Hi Blue,
I have two points to make that I feel are valid. Correct me if I'm wrong. 1) Where are the funds coming from to pay out these settlements? If they are coming from the Worldwide Work and the selling off of properties funds, then this is a misappropriation of funds.
No, it is not misappropriation of funds. The Society is a corporate entity. It paying as an entity. These suits are just the cost of business.
Funds that you and I gave over the years to be used to support the preaching work. These funds cannot be used to pay off criminal acts committed by the members of Watchtower Society. The Governing Body is complicit because of it's policy on Child Abuse. So, each single person, Governing Body members, the individual Pedofile, should be paying out of their own deep pockets and none of the settlement money should be coming out of The World Wide Work funds.
The Society has not been charged of found guilty of criminal conduct. It was sued as a corporate entity. As such, when it settles a suit as an entity it can use whatever assets it has at its disposal.
Misappropriation of funds is considered a crime, is it not? Do I have a valid legal point or not? Can they use monies that you and I gave for a special work to pay off these settlements.
In the strict sense you frame the question, misappropriation of funds is a crime. However, the issue is whether the Society is misappropriating funds. They are sued and have the option to pay off the suit. If you sued Ford Motor for a defective car, the corporation is liable and must pay if they lose or offer to settle. The funds originally came from revenue and assets. That is the risk of business ownership. This is a risk the Society takes.
The Child Abuse victims deserve all that they can get in these settlements that I agree on. 2) Each and everyone involved in these child abuse acts, the Pedofiles and the enablers, that is each member of the Governing Body who are complicit because of their policy on the Child Abuse cases should be given jail sentences not just paying off individuals with a gag order.
I appreciate and empathize with your angst, but this is too broad-brushed. In any crime, each person is innocent until proven guilty. One would have a hard time proving criminal complicity in many situations.
I realize that civil cases are one thing and criminal cases another. If we can stop them from using www funds for these acts, then we can break them individually and send them packing off to jail.
That is not realistic. Even if we took all of the assets of everyone who is deemed complicite, there is not enough money for the victims. Rather, the Society needs to pay as an entity. This is the best way to move them toward bankruptcy.
Jim Whitney
