RAPED AT BETHEL! Pedophilia in "God's Organization" |
I'd like to introduce myself before we start discussing this issue of pedophilia that is rampant amongst the religious group known as Jehovah's Witnesses. My name is Mark H. Palo and I am a former Jehovah's Witness of almost forty years. Twice I have been a victim of pedophile molestations at the hands of two different Jehovah's Witnesses. I was between the age of ten and twelve years old. My molesters where never caught or punished. Presently I am fifty-seven years old and hold an associates degree in Human Services and am attending The University of Massachusetts, Lowell, majoring in psycho/sociology. I hold a 3.8 GPA and hold high honors by being accepted into the Phi Theta Kappa Society. At this time I work at a Substance Abuse Clinic as a Consumer Advocate. My job is to see that all the clients are given fair and timely treatment. I handle client issues, concerns, and work to attain their city, state and federal benefits. I also work with the elderly population of my city to educate them with regards to the dangers of misuse of prescription drugs, alcohol, and OTC drugs. I run seminars at schools, colleges, and elderly housing sites. The most accurate description of pedophilia can be found by turning to the Diagnostic And Statistical Manual Of Mental Disorders, better known as the DSM. This publication is the virtual Bible that is used by all Therapists, Psychologists, and Psychiatrists in the United States and abroad. (DSM-V ,p527, sec.302.2) Pedophilia: "The paraphilliac focus of pedophilia involves sexual activity with a prepubescent child (generally age 13 or younger..........Some individuals prefer males, others females, and some are aroused by both males and females. Those attracted to females prefer 8 to 10 year olds, whereas those attracted to males usually prefer slightly older victims. Pedophilia involving female victims is more often reported than Pedophilia involving male victims........Individuals with Pedophilia who act on their urges with children may limit their activity to undressing the child and looking, exposing themselves, or gentle touching and fondling of the child. Others, however, engage in much more graphic sexual acts (the graphic acts referred to within this publication have been intentionally omitted). These activities are only explained with excuses or rationalizations that they have "educational value" for the child, that the child derives "sexual pleasure" from them, or that the child was " sexually provocative" -- themes that are also common in pedophiliac pornography." "Individuals may limit their activities to their own children, stepchildren, or relatives, or may victimize children outside their homes. Others, (particularly those who frequently victimize children) develop complicated techniques for obtaining access to children. These may include winning the trust or marrying the mother of an attractive child. In rare cases, some adopt children from non industrialized countries or they abduct them. The course is usually chronic.....The recidivism rate for individuals with Pedophilia for males is roughly twice that for those who prefer females." It must also be noted that parents must watch for adults who show too much interest in their children at after school activities, church, playgrounds, shopping malls, and anywhere your child might end up alone with an unknown adult. This may sound alarmist, but the news has been full of reports of people molesting children and no one had an inkling that the individual was a molester. So why are we talking about the Jehovah's Witnesses and this issue of pedophilia? As Bill Bowen the founder of Silent Lambs puts it, the Watchtower organization is to be considered a "pedophile paradise". Unlike the Catholic Church which has admitted to a degree that it has a problem within its ranks, the Witnesses refuse to publicly admit that there is a problem. Even the present Pope has addressed the issue in a public statement. But the Witnesses spokesman, J.R. Brown, endlessly denies a problem and continues to issue statements that bury and cover the issue. The Watchtower, Bible & Tract Society, according to Mr. Brown, is simply too good and righteous to have this kind of problem. Yet according to the Silent Lambs website (see link below) there have been six thousand (and ever growing) reports of abuse since the inception of Silent Lambs in the year 2001. Individuals who have publicly aired their stories on programs such as Dateline or other television shows have been excommunicated or disfellowshipped from the religion. Why? Simply for telling the truth. As a member of a congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, an individual is more than strongly discouraged from reporting sexual abuse to the authorities. |
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