Jehovah’s Witness Elder Alleges Order to Destroy Evidence in Child Sex Abuse Cases

A Jehovah’s Witness elder has come forward with allegations that he was instructed to destroy confidential church documents, including those related to child sexual abuse cases. The whistleblower, whose identity remains protected due to concerns of retribution, was an elder within the congregation. On March 9, 2021, he claims he was asked by a superior to review all “judicial cases” in his congregation’s confidential files for personal notes and destroy them.

Judicial cases are records of church proceedings known as “judicial committee” hearings, an internal process used to determine consequences for various wrongdoings, including child sexual abuse. Destroying such documents is a criminal offense, especially since a moratorium was imposed in March 2019 regarding the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, which includes Jehovah’s Witnesses.

The church has “strongly denied” any criminal wrongdoing and stated that it has “carefully followed” the commission’s directives on record preservation. These allegations arise amid reports of 11 active Jehovah’s Witnesses with child sex abuse convictions or serious allegations against them, with most members unaware of the offenders’ identities.

When allegations of child abuse arise, church elders conduct a scriptural inquiry to determine guilt. Church policies, based on biblical principles, require a confession from the perpetrator or testimony from two eyewitnesses. If guilt is established, three elders convene a judicial committee with the accused to assess repentance. A repentant individual may remain in the congregation but lose certain privileges, while those unrepentant risk being “disfellowshipped” or excommunicated.

The whistleblower stated that the directive to destroy personal notes, issued in March 2021, was a reminder of an earlier policy from August 2019. He noted that he did not have any personal notes to destroy. Previously, sealed envelopes containing judicial committee forms also held personal notes from elders, which have been used as evidence in child sexual abuse cases overseas.

Following these instructions, the whistleblower was asked to urgently gather the confidential files of his congregation at the Kingdom Hall, along with elders from other congregations sharing the same hall. This directive underscores the importance of accountability and justice, as emphasized in Micah 6:8, which calls for justice, mercy, and humility before God.

Source: Read the original report