[quote]Some years ago they booted lots of pioneers, because they didn't want to pay social security to the authorities, [\quote]
I heard that rumour about special pioneers only on the Internet and don't know anything in detail. But in fact in the beginning of the 1990s there used to be 400 special pioneers in Germany. Today, there are about 200.
[quote]and as far as I remember, they had to pay some million D-Marks because they didn't pay before.[\quote]
There was the threat of a law suit. But the Society made a deal with the aithorities. In the brochure "Your Neighbors, Jehovah's Witnesses - Who are they?" published only in Germany in 1995 they state (poor translation mine):
[quote]Providing for One's Own
The affectionate care among Jehovah's Witnesses can be
seen by the way in which they provide for aged fellow believers who have co-operated many years with the organization. In 1 Timothy 5:8 a heavy obligation is imposed upon Christians. Jehovah's Witnesses take this obligation seriously: "Certainly if anyone does not provide for those who are his own, and especially for those who are members of his household, he has disowned the faith and is worse than a person without faith." Members of a religious community, in which many were willing to die in Hitler's concentration camps for their faith do not feel it as an unreasonable demand to provide for their own.
Persons, who dedicate their whole life to the tasks of the religious community and are economically maintained by it, are called special full-time servants. When someon retires from that special full-time service, he is insured afterwards in accordance with the legal regulations of the old age pension insurance. This regulation has not resulted from a court order, as has been erroneously stated.[\quote]
There was no court order because the Society made the deal to insure the special pioneers after their leaving special full-time service. Media often refer to a court order because an ex-special-pioneer and ex-JW went to court to get a reference from the Society as his employer. He later claimed in the media that he went there to get an old age pension.
Your reference to "some million D-Marks" is not from this story but from the 60s when they lost a court suit and had to pay some million DEM of VAT. Interestingly, the Society was told that they would not have to pay VAT if they gained recognition as a corporation of public law. But they replied that they did not apply for that recognition due to religious reasons. Now since 1990 they have been trying to get this very recognition.
[quote]Also, what's the current status of the Society in Germany. They are now acnowledged as a religious society, I believe - but did they get the tax exemptions as well?[\quote]
The Watchtower Society has been a registered society ("eingetragener Verein", "e.V.") since 1921 in Germany (keeping in mind that it was banned in the Third Reich from 1933-1945 and in the GDR from 1950-1989). There was not a religious community registered but only the publishing house WTS . A registered has some advantages concerning tax paying and receiving donations.
Religions can get registered as corporations of public law. These have more advantages concerning taxes and fees and are preferred in buying real estate. They can even influence social life. They can also get a church tax collected by the government. The latter one is always mentioned in connection with the aim of JW but I seriously doubt that they would ever use this right.
When in the GDR dropped the ban JW were registered there as a religion . After the the German reunification the WTS tried to get this recognition for the whole of Germany together with the recognition with the recognition as a corporation of public law - something that did not exist in the GDR. Now, since 1990 they have been going to court. When a very high court said that JW can't get the recognition
because they don't vote JW went to the Constitutional Court - and won. But now the judges have to reconsider the case and will keep an eye on the very behavior of JW especially if they harm human rights by their treatment of former members and their children.
For almost ten years the status of the Religious Community of JW was not clear. Now, last year it was registered as a registerd society like the WTS and the WTS was re-named as "WTS of JW". All JW in Germany have become members of the Religious Community. They were indirectly informed by a circular that mentions the membership marginally. All publishers had to sign the Publisher Card before which is now viewed as a proof of membership by the Religious Community. The number of 192'000 members is officially given unless there are only about 165'000 publishers. Because a corporation of public law has to have a minimum size also inactive members are counted.
So at the moment, nothing has changed concerning the status. I don't think we will see a new court decision the next few years.
Hope that helps.
German JW
