As many of you know my Brother an Elder was called on to sit in a "judicial committee" re-instatement.
The brother has in the past done all he can to prove he is repentant but this time the CO was here and apparently had a few things to say to the COBE when they were discussing the process. The CO asked why the poor guy had four re-instatement hearings and why the CO had received a letter from him detailing that he "did not think he could do anymore".
Anyway, long story short, the CO sat in the hearing and hey presto the brother was re-instated. My brother and the CO spoke with the brother and the CO said that he had done well and was sorry that the process has taken so long and shook his hand.
Now he mentioned the latest letter about confidentiality and said that the society is being hit left right and center with civil lawsuits and are scared as the have no way of defending them. Terms such as "agents" "representatives" or "volunteers of" are not to be used and they are to code phone calls when calling the society as the whole clergy penitent thing is going up the whazoo.
Apparently, they are being sued by a sister in bethel who slipped and fell and injured her back seriously while in service and who asked the society to foot the bill. They refused stating the she is a "volunteer" and they have no responsibility for her period. The case is heading to court, when and where I do not know but they will not budge.
There are also civil suits about breaches in confidentiality and they are facing real trouble there. They may have to end the paper work relating to people being sent to Bethel as there are people issuing subpoena's for their files.
If I find out any more I will pass it on, but it is interesting that they have abused peoples rights for so long and now they are getting closed in on.
One interesting comment he heard in response to a talk about Caesers law and how the GB law makes it difficult to keep records was " how do you know that Jehovah is not allowing this to show you how wrong it is to "keep account". Of course the reply would be that they do no wrong.
Ill keep you updated on anything I hear.