courtesy of Towerwatcher: Claiming Christianity in an Apostate Organization! Webster's Dictionary defines the word "apostasy" as, "An abandoning of what one believed in, as a faith, political party, principles etc". What better way to illustrate the true definition of acts of apostasy, than to list some of the criminal acts that many cults are committing today in the name of Christianity. In today's world of religious organizations, many people question the morals taught by several religious movements even the members within their own groups. The facts indicate that there are an ever increasing number of religions breaking the law, and using manufactured technicalities within the laws of the land, (instead of going by the laws of the Bible), to get away with fraud, dishonesty, and other illegal schemes. In-other-words, acts of apostasy, because many of the leaders of these religious organizations have abandoned the very beliefs and principles they require their members to follow. We often try to find the good that many religious organizations are providing, and most people like to give them the benefit of the doubt. However, there comes a time when government officials must step in to scrutinize, or even stop criminal and illegal activities of many of these cults. The "Inter-Ministerial Anti Cult Mission" was set up for just this purpose. Without officials such as these it could be very difficult to keep an accurate account, of the illegal and dangerous agendas of many of these religious movements and cults. While there are thousands of decent, law-abiding, and honest Jehovah's Witness members worldwide, many times we have found that their leadership does not always practice the same clean morals and honesty! It is no surprise then, to see the name "Jehovah's Witnesses", in reports containing a list of "illegal" activities practiced by cults and sects. Listed in their own literature published by the Watchtower Bible And Tract Society, JW members engaging in "illegal" activities are actually encouraged, and sometimes "commanded" to do so by Watchtower leadership! A good example of this is the illegal act of disclosing confidential medical or legal information to the elders of the Jehovah's Witness Church, when such confidential information is protected by law. Jehovah's Witness members who work for doctors, attorney's, and other professional agencies having access to confidential files can easily copy, breach, or break confidentiality laws to satisfy the doctrines of their Watchtower "faithful slave class". An interesting quote found in the "Watchtower", 1987 September 1st, p.13, encourages Jehovah's Witness members to engage in "illegal activity", as a picture is painted that it is God's will that they do so. Using "God" as a tool for condoning illegal activity is certainly a trademark of dangerous cults today. (See Watchtower article below). paragraph 2 in the first scan which states, "There may be occasions when a faithful servant of God is motivated by his personal convictions, based on his knowledge of God's Word, to strain or even breach the requirements of confidentiality because of the superior demands of divine law." The elders and the Watchtower Society are the divine law to Jehovah's Witnesses. So if the elders or Watchtower want confidential information on someone that a member of the church has access to, then they can make the superior demands spoken of in the quote below which will be honored, and all confidentiality laws of the land will be viewed as null and void! The European Parliament has certainly had their share of criminal activities and schemes to watch for over the years. Jehovah's Witnesses are only one of a number of cults that are being watched. It seems that as the years go by, more and more of these cults even try to use government social services, disability payments, insurance schemes, and out-in-out fraud to gain financial revenue for their religious businesses. The "Inter-Ministerial Anti-Cult Mission" have alerted member states and officials to be on careful watch for the illegal and criminal activities of these dangerous cults and sects. Here is page 1 of the 2001 report by this watch-dog organization. Please note paragraph 1.
(See page 1 of report here: http://www.antisectes.net/mils2001eng.pdf ). It is now necessary to consider another aspect of cult activity--the fact that they aim to silence those who denounce their harmful nature. These movements, which are always ready to proclaim the principles of liberty, are also the first to disregard these as soon as their behavior comes under the spotlight. Cults also shamelessly use defamation, resort to intimidation, and take advantage of legal loopholes where these exist. Nor do they hesitate to try to influence the judicial authorities. As far as defamation is concerned, this often targets people themselves. In line with methods favored by all totalitarian movements, debate--always called for but never undertaken--does not involve basic tenets but a technique of denigrating individuals themselves. (See page 14 of report here: http://www.antisectes.net/mils2001eng.pdf ). Cults or movements of a cult-like nature frequently attempt to bring pressure to bear on government employees and local authority leaders. For instance, an advocate of the Jehovah's Witnesses requested the prime minister to withdraw a circular letter of 21 March 2001 sent by the Mission to prefects and relating to the participation of civil servants in meetings organized by the "Association medico-scientifique d'information et d'assistance aux malades"; (Medical and scientific association for information and assistance to the sick). (The request for withdrawal was ignored).(Pg.16 http://www.antisectes.net/mils2001eng.pdf ) Now a couple of logical questions any person would ask concerning this request by the JW representative would be, (1) Why would this JW representing the Watchtower Society, be so afraid of civil servants being present at one of their blood transfusion meetings?; (2) What are Jehovah's Witness leaders hiding from the law that could affect the innocent members of their church? This association called, "Association medico-scientifique d'information et d'assistance aux malades, (Medical and scientific association for information and assistance to the sick) is linked to the Jehovah's Witnesses, organized a symposium on blood transfusion. (See footnote on page 16 here: http://www.antisectes.net/mils2001eng.pdf ). Further investigation into the matter found that many Jehovah's Witnesses who were well and able bodied and in good health, were committing social security fraud, by falsely claiming to be sick, disabled, or old aged! "Auxiliary pioneers", "full-time pioneers", as well as "circuit overseers" had fraudulently filled out applications to gain financial support from CAMIVAC! The letters, "CAMIVAC" stand for, (Church Insurance Fund for old-aged, incapacity, and illness benefits). This social security scheme was detected and listed on page 19 of the Mission report. (See scan of page 19 below).
The Jehovah's Witnesses were able to get away with this fraud by "legal loopholes" as apposed to "moral ones"! In March 2000 the National Consistory of Jehovah's Witnesses sent an instructor to these "auxiliary pioneers" and "circuit overseers", offering "technical information". This information which governs contact between members and government bodies and social security organizations, refers to an "exclusively pastoral [...] altruistic" activity. The purely "legal" arguments do not always make it possible for government departments to exercise the required vigilance and to counter cult advances by means of preventative approach. (See page 20 here: http://www.antisectes.net/mils2001eng.pdf ). These large religious movements spend millions of dollars on "lobbying", which many government authorities fear. They use legal loopholes taking a "vow of poverty" in order to qualify "legally" for social security benefits that would normally be the responsibility of their governing organization to pay. Just because an amendment can be obtained by legal means, does not always indicate that it was obtained by Biblically moral ones! Hypocritically, instead of supporting their own members financially, the Watchtower Society spends millions of dollars on political lobbying as we will see later in this article. ( "lobbying"--See paragraph 3 below:)
Records later surfaced indicating that some 700 Jehovah's Witnesses, were receiving benefits from the CAMIVAC social security program for the sick, disabled, or old aged. It is not known just how many of these 700 are full time pioneers, auxiliary pioneers, or circuit overseers. The "Pilot of Jehovah" is an association of Jehovah's Witnesses within the Watchtower Society that most people have never even heard of. The word "Pilot" refers to one who "guides" or "leads", such as a pilot of an airplane, or a pilot or captain of a ship. They are also known as [CETJAD], and not even the anointed of Jehovah's Witnesses can be a member unless they were persecuted in the Holocaust. (See CETJAD link here: http://www.facingthelion.com/aboutauthor.htm ). The CETJAD group of Jehovah's Witnesses have their own "Governing Body", and articles for membership, yet are still members of the Watchtower Society. The fraud engaged in here rests in the fact that the Watchtower Society, already has a "Holocaust Fund" for the very purpose of taking care of these old aged members, awarded to them from the Swiss Banking System! (See page 30 here: http://www.nyed.uscourts.gov/pub/rulings/cv/1996/671622.pdf ). http://www.zoominfo.com/Search/PersonDetail.aspx?PersonID=12861667 Certainly, auxiliary pioneers and circuit overseers would not qualify for compensation that was meant for the sick, disabled, or old aged. However, when legal pressure is applied and lobbying is threatened even government authorities can vote favorably. August 31, 2004 the authorities/legislation/Pilot of Jéhovah Answer to the question n° 32762 concerning the Witnesses of Jéhovah and their affiliation with the CAMIVAC, National Parliament, 12th legislature Philippe Vuilque questions the Minister for the social Affairs, Work and Solidarity on the affiliation of some 700 Witnesses of Jéhovah to the Case of old-age insurance, disability and disease of worships (CAVIMAC).
The Minister answers that this affiliation was carried out in accordance with the legislative provisions. http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.unadfi.org/actualite/dates/2004/aout.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3DCAMIVAC%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DG See "Pilot Christians of Jehovah" in [yellow section] posted here: http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.chez.com/patricelion/CETJADnazisme.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3DCETJAD%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DG Other acts of apostasy include spending millions of dollars for "lobbying", when the Watchtower Society has claimed political neutrality for many years. The Watchtower Society likes to preach to the world that it remains strictly "neutral" and does not share in the politics and government affairs of the nations. These claims are out-in-out lies as the evidence will show. We appreciate the research that "Debbie" provided from the "Watchtower Observer" forum, concerning these false claims by the Watchtower Society.
Neutrality
Following the examples set by Jesus and first-century Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses do not share in the politics or wars of any nation. Their stand of Christian neutrality is well documented in history. They firmly believe that they must "beat their swords into plowshares" and not "learn war anymore." (Isaiah 2:4) At the same time, Jehovah's Witnesses recognize the authority of nations to raise armies and defend themselves, and they do not interfere with what others choose to do.-John 18:36. (See paragraph 3 here: http://www.jw-media.org/beliefs/society.htm ). In advocating God's Kingdom, Jehovah's Witnesses do not mix in politics or foment rebellion against secular governments, even in lands where the Witnesses are banned or persecuted. (Titus 3:1) Instead, they try to make a positive, spiritual, nonpolitical contribution in the way that Jesus and his first-century disciples did. The Witnesses strive to help righteously disposed people in their various communities to adopt wholesome Biblical values, such as familial love, honesty, moral cleanness, and a good work ethic. Primarily, they endeavor to teach them how to follow Bible principles and to look to God's Kingdom as mankind's real hope. (See the last paragraph here: http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2001/10/15/article_02.htm ). So what would a politically neutral company with no political interests want with a bunch of these? http://www.princetonreview.com/cte/profiles/dayInLife.asp?careerID=88
Career: Lobbyist
A Day in the Life
Whether lobbyists work for a large organization, a private individual, or the general public, their goals and strategies are the same. First and foremost, lobbyists must be adept at the art of persuasion, which is the mainstay of their job. They must figure out how to sway politicians to vote on legislation in a way that favors the interest they represent. This means tailoring appeals to specific individuals as well as to group voting blocs, such as Southerners or pro-choicers. Lobbyists also occasionally lobby one another. When normally opposing groups find a common area of interest and can present a united front they are extremely effective. Lobbying can be direct or indirect. Direct lobbying means actually meeting with congressmen and providing them with information pertinent to a bill being voted on. The lobbyist imparts her information with the help of graphs, charts, polls, and reports that she has hunted up or created. Needless to say, this is usually information that the politician might not otherwise have access to, that casts the matter in a light favorable to the interest the lobbyist represents. Sometimes, lobbyists will even sit down and help a politician draft legislation that is advantageous for their interest. Maintaining good relations with politicians who can be relied on to support the lobbyist’s interest is key. While lobbyists and their employers cannot themselves make large campaign donations to politicians, they can, and do, raise money from other sources for reelection campaigns. To be successful at all of this, the lobbyist must be well-informed, persuasive, and self-confident. Personal charm doesn’t hurt either, and lobbyists will often do social things like host cocktail parties, which allow them to interact with politicians-and opponents-in a less formal atmosphere. Indirect lobbying, sometimes referred to as grassroots organizing, is a bit less glamorous. Grassroots lobbyists enlist the help of the community to influence politicians by writing, calling, or demonstrating on the organization’s behalf. This means long hours spent on the phone and writing letters, trying to rouse the community to get involved. These lobbyists also report to politicians about the concerns and reactions they have gotten from community members. Indirect lobbying is also done through the media. Grassroots lobbyists write articles for newspapers and magazines and appear on talk shows to generate interest in and awareness of their issues. Lobbyists tend to work long hours-between forty and eighty hours per week is normal, and when a bill is up for vote they will usually work through at least one night. But the least attractive part of being a lobbyist may be the profession’s less-than-spotless reputation. While most are undoubtedly scrupulous, some lobbyists have been known to grease a palm or two where persuasion falls short, and the rest must suffer the public’s mistrust. These honest lobbyists, who represent every segment of society, take refuge in the knowledge that they are working to promote causes they believe in. The NYC Lobbyist Search application provides quarterly information about lobbyists and their clients. A lobbyist is a person or organization retained, employed or designated by any client to engage in lobbying. See Local Law 3-211 of the Lobbyist Laws for the full list of items a lobbyist may try to influence. http://www.nyc.gov/lobbyistsearch/helpguide.html Now why don't we take a look and see how much money the Watchtower Society has spent on lobbying, shall we? WatchTower Bible and Tract Society of NY, Inc. Type in the word (Watchtower) after clicking on link below. http://www.nyc.gov/lobbyistsearch/search
matches were found for "WATCHTOWER". 100 WatchTower Drive
Patterson, NY 12563
(845) 510-0490
01/01/2004
12/31/2004
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, LLP
M. MEYERS
SHEFKOWITZ
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, LLP
One New York Plaza
New York, NY 10004
(212) 859-8780
MICHAEL DENKENSOHN
Target: NYC PLANNING COMMISSION - NYC COUNCIL
Subject: ZONING MAP CHANGE AND SPECIAL PERMIT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SITE AT 85 JAY STREET, BKLYN
Compensation Reimbursement
Q1 $6,030.00 $0.00
Q2 $7,000.00
$0.00
Q3 $21,330.00
$0.00
Q4 $25,520.00
$0.00 Total
$59,880.00 $0.00 http://www.nyc.gov/lobbyistsearch/search?lobbyist=Stephen+Lefkowitz **************************************************** And listed here we find: Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson
One New York Plaza
NY, NY 10004
(212) 859-8280
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of NY Inc.
100 Wachtower Drive
Patterson, NY 12563
MELANIE MEYERS
STEPHEN LEFKOWITZ
01/01/2003
12/31/2003
Target: NYC PLANNING LOWW NNYC COUNCIL
Subject: ZONING MAP CHANGE CIVIL SPECIAL PERMIT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SITE AT 85 JAY STREET, BROOKLYN.
Compensation Reimbursement
Q1 $11,375.00 $0.00
Q2 $4,700.00
$0.00
Q3
$8,700.00
$0.00
Q4
$5,200.00
$0.00
Total
$29,975.00
$0.00 http://www.nyc.gov/lobbyistsearch/search?lobbyist=MELANIE+MEYERS ***************************************************** And still another entry for Watchtower lobbying is listed here:
Pillsbury Winthrop L L P
One Battery Park Plaza
New York, NY 100041
(212) 858-1000
Jim Burns
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Of New York, Inc.
100 Watchtower Drive 85 Jay St. Project
Patterson, NY 12563
(845) 306-1000
Melanie Meyers
Stephen Lefkowitz
09/02/2002
12/31/2002
Target: NYC DEPT OF CITY PLANNING; NYC COUNCIL
Subject: REZONING AND SPECIAL PERMITS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF NEW BUILDING AT 85 JAY STREET, BROOKLYN, NY
Compensation Reimbursement
Q1 $0.00 $0.00
Q2
$0.00
$0.00
Q3
$0.00
$0.00
Q4
$3,350.00
$0.00 Total
$3,350.00 Type in the word (Watchtower) here and look at the 3 listings: http://www.nyc.gov/lobbyistsearch/search When you add up all three of those totals listed above, you come up with a figure of $93,205.00 dollars spent on lobbying! How many homeless people, or Jehovah's Witness members who are having it rough right now, could that kind of money feed or house? And what about disaster victims? The records show that when the Watchtower Society wants something bad enough, they certainly know many dishonest ways of how to obtain it. Whether they have to resort to apostasy, dishonest practices, fraud, or laundering money, they never seem to have enough money. Even when Jehovah's Witness members who have faithfully given contributions for many years, are out of work, finding it hard to pay their bills, feed their families, or need transportation to their religious meetings they are required to attend, the Watchtower Society keeps spending and spending when Armageddon is suppose to be right around the corner! http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/cpc/040216.pdf For the innocent members of the Watchtower Bible And Tract Society, it must be very difficult for them to claim Christianity in an Apostate Organization!