Paragraph 12 is a classic case of not using context
12. Many individuals find themselves in a situation similar to that of a sick woman in Jesus' day. At Mark 5:25,26, we read: "There was a woman subject to a flow of blood twelve years, and she had been put to many pains by many physicians and had spent all her resources and had not been benefited but, rather, had got worse." Jesus healed that woman and dealt with her compassionately. (Mark 5:27-34) In desperation, some Christians have been tempted to choose diagnostic or therapeutic methods that go against the principles of pure worship.
Uh, if you read the whole account especially in context of the time, you'll see that 1 - the woman was in DIRECT violation of the Law that required her to avoid others when she had a "flow of blood" and call out unclean and 2 - Jesus was well aware of that Law and instead of hammering her for it, he understood her desperation and healed her.
So, if anything, this passage proves that mercy is more important than sacrifice and if someone directly violated a commandment due to an extunating circumstance, then Jesus understands. Instead, they try to say that passage supports not taking treatments that "go against principles of true worship" ie blood, when in fact, it is saying the direct opposite.
Does anyone in Bethel actually read the passages they refer to? Or do they count on the average JW not looking it up?
