Well it happened

[Miss Bea]

A & E has a program, “Cults and Extreme Beliefs”. I guess it aired Tuesday. It is now on the front page of the local paper. A woman, holding a sign, “707 Safe”, in front of the Fortuna Kingdom Hall. She has accused a brother of horrible sexual assault, and the congregation covering for him. Apparently the one she has accused is still in the congregation in our local area. 

We have been warned we would hear horrible things.

At this point, I will tell my husband, (he showed the article to me) that I wasn’t there, and I can’t say what happened, but I know elders do not pound the table with their fists at judicial hearings. Begged some 70elders to do something, she said. 

Made my mouth go dry...

 

[LeslieDean]

What does 707 Safe mean?

Edited June 3, 2018 by LeslieDean

[Miss Bea]

She says it’s an organization of abuse survivors she set up.

[EverlastingLifeInView]

My mom ended up watching this and I was so disappointed in her! I told her she shouldn't have watched it because apostates will obviously be the ones interviewed. We don't want to let them in our homes let alone our minds by listening to them! She actually felt sorry for them she said. I told her it's one thing to feel sorry if it's true about the sexual abuse but it's another thing when they spread malicious lies about the governing body. Shake muh head.

[Miss Bea]

Anymore, the more outrageous something is, the nastier it is, the most scandalous it is, there is a platform. I did read this, because I suspect I will face it in the ministry. Big ol picture of this woman holding a sign in front of our hall, and it is just down the road from us. About 70 Miles, and it is sort of a rural area, so, 70 Miles is not that far. We have ones from that congregation give talks in our hall. 

This area is familiar with, um, “crazies”, so, it should not be all that bad. 

And it must have been a low news day for it to end up on the front page of the paper. 

Just proves those newspapers are just mostly good for recycling and starting fires! 

[cricket246]

We are only going to hear more and more stuff like this... I'm  already seeing stuff posted online about controversies concerning upcoming new light...apostates have nothing better to do than smear Jehovah's name, sigh...

[Brother_Bliss]

14 hours ago, LeslieDean said:

What does 707 Safe mean?

 

When you turn 707 upside down, it says "LOL" - which sums up how I feel about anyone who claims we're a cult or has strange beliefs

[Old]

3 hours ago, cricket246 said:

We are only going to hear more and more stuff like this... I'm  already seeing stuff posted online about controversies concerning upcoming new light...apostates have nothing better to do than smear Jehovah's name, sigh...

I seldom see posts from apostates and I spend way to much time on the internet, just ask my wife.  Therefore I am curious, where are you looking? Might one choose to look the other way?  

[Saffron]

I see it occasionally too, but it is only when I get bored and start scrolling around on Instagram (my page is for business) or sometimes when I read comments on certain articles.. I always feel shocked when I see stuff like this and immediately back right out. 😕

[Old]

17 hours ago, Miss Bea said:

A & E has a program, “Cults and Extreme Beliefs”. I guess it aired Tuesday. It is now on the front page of the local paper. A woman, holding a sign, “707 Safe”, in front of the Fortuna Kingdom Hall. She has accused a brother of horrible sexual assault, and the congregation covering for him. Apparently the one she has accused is still in the congregation in our local area. 

We have been warned we would hear horrible things.

At this point, I will tell my husband, (he showed the article to me) that I wasn’t there, and I can’t say what happened, but I know elders do not pound the table with their fists at judicial hearings. Begged some 70elders to do something, she said. 

Made my mouth go dry...

 

As Miss Bea has stated "I know elders do not pound the table with their fists," there is a lot of very biased information in the Newspaper article, so I assume it was even more-so in the A& E production. A&E stands for Arts and Entertainment, since there is little art in this topic we can assume it was produced for its entertainment value, similar to the news rags at the check out counter.

Like Miss Bea, I am familiar with the Fortuna Congregation. I have given talks in that hall. I knew some of the elders from the time this article purports to cover.  I am confident that this unbelievable conduct on the part of the elders is just that, UNBELIEVABLE!

[dove]

1 minute ago, Old said:

 

Like Miss Bea, I am familiar with the Fortuna Congregation. I have given talks in that hall. I knew some of the elders from the time this article purports to cover.  I am confident that this unbelievable conduct on the part of the elders is just that, UNBELIEVABLE!

We believe you! 😃

[Old]

I canceled my subscription to the Humbolt Times-Standard Newspaper*.

Hey, Times-Standard put that in your oven and turn it on high!   

 

 

 

 

 

*Actually I canceled my subscription 50 years ago when I moved to Oregon but felt the need for an additional 2 cents of IMHO!

[Miss Bea]

I know. Unbelievable. Thing is, the few times the media covers us, tv and the newspaper, it’s almost outright apostasy. I was grateful for the decent coverage the Times gave us. At this point, the media is almost the Devils mouthpiece. 

[Vinnie]

No doubt , its another ploy or test of Satan to try to discourage some  from going out in the ministry.  It's a frontal attack.  Don't give up.

[Margaret]

Yes, l did watch that program. What i got out of it was what our Brothers said, we follow the laws. Seriously I know of no one who if they had an abused child who would not go to a Doctor, then to the Police, and also the Elders for help. Its just mother bear instinct. I am an abuse survivor from the world, not my Spiritual Family. Im glad to be prepared if this comes up in the Ministry.

[LeslieDean]

Curious Bea as to if any in the congregation have experienced repercussions due to this. And how they responded (if given a chance)

[Miss Bea]

I was out in service yesterday. Nary a word. But, one of the elders in  my car group has copies of the society’s stance on child abuse. And, I tell you, it’s up front and downright plain. He was prepared. 

It might be different if one lived in Fortuna. I imagine they all are carrying that printout!

[Greg Dent]

On 6/3/2018 at 6:46 PM, Miss Bea said:

I know. Unbelievable. Thing is, the few times the media covers us, tv and the newspaper, it’s almost outright apostasy. I was grateful for the decent coverage the Times gave us. At this point, the media is almost the Devils mouthpiece. 

No im sorry but it is the devils mouth piece plain and simple. Make no mistake of that.

[kovaxx]

I did watch it too. I have been confronted with this in the ministry. Nowadays it is treated as a crime and not a sin, and rightly so, and therefore should be directly reported to the Police. I think they have the capacity to deal with these issues. Being in Australia and having the ARC here it has led to discussions at the door and its good to be able to say yes we as an organisation are dealing with this problem.

Edited June 8, 2018 by trottigy
Mods choice

[trottigy]

13 hours ago, kovaxx said:

I did watch it too. I have been confronted with this in the ministry. Nowadays it is treated as a crime and not a sin, and rightly so, and therefore should be directly reported to the Police. I think they have the capacity to deal with these issues. Being in Australia and having the ARC here it has led to discussions at the door and its good to be able to say yes we as an organisation are dealing with this problem.

I don't think it's quite correct to say, "not a sin". These things are not mutually exclusive. It seems appropriate to call it both - a crime and a sin. The police could handle the criminal aspect and the congregation the sin. 

[kovaxx]

6 hours ago, trottigy said:

I don't think it's quite correct to say, "not a sin". These things are not mutually exclusive. It seems appropriate to call it both - a crime and a sin. The police could handle the criminal aspect and the congregation the sin. 

My comment was completely edited Jerry and not what I had said at all :-) but I agree with you.