‘There was no reprimand, nothing changed’: Survivors criticise Jehovah’s Witness elders for failing to act over child sexual abuse claims

The Jehovah’s Witnesses church says its elders “endeavour to comply with secular laws about reporting allegations of abuse” – but survivors say that does not necessarily translate to helping the authorities. Jason Farrell

Home editor @JasonFarrellSky

Wednesday 1 September 2021 21:44, UK

Image: Elders at the Jehovah’s Witnesses church have been accused of failing to act on sexual abuse claims

Jehovahs Witnesses: ‘Shocking failures’ in child protection in religious institutions, report finds

 IICSA Report – Conclusion 25:

25.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses are one of few religious organisations which have an internal disciplinary process which can lead to the expulsion of members. The internal disciplinary processes of the Jehovah’s Witnesses continue to use a rule of corroborative evidence known outside the community as ‘the two-witness rule’, whereby in the absence of a confession the evidence of two material witnesses is required to establish an allegation, which can then lead to disfellowship for the purposes of internal discipline. The rule is not intended to be a safeguarding measure. Nevertheless, it has no place in any response to child sexual abuse and fails to reflect the reality that by its very nature child sexual abuse is most often perpetrated in the absence of witnesses. The rule’s capacity to cause harm to victims and survivors of child sexual abuse is clear. We have received first-hand evidence of this harm. As it presently operates, the Jehovah’s Witnesses internal disciplinary process for disfellowshipping members bears no relationship to how sexual crime happens. The continuing use of this rule shows a disregard of the seriousness of the crimes involved and their impact on individuals. It also lacks compassion for the victim, and serves to protect the perpetrator.

Christina Gallagher opens a new “House of Prayer” in Brewster, New York, USA

RTE Radio – House of Prayer

RTE’s Joe Duffy shuts down anti-vaxxer on Liveline who believes vaccine includes the ‘mark of the beast’

Joe Duffy

By irishmirror.ie

• 21:55, 18 AUG 2021

A follower of the controversial House of Prayer has defended her belief that anyone who gets the vaccine will “receive the mark of the beast” and go to hell.

Christina Gallagher, who founded the House of Prayer on Achill Island, Co Mayo, claims that she gets messages from Jesus that the vaccine is somehow affiliated with the Devil.

Speaking on RTE’s Liveline, a caller named Mary took umbrage with Joe Duffy’s discussion which questioned the validity of these outrageous claims.

Fake visionary Christina Gallagher scares elderly followers off getting Covid jab

“They think they’ll go to hell if they get a vaccine”

Alan Sherry

August 15 2021 08:30 AM

Relatives of elderly followers of the controversial House of Prayer have said their parents won’t take the Covid vaccine because of messages fake visionary ­Christina Gallagher claims to have received from Jesus.

Some followers of the House of Prayer have told family members they will not get the vaccine because they believe if they do, they will “receive the mark of the beast” and go to hell.