Jehovah’s Witnesses congregation’s efforts to block inquiry squashed

[TheWorldNewsOrg]

Jehovah’s Witnesses congregation’s efforts to block inquiry squashed https://t.co/5VHYPhO4ZM

— The Guardian (@guardian) April 4, 2017

via TheWorldNewsOrg

 

[Arauna]

I personally think that there are new government laws in place and they better follow the law otherwise there will be problems going forward.  The past is the past. In the past there were no proper government laws to address all the problems surrounding this kind of crime but Laws have been improved considerably.  The elders/trustees can deal with the way they managed these cases in the past by the infrastructure provided by the government to assist them at the time of the crime - which were not comprehensive.  

At least they tried to address the problems and not sweep it under the carpet! - albeit in a fashion that is now no longer acceptable. To interrogate the victim in front of the perpetrator is not longer acceptable if the victims are young. They use recorded evidence in court for this now - because this is the humane way to do it.  Otherwise the victim is traumatized again. And I am sure Jehovah feels the same about this.

To be discreet and smart - does not mean to hang on to authority - we learnt that a few weeks ago in a Watchtower study. When someone in the congregation is accused of theft or murder - even if he proclaims his innocence - we let the courts take its course - we do not judge these crimes ourselves. Elders then support them in jail until their innocence is proved or they are judged to be guilty.  In ancient Israel the judges were elders but Jesus gave us a new command.

Unfortunately sex offenders always proclaim their innocence...  When people become JWs - they know the laws of Jehovah - which includes having a good name with people in the world - not bringing shame on Jehovah's name.  Elders can support these accused sex offenders while the law takes its course.  The government and its psychologists have the equipment and expertise to bring it to trial and convict.  If an innocent person is found guilty by some misapplied justice - Jehovah knows this and he will compensate in future.  This person can still ask for elders to visit him in prison and provide literature.... so the innocent person is not cut off from Jehovah.

I am sure the elders can find a way to obtain a transcript of the court case to determine if a person is still to be part of the congregation - they do not have to interrogate the victims.

Romans 13 is clear - the government has the sword to bring to justice those committing crimes.... and these days people land in prison for merely saying something against a government in some countries.  This is why our lives must be spotless and we must avoid crimes because the government will use its sword - even if we are innocent.   Elders should be aware of the laws in the respective country they live in to comply with it - every country has its own set of laws regarding this crime and aslo the handling of it - no interrogation of victims in many countries.

The only time we do NOT obey a government law is when they expect us to break a direct law of Jehovah such as killing; taking blood; adultery; allegiance to political system; avoid paying taxes - dishonesty -  not gathering together; or reading our Bible in private.   The government is then breaking the law of freedom of conscience - which is a right that Jehovah has given us.

But we do not have freedom of conscience to break laws that Jehovah has put in place.  If the government catches us/or accuses us on breaking government law this then the perpetrator must suffer the consequences imposed by the laws of the country - as every other citizen of this country must face whether they are witnesses or not.

So elders (and the organization must inform elders) to tread carefully to obey the laws regarding the handling of these cases in the respective countries they live in.