CBS News reported on May 12, 2016 that papers published recently by the Dutch Euthanasia Commission reportedly revealed that “a woman in her twenties was allowed to go ahead with assisted suicide based on psychiatrists’ decision that her mental health condition was ‘insufferable,’ and it was therefore illegal to deny her life-ending drugs.”
The woman, who has not been identified, was sexually abused between the ages of 5 and 15, according to Britain’s Independent.
Link to original CBS News article
Is there the slightest doubt that child abuse can do lifelong damage to children? Is there ever a reason to hide these crimes or try to protect the abusive criminals who prey on defenseless young girls and boys? Should there ever be a case when sexual abuse is not reported to the proper authorities?
When I posted this article on my Facebook page, I was asked, “Was she a Jehovah’s Witness?” I replied, “Not that I know of.” I then explained that I posted the article to help people realize that society as a whole, especially in Europe, is now accepting how destructive child sexual abuse is to victims.
Many victims prefer to be called “survivors” but that’s wishful thinking for those who were traumatized by years of mind-numbing abuse who later suffer from PTSD as a consequence. There is no “normal” for them. Death looks attractive to someone who no longer can deal with the horrible memories of abuse that are a daily part of their life.
An attorney handling child abuse cases noted that in some countries there are people expressing annoyance with the amount of media coverage of child sexual abuse – contending that the subject has “become a craze.”
Without a doubt, most Jehovah’s Witnesses do not want to accept that their religion has covered up thousands of cases of child abuse. They want to believe that cases of child abuse by Jehovah’s Witnesses are few and far between.
And as for those abused, many JWs support the idea that the solution for combatting the depression that comes after abuse is to take their mind off themselves by reading the Bible more; support all the meetings, and increase their participation in the evangelizing work.
Then there are those former JWs who are just indifferent or tired of hearing about WT’s child abuse problem.
Such attitudes prove that far too many do not understand how serious the results of child abuse can be. To see how the Netherlands is cooperating with a victim’s death-wish is amazing. It indicates that they realize that for far too many people, their abuse as a child led to mental illness as an adult; for others, it led to their death.
When I was in the Watch Tower’s Writing Department doing research on child sexual abuse some 24-years-ago, I remember reading in a publication that the outcome of severe traumatic child sexual abuse is usually one of three things, i.e., insanity, DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder which was then called Multiple Personality Disorder – MPD), or death.
As this problem continues to grow, policymakers, physicians, journalists around the world are in agreement with this opinion as nations try to cope with the dilemma of dealing with an avalanche of mentally ill adults due to child sexual abuse.
Ask yourself why the Watchtower continues to protect known pedophiles within their Kingdom Halls? Why do they continue to support and require the use of the “two witnesses rule” that protects abusers within their ranks and even allows them to eventually take privileged positions within their congregations – giving them authority and access to new victims?
Fortunately, some victims outgrow their experiences and eventually move on. On the other hand, many others can never forget or forgive, and like the poor woman in Europe – face lifetimes of insecurity along with their mental and physical damage.
No one should ever have to consider suicide as their only way to stop the pain.
Jehovah’s Witnesses should make a stand on behalf of their children and demand that the Watchtower leaders change the misuse of the “two witnesses” rule and begin taking an active role in protecting children and women within their congregations.
Jeff Canning
Disgusting orginisation, disfellowshiped my mate Ted who couldn’t give up the fags (wife dobbed him in to elders…) Son didn’t invite him to his wedding, family shunned him, he died shortly after from a broken heart I bet. ( officialy a heart attack) Heartless family destroying morons; their end can’t come quick enough…