I want to be clear from the start that I have no evidence to support or backup the parts of this chapter which are not about me – but it’s important they are aired. This part is written based on conversation, gossip, and what little information it was possible to drag out of people.
I want to take a break from my story and finish the story of my first girlfriend and the horrific abuse that she suffered and the contribution to this abuse made by the local body of elders.
She was viewed as a bad association particularly by one family, and they made a point of making subtle and not so subtle attacks against her any time they were with people. At the time still bruised from the break up I lapped this all up and joined in, I can only hope that I have done enough good in my life to make up for this severe misjudgement, I’m truly sorry N.
Remember that this was a girl of 14, not a grown woman.
As this family of harpies attacked more and more, the girl and her older sister were pushed out, no love was shown, and the brothers openly talked about how bad they were. She was shunned. The two girls were isolated from all but a few genuine people.
It was later discovered, although I suspect it was known for some time, that their father had abused both the girls sexually, physically, and mentally for a number of years. He was a serving MS at the time. By the time this truth was revealed my ex girlfriend was 16 and dating ‘worldly’ men. Witnesses from the congregation would ignore her if they passed in the street, and it was terrible to see that once beautiful face twisted by a series of horrendous circumstances. No attempt was made to help her or reach out to her in light of what she had endured, in fact if anything the badmouthing got worse. I don’t recall if the father was disfellowshipped (that’s not even a word), but I do not recall any public announcement. He disappeared shortly after.
The lack of love, and in fact rabid hatred of this girl did not cause what happened next in her life, but it made it worse. This was the least Christian thing I have observed in the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
She became pregnant at 16, with a drug dealers baby. The man if I can call him that, regularly beat her, and pulled clumps of her hair along with skin from her scalp. I would see her sometimes in town with bruises, and those sad eyes of a person who has been defeated. The father was put into Mount Joy – Ireland most notorious prison for drug offences and swore he would kill all the family is he was released. The mother and two daughters ran from the country.
I don’t know what happened after this – but had even basic Christian principles been applied, I don’t believe her life would have been so hard. The particular elder that instigated the campaign of hate went on to start on me next.
In the next chapter I’ll get back to my story, including my attempted suicide at 16 – and the final clarity this experience brought to my life…
This specific article is available at Jehovahs Witnesses Cover Up Child Abuse
[...] This specific article is available at Jehovahs Witnesses Cover Up Child Abuse [...]