Religious Abuse

How is it that in the year 2010 we are still letting religions get away with abuse? We are reading everywhere these days about the abuse cover ups that have been going on for ages in the Catholic Church. But, let me tell you, the Catholic Church doesn't have the corner on abuse. Have you ever looked behind the closed doors of the mainstream religious organization known as Jehovah's Witnesses?

"What? You mean those nicely dressed, polite people that come to my door on Saturday mornings," you ask? Yes, those very ones. While the Catholic Church is getting lambasted in the media, the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses has been tiptoeing around a powder keg of deceit and cover ups itself. For over a hundred years, they have been harboring pedophiles, rapists, and other abusers. Don't believe me? Google the subject and find the harrowing stories of survivors that have been to hell and back.

This religion is every bit as bad as the Catholic Church in its culpability of member abuse. And, those who turned a blind eye towards this abuse, or covertly covered it up, are just as guilty as those who perpetrated these heinous acts against the innocent.

Add to this the emotional abuses thrust upon former members of Jehovah’s Witnesses. If a member breaks any church doctrine and does not show “proper repentance” before a kangaroo court of three church elders, they are kicked out of the organization. This means that they are publicly condemned before the congregation for “conduct unbecoming a Christian,” and all of the other members are instructed to shun them. This includes family and church members—not only in their home congregation, but all worldwide congregations.

They strip you of your self-esteem, your dignity--your very humanity--and treat you as if you are dead. They don’t speak to you even if you pass them on the street. Imagine someone who has been raised in this controlling group for their entire life, suddenly finding themselves thrust outside the confines of the organization with no social network whatsoever. It is no wonder that many turn to drugs, alcohol, and promiscuous sex—they are looking everywhere for something and someone to fill the gaping hole left in their lives. Many have succumbed to this abuse by ending it all in suicide. I remember vividly the day I nearly took my own life because I felt there was nothing for which to live; I had lost four generations of family along with my church family.

I was one of the lucky ones who survived, and discovered a new way of life. Every day I meet other former Jehovah’s Witnesses, survivors who are re-grouping to carve out a new existence without family support. Slowly they are creating new families and networks of friends, but it is with great difficulty. The scars they carry hide deep wounds that heal slowly. These are beautiful courageous people who are beginning to expose their abusers and the crimes against them.

I applaud each and every person who has had the courage to stand up and face their abusers, bringing their crimes to the light of day. No one should have to suffer the abuses of any religious group. Whether it’s genital mutilation, shame killings, rape, or shunning, they are all inhumane acts that need to end NOW! Will we continue to turn a blind eye towards this abuse hidden in the world’s churches, or will we stand side-by-side with other victims in demanding justice?