I’m very grateful and invigorated by your coverage of this topic. As a former third generation member of the organization, I experienced CSA from ages four to fourteen. My older cousins, Brandon and Adam, were Pioneers and ministerial servants for about half of the time they were abusing me. By the time I was forced by my elders to confront them, they were elders themselves. They denied abusing me, an obvious twinge of guilt and fear in their faces. Their lie was not convincing and by their body language and facial expressions it was obvious their elders and mine knew this. They could clearly see I was telling the truth and that they were lying. However those elders also knew there was nothing to be done about it but “wait on Jehovah.” I still remember the smelly breath of one elder as he was telling me not to worry too much about it because, “In Jehovah’s Time it’ll all come out in the wash.” Whatever that means. I told my cousins and the elders that if my cousins confessed and apologized, I would forgive them and we would be civil but if they lied, I couldn’t forgive them and they had better not show their faces near where I might be ever again- including their own family events. I couldn’t help but notice fleeting looks of approval from the elders holding this meeting, as well as a haze of rage creeping over the face of my cousins. In the end, they lied, and because of the JW culture and rules, I was told to never talk about it again or I’d be in front of a judicial committee for SLANDER, and they went back to business as usual (one of the many things that triggered my waking up and leaving). A couple of years later I (accidentally) found out Brandon moved to Texas and Adam moved to Montana- apparently I was not supposed to be told but my auntie didn’t know there were shenanigans afoot- she’s genuinely honest and open, and just a talker. On the bright side- neither of them have showed up for any family events, I guess guilt is funny like that. Among other events, our beloved grandmother’s funeral, our coolest uncle’s funeral, and three of the family reunions that have been held since have been greatly improved by their absence. I’ve discovered my story is nearly identical to the stories of so many others, worldwide, that grew up in or around this vile organization and similar cultures. The testimonies in this phenomenal podcast have only highlighted this harrowing observation.

Very good journalistic investigations

Eye opening!

Excellent

This long overdue investigation is well researched and presented. The Watchtower Society fights endlessly to conceal the extent of the problem, even defying courts and refusing to provide the extensive evidence in their secret database. The Australian Royal Commission began to lift the veil on the Watchtower’s institutional conspiracy to hide CSA and their accompanying malignant treatment of the innocent victims. A reasonable hope is that this investigation prompts the British, and other governments, to pursue the Watchtower and call them to account for their crimes. Perhaps then the children of their members will be safer and the mendacious attitude of their governing body might be fully revealed.

Great journalistic work team! When people think JW’s, first thing that should come to mind is CSA failings and forced separation of families from shunning. They aren’t just annoying doorknockers, church leadership endangers communities and wastes human potential.

I am a Catholic woman married to a JW. A few members of my husband’s family have commented on how deplorable the Catholic Church is regarding child sex abuse. With all these investigations into the WT, JW organization, including the Australian Royal Commission, my response to them is simply Matthew 7:3.

Brilliantly researched and extremely important for the public to know about. Each episode is tense and grim, but somehow hopeful.

Quite a gripping piece of investigative journalism. As I lifelong JW I know their double-speak on child sexual abuse. There’s their official policy, but I know for a fact in practice they actively discourage all members for going to the police because they “don’t want reproach brought on god’s name”. And if you go to the police first they’ll be reluctant to help you at all. You’ll be ostracized. Until JW culture changes pedophiles will continue to abuse children with very little consequences.

The Telegraph does an incredible job taking an in-depth look at a difficult subject in an objective, non-sensational way. The policies of the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses regarding child abuse and child sexual abuse deserve a close examination, and Call Bethel offers that in a way I haven’t seen before.

I want to thank Telegraph for their work on this important podcast. This was very eye opening in the religion I had been a part of for so many years. I recommend it for current and former Jehovah’s witnesses along with fans of incredible investigative journalism. Please listen and share.

Everyone needs to be educated re: the heinous child sex abuse and even more heinous coverup that is happening within the Watchtower organization. Many thanks to the journalists, survivors, and whistleblowers exposing the depraved underbelly of the fanatical Jehovah’s Witness religion.

As a 4th Generation Born-In JW (now ex-jw), I'm delighted that this podcast is shining a light on the horror so many members face. I know so many similar stories, I've also lost friends and family just for voicing doubt. I hope many more media outlets will continue to hold this Watchtower organization accountable for their horrific actions and lack thereof.

Knowing someone who lived through this nightmare, I strongly advise all who can - spread the TRUTH about this cult!

This is a great podcast that explains in very well put detail at how horrible this organization is . Please continue your work and hopefully more people will see and understand better . Thank you again for your work Along w/ Jill for brining it to you .

The average person who is familiar with Jehovah’s Witnesses tends to think of them as a somewhat strange Christian group, with nice members. But it is such a controlling and dangerous cult and it is important for that to become common knowledge to society at large. So much so that current members can maybe break through the fog of disillusionment to see that they have been lied to and put at risk needlessly. Podcasts, news stories, movies, tv specials, youtube videos, books, blogs, etc. all help the word get out. Thank you for this beautiful presentation of sobering and sad information.

This is a must listen - very professionally done and incredibly accurate

I am the author of the newly published CULT GIRLS (by Natalie Grand) graphic novel based on my life & my friends who were born, raised and married in the JW faith. I saw so much abuse of child sex abuse handled in house and never reported to secular authorities, in California, USA. None of the parents even reported to this day and these pedophiliers are still in their midst with no warning label. This cult awareness is so important because these cult robots sitting at booths at your kids colleges and bus stops are not going to tell you about their abusive policies, in fact they cover for this extremely rich corporation making music videos to commercials to lure the youth.

10/10. I was upset when it ended. Can’t wait for the rest. Im glad this story is being told! Keep up the good work.

I’m a former baptized Jehovah’s Witness (never disfellowshipped) with family still in it and this is 100% accurate. Great job!

I was ecstatic to see that Bed of Lies had updated, but it was the first episode of this new podcast. It’s another excellent one - clearly extensively researched, told in a thoughtful, detailed, yet easy to follow way. The subject matter is very heavy of course but it’s a great listen.

We need more people to shine the light on the abuse going on inside the Jehovah’s Witnesses. This podcast does so in a professional and objective manner.