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The Watchtower organization tells Jehovah’s Witnesses that its internal judicial processes accord with biblical standards.[1]
Biblical standards had judges hearing cases in full public view.[1] This gave accusers reason for pause in case they considered testifying falsely. It also helped assure judges behaved righteously because their decisions and reasons for them were available for public review. Finally, if the accused was guilty of some heinous crime such as sexual molestation of a child, congregants would be protected by knowing.
How does Watchtower’s internal judicial process compare?
Only a few months ago (February 15, 2012) a member of the Watchtower organization’s Service Department responded to an inquiry that answers this question. His name is Allen Shuster. The question and his answer are as follows[2]:
The Watchtower organization tells Jehovah’s Witnesses that its internal judicial processes accord with biblical standards.[1]
Biblical standards had judges hearing cases in full public view.[1] This gave accusers reason for pause in case they considered testifying falsely. It also helped assure judges behaved righteously because their decisions and reasons for them were available for public review. Finally, if the accused was guilty of some heinous crime such as sexual molestation of a child, congregants would be protected by knowing.
How does Watchtower’s internal judicial process compare?
Only a few months ago (February 15, 2012) a member of the Watchtower organization’s Service Department responded to an inquiry that answers this question. His name is Allen Shuster. The question and his answer are as follows[2]:
There you have it. When it comes to members of congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Watchtower’s judicial process precludes informing the congregation of the monster in their midst in the form of a sexual child molester.
How biblical is that?
Besides its internal judicial process, as of now, the Watchtower organization does not require its appointed representatives to notify local law enforcement officials of all reported and/or known instances of sexual molestation of children. This leaves the public with no opportunity to protect its children from these monsters. One could be living right next door to small children, and these are not afforded the decency of a simple policy to have allegations of child predators reported to authorities.
Marvin Shilmer
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References
1. Watchtower’s Judicial System
2. Doe v. Watchtower et al, Superior Court of California, County of Almeda, Deposition of Allen Shuster of Watchtower’s Service Department, February 15, 2012.
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