Call Bethel

Behind the familiar sight of volunteers offering magazines on street corners lies a complex and often closed world. Call Bethel, a documentary series from The Telegraph's Investigations team, is the result of a year-long pursuit into the Jehovah's Witnesses, specifically examining their internal handling of child abuse allegations. This isn't a theoretical discussion; it's a forensic audio journey built on documents, data, and the difficult testimonies of former members who have come forward. You'll hear the reporters' meticulous process as they follow a paper trail and confront a meticulously private religious organization with its own legal framework. The podcast immerses you in the tension between faith and accountability, exploring how a system designed to protect a community can sometimes fail the most vulnerable within it. Each episode feels like sitting alongside the journalists as they piece together a puzzle, revealing the human stories behind the headlines and the challenging questions that arise when insular belief meets secular law. This is a deep, sometimes unsettling look at power, secrecy, and the search for justice within a global faith, making for essential listening for anyone interested in the intersections of modern religion and society.