by Alfred 12 Replies latest watchtower scandals
A friend just showed me a message from Steven Unthank on Facebook where he mentioned (about 4 hours ago) that the State of Victoria will be launching an investigation into ALL religions, including the Jehovah's Witnesses... he also mentioned that he will likely testify.
I don't know anything else about this because the message was brief, but I assume it has something to do with the protection of pedophiles...
Has anyone else heard this yet?
Makes sense if your goal is to protect all children. This pedophile/abuse problem is not only in the WTS but the Catholic Church and many Protestant organizations, Jewish and Islamic. Unfortunately, it is an equal opportunity crime.
All churches/organizations have an issue with this, hopefully some requirements/controls can be put in place to help with the problem.
I know that in Virginia folks who work with youth are required to have background checks and when I have worked with youth, we had a rule that there had to always be two adults present around any child.
Laws and guidance can not stop everything, but if it can stop even a few of these heinous activities it is some benefit.
The JWs are going to love this. The government turning on religion is a sign . . . .
On the JW News facebook page Steven Unthank posted the following:
www.jwnews.net
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
On January, 31, 2011, Victorian Premier, Ted Baillieu, launched the "Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children Inquiry" to comprehensively investigate systemic problems in Victoria’s child protection system, and make recommendations to strengthen and improve, the protection and support of vulnerable young Victorians.
On June 8, 2011, Steven Unthank gave a public verbal submission to the Inquiry, in addition to a substantial written submission of which w as not published. Unthank's submission was against the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Watch Tower Society, over the criminal abuse of children within their church setting. The verbal submission primarily discussed the failure of the religion to comply with the Working with Children laws. http://bit.ly/children-inquiry
On February 21, 2012, the Inquiry handed its report to the state government. Section 14.5 of the report deals with, not only Steven Unthank's testimony and submission, but also the submissions of a number of others, against various religious organisations. Recommendation 48 of the report (Section 14.5) stated that "a formal investigation should be conducted into the processes by which religious organisations respond to the criminal abuse of children by religious personnel within their organisations. Such an investigation should possess the powers to compel the elicitation of witness evidence and of documentary and electronic evidence."
Today, the State of Victoria announced that they will investigate religious organisations. Among those to be investigated will be the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. Steven Unthank will again be giving evidence.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/victoria-to-hold-wide-ranging-inquiry-into-church-sex-abuse-cases/story-e6frg6nf-1226330043322
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-17/government-announces-church-sex-abuse-probe/3955414/?site=melbourne
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/vic-govt-under-fire-over-church-inquiry-20120417-1x4tt.html
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/state-government-inquiry-to-probe-sexual-abuse-suicide-link-in-religious-organisations/story-fn7x8me2-1226330067211
This will only entreach all witnesses even further. I believe David Koresh said similar things to his diciples before the govt raided him too. The way i see it all Cults know they have a limited time to operate before they piss enough people off and then make predictable self prophesy to keep people in till the bitter end. Am I right or am I right?
Thanks Barbara!
I hope it wont be a dud again sick of hearing yes we are going to do something then finding out that they do nothing.
Woweeeeeeeeeeee....thanx for the post!!!
:o That's crazy! Wow, very glad to hear though, no matter what religion/organization, there are too many accounts of child molestation... well, there should be NONE at all!!!
But yeah, this will definitely make the org and their little sheep feel like they were right all along, everything is going right on time...
