An Un-Invitation Card

by ozziepost 31 Replies latest watchtower scandals

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  ozziepost

  "Do Witnesses break up families?" has been a common topic over the years. The WTS denies that it does and coaches the R&F in how to answer such objections. Why was the objection made at all? "There's no smoke without fire" is a common saying that needs to be brought to bear on this topic.

  So what experiences have non-JWs had that would lead them to say such a thing? Clearly they feel that some families have been "broken". But who did the 'breaking'? Was it the non-JW (or exJW) or was it the JW?

  When a Dub no longer associates with a congregation, what is the family's reaction? Do they recognise that a person has free-will and all of us stand before the judgment seat of God? Or do they act in a manner that's determined by their masters, the WTS?

  This topic has been brought home to Mrs Ozzie and I by the following 'Un-Invitation Card'. You may never have heard of such a thing, but apparently there is one!

  Next Saturday is my niece's wedding to which all the generations of the family are invited. My niece is my sister's daughter and, until the end of last year, was employed by Mrs Ozzie in her private coaching/tutoring business as a teacher. My sister was Mrs Ozzie's bridesmaid at our own wedding.

  Yesterday we received a card which I have transcribed below:
  ======================================================================
  (Ozzie) and (Mrs Ozzie),

  Due to recent circumstances, it saddens us that now we must withdraw our invitation for you to attend our wedding and reception.

  We thank you in advance for co-operating with our wishes.
  (Niece) and (husband-to-be)

  
  =====================================================================
  So there you can see an example of a Wedding Un-Invitation Card. We would remind all those tempted or drawn towards the WTS to stop and think. Act with extreme caution.

  Is that what you would want in your family? Do you believe it's Christian?

  Cheers,
  Ozzie

  "If our hopes for peace are placed in the hands of imperfect people, they are bound to evaporate."

  
  - Ron Hutchcraft Surviving the Storms of Stress
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  TR

  Ozzie,

  claim you never received the card and go anyway.

  TR

  UADNA-WA
  Unseen Apostate Directorate of North America- Washington Division
• 

  Englishman

  Ye Gods, this is disgusting.

  Ignore it and go anyway, Mr & Mrs Ozzie!

  Englishman fuming...
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  outnfree

  (((((Ozziepost and Mrs. Ozzie))))))

  You certainly put this post in the right forum! That un-invitation is scandalous!

  YES, the WT divides families! Friends, too.
  I am so sorry for you, as I know this is a quite difficult time. When I was recently about to have a reunion with a JW, my DA status prevented the meeting. I was blown off with a "Well, you know what you have to do [to be able to lunch with me]!" And I was stunned by my own reaction: I bawled like a baby and felt so worthless in that person's eyes! How could I be a worthy associate one day and someone to be avoided like the plague the next?!!! ONLY in the Watchtower World(TM)!

  Tell me, do you REALLY think the niece and her mother will be happier without the two of you there on her special day? I doubt it. (shaking my head in sorrow and disgust, knowing they will MISS the two of you and are doing this only to conform to what's expected by their 'Friends'. Hah!)

  outnfree

  It's what you learn after you know it all that counts -- John Wooden
• 

  Joyzabel

  My heart goes out to you and Mrs Ozzie.

  I am beyond being amazed anymore at what lengths jws (especially family members) go to in keeping up some organization's standards.

  We were suppose to go last weekend to a college graduation of someone who was in our bookstudy for 10 years. He lost his father last fall and we wanted to be supportive of his efforts since his dad was a good friend of ours. We were verbally invited by his mom and when the actual invite didn't come in the mail, I called to confirm the time (we would have had to drive 6 hours one way to go)when she himmed and hawwed around, I finaly had to point blank ask if we were not invited anymore because of rumors going around about us being "apostates".

  So I sympathize with you and hope that you know in your heart who is really showing love, unconditionally.

  Hugs,
  j2bf
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  Angharad

  ((((((Mr & Mrs Ozzie)))))))))

  So sorry you are having to deal with this, it really is sickening.

  Take care of each other
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  detective

  Tell me you'll be withdrawing your wedding gift, right?

  That's just wrong. Really wrong.

  I'm sorry people have to go through that. I'm sorry Ozzie & Mrs. Ozzie. You deserve better treatment than that.
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  teenyuck

  I agree....say you did not get the invite and go.

  {{{Ozzie & Mrs.}}}
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  Mulan

  It seems to me the Kingdom Hall is a place where you can go, if you want to be there.

  One of our sons was df'd when two of our other children were married. He came to the weddings. Another couple we knew had disfellowshipped parents at their wedding, and the father poured champagne at the reception. He was the groom's father, and paid for the reception. No one was bothered terribly by that either. I thought it was odd, but didn't care.

  It's terrible for her to make such an issue of this.

  Marilyn (aka Mulan)
  "No one can take advantage of you, without your permission." Ann Landers
  
• 

  writerpen

  When my sister was married, my brother was invited to the wedding ceremony in the Kingdom Hall, but not the reception. Well, before they got married, they went down behind the barn to make sure everything worked okay, and then confessed. The brothers wouldn't let them get married in the Kingdom Hall so the reception hall is where they moved everything to. My brother was unaware of the reason it had been moved to the reception hall and assumed that it was so that he could attend both events. He is such a humble guy and really believed this. My father was still an elder at the time and gave the wedding talk. After the wedding people were talking to my brother even though they knew his situation. Two weeks after that, my father was deleted. We can't figure out if it was because of my brother's attendance at the reception, of which my father was furious over and actually pulled poor Allen out of the reception hall - or if it was because of my sister trying the sex thing out before marriage. If the latter is the case, they allowed him to remain an elder long enough to give that talk and to marry her. Chaps my ass if you ask me.