Comments from ones who have negative opinions about JW (Charles, Danny Haszard) are posted in many sites. Obviously, they've had bad experiences at some point. But rather than blaming the individual, they blame JWs as a group. Yes, individuals have not known what to do with reports about offenses, or have sometimes not seen their seriousness. They have tried to keep private something which shouldn't have been. However, it must be stated that this is NOT the official stand of the organization. The organization recognizes the difference between personal offense and crime! The "two-witness rule" is intended to resolve personal, minor problems - not for handling criminal offenses. In such serious matters, the instruction from the organization is DO call the authorities. Child sexual abuse was not well known until quite recently, and many who were faced with it in years past didn't know what to do. JW aren't trained to deal with it, or even to recognize it, more than anyone else is.

Laura, San Francisco, USA

That monster held a position of trust. Why has'nt he been thrown out of his kingdom hall? I once had a lot of time and respect for JWs but this is disgusting. How can an organization who claim to have high morals and abide by bible principle support a monster like him? Sorry no excuses from the door knockers. He has brought shame on Jehovahs name. His kind need culling. Our children must come first.

Tracy, Peterborough, England

Jehovah's Witnesses are a cult because they try to cut you off from others who do not have the same beliefs, including family.

George, London, UK

It is my belief that people who claim to be religious use religion to hide behind. Is it unreasonable to assume that all those that claim to be guided by religion are of a lower order of compassion and community spirit than those of us who claim no such guidance? The evidence suggests that whatever cult (JW) or religion people believe in they will justify their oppostion to society in some way claiming to know the truth.
This man clearly had no sense of wrong doing and it took a young child to teach him what was right and wrong. I strongly suspect other JW's knew what was happening since they seem to claim that god is watching everything and knows everything! I often ask the question that as an atheist am I more able to judge right from wrong. The answer is always - Yes.

John, Sussex, UK

Jehovah's Witnesses have a 'two witness rule' on evidence presentation.This is FACT.They require 'two witnesses' to testify to a criminal act.The problem with sexual assault is the perpetrator will rarely allow a witness to observe his crime.

Berry, London, UK

and in response to Danny Haszard (London, UK), what the HECK are you on about with your "two witness" policy??? Get your facts straight before you start spreading your anti-JW propaganda. I've been a Witness almost all my life and if I had seen or heard of a crime like this I would go STRAIGHT to the Police. Oh yes, and I actually have family who are JWs AND in the Police force so are you saying that the Police are corrupt too? Danny's example just shows how desperate and bitter people are in their attempts to discredit something they don't like or understand in a religion.

Christopher Goodall-Short, Málaga, Spain

In response to Charles (from London) and his bigotted comments to 'clean up the organization': Try telling that to the Catholics first as that religion has a HUGE history of child abuse. It all gets turned into a JW issue when it has NOTHING to do with the religion. However, anti-tolerant people like Charles jump at the first chance they get to criticise the JWs instead of the individuals at fault. JWs DO NOT PERMIT child abuse! Use your logic... anyone in their right mind would denounce a child molester straight away. These are the people that should be locked away not the JWs in general.

Christopher Goodall-Short, Málaga, Spain

Debunking the Jehovah's Witnesses propaganda:
A) They are at your door to recruit you for their watchtower corporation,they will say that "we are just here to share a message from the Bible" this is deception right off.
B) The 'message' is their false Gospel that Jesus is ruling in heaven already since 1914.The problem with this is it's not just a cute fairy tale,Jesus warned of the false prophets who would claim "..look he is here in the wilderness,or see here he is at the temple"
C) Their anti-blood transfusion ban has killed hundreds if not thousands
D) once they recruit you they will "love bomb" you in cult fashion to also recruit your family & friends or cut them off. There are many more dangers,Jehovah's Witnesses got a bad rap for good and valid reasons.

Danny Haszard, London, UK

All you need to know about the Jehovah's Witnesses is that they say "Jesus had his return to power" aka his second coming in the year 1914.

What do you think?

Charles, London, UK

Millions of people from all walks of life are learning bible truths with Jehovah witnessess. These individuals are constantly educated to clean their life up and make drastic changes in their personal and family life. Problems is, Jehovah witnesses don't have cameras in homes which monitor what everyone does who fail to live by bible standards, and at times these individuals take a while to reveal their true coloures. Michael Porter is one who has brought great shame on himself and standards the witnesses are constantly instructed to live by, beyond the eyes of everyone. It has nothing to do with image, it is to make changes that befit what you preach and live by, Michael Porter has obviously failed to do so. What someone has hidden will be revealed in time. Michael Porter will not be protected or hidden from what he has done by Jehovah Witnesses. “For what a man is sowing this he will also reap.”

Simon, London,

I am a mother of two children, I live in the Barnet area where this monster now lives, I cannot for one moment believe that this man has been allowed to roam free in my area. I really do not believe that a man of this kind can change. I am also a victim of child abuse and no bloody court offered me 3 years to recover from my heartache and pain, every morning I had to get out of bed and make my life the best it could be, carry on paying my mortage and the bills. 3 years of community rehabilitation means what? Time off work to discuss your sick mind!!!! I feel sick to my stomache that this man went to court and admitted the string of sex attacks, wasn't there enough evidence? I wonder what some of these judges must be thinking - an 18 month old baby, completely innocent and completely helpless what justice! My heart goes out to all of the victims, be strong.

Cath, Barnet, Herts

Jehovah's Witnesses appear to be concerned mostly with their image to outsiders.

Clean up your organization,don't shoot the messengers.

Charles, London, UK

To all Jehovah's Witnesses members: Children come first,your organizations's image second.

Charles, London, UK

There seem to be lots of incorrect statements being made here. Since JWs do not tolerate sex before marriage or adultery, why should anyone believe they would tolerate child abuse? Also, why should we be questioning the judges decision before the prosecution has decided to appeal? If they do the issues will be aired again, if they don't it will likely be that the judge's decision was correct. Don't believe everything you read in the newspaper. Still, nothing excuses child abuse and the man will always carry the mental burden that he destroyed young lives.

Phil, Reading,

The Jehovah's Witnesses are 1/70th the size of the RCC,but may have as much as FOUR TIMES as many "pedophiles per capita" as the Catholic church. The RCC got publicity because of the shocking assault by high ranking priest,in the JW's most pedophile rape is committed by family members.

Rose Smith, London, UK

SUMMARIES OF OVER 550 JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES LAWSUITS & COURT CASES


The following website summarizes 300 U.S. court cases and lawsuits affecting children of Jehovah's Witness Parents, including 200+ cases where the JW Parents refused to consent to life-saving blood transfusions for their dying children:

DIVORCE, BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS, AND OTHER LEGAL ISSUES AFFECTING CHILDREN OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

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The following website summarizes over 250 lawsuits filed by Jehovah's Witnesses against their Employers, and/or incidents involving problem JW Employees:

EMPLOYMENT ISSUES UNIQUE TO JEHOVAH'S WITNESS EMPLOYEES

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Jerry Jones, USA,

An absolute disgrace ... has the judge no concept of what it must be like for a child to be abused, the sheer terror and pain and the sickening dread of knowing thats its going to happen again and again. Can he not for pities sake out himself in the position of those children and try to imagine just a fraction of how they suffered. And this man has walked free with a rehab order...what exactly is that..turn up for an hour a week to talk to other child molesters in some self help group!!

He will offend again, he will be a constant danger to children for the rest of his life, 14 years and 24 counts...thats just the tip of the iceberg ..thats all the police have managed to charge him with. He gave himself up when threatened and its paid off...he used our crap legal system to walk free.....laughing all the way to his next victim

carol, birmingham,

is really sad that some people could do such a horrible thing but is good to know that most jehovah witnesess are good people

vanessa, galway, galway

People do jump on the fact that there is a religious organisation involved and would do anything to discredit it or make assumptions that Jehovah's Witnesses are some kind of evil cult... THIS IS NOT TRUE!I am not a Witness but my Mum and Dad are, thier morals and the way they conduct their lives will never cease to amaze me, they are truly the most honourable and genuine people you could meet. My parents know in this day and age that it is hard to be a Christian. Unlike the Church of England Jehovah's Witnesses do not "Bend" any bible rules to suit the modern day. They all live as the bible tells them too. This pervert that has been caught and will absolutely be dis-fellowshipped by the organisation and will suffer his penance from God when Armageddon comes in the eyes of the witnesses. You always need to be in a position to protect your children even when in the care of people in positions of trust. Just take the Catholic Church this has been going for years and was covered up!

Oly, Milton Keynes,

Jehovah's Witnesses have an absurd in house Church rule requiring 'two witnesses' to acts of sin.This makes it difficult to prosecute secret sins as child molesters rarely provide a 'witness' to their deeds.

Moreover,members are discouraged from going to 'outsiders' the police and reporting sins.

That's it,this is what can make the pedophilia worst among the Jehovah's Witnesses group.

Danny Haszard, London, UK

Justice should be blind to all considerations but the crime. Judge the crime not the criminals character. Faith is irrelevant, remorse, admission, co-operation, character, profession - all are irrelevant when set against the crime.

Huw Sayer, Norwich, England

I am a 22 year old atheist male living in Britain. I am somewhat disgusted that in the year 2007 somebody’s sentence can be affected by their religious beliefs as seems to be the case in this instance. I believe that the way a person conducts themselves from day to day should be how they are judged and not on whether or not they believe in a god. This man was obviously not a man of strong ethical values and yet because he was a high ranking member of a Christian religion, he was let off the hook. It just reminds me of the ignorance engrained in the psyche of this country to know that if I was to commit a crime as an atheist identical to one committed by a so called "man of faith", my punishment would likely be harsher due to prejudice and stupidity at the highest level. I think citizens in this country need to respect people based on their conduct and ethical values and not on whether they believe that a supernatural being created the universe and everything in it.

David Leatherbarrow, liverpool, England

Jehovah's Witnesses and the general public need to be warned about the Watchtower's two-witness policy for sexual abuse! It is destroying children's lives.

Danny Haszard, London, UK

I am an elder in one of the many congregations in England. I have in the past known of three persons who have been Pedophiles. All of them were removed from the the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses. And all of them were advised by the elders to confess their sins to the Police, subsequently they were imprisoned. No one can be more disgusted and appalled by this kind of behavior than Jehovah's Witnesses. If this man had lived in the days before Jesus Christ came to earth, he would have been put to death. To day unfortunately justice is not so severe.
Jehovah's Witnesses do not under any circumstances condone or wink an eye at this kind of behavior and make every effort to root this out and live according to the strict principles laid down in the Holy Bible.

Harry Knight, Reading,

Jehovah's Witnesses are not Christian they are a cult.

Charles, London, UK

In response to Ramirez' comment: 'They are not legal agents, and therefore cannot "police force" the members':
The JW Elders (usually 3) hold 'Judicial Committees' when someone has 'transgressed' in their congregation, as you must know. This Judicial Committe determines what will or will not be done about this person's standing in the religion, and do all they can to keep the details within themselves. They DO set themselves up as judges being led by their god.

As mentioned before here, a Panorama programme highlighted this, together with recorded telephone conversations.

Yes, these vile acts against children happen whatever one's religion may be, but the FACT is that the JW organisation will do it's upmost to keep their reputation 'clean' & have in the past sought to deal with these matters without involving the Authorities.

Suzanne, Surrey, England

Yet another christian involved in child abuse. When are we going to have a "christian panic", as it seems it is christian ritual abuse that is the reality, not satanic abuse.

Jennifer Hynes, Plymouth, England

This is a terrible situation for the families involved, however one mst wonder why religion comes into it. Would the press report hat the person convicted was a Anlican or catholic I think not. Surely the issue here is that this person walked free, this is a faiure of the juditial process.

Jane Huntly, Huddesfield, UK

The fact that Porter is a man of faith who exploited his position of rust should have doubled the sentence. A man of real faith would have pleaded guilty AND accepted a just punishment, nt use it as a strategy for lenience. I am incensed beyond words by this sentence and am concerned about the effect on the vicitms who have not had justice.

Liz Capewell , Newbury, England

What a disgusting terrible excuse for a man. I am the Mother of six children and grandmother to ten and when I read about these perverts it makes me sick to the stomach . Let all the Mothers be Judge and Jury and perhaps we would clear the world of these people

Patricia Cove, London, U K

It's interesting to see how many people have a bias against the Witnesses, rather than the pandemic of sexual abuse.

Some posted very misleading statements: the integrity of Jehovah's Witnesses that's at stake, it's the reputation of Jehovah God himself. There is no pedophile "cover up" within the organisation. The scripture cited about taking your case before two or more witnesses involves ALL matters, not just those of alleged abuse. Even the courts understand this and try to avoid a "he said, she said" situation because it becomes one persons word over another.
Jehovah's Witnesses are answerable to God when it comes to what happens in the congregation. They are not legal agents, and therefore cannot "police force" the members.
We must have compassion, but Jesus himself said "Render Caesar's things to Caesar." This man broke the law, and Jehovah's Witnesses worldwide fully understand that he must reap what he has sown and be punished as determined by Caesar's law.

PW Ramirez, Jacksonville, FL, USA

There may indeed have been another reason for this sentence. Witnesses look after their own and usually "keep it in the family". In any event the reasons publicised as being outlined by the judge are not valid. Abusing such a position of trust with children deserves a more severe sentence than would normally be passed and that is invariably the case in our judicial system. This judge needs looking at.

alan, warks, uk

My heart goes out to all 13 victims involved in this crime. I am one of Jehovah’s Witness who was abused as a child by someone who professed to be a "man of faith" but who clearly was not. When I was old enough to do something about what happened I approached the elders in my hall who stood by me as I took this individual to court. He was imprisoned and disfellowshipped from the faith. In the last 8 years I have been supported tremendously by the elders within my congregation to help me move on from that awful experience and rebuild my life.

The media paints a picture that this behavior is tolerated and covered over but it most certainly is not. He clearly decived all around him into thinking he was decent kind god fearing man but this was only to cover his tracks like most pedophiles do. Pedophiles do not make a habit of letting people know what they are up too, it becomes an art of deception for them.

My life is now focused on helping others see that within this world we live we will never see justice from human governments. The only one who can read hearts is God, he can see if someone is deceiving others or if they have truly reformed. He promises that he will destroy unrepentant wicked people and will bring justice to the lowly one. He also promises those who have suffered that he will take away the bad memories from us so that we cannot even recall what has happened.Now that’s something that no judge on this earth can do for any victim!

Hebrews 4:13 “And there is not a creation that is not manifest to his sight, but all things are naked and openly exposed to the eyes of him with whom we have an accounting”

Anonymous, south east, uk

'A spokesman for Somerset and Avon Police said: “We are pleased that the person responsible for these serious offences has been brought to justice and hope it will provide some sort of closure for the victims." '

It is a sad reality of life that some people have no integrity at all. The fact that they are paid for it, is even more sad. Who can honestly look the victims in the eyes and say justice was served? If this were to happen to the judge's family, would he still hand out this sentence? It angers me to think of the hypocrisy of this judge.

Thomas, London, UK

ALL people, religious or not, no Matter What religion they belong to will continue to commit crimes. Do these other people like RS Fife really think they're any better?? Catholics, muslim, jews, evangelist, theyre all imperfect human beings....it is not our job to judge another man.

dd, phoenix, az

I find it absolutely appalling that this kind of leniency is shown on the grounds of a person being "a man of faith". As a committed Christian, I not only expect to be treated in the same way as any other person but, more importantly, my faith means that at all costs I try to avoid doing harm to others. As a Christian I accept that we are all human and as such are subject to failure (that's why we need God's grace) but what I cannot accept is that someone who professes a religious faith then has the nerve to ask for or accept leniency because of his faith. My only consolation is in knowing that God is our ultimate judge and that's who this "monster" will have to face in the end.

Julie, York

Julie , York,

Does anyone know if it is possible for the public to petition against this decision?

I believe that this could be used as a reference point to protect abusers in the future and am etremely concerned about the implications of this on future generations - and that of my childen.

Unknown07, UK, UK

The Watchtower organization allows convicted pedophiles to go knocking door to door to as part of their belief requirement.

Jehovah's Witnesses have a BIG child abuse pedophile cover-up crisis.

Pedophilia is covered up in the Jehovah's Witnesses on a scale worst than the Catholic priest scandal.Not only do they deny it but the Watchtower has instructed the Kingdom Hall elders to go after all whistle-blowers.


The JW's exploit an obscure 2,000 year old bible passage and demand that there be TWO witnesses to every act of child abuse committed by a Jehovah's Witness.This fosters a code of silence and a "pedophile's paradise" in the Jehovah's Witnesses.

The 'Two Witness' Take-Down is a subterfuge exploited by Jehovah's Witnesses that is selectively enforced by elders who play favorites and fast & loose with the truth,an excuse to ignore and suppress evidence at whim.

Danny Haszard, London, UK

Time we gave victims an a larger role in sentencing.
The many lives ruined by this man deserve to be heard.

Alan Morris, Carnoustie, Scotland

I take it we will now see headlines with 'Catholic or Muslim' sex offender.
Why is it that Jehovahs Witnesses are singled out by there religion when in the news?
Maybe its because Jehovahs Witnesses do not respond that it makes them easy targets.
On another note, what was the Judge thinking? What message does this send out to victims and offenders?

Jason, Manchester,

Does anyone know what religion Judge Tom Crowther, the judge who passed this sentence, is? I ask because it is very clear that those who commit disgusting acts against children AND are religious are getting very different treatment to those who similarly commit child abuse but are not religious.
This is one example. The Roman Catholic church is another obvious example where belief in god seems to remove full responsibility for the crimes of their followers, with hundreds of children abused over decades WITH THE FULL KNOWLEDGE of the church, and yet the perpetrators get away with the church paying off the victims. It is a truely disturbing thing to see and should be subject to the full force of an investigative media and an independent judiciary.

Bobby Smith, Surrey, UK,

Wow! What does this say for all the other child abusers who may be caught and brought to justice? If we don't rule justly and protect children, who will? Many victims are scared to come forward and for this to be thrown back in their faces and this man allowed to walk streets is despicable. I hope Jehovah's Witnesses do the right thing..... and this sect thinks this is paradise on earth!!!!!

RS, Fife,

Anyone remember the Panorama programme exposing pedophiles within the Jehovah's Witness organisation? One of the reasons the Judge gave for his sentence was that Michael Porter 'is a man of faith'. What a total disgrace to him & the religion that appears to support him.

Suzanne, Surrey, England

As an ex-Jehovah's Witness, I know that the overriding concern in cases of gross misconduct by any member is the safeguarding of the good standing of the Witnesses in the local community. As a consequence, perpetrators are subjected to the Witnesses' own judicial process, in preference to exposure of the individual to the process of law. In view of this, any reassurance to members of our legal system that the appropriate disciplinary measures have been taken is suspect. Since the tendency is not to expose these individuals, their victims are unable to access appropriate support and their suffering may be exacerbated by the attempts of unqualified individuals to provide this.

S Cox, Southampton, UK

As I Bristolian I have to say this ruling is shameful. According to BBC1 news, the judge was alleged to cite Porter's guilty plea, his religious faith and his willingness to undergo rehabilitation for his leniency. As priests in the Catholic faith have proved time and time again, faith is no deterrent to committing these heinous crimes against children and in many cases it is the attributable cause. This "man", who pleaded guilty, committed a sexual assault against an 18 month old baby! He is clearly sick and should not be out in the public. The only rehabilitation worthy of such a crime is a very long term in prison and chemical castration.

Jeremy Baxter, Bristol, United Kingdom

how this is justice is beyond me, it's time some of these so called judges who hand out sentences like this were removed from their position as they certainly dont live in the real world.
this was without doubt a custodial case.

Paul, bristol, uk

On the surface, it is unbelievable that someone like this could only be sentenced to community rehabiliation (and being listed on the Register etc.) but as Mr. Chapman from France has pointed out before, is there some other reason (that we don't know) why the judge decided to enforce this particular sentence instead? Otherwise it's too easy for anyone to wonder what has gone awry with the justice system and the law.

Mosey, London,

I think this is an injustice to all the victims of child abuse and specially the ones abused by the offender.It is high time the courts see child abuse as serious crime that deserve serious punishment.The person is an insult to all God fearing Jehovah's witnesses.He is neither follower of Jehoavh, nor christ.He is evil pure and simple.

Milkias Yohannes, Takoma Mary land, USA

I am someone who was brought up as a Jehovah Witness. I was also as a child molested by my stepfather who was the person that introduced my mother into the religion. As me and my sister got older, we confronted the "elders" of our church and told them what our stepfather had done to us. They did nothing! Then to find out that a couple of years later, they actually made him an "elder" himself.
The fact that these men are "men of religion" should not be the basis of a decision to let them go unpunished for their crimes.
The man in this article not only abused young kids but a small little baby!! For that alone, he should've done jail time.
I feel bad for the families of the victims because I know what it feels like to finally, after all these years, come up to someone and have to talk about your abuse, just to have NOTHING happen to them. This man took advantage of his position in the church, and got away with it, what kind of message is that to give others in that same position?

Sen, Springfield, MA

Errrr....I'm not responsible for that. In part or otherwise.

nathan, Eastleigh,

I saw a report which stated that there were a couple of reasons for the judges decision, for example, he pleaded guilty and he is a man of faith. Apparently he only gave himself up because one of his victims threatened to go to the police and as an atheist I find the second point utterly abhorrent; why should a paedophile get off jail-free because he says he has an imaginary friend in the sky - I wonder if the judge was a Christian too? the whole thing stinks.

Steve Borthwick, Reading, UK

I wondered if anyone had picked up on what was reported on the BBC television news last night about this story, not dwelt upon here, that part of the reason that the judge saw fit to issue such a lenient sentence is 'because he is a man of faith'

The more I think about the implications of that, the more I am sickened to the core of my being. Proof positive that the cloak of 'faith' gives such men the green light to carry out such sustained, sickening acts in the eyes of the law. Shameful.

John Stitch, Leicester, Great Britain

The Judge also seems to have missed the point that this man was acting whilst under the guise of his faith that has so called rehabilitated him. In fact it is the guise of faith that has allowed him the oportunities to commit these offenses. During the time of commiting these offenses he would have had to be showing total faith and uprightness of behavioiur, in fact he would have been seen by members of the congregation to be a model for their own behaviours. This has to have been the case for his JW career to have continued.
This means that he has been living under the guise the judge saw for the entirity of his career in child abuse and it would be impossible to accurately judge a change in behaviour.
Religion should not be a "get out of jail free" ticket, especially when it has been the protecting factor for the offender.

Unknown07, UK, UK

One of the reasons for the lenient sentence was that Michael Porter was "a man of faith". It is high time that society stopped automatically granting reverence and admiration to people who have a superstitious belief in the supernatural and waste time and effort in praying, proselytising and pandering to their sky-god.

There is no clear, reliable evidence that such people behave any better than others. It is now quite evident that some of the pious use their "faith" to hide their appalling crimes.

Stewart Ware, London,

Another noble victory for British justice and British judges!

Rehabilitation of this poor, misunderstood pedophile must be the uppermost concern of brave Judge Crowther, who could not be swayed by sentimental drivel about child victims, as he weighed the human rights of the perpetrator, and determined to give him the opportunity to reoffend again.

We have to be enlightened enough to understand that homosexual pedophiles are genetically determined, and do not choose to be either homosexuals or pedophiles.

Critics should move to Texas where they have a more jaundiced view of pedophiles.

Tommy, Honaker, VA

One has to wonder why Judge Tom Crowther showed such leniency-is he out of touch-just plainly incompetent or is there another reason?

Iain Chapman, Marciac, France

This sentence is yet another example of how society continues to condone childhood sexual abuse......and of just how much denial still exists ....in the 21st century.

Childhood sexual abuse is a 'silent epidemic' in western society....resulting in many blighted lives....some permanently.
Some of these so-called 'victims' will not be able to live satisfying,
emotionally
healthy lives and we are all in part responsible for that.

Penelope van der Have, Edinburgh, UK