Posted by Bob on March 01, 2004 at 02:19:31
In Reply to: Isn't the Family a safe place now? posted by Curious on February 29, 2004 at 19:19:02:
A policy (to excommunicate those guilty of child abuse) is not any type of safeguard against abuse if it is not implemented consistently. As far as I know, Karen Zerby and Steve Kelly have not excommunicated themselves or any of the numerous other creeps who are guilty of child abuse and remain in TF in positions of authority and responsibility. There is absolutely no guarantee that a Family member guilty of child abuse will be excommunicated. It is certainly unlikely when quite often the ones deciding the case are former child molesters themselves.
However, TF apparently now has a strict policy of excommunicating those who report child abuse to outsiders such as law enforcement agencies. Thus, child molesters in TF are protected not only by the isolated social environment of TF but by an official policy that makes reporting child abuse an excommunicable offense. Child abusers in TF don't have much to fear except the remote possibility that they may be excommunicated. Furthermore, TF has a theology that justifies, promotes and encourages the sexual abuse of children and which has only been temporarily abadoned in practice to avoid "persecution." I think it would be difficult for a child molester and abuser to find a more protective and welcoming environment than the TF.