Religion can save person’s life or it can lead them into the Kingdom of Heaven (earlier than anticipated). In Abruzzo, the Jehovah’s Witnesses were saved while the Catholics went to Heaven. Before the earthquake struck, the Jehovah’s Witnesses warned the members of their community about the danger. They were advised to sleep in their carsand to make sure they had suitcases with them, containing the necessary items. They all survived.

Were none of the Bishops, Deans or Parish Priests not fully in the picture regarding what was about to happen? Did they not see any need to warn anyone about the danger? Perhaps, perhaps not. The church bells remained deathly silent. The voice of the Church failed to make even the slightest sound prior to the earthquake. If Bertolaso had been a Jehovah’s Witness, the people of Abruzzo would not now be mourning the death of hundreds of people. As for Radio Maria, in their opinion the earthquake was simply God’s will and perhaps He wanted the people of Abruzzo to share the pain of his Passion…

“Dear Mr. Beppe Grillo, 

This writer is a member of a section of the Abruzzo community that, thanks be to God, remained unscathed (except for the fear) because the people live on the coast.

I cannot blame you for highlighting the fact that a lot more could have been done, especially considering that that L’Aquila had been feeling strong seismic shocks for a number months prior to the actual earthquake.

What I am about to tell you is proof of this fact.

I have many relatives and acquaintances that belong to the Jehovah’s Witness Religion. They are a very close-knit community and are always ready to help each other and so, when the earthquake struck, the nearby communities immediately sprang into action to go and help their brethren in need.

Following a request from my son, who is himself an active Jehovah’s Witness, and also because I simply wanted to do something useful to help, I agreed to open my house and began to prepare for the arrival of a family (a couple with two children). I tried to think about what they might need urgently should they have lost everything as a result of the earthquake.

Imagine my surprise when they arrived with their luggage in tow!

They explained that weeks earlier, at their weekly meetings, all of the communities had been advised regarding how to prepare themselves in order to ensure that they would be ready in the event of a potential catastrophe. The matter had been dealt with in great detail and they had been given proper and practical instructions regarding what they should do: prepare suitcases containing all the basic necessities, not only clothing, but also blankets, some rations and some bottled water. Cars should always be ready and loaded up for an immediate departure, not parked in the garage, but in a safe parking place out in the open. Mobile phones should always be kept at hand.

All this was drawn from a little booklet entitled “Wake up“, which had been printed lasted year and that dealt specifically with this topic.

As a matter of fact, of the more than 200 Jehovah’s Witnesses residing in L’Aquila, not a single one was killed during the earthquake. I am also certain that many other people, including relatives and neighbours, owe their lives to the fact that this information was made available.

I was absolutely amazed!

It is incredible to realise that, by following a few simple rules, a small religious community managed to save so many lives! Then I asked myself what would have happened if all of the towns’ residents had received the same, very practical information?

I now leave it to you to draw your own conclusions.

I would like to express a heartfelt THANK YOU for all of the battles that you take on!”M.B.

http://www.beppegrillo.it/en/2009/04/the_jehovahs_witnesses_and_the_1.html