Wow! It always amazed me how JW Elders could admit such errors, and still justify the organization. Maybe his honesty at the end of your conversation is a good sign ... maybe he too will wake up one day and leave the religion. Let's hope.
Following Bible principles, we will avoid trying to live - or demand others to live - by an extensive and rigid set of dos and don'ts that go beyond the teachings of the Bible. The Watchtower, 4-15-02, pg 22, pp 15