I think it is very interesting that the Watchtower tries to appear different from all other religions, but then tries to appear as either a congregational religion (run by the members locally), and/or an ecclesiastical organization (run by a heirarchy from the top down). For most of their history they have pointed to the clergy of the Roman and Orthodox Catholic churches as being organizations of Satan, and yet they too run their peculiar brand of "theocracy" in very much the same manner. One such "sub-group" (which essentially covers everyone above the local elders) is the so-called "Religious Order of Jehovah's Witnesses."
From Wikipedia:
"Among their corporations, the Religious Order of Jehovah's Witnesses cares for matters specific to Jehovah's Witnesses special full-time servants. In a particular branch, traveling overseers, special pioneers, and branch staff are considered members of the Order of Special Full-time Servants and the Bethel Family; [ 5 ] globally, their order is the Worldwide Order of Special Full-Time Servants of Jehovah’s Witnesses. [ 6 ] Male and female members of such religious orders typically make a formal vow of poverty and are granted certain status and exemptions by many governments. While Jehovah's Witnesses do not consider members of their religious orders to be clergy, they recognize that a government may consider them such for administrative purposes."
Whenever the Watchtower gets into a bind, they always find a way to point away from WT headquarters. They will try to claim exemptions from local laws because they say they are a "religious order."
Give me a break.
I imagine that the New York HQ staff, should the Victoria state prosecutors actually take this case to court, will simply point at the local Australian branch as being at fault. A few local branch officers will take the heat and may have to fall on their own swords. Eventually the WT will comply - they'll have to - but will describe their travails in court as "persecution by Satan's agents."
The reality is that Victoria's laws make common sense and are designed to protect youthful and vulnerable young JWs and the public at large. This should simply be considered an obligation to Caesar. The Watchtower Society should welcome the opportunity to comply with this law to show the Australian public that they are "law abiding citizens," not law breakers who want to protect molestors and other criminals.
JV
