Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Voltaire2

(13,061 posts)
Sat Jan 13, 2018, 10:56 AM Jan 2018

A New Wikileaks for Religion Publishes Its First Trove of Documents


FaithLeaks, a young transparency organization focused on religious communities, published its first big trophy this week: a collection of 33 letters and documents from an internal investigation into alleged sexual abuse within a congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Like other whistle-blower organizations, FaithLeaks provides sources the ability to anonymously submit sensitive documents, which the site then posts publicly. FaithLeaks uses SecureDrop, an encrypted open-source system that is also used by media outlets including the New York Times and ProPublica. SecureDrop uses the anonymizing Tor network to facilitate submissions that leave no trace online. Founded by two former Mormons in November, FaithLeaks believes that “increased transparency within religious organizations results in fewer untruths, less corruption, and less abuse.”

The documents released this week span from 1999 to 2012, and they’re devastating. They include details about accusations by three women against one church member. The first case involves allegations made by the man’s adult daughter, who accused him of sexual and physical abuse that began when she was 5 years old. (Names have been redacted in all the FaithLeaks documents.) Another daughter and an unrelated woman later came forward to make abuse accusations against the same man; the second daughter said her father had begun to “fondle and touch” her at the age of 3, and began raping her at 8.

Slate
3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
A New Wikileaks for Religion Publishes Its First Trove of Documents (Original Post) Voltaire2 Jan 2018 OP
No doubt much has been hidden. MineralMan Jan 2018 #1
Good! If we can shine a light on abuse I am glad that people are exposing this. PragmaticDem Jan 2018 #2
Fewer untruths Cartoonist Jan 2018 #3

MineralMan

(146,317 posts)
1. No doubt much has been hidden.
Sat Jan 13, 2018, 11:00 AM
Jan 2018

As we learned from the recent revelations about sexual abuse of children by priests, and the resultant cover-ups by the Roman Catholic Church, it drew people's attention to hidden information by religious organizations. Perhaps the exposure of such situations will work to prevent them in the future. I hope so. I also hope that justice will be served in cases where prosecutions are still possible.

Cartoonist

(7,317 posts)
3. Fewer untruths
Sat Jan 13, 2018, 11:35 AM
Jan 2018

Last edited Sat Jan 13, 2018, 04:53 PM - Edit history (1)

I am always amused when religion speaks of truths.

edit
meant as a reply to OP

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Religion»A New Wikileaks for Relig...