Just received this update
http://us7.campaign-archive1.com/?u=8e90fa1e64ebb08847cc04916&id=fcec86ae2b&e=0670c7af59
Latest from Australian Royal Commission
by gerry 34 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse
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gerry
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smiddy
Wow thanks for posting that gerry.The fact that Jehovahs Witnesses are included in that short version , should speak volumes .
Short version , as contrasted with the many institutions that were examined by the commission.
I hold my breath ,that justice will prevail.
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gerry
3 November 2016
Royal Commission seeks submissions about various religious institutions
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse will hold a public hearing commencing in February 2017 into the current policies and procedures of each religious institution named below in relation to child protection and child-safe standards, including responding to allegations of child sexual abuse.
This hearing is expected to include consideration of factors that may have contributed to the occurrence of child sexual abuse in religious institutions and factors that may have affected the institutional response of religious institutions to child sexual abuse. This hearing may also examine the responses of named institutions to relevant case study report(s).
The Royal Commission invites submissions from individuals and organisations concerning the current policies and procedures in place and the response of the institution to the relevant case studies and case study reports.
The Royal Commission may invite selected individuals or organisations to speak to their submissions, however, it is not proposed that leave to appear will be granted.
Those institutions are:- Catholic Church authorities in Australia;
- Anglican Church authorities in Australia;
- Yeshivah Melbourne and Yeshiva Bondi;
- Uniting Church in Australia;
- Jehovah’s Witnesses and Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia Ltd.
The identity of anyone who provides information will be protected and will be kept confidential.
Submissions should be made by 25 November 2016 in writing to GPO Box 5283, Sydney, NSW, 2001 or via email to [email protected]. Submissions can be anonymous.
If individuals have participated in a private session and would like their session to be recognised as a formal, confidential submission, please contact the Royal Commission at [email protected].Copyright © 2016 Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you subscribed at the Royal Commission website or have previously agreed to receive updates. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please unsubscribe below.
Our mailing address is:
Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual AbuseGPO Box 5283Sydney, NSW 2001Australia
Add us to your address book -
Xanthippe
Thanks very much for this.
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darkspilver
Hi gerry
you'll probably like to remove the unsubscribe/update preferences from the bottom of the email you posted above.
actually, you'll probably also like to remove the link in your first post too - it's a 'personal' email addressed to you.
fyi you should have clicked the link at the bottom of the personal email you got sent - "forward to a friend" - then clicked again at the top of the next page - "email campaign" - which would have given you a 'clean' email you could have posted a link too and/or copy and pasted in full.
just sayin'!
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Listener
This hearing is expected to include consideration of factors that may have contributed to the occurrence of child sexual abuse in religious institutions and factors that may have affected the institutional response of religious institutions to child sexual abuse. This hearing may also examine the responses of named institutions to relevant case study report(s).
This is great news. The Watchtower has been specifically selected along with four other institutions for further review. What are the odds? Actually, not great when you consider the final response they submitted after their hearings. Basically, they asked for it from their lack of co-operation and arrogance displayed during the hearing and in their written response.
From my reading of the above, this means that not only will they examine their policies further and advise on where they fall short but they will dig deeper and examine what their ingrained problems that hinder them in being able to deal with the problem effectively.
This is not good news for them but they must have known it was coming because they are continuing to excuse their actions. The February 2017 Watchtower comes to mind when they say"the governing body is neither inspired, nor infallible, therefore it (they/we) can err in doctrinal matters or in organizational direction ."
They are just imperfect men but the Commission will want more of an explanation than that. -
freddo
@Listener
I wonder if they (GB) knew this added investigation was coming down the pipe a few weeks ago and this is why the Feb 2017 WT (Study copy) had that eye catching sentence about the GB in it?
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smiddy
Jehovahs witnesses /Governing Body members are masters at deflecting questions and not answering direccty questions put to them , rather they will try to put the questionare off gaurd and go off on another tangent .
However if they are subjected to anybody as professional as Angus Stewart they will meet their match , I can only hope so.
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Listener
Freddo - I wonder if they (GB) knew this added investigation was coming down the pipe a few weeks ago and this is why the Feb 2017 WT (Study copy) had that eye catching sentence about the GB in it?
If it was just a few weeks ago then I don't think so. It is months before they get an idea to put something into print and go through the whole process of having it written and checked. However, the arguments presented in that magazine were so poorly written and defended that it could have been a rush job.
The Commission mentioned a couple of times during their Case Study that they had been in private discussions with them and that there would be future discussions. I'm sure that they would have been aware of their position. They were told and encouraged to contribute any new procedures that they planned to put in place and that they would check up on them in this regard. The Commission's position has been to seek out solutions and it has been relying on the co-operation of organizations. If that's not forthcoming then they've got to seek ways of getting the best outcome that they can. The Commission, after all, has to demonstrate it's productiveness and achievements, millions of dollars are being spent and individuals working in the Commission have their own reputations at stake.
We know the attitude of the Org. is prideful, stubborn and basically non submissive and won't admit to their shortcomings. When their hand is forced they then attempt to mitigate any damage and that is probably why we saw that statement in the Watchtower. They'd have to know this was coming to them early on, certainly after their written response, which was over a year ago. If the Commission was doing its job properly (and it appears that they are) then they would have written to the Watchtower and expressed their dismay.
Their response was appalling and it reminded me of the bully kid that gets told off and just stands with his hands over his ears and pokes his tongue out. Maybe the org. is now reconsidering it's own attitude in writing that response and regret it, I'm sure there are some in the organization that would be appalled at what was written but this attitude is systemic throughout the organization.
I can't remember which poster pointed out that unlike other times when they have said that they err and are not infallible, this current statement includes the comment that it also includes organizational direction. -
gerry
thanks darkspilver
just trying to figure out how to edit .. any help guys