Australian Press Continues to Spread the News

Kenneson

"Jehovahs accused of abuse"

http://www.theage.com.au/breaking/2002/09/22FFXNUL3VD6D.html

outnfree

Hey, Kenneson,

The link is not working -- at least not to the article you mentioned. I tried a search, too, and came up with nothing.

Perhaps if you have it you could post the text of the article?

Thanks,

out

This story has already been moved. The only way I can tell you to retrieve it is this. Click the same link above. On the left side click on news, which will bring you to the next page. Then click on breaking. That will bring you to the next page. The article is listed at the top of that page.

outnfree

Jehovah's accused of abuse SYDNEY | Published: Sunday September 22, 8:05 PM

Some elders of the Jehovah's Witness church covered up child abuse and obstructed police investigations, according to victims of the abuse and former elders.

The church's leader in Australia on Sunday denied the allegations, but said police were sometimes not informed to protect victims.

One victim, Simon Thomas, a member of the Corrimal congregation on the NSW south coast as a boy, said if the church had listened to his pleas other children could have been spared abuse by convicted paedophile Robert Souter. '); document.write(' '); document.write(''); document.write(''); document.write(''); document.write('

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Souter pleaded guilty in August 2000 to one count of buggery and four counts of indecent assault on two teenage boys from 1978-80 and was sentenced to five years jail with a non-parole period of three years.

"If the church had listened to my pleas, all of those kids could have been saved," Mr Thomas told the Nine Network's Sunday program.

Souter was arrested after the Thomas family went to the police.

During sentencing Judge John Goldring criticised the lack of action by the Jehovah's Witness, officially known as the Watchtower and Bible Tract Society, after Souter admitted the offences to church elders.

"This matter was not reported to the police, as it should have been ... I cannot criticise the church sufficiently seriously for not having reported this matter," the judge said.

Another victim, Natalie Webb, who was sexually abused by her father from the age of four to 17, said elders told her not to notify authorities.

Her father is serving a 10-year sentence in Victoria after she finally went to the police.

2002

COMF

but said police were sometimes not informed to protect victims.

Oh... yeah... that makes sense...

jwsons

The link missed a slash. AND it should as below:

http://theage.com.au/breaking/2002/09/22/FFXNUL3VD6D.html

jwsons

The link missed a slash. And it should be as below:

http://theage.com.au/breaking/2002/09/22/FFXNUL3VD6D.html

jwsons

Kenneson

Jwsons,

Thanks.

Lady Lee

Jehovah's accused of abuse SYDNEY | Published: Sunday September 22, 8:05 PM

Some elders of the Jehovah's Witness church covered up child abuse and obstructed police investigations, according to victims of the abuse and former elders.

The church's leader in Australia on Sunday denied the allegations, but said police were sometimes not informed to protect victims.

One victim, Simon Thomas, a member of the Corrimal congregation on the NSW south coast as a boy, said if the church had listened to his pleas other children could have been spared abuse by convicted paedophile Robert Souter.

Souter pleaded guilty in August 2000 to one count of buggery and four counts of indecent assault on two teenage boys from 1978-80 and was sentenced to five years jail with a non-parole period of three years.

"If the church had listened to my pleas, all of those kids could have been saved," Mr Thomas told the Nine Network's Sunday program.

Souter was arrested after the Thomas family went to the police.

During sentencing Judge John Goldring criticised the lack of action by the Jehovah's Witness, officially known as the Watchtower and Bible Tract Society, after Souter admitted the offences to church elders

"This matter was not reported to the police, as it should have been ... I cannot criticise the church sufficiently seriously for not having reported this matter," the judge said.

Another victim, Natalie Webb, who was sexually abused by her father from the age of four to 17, said elders told her not to notify authorities.

Her father is serving a 10-year sentence in Victoria after she finally went to the police.

2002

http://theage.com.au/breaking/2002/09/22/FFXNUL3VD6D.html

Edited by - Lady Lee on 22 September 2002 12:40:30

outnfree

Thanks, guys!

I tried to fix the formatting, but it was showing as normal in Word and showing up all convoluted here. THEN, when I thought I had it fixed in Word, I couldn't get Edit to work here, and my replies were getting hung up. So I gave up -- lol.

Sorry for how bad that previous post looks.

out

Australian Press Continues to Spread the News

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