Hi Waiting and IW: I have been following yours and others posts, trying to decide what I think of this saga.
I still have some mixed feelings. When Bill first published his 'apology' I took it at face value, and posted a thanks to him. Then, I talked with Ray Franz again, and he mentioned talking with Bill, and his tone suggested the conversation went well. But, when I went back to visit the earlier posts that Bill edited, I saw this phrase repeated everywhere, "Is Ray Franz Great or What?" ... and, as much as I hate reading emotions and/or a state of mind into the written word, there is a sense of sarcasm that comes across ... such that Bill's "apology" did not appear to be really an apology, but more of a resentful regret.
I don't believe in dwelling on things, and certainly not difficulties between other people, especially difficulties that should be kept between them alone. Yet, there are some additional things here that knaw at me: Both Bill and Ray are not just "anybody," but have built reputations upon very visible activity that has clearly affected the lives of many. Bill did not just drag Ray into negative public comments, but earlier he was behaving similarly with Hillary-Step and some others ... it is more of a style-pattern he has developed, and the 'Ray Franz' issue is the most recent in a series of similar steps that go back to the "Mad Apostate" saga.
Almost everyone, me included, has overlooked one irratic step after another, allowing for imperfections, blunders, and human error, or whatever we like to call it ... but each time letting it pass because of the greater good, the greater cause, the noble quest to save the victims, and force public accountability on the Watchtower Society ... then, I realized something far more germane to the issue ...
This saga between Ray and Bill hurt the victims because it undermines the unified face of the ex-JW movement. Granted, we are a loose coalition of everything from athiests to fundamentalists Bible thumpers ... but we have all stood together on this single all-important issue affecting victims of molestation among Jehovah's Witnesses. Once brought into the public realm, it was no longer just about Bill and Ray, but became a breach between two well known ex-JWs ... one with a very vocal and noble cause, and the other who made a dynamic contribution, but otherwise stays on the sidelines ... this breach exposed division, and given that the Society monitors these boards, could play into their hands.
What is most germane in my mind? It was not just that Bill commented negatively about Ray, or that he thought Ray was not doing anything, or that Ray wrote a policy that was eventually used to the detriment of molestation victims, but rather something far more powerful. It was when Bill plainly and clearly stated that Ray supported current Watchtower policy on victims of molestation, and that Ray was not able to take a moral and ethical stand ... this position coming from Bill was most shocking, and confused me, since I consider Bill a friend ... I could not understand how he could make such an extreme statement without facts. That prompted my calls to Ray Franz. The clear and emphatic response by Ray Franz, also a good friend, made it clear to me that what took place is more than a mere foible, or "opps" ... it was a major breach, and one that has caused serious set-backs for the SilentLambs efforts ... not insurmountable, but one where Bill will lose much needed support in the way of person-power and financial backing.
What I want or expect? What I want is to go back in time and ask Bill to rethink making such statements about Ray Franz, but instead, stay focused on his mission to save the children. Even if Ray were guilty as charged, it would not benefit SilentLambs one iota to drag him into the mud. Far better to stay on the high road. Nonetheless, all that is history, and what is done, is done ... some are somehow able to let it all pass and chalk it up to mere foolish blunder, others are not ... and I really don't know at this point what to think or expect, except that I have to believe that at some point Bill will come to realize how serious this blunder is, and take more proactive steps to make amends - without sarcasm - and then he can hope to move on nearly as before ... but, I believe that he does not see the need, and will likely ignore this post and others like it ... and as a result, the damage done will never get the chance to heal and restore the credibility needed to have full suppport.
Whatever the case, I hope that I am wrong, because, this is one of the few times in Watchtower history where there is a chance to force some constructive change ... and I hope that in weeks or months from now, I will be able to say how wrong I was ... but as it stands, it looks real bad for Bill.