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Race, women and health · Claim record

The organisation's current stand-alone article for victims of domestic abuse states that the abuser is responsible for his own actions, points the reader to a trusted friend, a domestic violence hotline and emergency services, describes developing a safety plan, and tells anyone helping a victim to build up her confidence in making her own decisions and not to tell her what to do. It does not discuss submission, separation or winning an unbelieving husband over.

Claim ID claim-attitudes-current-abuse-counselConcerns January 2025Later reinterpretation
Later reinterpretation · January 2025 Verified

The organisation's current stand-alone article for victims of domestic abuse states that the abuser is responsible for his own actions, points the reader to a trusted friend, a domestic violence hotline and emergency services, describes developing a safety plan, and tells anyone helping a victim to build up her confidence in making her own decisions and not to tell her what to do. It does not discuss submission, separation or winning an unbelieving husband over. JW.org (More Topics series)The Watchtower (study edition), January 2025

The organisation’s position or later explanation: The January 2025 Watchtower, addressed to husbands, acknowledges that some Witness husbands 'have even abused their wife' and sets out six steps for an abusive husband, the fifth of which is to seek help from the congregation elders. That article does not mention reporting to the civil authorities.

Show the evidence (2 sources)
Primary JW publication Verified

JW.org (More Topics series), “Help for Victims of Domestic Abuse—You Are Not Alone”

· Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania

“Hotlines for victims of domestic violence may offer immediate support. Those who work these hotlines can help you develop a safety plan. . . . Other emergency resources can help you if you are in immediate danger. These resources may include doctors, nurses, or other trained professionals.”

The organisation's current stand-alone article for victims. It opens with World Health Organization and United Nations figures, states plainly that 'Your abuser is responsible for his actions', lists a trusted friend, a domestic violence hotline and emergency services as sources of help, and tells anyone supporting a victim to 'build up her confidence in her ability to make her own decisions . . . But do not tell her what she should do.'

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. The article was read in full on the Watchtower Online Library on 19 September 2026 (cited there as 'mrt article 16') and the jw.org page was opened separately to confirm the public address and the opening paragraphs. The page carries no publication date, so none is recorded.

Corroborated by. src-wom-w-2025-0100-husbands-honor-wife

Notes. The article does not discuss separation, divorce, submission, or winning an unbelieving husband over, and it does not mention the congregation or its elders at all. A footnote states that it refers to the victim as female but that many of the points apply to male victims.

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-wom-jw-mrt-help-domestic-abuse

Primary JW publication Verified

The Watchtower (study edition), “Husbands, Honor Your Wife”

January 2025 · pp.8-13 · pars. 4, 6, 14 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania

“Sadly, some of them have been influenced by the thinking of the world and have even abused their wife.”

A study article addressed to husbands. It names physical abuse, verbal abuse, pornography and sexually demeaning treatment as conduct that dishonours a wife, says that Jehovah 'specifically condemns husbands who abuse their wife' and that such a husband's prayers may not be heard, and sets out six steps for a husband who has abused his wife.

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. The full article was fetched from the Watchtower Online Library on 19 September 2026 and read; the quoted sentence is in paragraph 4, after the library's page marker for page 9. The six steps are in paragraph 14, after the marker for page 11. The citation line inside the document reads 'w25 January pp. 8-13'.

Corroborated by. src-wom-w-2024-0100-treat-women

Notes. The fifth of the six steps for an abusive husband is that 'he seeks immediate help from loving shepherds in the congregation'; the article does not mention reporting to civil authorities. A footnote directs victims to the jw.org article 'Help for Victims of Domestic Abuse'.

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-wom-w-2025-0100-husbands-honor-wife

Claim page Correct or update

A direct link to this claim is https://jwtruth.org/evidence/claim-attitudes-current-abuse-counsel/. Every source above opens the original document or the best available copy. If you believe the wording, date or context is wrong, report an error.