers to was printed.  And leave your home and work phone number on your letter. Many papers won't print letters unless they can call the author to verify that he or she wrote it.

Other tips:
1)  Use statistics sparingly. They can get confusing and overwhelming very quickly.

2)  Mention an article already printed by the paper. This dramatically increases the chances that your letter will be run.

3)  Remember your audience.  In most cases you're trying to sway the public, not your adversary.  Therefore, you should take pains to seem moderate and fair.  This doesn't mean you should be bland. But you should write with the average person in mind, and use phrases and arguments that resonate with them. You don't want John Q. Public to be turned off your rhetoric and think, "Well, both sides are extremists" (as often happens with the abortion issue for example).

4)  A catchy first line is helpful.  Instead of "I'm writing to respond to the Star Tribune editorial of August 3rd’" try "As a gun owner, the August 3rd editorial left me wondering if Star Tribune editorial writers live in the real world."

5)  Don't mention criticism that has been leveled against you or your client.  Avoid saying "I am not a crook, thief and a liar as reported in last week's Star Tribune."  Better to say "Star Tribune reader’s wonder who's telling the truth in the controversy over___."

6)  Use short punchy sentences.  This makes it easier for the reader to follow your thinking and easier for the editor to cut your letter if necessary (and better to have an edited version of your letter printed than none at all).

7)  Many papers accept letters by fax and email as well as U.S. mail these days.  It never hurts to send your letter via both fax and email.  Feel free to follow up with a phone call to make sure the appropriate person got your letter.

INTERVIEW TIPS

Use "I" statements.
     No one can dispute you when you are talking about what you know, how you feel, what you've been through, etc.

Use feeling words.
Like sad, worried, upset, etc. . .

      When you talk about your feelings, people connect with you emotionally (as opposed to when you try to sound cerebral or intellectual).

Don't speculate about the future or other parties.
        Deflect these questions by saying "You'll have to talk with (them) about that. All I know is . . ." (then go back to your experiences and feelings, plans, etc.)

Say "I don't know" when it's appropriate.      
        People don't think you're an expert on legal matters or whatever. Don't get caught guessing about topics beyond your own experience.

Better sad than mad.
        The public sympathizes more with someone who's expressing sorrow than someone who's expressing anger.