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Jehovah’s Witness elder alleges order to destroy evidence
in child sex abuse cases
Anusha Bradley, Investigative Reporter
Te Kuiti Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's WitnessesTe Kuiti Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
A Jehovah Witness elder claims he was told to destroy confidential church documents, including those relating to child sexual abuse cases.
The whistleblower, who RNZ has agreed not to name in order to protect his identity because he fears retribution, was an elder.
On 9 March, 2021, he says he was asked by a superior to check all "judicial cases" in his congregation's confidential files for personal notes and destroy them.
Judicial cases are church records relating to 'judicial committee' hearings, an internal process used to determine the punishment for 'wrongdoing', including child sexual abuse.
The elder making the claim has since left the church.
It is a criminal offence to destroy "potentially relevant information" to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, which the Jehovah's Witnesses are part of, since a moratorium was imposed in March 2019.
The church "strongly deny" any suggestion of criminal offence and says it has "carefully followed" the commission's direction on preservation of records.
The Fear of God seems to be a little lacking in this church.
More on this story at RNZ.
RNZ investigation reveals 11 alleged paedophiles active
within the Jehovah's Witnesses
7:34 am on 14 August 2023
Anusha Bradley, Investigative Reporter
Most people in the Jehovah's Witnesses appear to have no idea there are child sex offenders in their midst.
Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
The Jehovah's Witnesses have a number of paedophiles within their ranks, unbeknownst to most people in the church.
An RNZ investigation has found 11 active Jehovah Witnesses have child sex abuse convictions or serious allegations made against them. Most members of the religion appear to have no idea who the offenders are.
The identities of the men and the congregations they belong to are not being identified by RNZ in order to protect the victims. In all cases, RNZ has spoken to either the victim, a close family member or viewed Jehovah's Witness records confirming the convictions or confessions to the abuse.
RNZ's reporting suggests most members of the congregations the men currently attend have no idea of their convictions, confessions or the allegations they have faced.
Four of the men have spent time in prison for their offending, which ranges from possession of child pornography to indecent assault of a child. A further six have faced serious allegations, including incestual rape, child molestation, sexual harassment of a minor and sex with a minor. The alleged victims say church elders - equivalent to a priest or minister - knew about the allegations but none were ever reported to the police.
Two of the accused men have since themselves become elders or ministerial servants, which is like an elder-in-training.
The Jehovah's Witness Australasia, which oversees New Zealand congregations, did not respond to RNZ's questions but in a statement said it "abhors child abuse" and views it as a crime.
"In all cases, victims (and their parents, if minors) have the right to report an accusation of child abuse to the authorities. Therefore, victims, their parents, or anyone else who reports such an accusation to the elders are clearly informed by the elders that they have the right to report the matter to the authorities. Elders do not criticise anyone who chooses to make such a report," church spokesman Tom Pecipajkovski said.
Theoretically!
There are about 20,000 followers of the Jehovah's Witness religion in New Zealand, spread across approximately 170 congregations. A Christian faith, followers worship Jehovah as God and believe we are living in the final days before the end of humanity as we currently know it. A governing body of nine men in New York "provide direction" for the church worldwide.
JWs claim to be a Christian faith, although they tend to not believe that Jesus is the only Son of God. Nor do they believe in the Trinity. Consequently, many Christians reject Jehoveh's Witnesses as genuine Christians.
More on this story at RNZ.
Former youth pastor sentenced in child sex assault case
by: Ashley Eberhardt
Posted: Aug 11, 2023 / 09:32 PM MDT
(PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo.) — A former youth pastor who was accused of felony sexual assault on a 14-year-old girl has accepted a plea deal and will spend 60 days in jail.
According to the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), 46-year-old Gabe Geringer entered a guilty plea in April to Unlawful Sexual Contact Without Consent, which is a misdemeanor.
Geringer was originally charged with Felony Sexual Assault on a Child and Pattern of Sexual Assault on a Child in connection to the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl that began in 2010, when he was her youth pastor at Fowler Christian Church.
"That began in 2010"? How long did it go on for?
Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office
The assault was reported to law enforcement in 2018, and PCSO detectives investigated the case. PCSO said Geringer took the plea deal after his jury trial ended in a mistrial earlier in 2023.
In addition to the jail time, Geringer was sentenced to five years probation, and must register as a sex offender for an undetermined amount of time, but for at least 10 years.
Geringer was booked into the Pueblo County Jail.
60 days! Are you serious? This sounds like Canadian justice, not American.
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