Silentlambs

Founder

Silentlambs was founded in 2001 by William H. Bowen, a second generation Jehovah's Witness. Bowen served as an elder for approximately 15 years, and worked in the printing factory at the headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses from 1977 until 1979. According to Bowen, he was removed as an elder in July 1992 for refusing to back down on a matter involving the appointment of a child molester. He was reappointed as an elder in 1994, but resigned the position in December 2000 over concerns about new allegations of child abuse and continued disagreement with Jehovah's Witnesses' policies for reporting child sex abuse. According to Bowen, he was disfellowshipped in 2002 for actions considered to constitute "causing divisions" and tantamount to "apostasy". Bowen claims to be an expert in comparative religions including Jehovah's Witnesses, the Catholic Church and Mormonism regarding child sex abuse policies, and provides services as a consultant for attorneys who file civil cases against Jehovah's Witnesses. He has stated that he is not an expert regarding investigations of sex abuse allegations, nor an expert regarding the historical standards of care and detection of child abuse. Bowen has self-published two books, and states that he is an expert in child custody and taxation policies of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Watch Tower Society database

Bowen claims that the Jehovah's Witnesses' headquarters, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, maintains a database with the names of over twenty thousand abusers; he claims the list has not been released because it would hurt the public image of the church.

The Watch Tower Society states that the number of names in its records is "considerably lower", but does not specify an actual number. It stated that the purpose of the database is not to protect child molesters, but for legal reasons and to prevent molesters from being appointed in positions of authority. It also states that the number includes individuals who are not necessarily Jehovah's Witnesses, but who are "associated with" them. The Watch Tower Society has acknowledged that its handling of abuse cases has not been perfect, but claims its policies were exemplary and superior to those of other religions.

Lawsuits

In September 2002, Bowen organized and participated in a demonstration in front of the headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses in Brooklyn, New York. These and other subsequent cases were settled out of court with the details kept confidential.

In 2012, the Watch Tower Society's attorney stated in a court memorandum that no courts in the United States had previously found its conduct or policy regarding sex-abuse to be unlawful. The attorney also stated that the Silentlambs website is a vehicle for Bowen to "air his personal grievances against his former religious associates", and that Bowen's comments lack scholarly research and are consistently accusatory of the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses.

References

References

1. [http://www.silentlambs.org/newsletter/NewsLetterItem.cfm?SendoutID=565 silentlambs marks ten years of work]
2. "William H. Bowen - Profile". International Cultic Studies Association.
3. [http://www.newsweek.com/id/64935 "Witness to shame", ''Newsweek'', June 24, 2002.]
4. ""Watchtower Ousts Victims, Whistle-Blowers", ''Christianity Today'', July 8, 2002.".
5. "Silentlambs' web site".
6. Huntley, Dan. (September 1, 2004). "Vigil to call attention to 3 slain children". ReligionNewsBlog.
7. Goodstein, Laurie. (August 11, 2002). "Ousted Members Contend Jehovah's Witnesses' Abuse Policy Hides Offenses". The New York Times.
8. Bowen, William. "Court document". Alameda court of California.
9. Bowen, William. "Court document". Alameda court of California.
10. Bowen, William. "The History of Silentlambs". Silentlambs.
11. Bowen, William. "Court document". Alameda court of California.
12. (July 12, 2002). "Secret database protects paedophiles". Panorama TV series.
13. (July 12, 2002). "Jehovah's Witnesses child abuse policy". Panorama TV series.
14. (July 7, 2002). "Suffer the little children". Panorama TV series.
15. Ryan, David. (April 14, 2004). "Sex abuse victims target Jehovah's Witness in civil suit". ReligionNewsBlog.
16. Ferreira, Joao. (January 3, 2003). "Jehovah's Witnesses member accused of 1970s sex assaults". The Standard Times.
17. (November 21, 2010). "New evidence in Jehovah's Witness allegations". NBC News Investigative Unit.
18. "Alameda district court document".