As convicted JW child abuser's sister angrily says his religion is standing by him, can we now expect more

maybe they're more lenient on pedophiles because smoking is not as easily hidden and is more visible to the general public than pedophile activity..

smokers bring more "reproach on Jehovah's Organization" because they're more in the public eye?

just a thought.

Edit to the person below: Yes, there are pedophiles in every situation, work or personal. The rub here is whether or not the pedophile is harbored or dealt with appropriately for the victim and the surrounding community, plus the law. In so many cases, it appears The Society is worrying more about it's public image than protecting its members and the rest of the community.

Someone also mentioned it's irrelevant whether a religion keeps them in or throws them out. It's VERY relevant because religions don't just "keep them in." these people are still in trusted positions and allowed, even given approval, to represent the religion in intimate situations where they may encounter young children.. such as the door to door ministry. that's like leaving the fox in the henhouse with a WBTS stamp of approval.

and don't believe anything an apostate says.. well, the BBC is not making this stuff up, folks. so who shouldn't be believed?

As an ex Jehovah's Witness (through my own choice I may add, although I have been disfellowshipped and reinstated) I would say that the organisation absolutely condemns paedophiles. Within the organisation you aren't even allowed to have sex before marriage and that is a disfellowshipping offence. Someone is disfellowshipped if they are unrepentant for the sin they have committed. I'm not about to sit here and support the Jehovah's Witnesses but I do believe that anyone who is going to make comments about any individual or faith must really have all the facts to hand before they do so and we all know the media are prone to fabrication!

I'd also add that sadly in every organisation, faith and employment there are sick minded individuals who practise paedophillia. Irrespective of your religion one thing is certain, if you hold a faith in God (and I'm not really sure what I believe to be honest) surely he is the one who finally will judge you and for the the people who practise such disgusting acts and who may slip through the net unnoticed now, their day of reckoning will come at some point I'm certain.

I was just warming to answerer no. 13 for his balanced and calm views, and then he went and spoilt it all by saying that the actions of this Elder (of 14 years, remember) is not a reflection on the rest of the organisation. Em, excuse me, but how on earth could anyone leap to that conclusion? I think you may be on your own with that one.

Also, a remark was made to the effect that Jehovah's Witnesses do not trust anything an apostate says. So, effectively, does that means not trusting anyone who used to be a Witness and voices disagreement with the organisation and the party line? Well, I suppose that is only to be expected from an organisation that will not countenance independent thought. Please do not immediately jump to the conclusion that I am an apostate just because I disagree with some of the things said by Jehovah's Witnesses.

Answerer 22 gave out a very reassuring message. Unfortunately, there appears to be a huge volume of evidence to the contrary - not that I would expect any Jehovah's Witness to believe anything said by anyone who disagrees with what the organisation tells them.

Now, the asker's question - No. Do not expect the Watchtower Society to give more support to smokers. Smoking is a disgusting, filthy habit and should attract zero tolerance. In fact, disfellowshipping is far too good for smokers - line them up against a wall and shoot them, I say.

I personally haven't seen this article, or news clip you refer to. I did here that SEVERAL of the children were either Witnesses, or the children of Witnesses so clearly they aren't supporting this person.

As for "standing by him" I don't know what context it is in. It could simply be that some people who've known him for years are feeling sorrow for him having so drastically fallen. One never knows, unless they are there. Also I have not read anything one way or another that says whether he was/is disfellowshipped.

Ultimately I hope the children can be helped. If he is truly trying to change, then I hope he does, but still stays away from ANY minors.

I don't know that much about JW but I do know that people who abuse children are suffering from a compulsion which can be very difficult to control and religious beliefs of any sort are not always a help. These people need some sort of help but I am not qualified to say what form that should take. Their religion or if their church keeps them in or throws them out seems to me to be irrelevant to the situation

If a father or mother agrees to participate in a congregation were children's rights and protection guidelines are not in used, they are as bad as their offenders.

As Christians we do not belong to the world, but we are subject to the world in any Law that is found to be just in the eyes of God,

and in those which are not just to the eyes of God we are still to be subjected but also to openly denounce its ungodly ways.

As a community that lives in a world of evil we are to be understanding with each other's weaknesses, but in what they call is the house of God, How could things like these come to somebody's head or heart.

When they would have made their heart God's house, and not the building, then I think they would be better persons and remain in what is true.

Child Abusers are nothin but scum no matter the religion/race/age/sex

They shud b all tortured and burnt alive but then again mayb that's too good for them

We need stronger penalties than a slap on the wrist

i'd like to read the source and explore this more. and find out what disfellowshipping means - is it being exiled by one's church? the taking away of one's membership in the church? i would like to learn more about what JW actually believe, and why, and what kinds of differences there are within their own group/religion. anyone?

Jehovah's Witnesses are disgusted by child abuse, and believe that these crimes must be pursued by police and prosecutors so that perpetrators can be punished.

Reliable news reports have not reported that the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses will continue to fellowship with Mr. Porter. Of course, congregation elders among Jehovah's Witnesses provide spiritual "support" to anyone who asks it, including prisoners, serious sinners, and others who are "sick".

(James 5:13-14) Is there anyone suffering evil among you? Let him carry on prayer. ...Is there anyone [spiritually] sick among you? Let him call the older men of the congregation to him, and let them pray over him, [metaphorically] greasing him with oil in the name of Jehovah.

Even after his judicial sentence and parole end, Porter will literally never have any privilege or responsibility in any congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. He will never be allowed to be alone with any child, he will never be allowed to work alone in the formal ministry, and he will never be allowed familiarity with any minor even in the full view of others. Disobedience to these stringent special restrictions on seemingly repentence abusers is understood to constitute "loose conduct" and expedited disfellowshipping (or "re-disfellowshipping") of the abuser.

While this questioner and question seem sincere, it is sad that others use such "questions" dishonestly to besmirch Jehovah's Witnesses. Interestingly, such "hatred" should be expected by true Christians in this time of the end, and it actually helps identify Jehovah's Witnesses as Christ's true disciples:

(John 15:19) If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, on this account the world hates you.

(2 Timothy 4:3-5) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories. You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.

Learn more:

http://jw-media.org/vnr/2122827332/717263.htm

http://jw-media.org/vnr/2122827332/713173.htm

http://jw-media.org/vnr/2122827332/716353.htm

http://jw-media.org/region/global/english/backgrou...

http://jw-media.org/region/americas/usa/english/re...

http://watchtower.org/e/19970101/

http://watchtower.org/e/19850122/

http://watchtower.org/e/19951101a/

Servant ministerial praying over young?? we don´t use to do that.... don´t believe me? go to a kingdom hall to see if we have separate places to "pray alone" that can give oportunity to do that?