Badwillie,
Have just read what you've been going through and have a couple of thoughts. First, you cannot appeal a public reproof. Only DFing. Second, if you want to avoid further problems and not be disfellowshipped because of family ties, but just quietly slip away, then leave it and quietly slip away.
BUT, if you do want to create a stir and stand up, you can somewhat protect yourself by getting the press involved, and following through on the cease and desist order. Check out the website for DocBob. He used it to keep a body of elders totally at bay in Maine.
Bad press and legal actions REALLY do scare the Society. Also, be aware that I would guess this body made their decision because you and your wife talked with other Witnesses about this, and not simply because you red the UN website. And if they reproved you, there HAD to be grounds for disfellowshipping. Apostasy seems the only reasonable one at this point. And you need to get that clear from the brothers. What is the EXACT sin that could lead to disfellowshipping that you are being reproved for? There's a list of these sins in the elders KMS book. "If it's not on the list, they must desist!!"
If you do go to the press today, it is ABSOLUTELY important that you show them the Guardian articles. They are going to want to know that this is a legitimate news story and not some personal grudge. And someone needs to contact that Guardian reporter. What a great followup piece this is. I'd bet he would be VERY interested. And Silentlambs or Randy - have these articles been sent on to AP? Let me know, would be glad to pass this on to my contacts there.
Part of the problem is not having the info you needed about taking legal action before you met with the JC. That would have put things on hold for a while as they contacted the Society. The legal department eagles might have just told your local elders to drop this. The local boys get away with huge amounts of stuff that would have legal messing their pants if they knew the whole story. Local elders are frequently not challenged at all, so much of this stuff just lies buried. IF the local elders will say this action was taken BECAUSE you were looking at the UN webpage, you might really have a serious case here. Try to get that info before the announcement tonight. If you want to threaten legal action, now is the time.
Also, I'm not sure the elders can tell the person being reproved not to talk about the reason for it. I mean, if someone else talks about it, that can be slander. But if you simply tell the friends what happened, you can't be charged with slandering yourself!! You might want to make your position clear to the elders before the meeting - if you want to take any of this action. And DEMAND that they show you in writing their authority for banning you from telling people what happened. But also, be aware that you could easily find yourself disfellowshipped for taking a stand.
Also, I really don't think most friends in general know anything about the pedophile problem, the blood changes last year, or this situation with the WTS as a UN NGO. They are just simply totally out of touch with this stuff. Contact me if you need to.
S4
