Those in a position to call Brooklyn

by hillary_step 38 Replies latest jw friends

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  Marvin Shilmer

  This discussion of Jaracz is intriguing. What is to be done by insiders?

  There is an irony to this situation given that lesser charges have been sustained in cases I know of personally. I have sat and watched the formation of judicial committees on the word of a single person when the accusation was deemed of sufficient gravity, such as, So-and-so raped me! This even at the counsel of other elders to measure the veracity of the accusation first!

  Then I have also sat and watched elders muse over what should be done with similar accusations about whether they should question the accusation further or just hold the matter in abeyance.

  But what about this thing with Jaracz?

  I must admit cracking a smile about the whole thing as I thought back about recorded comments made by J. R. Brown. Before I listened to his rambling comments about such accusations I would have said that a person that insisted on the sort of allegations made against Jaracz would be disfellowshipped as a slanderer if they were unable to sustain THEIR claim. But Brown says that is not the case--that single voices crying accusations of child molestation are not dealt with as slanderers! So, according to Browns statements about WTS policy, the one making these allegations should NOT be dealt with as a slanderer! Of course, this was prior to the accusation made against Jaracz!

  This leaves little option but for the WTS to somehow investigate the allegation and then decide how to proceed, if at all. I dont know the details, but if this person has made these allegations on a previous occasion to the WTS then they might just dismiss the whole thing now by saying We investigated that matter then and found not evidence to pursue the matter. But this may not be enough now! Now, given the laws of the land, it might behoove the WTS to report the accusation to secular authorities, depending on what is required in the local of the alleged incident. This could lead to its own investigation, including possible subpoena of internal documents.

  If this is the first time this accusation voiced then the only way the WTS can investigate it is to go to the only two parties that would know, Jaracz and his accuser. It should prove interesting to see how the WTS handles this matter. They can hardly afford to ignore it given the attention this whole thing stands to gain from journalists. They are sure to ask about such an accusation just as they have already asked Bishops and Cardinals of the RCC about similar allegations. The WTS will have to have some kind answer! That answer should prove telling.

  Edited by - Marvin Shilmer on 30 September 2002 20:43:31
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  hillary_step

  Minimus,

  The term 'may' applies not to accusations of gross sins, but when a person may have been accused of a minor wrongdoing like lying, or even smoking. Every gross sin must be investigated.

  Look in your elders book at p118. under the heading 'Before Forming A Judicial Committe'. The 'witness' to the crime is encouraged to confront the wrongdoer, with the proviso that this may not be sensible if the victim has been raped.

  This victim has followed all the neccessary, and even some uneccesary steps to require an investigation by two elders. She has tried to confront her accuser. It is now neccessary that two elders investigate her accusations, which I re-iterate are not as yet proven or not proven.

  Especially in these circumstances, when a public accusation of a very serious nature has been made against a person with 'responsibilities' an investigation is always undertaken. Remember, this is not a judicial committee, but an 'investigating committe' that is convened to investigate whether a 'gross sin' has taken place.

  Best regards - HS
• 

  hillary_step

  Cygnus,

  Minimus is right. There is nothing that says Jaracz has to be investigated or questioned by anybody. And if I were him, whether the allegations were true or not, I would have no comment whatsoever.

  Actually Cygnus there is, as I have noted above. In this sort of case there is always an investigation, especially when it becomes public.

  I would agree however that Jaracz is better off keeping very quiet at this stage, remember there are many knives sharpening in Legal who have been after his throat for may years.

  How are you feeling these days, by the way?

  Best regards - HS
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  minimus

  Hillary, let's say 2 GB MEMBERS ask him whether or not he did it, would that not suffice?
• 

  hillary_step

  Hi Minimus,

  Yes, it would and if he denied it, as you know nothing would be done about it. However, if later on facts, and I emphasize facts that indicate that he actually was guilty of such sins became known and it is evident that he lied about them he would almost certainly be disfellowshipped. If the GB chose to protect him and facts emerge that indicate his guilt they would be complicit in his crimes and would be investigated by the authorities.

  A possibility however must also be entertained and that is that TJ is innocent. The WTS may feel inclined to launch its own law suit against the accuser to protect the reputation, not of TJ but of the WTS itself, time will tell.

  Best regards - HS
• 

  hillary_step

  Hi TR,

  Is the person who made the accusation DF'd, and does that make a difference whether or not there will be a WT inquiry into the matte r?

  Not when a 'gross sin' has been committed and especially not if it becomes public knowledge. I knew of a case where a young girl acused an elder of having had an affair with her. She made this accusation when she was being dealt with over another extra-marital affair that she was conducting. Two elders investigated the matter and he denied all knowledge of the affair and no action was taken. She was disfellowshipped. A few months later she met with an elder and again accused the person and he was again questioned, this time admitting the affair. He was DF'd shortly afterward.

  Of course, it will all depend on the body of elders as to how they react to these issues.

  Best - HS

  Edited by - hillary_step on 30 September 2002 22:31:30
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  Siddhashunyata

  To add a little more to the "stew". If Jarez is involved it is likely that he is not alone. His "trail" through the organization is now suspect. Who are his favorites? Where has he been? Who sponsored him?
• 

  Lee Elder

  I have heard enough information from those in a position to know to feel comfortable treating the accusation seriously. Following WTS procedures, the body of elders in TJ congregation have a responsibility to appoint two elders and conduct an investigtion of this allegation.

  Lee
• 

  hillary_step

  Lee,

  The WTS has claimed two lines of defense in the past regarding their reaction to the of child-abuse within the congregations of the WTS.

  1) Secular Law has been obeyed and when it has not been adhered to this has been the been not the fault of the WTS or its procedures but individual elders who do not follow these procedures carefully enough.

  2) That the WTS has its own superior theological framework which it brings into operation to handle such cases and that this structure is based very strictly on both Biblical and WTS organizational procedures.

  It now behoves them to put into operation the procedure that they have claimed to have adhered to throughout this whole process.

  1) Report Theodore Jaracz to the authorities on suspicion of child-abuse.

  2) Gavanise the theological procedures of which they are so proud, and closely investigate these publicly made accusations by appointing two experienced Bethel elders to investigate these allegations.

  It is going to be interesting to see the reaction as to how these lines of defense will stand the pressure of being tested when the WTS own leaders are accused of henious crimes for which long prison sentences are normally handed out. The world is watching.

  Best regards - HS
• 

  Mulan

  So..............has anyone actually made a call to Brooklyn. This might be fun.