ABSTRACT

Because of limited academic literature, this study aims to encourage research into child sexual abuse (CSA) in the worldwide Christian Congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW). A hermeneutic analysis of literature in the public domain is conducted to evaluate JW’s policies to address CSA, since 1989. Analysis indicated that an institutional culture of secrecy was consistently developed and maintained over decades by managing CSA cases internally, avoiding intervention from secular authorities amid reputational, authoritarian, and financial concerns. Organisational management policies were rationalised on a literal interpretation of biblical law over secular law, allowing CSA to be treated as a sin, rather than a crime against child. This resulted in the reinstatement of those found guilty of abuse; whereas children were placed at further risk of harm. Finally, the JW consistently denied organisational liability for CSA; viewing child protection as a parental responsibility.

摘要

由于学术文献有限，本研究旨在鼓励全球基督教会耶和华见证人 (JW) 对儿童性虐待 (CSA) 的研究。自 1989 年以来，对公共领域的文献进行了解释学分析，以评估 JW 解决 CSA 的政策。分析表明，通过在内部管理 CSA 案件，避免世俗当局在声誉问题上的干预，几十年来一直在发展和维持保密的制度文化、独裁和财务问题。组织管理政策根据对世俗法律的圣经法律的字面解释合理化，允许 CSA 被视为罪恶，而不是针对儿童的犯罪。这导致那些被判犯有虐待罪的人复职；而儿童则面临更大的伤害风险。最后，JW 一直否认对 CSA 负有组织责任；将儿童保护视为父母的责任。