Australia: Victorian Child Protection Inquiry Hears Evidence Against Watch Tower Society (page 6)

MrMonroe

Victoria's Justice Department "actively pursuing" the case, says the Herald Sun:

JUSTICE Department officials are yet to decide on allowing a private prosecution of Jehovah's Witness officials over the religion's refusal to require ministers to gain police checks for working with children.

A former Jehovah's Witness, Steven Unthank of Toongabbie, in Gippsland, lodged the charge in the Morwell Magistrates Court seven weeks ago, alleging ongoing breaches of Victoria's Working With Children Act because of unsupervised contact between adults and minors within the church.

The charge named seven local Jehovah's Witness elders allegedly engaging in child-related work without obtaining a police clearance.

Mr Unthank also gave evidence a week ago at the state's Child Protection Inquiry, being chaired by former Supreme Court judge Phillip Cummins, claiming the religion refused to comply.

He tabled a letter by Attorney General Robert Clark that revealed the Justice Department has repeatedly reminded the Watch Tower Society of its legal obligations and that Victoria Police is also aware of the issue.

A Justice Department spokesman said this week Mr Unthank's bid to lay charges against the Jehovah's Witnesses was being "actively pursued''.

Dogpatch

Church won't budge on child checks

Graeme Hammond
From: Sunday Herald Sun
June 18, 2011 4:08PM

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-yet-to-pursue-church-on-checks/story-e6frf7jo-1226077593299

JUSTICE Department officials are yet to decide on allowing a private prosecution of Jehovah's Witness officials over the religion's refusal to require ministers to gain police checks for working with children.

A former Jehovah's Witness, Steven Unthank of Toongabbie, in Gippsland, lodged the charge in the Morwell Magistrates Court seven weeks ago, alleging ongoing breaches of Victoria's Working With Children Act because of unsupervised contact between adults and minors within the church.

The charge named seven local Jehovah's Witness elders allegedly engaging in child-related work without obtaining a police clearance.

Mr Unthank also gave evidence a week ago at the state's Child Protection Inquiry, being chaired by former Supreme Court judge Phillip Cummins, claiming the religion refused to comply.

He tabled a letter by Attorney General Robert Clark that revealed the Justice Department has repeatedly reminded the Watch Tower Society of its legal obligations and that Victoria Police is also aware of the issue.

A Justice Department spokesman said this week Mr Unthank's bid to lay charges against the Jehovah's Witnesses was being "actively pursued''.

Dogpatch

This stuff has been building up for awhile all over the world. from 2000:

Child Molester in U.K. behind Bars, Still a JW

Jehovah's Witness preacher and ministerial servant Dennis Atwell (58) was convicted of child abuse at Bristol Grown Court on 21st. March 1997, Father of six, Atwell, married to wife Betty for 37 years, was a respected member of the congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses in Burnham-on-Sea, West Somerset. He admitted to 12 counts of indecent assault, indecency with a child, buggery and incest. The selected representative incidents cited took place between 1968 and 1982.

Ian Pringle, prosecuting, told the court: "This indictment represents a long history of sexual abuse against children." David Osbourne, defending, said "He pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and made it clear he would confess to everything the victims alleged - this has spared them the ordeal of reliving a very traumatic experience." (Following interviews with the police and counselling by social workers the three Atwell children, Kathy, Annette and William - all now adults with children of their own - had made written statements which were presented to the court in the form of Affidavits.)

Awaiting trial, Atwell was secretly relocated by the Watchtower leadership to the nearby town of Weston-Super-Mare where he attended meetings at a Kingdom Hall and mingled freely with other unsuspecting sect members including children. He was also `assigned territory` where he could continue his 'full time ministry', termed 'pioneering', selling Watchtower literature door to door - usually alone. He was never 'disfellowshipped' or excommunicated.

The Atwell family members who have found the courage to speak out against their wicked father also feel that they have been emotionally abused by the Watchtower Society. They want to expose it for what it is. They all agree to the widest coverage of their plight and want the world to know their story. Watchtower officials think differently of course, and would like the whole thing to go away. They reason that the less people know the better.

partial page from the Western Daily Press (West England) March 25, 1977

Some interesting observations by Geoff Unwin:

Letter to Detective Chief Inspector K. Smout from Geoff Unwin Sep. 29, 2000

carla

marking

MrMonroe

FYI, the Herald Sun website is running reader comments on this story: 20 comments so far, most of them critical of the WTS's "That law's for everyone else" stance. It's disappeared off the front page of the website, but still accessible via the link above, or search on their website.

flipper

I agree- people here need to listen to Dogpatch & Barbara as they've looked at the criminal negligence of the WT society from the inside out having served at Bethel. They are more aware of grisly details than most of us here I'm sure. These Australia incidents of the WT society trying to manipulate laws of the land are NOT isolated incidents. As Dogpatches article shows.

I just posted a thread this week about Phillip & Nancy Garrido JW connections and the responses of back & forth debates between JW apologists and Non-JW's responses to the article. The idiocy and continuing sticking of " one's head in the sand " like an ostrich does - never ceases to amaze me from people.

This is going to be a Matchlight hot issue I'm sure for some time to come with the WT society. Child abuse victims are going to come out of the woodwork and one of these victims will have $$$$ and take the WT society to courts in messy trials which will bring publicity which the WT society tries to avoid. But that's a GOOD thing. ANY verifiable publicity which exposes the cockroach pedophiles hiding inside the JW organization is a good thing ! Children need protection. More voices sounding out that need is always a good thing

Broken Promises

I agree- people here need to listen to Dogpatch & Barbara as they've looked at the criminal negligence of the WT society from the inside out having served at Bethel. They are more aware of grisly details than most of us here I'm sure.

Yes, be sure to follow those in the lead!

BTW, what have they said on this thread that wasn't a quote from a newspaper or an internet site?

flipper

BROKEN PROMISES- They aren't " in the lead ". They are just actively investigating these Child abuse violations more than the normal individual. Doesn't make them any more " controlling " over you for christ's sakes. You seem to have a chip on your shoulder still unjustly so towards anybody with a former standing high up in the WT society ! You feel the same towards Ray Franz ? Why don't you go harass him as well ? he exposed a lot of WT society wanton actions . He won't respond, he's dead.

Look- I'm not saying to respect Dogpatches & Barabara's points of view because of the Bethel positions they held - I don't care about power positions - I'm saying to respect the TIME and RESEARCH they've put into child abuse. If you can't understand the difference, then YOU need help

Broken Promises

How about answering my question Flipper? Try not to get distracted by your emotions.

And for those just joining us, and don't have the capacity or interest to read the whole thread, my original comment was in response to:

When Barb speaks, pay attention.

We are not into sensationalism.

from Dogpatch aka Randy Watters. I merely questioned just who "we" were, and what was it that Barbara was "saying". She wasn't saying anything, just quoting a "news release" from a guy whose methods have been questionable.

But, apparently we're not allowed to question those "taking the lead" (sarcasm intended, in case you haven't noticed).

flipper

BROKEN PROMISES - I don't get distracted by my emotions. If you use your common sense you will research Barbara Anderson's complete records of her investigation into WT Child abuse and perhaps will stop shooting the messenger if you inform yourself better ! Jesus. Remember Dateline 2002 ? NBC News with Brian Williams in November 2007 about 16 WT out of court Child abuse settlements ? Those were news agency's that interviewed Barbara Anderson. You going to doubt those as well ? She didn't just " use quotes " she was actually interviewed by mainstream media outlets due to the exhaustive research she did. The court records are even public access. You sound as if you are dismissing Watters and Anderson as sensationalistic and without substance. Just inform yourself then perhaps you won't come across as uninformed

Australia: Victorian Child Protection Inquiry Hears Evidence Against Watch Tower Society

Church won't budge on child checks

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