Zaphod,
There are none so blind as those who will not see. These so-called leaders of the congregation are mere puppets in the hands of the GB/WBTS propaganda machine. They have no sense of perspective or proportion, meting out such severe punishment to an elderly woman, after 50 years of dedicated service, just for reaching out to a family loved one who happened to be "branded" by the same organization the created this mess in the first place.
This whole empire is just plain SICK. And it's all based on a misinterpretation of Scripture to begin with.
That poor woman! Maybe this thing will serve as a useful catalyst to wake her up to just what she has been serving all these years. I just hope she can hold herself together in all this, no thanks to them.
Rod P.