Posts by defender of truth

101909 · 2016-12-29T16:37:13Z

Dec 29, 2016
A years-long investigation into allegations of child sex abuse in the Jehovah's Witness organization has also uncovered a culture of secrecy at its Watchtower headquarters in Brooklyn.
Last summer, Donald Trump's son-in-law, developer Jared Kushner, bought the property. The Jehovah's Witnesses, meanwhile, have been building a massive compound upstate in Warwick, New York, where they plan to relocate.
Trey Bundy, a reporter for Reveal, from the Center for Investigative Reporting, has been investigating the Watchtower for two years. Watchtower leaders refused to talk to him, but he was able to talk to a former insider about it.
"It's the nerve-center of a multi-billion dollar corporation that has interests in publishing, in real-estate....it's the head of a religion with eight million members, but it's this very secretive place," he said.
Bundy says the Jehovah's Witnesses also have a database that potentially contains the names of thousands of child sex abusers.
In this interview, WNYC's Richard Hake talks with Bundy about his investigation, the Jehovah's Witnesses' vast network in Brooklyn, and why federal authorities haven't stepped in.
www.wnyc.org/story/watchtower-jehovahs-witness-headquarters-brooklyn/

101909 · 2016-12-29T14:59:43Z

I don't know (can't care less either).

Hello scratchme.

I agree with the rest of what you said, but that first sentence is an unusual response.

I care what instructions that elders are being given, as to how to handle sexual abuse cases.

I suspect these might not be the only changes. Also, unless this can be verified by someone who has been to the school,there may be some inaccuracy. You never know. (Not that I am suggesting I don't believe it, it is covering them legally, as Scratchme said. Which is typical behaviour for this Org. There is nothing there to show concern for the victim..)

I hope that you have never been through a 'elders inquisition' after an attack, or that it has happened a member of your family, but I know how stressful they can be. Putting a form in front of someone to sign after they have been discussing such painful and traumatic things, in order to cover themselves from being sued, is rather callous in my view.

In my view, how these cases are going to be handled is important.

How victims are treated is important.

I want to know if this will be a Worldwide practice. Then we can start to get the word out there..

I wonder what the ARC would think of this?

101909 · 2016-12-29T12:20:13Z

sp74bb
Hello to all,
An informant in Spanish forum, active elder in a congregation in Madrid (Spain) has posted new info regarding Elders School 2017. Important changes are to be done for "child" or sexual abuses. https://abusostj.vbulletin.net/forum/main-forum/audiencias-judiciales/5506-escuela-de-ancianos-2017
Doing a summary:
- New changes are being check by the lawyers at this moment.
- Changes are held in order to fulfill European laws.
- Once exposed to a sexual abuse, when the judicial committee starts, the ones present must listened and read a statement stating that applying the state law of the country the victims can report to the authorities.
- The victim might be asked to sign a statement according he/she is aware of the possibility to report to the authorities.
- The signed statement or the info that the victim can report to the authorities will be held inside the "Do not destroy" envelope.
www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5660066994716672/elders-school-2017-new-instructions-handle-sexual-abuses

Many thanks to sp74bb.

Will these directions be given at all Elder schools in 2017?

If you know of anyone who is attending this school, or you will be yourself, please can you post on this thread?

Just to say that you know someone who is going to the school, and in what country.

We would all really appreciate it if you could report back with any details.

I am wondering if this will be a worldwide action.

(Please bump this to the top occasionally).

101909 · 2016-12-28T23:00:46Z

Thank you for sharing this and translating for us.

Is there any good reason to believe that this will be standard practice for all EU states?

We need more insider elders going to schools across EU.

Would it help if someone started a thread, saying something like:

"If you know someone who is going to the Elders school 2017 and might tell you what they heard, in any country, please post here"?

Then we'd know who to ask and could collate the reports.

The OP of this thread could be quoted to get things started..

101909 · 2016-12-24T13:58:30Z

This will be my final word on the subject...

The Watchtower has always used Adamic sin to explain why God allows all humans to inevitably suffer and die, but this teaching does not explain why animals have always suffered and died.

The Watchtower teaches that whilst humans were meant to live forever, animals have always grown old and died, without even a hope of resurrection.

This seems to contradict their teaching of a loving and caring God, who designed the earth to be a wonderful place for humans and animals to live, a God who only allows his creatures to suffer because of the sin committed by Adam and Eve.

The Watchtower teaches that God originally created the earth as a place of peace and security for mankind, without any threat to humans from predators. Humans would live forever, free of disease and pain. It was only Adamic sin that ended this supposed hope of everlasting life on earth without having to grow old and die.

Yet animals have never had such an idyllic existence, even before Adam and Eve sinned.

Animals have been hunting and killing each other for thousands, if not millions, of years before humans existed.

They have also suffered from disease for many years before humans existed.

A sample of the evidence that animals were suffering from disease (such as arthritis), long before Adamic sin occurred, can be found here:

www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/blog/animals-suffering.php

www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/08/70-million-years-later-duck-billed-dinosaur-has-diagnosis-septic-arthritis

www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2144715/The-dinosaurs-suffered-arthritis-150-million-years-ago--scientists-find.html

www.mirrordaily.com/dinosaur-suffered-from-arthritis/

Even the animals who have been fortunate enough to avoid suffering caused by predators and diseases, have inevitably had to experience the ageing process, hence suffering and death.

101909 · 2016-05-21T07:24:52Z

@Vidiot

@Simon

As in Australia, Northern Ireland, Jersey and Scotland, the level of public concern has resulted in calls for an overarching inquiry to look at the big picture, to learn the lessons of the past, to take stock of child protection procedures that are currently in operation, and to set a new course for the future.
In conducting its work, the Inquiry is liaising with the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse, with the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry, with the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry in Northern Ireland, and with the Scottish Inquiry into Historical Abuse of Children in Care. Together the inquiries have much to learn from each other.
https://www.iicsa.org.uk/about-us/background

The jw organisation is not part of the main investigations at this point, they are focusing on the Anglican and Catholic churches. I have emailed them to ask them to look at JW's, but they may not have time in their schedule.

They are open to looking into other organisations though, in the future, so who knows?

These 13 investigations constitute the first phase of the Inquiry’s work and further investigations will be announced as the Inquiry progresses.
https://www.iicsa.org.uk/investigations

To anybody reading this..
If anyone wants to share information with the Inquiry regarding how abuse is handled within the org, or maybe ask them if they might be able to look at the Jehovahs Witnesses next, you can do so confidentially.
"If you wish to ask a question about the Inquiry or if you have information to support our investigations please get in touch:
https://www.iicsa.org.uk/contact-us

Or if you want to help by sharing your experience.

Share your experience
Sharing your information will help us to investigate how institutions failed to protect children from sexual abuse. This part of our work is called the Truth Project. Watch our Truth Project video to find out more about how the Inquiry will work.
We want to hear from:
anyone who was sexually abused as a child in an institutional setting like a care home, a school or a religious, community or state organisation, or who first came into contact with their abuser in an institutional setting
anyone who was sexually abused as a child, and reported their sexual abuse to a person in authority, like a police officer or teacher, where the report was ignored or not properly acted on
https://www.iicsa.org.uk/share-your-experience

101909 · 2016-05-20T09:25:11Z

@akromo

Is there a report available yet?

Thank you.

101909 · 2016-05-20T09:23:02Z

Sorry, I may not have expressed that clearly enough.

The blood policy does obviously endanger children's lives, and they may not make an informed and voluntary decision.

But it is not the responsibility of the IRS to look at what a religion teaches, which is the only link between the parents decision to refuse blood and the org's policy.

Frankly, I have doubts that even covering up child abuse will be looked into by the IRS.

All they seem to be concerned with is political campaigning.

https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/the-restriction-of-political-campaign-intervention-by-section-501-c-3-tax-exempt-organizations

Anyway, this is a good effort, but unless you get the petition into the media somehow with an organisation behind you, I cannot honestly see it having an effect.

http://aawa.co/about-aawa/contact-us/

Again, all the best. :)

101909 · 2016-05-20T09:06:34Z

Bump.

I have forwarded this to several people, but can I make a suggestion?

". unyielding, dangerous, and outdated policies on shunning or excommunication known as disfellowshipping

· child abuse

· the banning of lifesaving blood transfusions that affect children which would classify them as a cult- like organization that fails to protect children, and causes harm to minors and the general health and well-being of the public."

It is not the IRS's responsibility to investigate shunning, ie people not talking to each other, even the courts don't recognise shunning as illegal.

Also, refusing blood transfusion is voluntary, the IRS are not going to investigate that either. They don't care about what a religion teaches, I am afraid. They don't define cults either, so maybe remove any uses of that word.

I would suggest removing those parts, if the petition can be edited at all.

"We, as current practicing as well as former members of this organization, as well as others who are not affiliated with this said organization, feel very passionately and strongly that these child abuse offences and outdated policies must come to light and deserves more coverage in mainstream media in the United States. "

I would recommend just ending this sentence at 'feel very strongly about these child abuse offenses and outdated policies'.

The IRS are not interested in you wanting coverage from the mainstream media.

The UK charities commission were only willing to investigate due to the org's child abuse related policies. If you want any real chance of being listened to, maybe focus on just the child abuse partof your letter. (which is quite well written).

Finally, you may need to get media coverage for the petition.

Best of luck. :)

101909 · 2016-05-16T13:47:05Z

WT has continued to be compassionate, merciful, understanding, tolerant towards homosexual sinners, never hate or repulsion or rejection -always compassion mercy and understanding for the sinner but not the sin.

@Fisherman, that is utter nonsense.

There is nothing 'understanding' about the Watchtower's teaching that homosexuality is an abhorrent, deviant and immoral act.

Young people are taught to not even think in a way that is in line with a homosexual preference, that acting on your homosexuality is abhorrent, and that anyone who practices those acts will be destroyed.

There is nothing 'compassionate and tolerant' about the Watchtower's prescribed treatment of people who choose to live a homosexual lifestyle, namely disfellowshipping them and cutting them off from their family and friends.

Gay Jehovah's Witnesses will only be shown the 'mercy' you refer to, if they reject their sexuality and live a celibate life. In other words, "we will forgive you and forget your abhorrent and deviant actions, just as long as you don't act on your feelings again, and fight to deny them constantly". Very loving(!)

'Never repulsion' - Have you heard Anthony Morris III talk about the homosexuals as disgusting? (For wanting to see men in tight pants, for any who don't get the reference).

'Never rejection' - Are you still talking here about the organization that will tell even members of a (practicing) homosexual Jehovah's Witnesses own family to not talk to them?!

It is the Watchtower's doctrine of complete rejection of anyone practicing homosexuality, that has caused psychological distress to the point of some even feeling suicidal!!

OK, rant over.

defender of truth

Posts by defender of truth

Trey Bundy interview - Questions Surround Jehovah's Witness HQ and Allegations of Sex Abuse

defender of truth

Do you know someone who is going to the Elders school 2017, in any country?

defender of truth

Do you know someone who is going to the Elders school 2017, in any country?

defender of truth

Elders School 2017: New instructions to handle sexual abuses?

defender of truth

Theists, why does God allow suffering..

defender of truth

Informative Article-The Guardian: Police expect 30,000 new child abuse reports from Goddard inquiry

defender of truth

UK: Would anyone like to attend Frank Otuo's next hearing against the Watchtower? Or send him your support?

defender of truth

78 to go and hopefully something good comes of it. Please do your part and sign up. Thanks

defender of truth

78 to go and hopefully something good comes of it. Please do your part and sign up. Thanks

defender of truth

Here's a view on homosexuality for you...

defender of truth