La Atalaya del 1 de enero de 1997 declaró que «un hombre del que se sabe que ha abusado sexualmente de menores no reúne los requisitos para ocupar un puesto de responsabilidad en la congregación» y no puede ser precursor, y declaró también que un abusador arrepentido puede «participar en el servicio del campo» y que la congregación «no lo protegerá» de las sanciones del Estado.

The Watchtower, “Let Us Abhor What Is Wicked”

1 de enero de 1997 · pp.26-29 · pars. on p. 29 (child molesters) · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society

“For the protection of our children, a man known to have been a child molester does not qualify for a responsible position in the congregation. Moreover, he cannot be a pioneer or serve in any other special, full-time service.”

The same article says: 'Depending on the law of the land where he lives, the molester may well have to serve a prison term or face other sanctions from the State. The congregation will not protect him from this.' It does not instruct elders to report; it also says a repentant abuser may 'share in the field service'. Courts later examined a 14 March 1997 letter to elders issued alongside this article (see Lopez and Padron).

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