Reports are being circulated that congregation elders in New South Wales have been instructed what to tell householders who raise questions about the recent "Sunday" program report. They are to say that it's all lies.
Amazingly this contradicts the evidence from decided court cases as shown in the program.
The publishers are being told that the interview with a former WTS director must be all lies because he's an apostate!
One publisher from the Ingleburn congregation had this experience:
Householder: Have you seen the "Sunday" program?
Publisher: Yes, it was all lies! They showed an interview with a church minister who wants to spread lies about us.
Householder: Well that minister happens to be my minister, and I know he's no liar! He's the most truthful man, and very kind to all the people in the church. So don't come here slandering my minister.
Further north, the congregation where another former elder was interviewed on the program have also been given the same message.
But not all dubs are "holding the line" on this. One prominent elder associated with the Australia Branch made a personal phone call to one of the elders interviewed, knowing that he was speaking with someone DF for "apostasy". He wanted to have a personal "chat" because he acknowledged that there were many highly placed elders in Australia who were liars and he was very concerned about it. So much so, that it was causing him some disquiet. Interesting, eh?
Another call came to old Ozzie from a former dub associate who wanted to "get together for a chat".
But how have the "worldy folk" reacted to the program? Typical is the response of the proprietor of the "Apostates Restaurant" who animatedly said: "When I saw it, I just couldn't believe it. They're such liars! Disgusting isn't nearly as bad as how I feel right now. Just let them come to my door, I'll soon tell them to go and fix up their own backyard before they come trying to convert me. Hypocrites!!" etc etc
Strangely, the words of a Kingdom Song seem rather appropriate, but not in the way the WTS intended!
"I do not sit with wicked men of lies.
I hate the company of those who truth despise."
("Walking in Integrity" - Song 160)
If you haven't heard the program, check out:
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/media.asp?site=3
Cheers, Ozzie