Victoria, Australia: A MUST READ-Transcript of audio recording of WT letter read to all Victoria congs Oct/Nov. 2011 re: Working With Children Act

by AndersonsInfo 101 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

• 

  cofty

  I don't know the situation in Australia but in the UK the legislation covered "Children and Vulnerable Adults". This included elderly people and those with learning diffculites for example so claiming they don't have specific activities for children would not get them off the hook.

  The legislation has currently been put on hold here as the previous government failed to apply common sense to its application. Still waiting to see how and when it will be resurrected. At the moment the only obligation is to report anybody that is unsuitable to work with C&VA to the "Vetting and Barring Agency".
• 

  undercover

  IF this is on the up-and-up...IF he actually said 'representatives of the Borg'...

  Then elder Chris Thompson is in deep shit once the Bethel monitors see JW News or this thread...
• 

  james_woods

  Two comments:

  1) - This would seem to indicate that the WTBTS still thinks they can get away without having anybody register as "Working with Children" - if I am reading it correctly. In other words - no changes are actually being made after the Unthank case, as was reported earlier. At least, it appears that they prepared a special needs letter and had it read - a letter saying essentially that the Society takes NO RESPONSIBILITY in this matter.

  2) - I am just going to assume for now that this guy did not ever say, or mean to say, "BORG". This is a transcript of a recorded reading, so this could have found it's way in by accident. I cannot believe any active elder would use this word from the platform, particularly when reading a sensitive letter.
• 

  yourmomma

  anyone know if steve is going to release the actual audio recording?
• 

  soft+gentle

  I think this is a significant victory for mr unthank

  However, this is the second point, if we are in regular contact with a minor, someone under the age of 18, we may still be required by law to have a Working with Children Check. Therefore, if we find ourselves meeting that criteria could you please come and have a talk with myself, as per the direction in the letter there to speak to the coordinator of the Body of Elders, and I will provide you with further direction regarding that.

  according to my understanding of wwc rules regular contact means more than 5 times a year.

  Over here many pioneers are assigned to help individuals who are under the age of 18 and this help is provided over and above whatever family bible study parents provide. Looks to me that a direct result of Mr Unthanks efforts is that now, in Victoria, Jehovahs witnesses must obtain wwc clearance before they can engage in such activities. this to me is a victory for mr unthank, perhaps not as significant as he'd hoped but still he has achieved quite a lot.

  I'm still not convinced though that all elders are required to obtain wwc clearance as is suggested by the newpaper report.
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  Lady Lee

  soft+gentle

  even if they did get these checks what would it matter? If they don't report accusations a person's name will never get on the list
• 

  soft+gentle

  this is true even in the non jw world Lady Lee, as most child molestation crimes are committed by family members and these family members are rarely reported.
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  thetrueone

  "Unlike many religious organizations, congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses do not sponsor any activities that separate, or isolate, children from their parents. For example, we do not organize Sunday Schools, camps, excursions, religious instructions at schools, or any other activities for children."

  Of course they wouldn't want to be recognized as any other religion of Christendom or have to forced to abide by rules created by

  " this wicked system of things ruled by Satan " . Its true they don't have Sunday schools or outside social activities solely designed for

  children as other religious groups do, but they do have door to door service work, where at times young pre-teen children are encouraged

  to participate with adults who are not their parents. The assumable trust comes in to play because well they will be left with responsible

  wholesome JWS adults, which at times, although rarely, proved to be a regrettable mistake in trust.
• 

  james_woods

  I somehow thought this was an up to date letter sent out from the Society a few days or weeks ago.

  Then, I realized that it was actually October of last year. Did anybody else do this too?

  Do we have anything from the Society reflecting their current position that is more current?
• 

  thetrueone

  Since the WTS. is so concerned about its outside public image, to have to abide by this ruling as all the other religions out there,

  doesn't comfortability fit well for obvious reasons . They have presented arguments to oppose this ruling, which do have some merits

  but its not a lock shut case as I mentioned previously. To even embrace the notion that within their religion there is any kind of

  problem with pedophilia, is something they would never knowingly accept, to the detriment to children who do actually become victims.

  Are religion is pure and clean since this is Jehovah's chosen religious faith, as the mantra goes.

  This endeavored distinguishable image has cost some unfortunate JW children irreparable emotional damage which they will

  most likely carry throughout the rest of their lives.