I wonder if Knorr declared these gifts as income on his taxes.
Did Knorr even file taxes with the IRS at all?
Did Knorr receive $20,000 a year from a benefactor?
by VM44 14 Replies latest watchtower scandals
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VM44
[Nathan Knorr] used the second apartment, came in on weekends, parked his car out of site in the basement garage, and had undisturbed private quarters, with no one knowing he was there except the farm servant, and my friend, who told me when he was there
Question: Why did Knorr seek such weekend seclusion?
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DesirousOfChange
GIFTS are not taxable, unless they exceed $13,000 from any one individual to another in a calendar year. (For many years this exclusion was limited to $10K). Thus any brother & his wife could presently "gift" $26,000 to any (married) member of the GB or Bethel, or anyone for that matter. Wealthy individuals typically gift this amount to any family member of their choosing each year, thus enabling them to get many 100s of $1000s to their children/grandchildren without facing estate taxes.
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Band on the Run
I'm not a tax lawyer but I do know there are serious tax issues present. Does the pope declare gifts? Maybe he does, for archival purposes. The president must declare them and can't keep them. They are deemed gifts to the US and are catalogued by State. When I was in law school, a gift of a mediocre engagement ring would trigger gift tax. There are personal and gift and estate tax issues. What disturbs is the blending of his personal life and theocratic (snigger) life. Jesus would not approve, to say the least. Did he ever hear of ministers being servants? The sheepherder is in the fields, not running anoff shore conglomerate.
I recall Tom Daschle was slated to the Health Care Czar and Secy of whatever HEW is called now. He lobbied for the position. There was bipartisan support. I found out he was promised it if Obama were elected from a GOP high figure. He messed up his taxes which is inexcusable for someone who drafts legislation, votes and was even majority leader. He accepted a limo with driver from a true crony. His charitable deductions were a mess. His income was so high (his wife earned the bulk of it) that he would use professionals. It was dashed when it became public. With health care in the balance (he was noted to have unique gifts from his tenure as leader with both sides of the aisle), the NY Times and other Democratic strongholds demanded his nonappointment.
If you commit indiscretions, being a Witness, Scientologist or Mormon, must be a haven. Who at Bethel would have the balls to ask for an audit? People witnessed this lifestyle yet no one raised even easy questions. Is it Knorr's fault or was it our collective fault?
I'm active in the Episcopal church. A good vestry is one that asks difficult questions,not out of animus but because it is their role. We are Christ's body. Maybe the Witnesses don't teach that. A strong laity is crucial to a strong clergy. Checks and balances are needed. Indeed, the present bishop of Philadelphia is in deep conflict with the laity for hiding his brother's pedophilia. The laity have demanded his resignation and order him to stop functioning as bishop. Canonical courts are sitting to rule. When I lived in Manhattan, two of my parishes were involved in federal law suits. Passion for Christ and responsible stewardship should impel Christians to hold authority accountable. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
My family had several Bethelites, including my father, who was KNorr's bodyguard. They all despised him. Maybe they were not tight with any high Bethelite. They had respect for others. I never heard Knorr challenged doctrinally but he was hated by the rank and file. My very meek uncle once said to him, "Find your own stool pigeon." My uncle would never talk that way to anyone. It became family legend. We all had more respect for him when we heard the story. Children were not entitled to know the details.
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Farkel
band on the run,
: A strong laity is crucial to a strong clergy. Checks and balances are needed.
Indeed. Just as a strong populace is crucial to a strong (honest) government. Checks and balances should always prevail.
"... Passion for Christ and responsible stewardship should impel Christians to hold authority accountable.
Passion for Liberty and responsible stewardship should impel citizens in "free" and not-so-free societies to hold authority accountable.
:Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
The full quote is this: "power tends to corrupt, but absolute power corrupts absolutely."
Since we know that power "tends" to corrupt, it is up to us to make sure that absolute power never takes hold.
Otherwise, we lose all Liberty, religious or otherwise.
Knorr, Rutherford, Franz et. al. gives us wonderful examples on a micro-scale of what happens when someone(s) allow folks to give them absolute power. Perhaps folks can seque that example into the notion of that same power being given to our supposedly "free" societies before it is too late.
Before it is too late. My children and yours are on the fast track to becoming slaves of the very government who is supposed to be THEIR servants; a government who is supposed to be answerable to them and not the other way around.
Farkel