Sex predator welcomed back by church

Sky News
August 3, 2015

http://www.skynews.com.au/news/national/2015/08/03/sex-predator-welcomed-back-by-church.html

The Jehovah's Witnesses reinstated a man to the church after he repented leaving his wife, despite being accused of sexually preying on his four daughters, a royal commission has been told.

Less than three years after the man was stood down by the Witnesses for 'loose conduct and lying', he was welcomed back with the approval of church congregations in Queensland.

The man referred to as BCH was jailed in 2004 for multiple sexual offences against his daughter BCG, but his confession and her evidence were not enough to convince the church to expel him for child sex abuse.

BCH was stood down for leaving his wife and moving in with another woman.

A royal commission hearing into child sexual abuse linked to the church and its legal entity, the Watchtower and Bible Tract Society of Australia, was told on Monday the three Jehovah's Witness congregations to which BCH applied for reinstatement were more concerned about his adulterous relationship than the abuse.

The abuse occurred in Mareeba in far north Queensland in the early '90s, where a Jehovah's Witness congregation lived apart from secular society.

BCG's allegations against her father were dealt with by a judicial panel of three elders - all men - who applied an Old Testament rule that states you need two witnesses to prove a crime.

This meant evidence from BCG that her father had terrorised and sexually abused her, her older sister and her two younger sisters, aged four and eight, was not enough to convince the panel of his 'uncleanness'.

BCG has said the elders refused to hear evidence from her sisters.

BCH made several attempts to join other congregations after his expulsion for adultery. They were advised of his loose conduct but there was no emphasis on the sexual abuse of his children.

In October 1992, the St George congregation wrote to Mareeba to say there was ample reason to reinstate BCH because there was evidence he had truly repented.

Elder John de Rooy told BCG, still a devout churchgoer, her father was being allowed back into the church.

BCG, now 43, has given evidence she told Mr de Rooy her father's return to Mareeba would put children at risk and she would go to police.

She said Mr de Rooy told her: ''He is now a brother again,' and quoted scriptures saying we do not take brothers to court.'

Mr de Rooy said on Monday he could not recall that conversation.

He also denied chastising BCG when she tried to take her own life by telling her: 'It was a sin against Jehovah.'

Mr de Rooy agreed it would be better practice to take into account the interests of abuse victims and to consult them before someone is reinstated.

Justice Peter McClellan asked Mr de Rooy and another witness, Monty Baker, about the appropriateness of the church basing its systems on biblical norms that have changed, especially regarding the role of women.

Mr Baker, who has left the church, said he could not see the Jehovah's Witness church allowing women to become elders any time soon.

The hearing continues.