Looks like the WT is trying to instill diligence/greater caution within the rank and file who drive. I wonder why?
http://i75.imagethrust.com/images/2azn/view-image/question-from-readers-sept-15%2C-2006-wt.html
Car Fatalities and Congregation responsibilities - 9/15/06 QfromReaders
by Midget-Sasquatch 21 Replies latest watchtower scandals
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Stealth453
I guess that the last law-suit cost them a small fortune. A&&holes!!!!
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No Apologies
Wow, that article is so rediculous on so many levels. I don't even know where to start. The whole "community bloodguilt" concept!?!? The idea of the elders second-guessing what a legal court may decide? Yeah cause these window washers will be much better at determining whether the driver was negligent or not. And then how will they proceed?Will there be a phone call, like this:
ring!!!
Other driver: hello?
elder: Hello there Mr. Smith, I'm brother Dumas from the local Kingdom Hall, I understand you were involved in a traffic accident with a member of our congregation, brother Clueless
Other driver: yeah the sumnabitch killed my wife!!
elder: Well, you see, even though the courts have determined that our poor brother was negligent, we, as a congregation, are looking into the matter to determine if he is bloodguilty before Jeehover. We would like to know if you could attend our judicial meeting to testify?
Other driver: your what? Testify? judicial what? Look, all I know is you better tell that mo$%@%F^$$# if I ever catch him, he better start praying!!!
Click!
elder: hello?
No Apologies
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blondie
How does this QFR from 1963 compare?
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w63 8/15 pp. 510-511 Questions From Readers ***Questions
From Readers?
If a Christian driving an automobile has an accident that results in death to others, what would be the Christian congregation’s responsibility, in view of possible bloodguiltiness? What if the driver has violated "Caesar’s" speed or highway laws or has been careless?—K. F., West Germany.In cases of automobile accidents where a life or a number of lives are lost, the question of the extent of bloodguilt, if any, is certainly one that deserves to be considered by the judicial committee of the congregation with which the car driver is associated. Even if a law court decides that the accident was not the fault of the driver, it would be proper on the part of the judicial committee of the congregation to examine the driver and try to determine whether, in actuality, there could be bloodguilt attached to that driver. This is important because the congregation does not want to come under any community responsibility for the accidental loss of life, arising from a Christian’s carelessness or disregard for "Caesar’s" traffic laws.
If the driver in an accident with fatal consequences is a representative servant of the congregation and it is established that bloodguiltiness is attached to him, it would not be proper for him to continue as a servant. If carelessness is the cause, the driver must bear the responsibility for such carelessness or lack of caution.—Gal. 6:5, 7.
Thus if a road with a railroad crossing had no special warning lights, bells or gates, the driver still should have been careful to look before crossing. If a flying insect was causing annoyance, the driver should first have stopped the car and then remedied the situation. If a passenger in the back seat was speaking to the driver, he should have kept his eyes on the road, not trying to drive and also look at the back-seat passenger. If the weather situation was bad, more care should have been exercised by the driver. If the driver was drowsy, he should have relinquished the wheel to someone else, or he should have stopped the car and taken a rest until he got over his sleepy condition.
Consequently, it would be proper for the congregation judicial committee to inquire into the matter and determine just how far the car driver shared in any responsibility for the fatal accident. It is well to remember that the unintentional manslayer in ancient Israel who fled to the city of refuge had to stand trial before the city authorities before he would be allowed to remain in the city of refuge, safe from the vengeance of the avenger of blood.—Num. 35:6-25.
If the accident was due to circumstances over which the car driver had absolutely no control, then, of course, he could be excused and there would be nothing to blemish his record, should he be a responsible servant in the congregation. But if it is found that a measure of blame does attach to the car driver, it would then be in order to remove him from his position of service and not reconsider him for a position of responsibility for at least one year. This will make it known that the committee does not want any community responsibility for accidental loss of life to attach itself to the congregation by its maintaining in a prominent, representative, exemplary position a brother to whom a measure of bloodguiltiness is attached. If the blameworthy driver is not a servant in the congregation, he would, of course, not be considered for a servant’s position for some time after this. Since the driver is not a proper example to the flock, discretion on the part of the committee would also require that they wait a suitable length of time before giving him any assignments to instruct the congregation.
If the car driver has been careless, it would be well for the committee also to counsel him and to help him see the measure of his responsibility. The committee would determine whether he realizes this and feels repentant about it and has appealed to Jehovah God for divine mercy through Jesus Christ.
After the termination of his disqualification, as a result of which it is manifest that the brother involved has benefited as well as shown the right spirit together with due repentance, he might be appointed to some responsible position if one is available and there is a need.
If the driver, however, continues to show carelessness or pays no heed to "Caesar’s" highway or speed laws, then he could not be considered for a servant’s position. A car driver ought not to exceed the speed limit that "Caesar" sets for his roadways, streets and avenues. If he is a dedicated Christian and does exceed the speed limit, not only is it a failure to render to Caesar the things that are due to Caesar, but there is also the pressing danger of accidents, with the possibility of fatal consequences.—Matt. 22:21.
Those who have exemplary positions in the congregation should therefore set proper examples when they are driving. What kind of example would it be to the flock if an overseer were careless about "Caesar’s" traffic regulations? (1 Pet. 5:3) What effect would it have upon young men in the congregation if the overseer were a speedster? (Titus 2:6, 7) In view of the serious responsibility that goes with driving, Christian parents who permit their teen-age sons to drive their car should be certain they are properly trained and counseled. Especially do they need counsel concerning their responsibility to "Caesar" and to God, also counsel not to copy the worldly thrill-seeking youthful drivers who are so often involved in tragic accidents, usually due, somehow, to excessive speed. If any dedicated Christian engages in wild or lawless driving that results in destruction of the property of others or injury to other persons, then the judicial committee of the congregation should take appropriate disciplinary measures.
Moreover, in congregational or other dealings Christians should not require others to be at a certain place or locality at a time that would clearly be impossible to meet without breaking "Caesar’s" speed laws. Sufficient notice should be given to a person so that he can travel at a lawful rate of speed. Thus if someone required a true Christian to travel to a certain place within a certain time and to do so would require violating "Caesar’s" speed laws, then the Christian will choose to obey "Caesar’s" law, taking whatever consequences might come as a result of such obedience. But it could be explained beforehand to a worldly employer, for instance, that the Christian’s conscience will not allow him to break the traffic laws.
Most of the time, however, whether the driver realizes it or not, it is simply a matter of his starting early enough or of changing or reorganizing his schedule to allow sufficient traveling time. Then the Christian will not feel under any pressure or temptation to drive faster than he should. This compliance with the traffic laws of the "superior authorities" will not only help guard against fatal accidents with the possibility of bloodguilt being attached to the driver but also help ensure a good conscience, which is so vital to our eternal salvation.—Rom. 13:1, 5; 1 Pet. 3:16.
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Nathan Natas
Here is the above article in text format:
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QUESTION FROM READERS Sept 15, 2006 WATCHTOWER, page 30:
What is the congregation's responsibility if a Christian driving an automobile has an accident that results in the death of others?
The possibility of bloodguilt deserves consideration because the congregation needs to avoid community responsibility for blood-guiltiness. (Deuteronomy 21:1-9; 22:8) A driver who is responsible for a fatal accident may incur bloodguilt if he was careless or deliberately violated one of Caesar's safety or traffic laws. (Mark 12:14) But there are other factors to consider.
A manslayer who fled to one of Israel's cities of refuge had to stand trial. If the slaying was found to be unintentional, he would be allowed to remain in the city, safe from the avenger of blood. (Numbers 35:6-25) So if a Christian is responsible for someone's death in an accident, the elders should investigate matters to determine if there is a measure of bloodguilt. The government's view or a court's decision does not altogether determine what action the congregation will take.
For instance, a court may declare the person guilty of some technical violation of the law, but the investigating elders may determine that no bloodguilt exists because the driver had little or no control over the circumstances resulting in the fatality. Conversely, if the court dismisses the case, the elders may conclude that he actually is bloodguilty.
The decision of the elders investigating the case should be based on the Scriptures and the clearly established facts—an admission by the driver and/or the testimony of two or three reliable eyewitnesses. (Deuteronomy 17:6; Matthew 18:15, 16) If bloodguilt is established, a judicial committee should be formed. If the committee determines that the bloodguilty person is repentant, he will receive appropriate reproof from the Scriptures and will be restricted as regards privileges in the congregation. He would no longer serve as an elder or a ministerial servant. Other restrictions would also be imposed. And he is accountable to God for his carelessness, neglect, or lack of caution that resulted in the accident and fatality.—Galatians 6:5, 7.
To illustrate: If weather conditions were bad at the time of the accident, the driver should have exercised greater care. If he was drowsy, he should have stopped and rested until he was no longer sleepy, or he should have had someone else drive.
Suppose the driver was speeding. If any Christian exceeds the speed limit, this is a failure to render "Caesar's things to Caesar." it also betrays a disregard for the sacredness of life, for there is the possibility of fatal consequences. (Matthew 22:21) In this regard, consider something further. What kind of example would an elder be setting for the flock if he was careless about Caesar's traffic regulations or deliberately failed to obey them? 1 Peter 5:3.
Christians should not require that others be at a certain place at a time that would clearly be impossible without their exceeding the speed limit. In most cases, however, it is a matter of starting early enough or of changing one's schedule to allow for sufficient travel time. If that is done, the Christian will not be tempted to drive faster than he should, but he will be able to comply with the traffic laws of the governmental "superior authorities." (Romans 13:1, 5) This will help the driver to guard against fatal accidents with the possibility of bloodguilt. It will also enable him to set a fitting example and maintain a good conscience.—1 Peter 3:16.
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minimus
IF the person even drove in inclement weather and got into an accident, he could be "bloodguilty". STUPID! The elders better cancel any meeting that could be a day or night of bad weather!---------NOW, anyone that speeds could be considered "bloodguilty".
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belbab
What if the driver has violated "Caesar’s" speed or highway laws or has been careless?—K. F., West Germany.
How remarkable that the response to the question from readers makes no mention that a JW driver would ever be found guilty of augmenting Jah's holy spirit with an ample amount of spirit from the bottle and then be subjected to a breath anylsis after causing an accident.Oh, I forgot, Jah's name people never indulge excessively with alcohol and then drive.
belbab
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daniel-p
I heard from my connections that there was a recent death near Wallkill of some Bethelites that were driving home late at night. The driver fell asleep. This same scenario has happened SEVERAL times before, although not always lead to a death. The Bethelites are so tired out frm their hectic schedules, driving back and forth from their congregations and so forth... anyways, it was real sad.
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skeeter1
I remember seeing something like this from the Bothtower in the early/mid 1980's. I can not remember which publication, though.
Skeeter
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VM44
Simon,
You really have to fix the way HTML edits are handled by the forum's software.
--VM44