This just in: Bethel now accepting catholics too!
Dr Monica Applewhite!
by username 64 Replies latest watchtower scandals
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StrongHaiku
freemindfade - This just in: Bethel now accepting catholics too!
LOL! Scandals make for strange bedfellows.
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Marvin Shilmer
Out of its millions of followers, it's telling that Watchtower fails to bring forth one who's a female trained in social science with expertise in the field of good practice in response to allegation of sexual molestation who'd be willing to say Watchtower's policy to EVER have a victimized woman face a MALE-ONLY tribunal and her MALE offender, and without SUPPORT in the room, is good practice.
Oh. I forgot. Watchtower frowns on higher education. And, now that I think about it, it's doubtful that a member female who's ever lived through this nightmare would be willing to say it's good practice. In each case an outsider would be better suited.
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StrongHaiku
Thinking back when I was a witness ~30 years ago, I would have been disturbed by a secular, "worldly"-educated person trying to represent the Organization. I had fully bought into the idea that the "truth" and the Organization could stand for themselves in the face of contrary opinion, evidence, etc. I was taught that ANY JW worth their salt could represent the Organization and Jehovah with just a Bible. If you have the "truth" why would you need an "expert witness"? This is all too surreal...
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Vidiot
Given all we know now, she actually seems like a good fit for the WTS. -
respectful_observer
http://www.skynews.com.au/news/national/2015/07/31/expert-admits-jehovah-s-witnesses-flawed.html
Expert admits Jehovah's Witnesses flawed
The treatment of child abuse victims by the Jehovah's Witness church is seriously flawed, a national inquiry has heard from a consultant hired by the church.
Monica Applewhite, a US-based consultant specialising in child abuse risk analysis and education programs for institutions, mostly churches, was employed by Watchtower Australia to evaluate the Witnesses' policies for the royal commission hearing.
Watchtower Australia is the legal entity of the Jehovah's Witness church.
Dr Applewhite, who has been an expert witness in abuse trials in Britain and the US, submitted a report in which she noted the Jehovah's Witnesses were a cut above other religious organisations in Australia.
The doctor, who has listed work with the Catholic archdioceses of Melbourne and Adelaide on her extensive CV, said she had not found examples in Australia of a religious organisation that provided better information than the Witnesses on how to support abuse victims.
But she confessed her research was based on Jehovah's Witness publications, not on empirical studies.
Her knowledge of every religious organisation was also limited and she was unable to immediately identify the other religious organisations to which she was referring.
When asked by Angus Stewart SC, counsel for the commission, whether Jehovah's Witness procedure was 'deficient when measured against current best practice', Dr Applewhite replied: 'Does it meet all current best practices? It probably doesn't.'
Jehovah's Witness procedure is based on biblical teachings.
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse heard this week from two women who had gone through the Jehovah's Witness process for handling child sex abuse allegations.
In both cases the church did not uphold the allegations because, under church law, two witnesses are required to prove any wrongdoing.
This rule is based on the Witnesses' interpretation of scripture and the handling of wrongdoers.
The women told the commission how an internal judicial hearing required them to detail the abuse to three church elders, all men, in front of the alleged abuser.
Justice Peter McClellan asked Dr Applewhite if she thought this process was appropriate.
Dr Applewhite said there were better ways.
She also agreed that under the two witnesses rule, abuse victims could be further traumatised because they were not being believed.
Justice McClellan said: 'It is by no means an ideal place for someone's psychological wellbeing to be placed?'
Dr Applewhite replied: 'That's true.'
When Andrew Tokley SC, counsel for the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia, suggested Dr Applewhite be allowed to submit a supplementary report, Justice McClellan said it needed to be more than an expression of opinion.
He pointed out the commission needed information that would help address the obvious flaws in the Witnesses' procedures.
If Dr Applewhite was going to supply further information, Justice McClellan said it should be done within the next few weeks.
- See more at: http://www.skynews.com.au/news/national/2015/07/31/expert-admits-jehovah-s-witnesses-flawed.html#sthash.U3iEVcV5.dpuf
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AudeSapere
Watchtower rhetoric contradicts Watchtower practice.
Also, Ms Applewhite complete missed the point of the entire commission - although Justice McClennan recognized where this problem originated. She was not given the proper assignment by Watchtower. McClennan stated, "Whoever asked her to give this form of statement was missing the point."
I think the WT is *so* accustomed to 'defending and legally establishing' itself and taking every public opportunity to brag and boast about how much better and faster and blessed they are than everyone else, that it was completely blinded to the clearly stated aim of these hearings.
Maybe it was their collective legal reflex kicking in that caused them to miss the point.
Or maybe they really are just a publishing business, run by arrogant bumbling buffoons, masquerading as a kookie-but-legalistic religion.
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AudeSapere
A cursory thought I had while listening to her testimony late last night was that, in theory and as evidenced by their own written material (especially the Awake! articles from the late 80's and early 90's), the WTS has the tools and exceptional communication systems in place that are needed to establish and maintain 'best practices'. They *do* know how to get their adherents' attention. They *could* present the protective information and values from the platform and/or in their WT study articles. They have an army of volunteers who are not afraid to walk up to strangers and present a message that they deem important.
They have everything in place that could actually effect a significant change that would benefit people on a deep and personal level.
They could. But they don't.
Instead they choose to bolster their image at the expense of their substance and their humanity.
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stan livedeath
is applewhite a brand of white cider ? i like white cider.
a bit too much to be honest.
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snare&racket
Vivianne, I too was amazed when she stated something like ,,,.. "but I'm not paid to do that" .... When asked if she had ever criticised the JW's, it indicated her level of intelligence, her lack of insight into the unbiased roll of an 'expert' and just how cunning WT tried to be. The problem is, the smartest man with influence in the WT is peanuts to the intelligence, skills and efforts of the RC.
