OrphanCrow

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Posts by OrphanCrow

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  34

  Jehovah's Witnesses' Brooklyn tax exemptions totaled $368 million

  by OrphanCrow in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  jehovah's witnesses' brooklyn tax exemptions totaled $368 million.

  downtown brooklyn partnership ups its pressure on the tax-exempt organization to donate $50 million.

  the jehovah’s witnesses have been exempted from paying at least $368 million in taxes on their brooklyn real estate holdings over the last 12 years, according to an analysis by the downtown brooklyn partnership and consulting firm bjh advisers.

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  OrphanCrow

  DD: "No they didn't. Learn to read." - Fisherman
  DD 😇

  Haha!

  Come over here and let me slap you, Datadog...
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  34

  Jehovah's Witnesses' Brooklyn tax exemptions totaled $368 million

  by OrphanCrow in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  jehovah's witnesses' brooklyn tax exemptions totaled $368 million.

  downtown brooklyn partnership ups its pressure on the tax-exempt organization to donate $50 million.

  the jehovah’s witnesses have been exempted from paying at least $368 million in taxes on their brooklyn real estate holdings over the last 12 years, according to an analysis by the downtown brooklyn partnership and consulting firm bjh advisers.

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  OrphanCrow

  Jehovah's Witnesses' Brooklyn tax exemptions totaled $368 million

  Downtown Brooklyn Partnership ups its pressure on the tax-exempt organization to donate $50 million

  
  The Jehovah’s Witnesses have been exempted from paying at least $368 million in taxes on their Brooklyn real estate holdings over the last 12 years, according to an analysis by the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership and consulting firm BJH Advisers. The Partnership released the finding to increase its pressure on the religious organization to donate $50 million to the borough as it sells off at great profit the remainder of its Brooklyn property and moves upstate.
  “This is the last chance to do it,” said the partnership’s president, Tucker Reed, who initially called for the monetary gift in a December op-ed in Crain's. “Once they leave and head upstate, if anyone goes knocking on their door with a tin cup saying, ‘Hey, remember Brooklyn,’ it is going to fall on deaf ears.”
  The study looked at the Witnesses’ Brooklyn portfolio of 37 properties concentrated in and around Brooklyn Heights and Dumbo. As a religious organization, the group is exempt from paying taxes. The analysis estimated that its property taxes would have totaled $138.6 million since 2006, while transfer and capital gains taxes for 21 of its sites sold since 2004 would have added up to about $230 million. Reed called that a conservative estimate, but said it shows the magnitude of the Witnesses' profits and the money that otherwise would have gone to taxpayers.
  “Hopefully this analysis starts to put some real numbers to what we are talking about,” he said.

  
  Read full article and the Watchtower Portfolio Analysis here:http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20160204/REAL_ESTATE/160209923/jehovahs-witnesses-brooklyn-tax-exemptions-totaled-368-million
  
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  161

  Court denies summary judgement for Laurel Jehovah's Witnesses congregation

  by OrphanCrow in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  court denies summary judgement for laurel jehovah's witnesses congregation.

  a motion for summary judgement is denied in a case against the laurel congregation of jehovah's witnesses and some individuals over child abuse reporting issues.a lawyer for the congregation maintained that elders were exempted from reporting requirements under a state law because of clergy privilege and confidentiality.the case resulted from allegations that elders did not report an unlawful sexual relationship between a woman and a 14-year-old boy, both of whom were members of the jehovah's witnesses congregation.. download the court opinion here.

  http://courts.delaware.gov/opinions/download.aspx?id=235880.

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  OrphanCrow

  fisherman: 909 provides confidentiality between priest and penitent. That is it. Does Delaware want JW elders to wear costumes and perform rituals and set up kiosks for JWs to confess? I think that I have made my point. You have your view. "Good Luck!"

  Yes. You have made your point. You do not comprehend why the ruling was made the way it was.

  The JW judical hearings DO NOT qualify as as clergy-penitent situation because the JCs are NOT in place to accomodate penitent repentance and absolution. The JCs are a disiplinary process which is NOT covered under the clergy-penitent clause.

  For the JCs to qualiify, the purpose of the JC has to be such that the penitent comes to the elders(clergy) to confess and receive absolution because of the confession - not because the elders commence upon a system of discovery in order to disipline those concerned.

  Comparing the JC process to the confession of other churches is like comparing apples to oranges - they are not the same thing. And the judge in this case make that clear.

  The judge does not expect the JWs to "wear costumes and perform rituals and set up kiosks for JWs to confess", but it is expected that the JWs know the difference between confession/absolution that occurs in strict confidence between only two people and just a plain old disiplinary hearing that results in the victim being kicked out and countless others being involved in the process.

  *to add - geez fisherman, your senseless arguing on this matter leads a person to think that you have a personal stake in this ruling...good luck.
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  161

  Court denies summary judgement for Laurel Jehovah's Witnesses congregation

  by OrphanCrow in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  court denies summary judgement for laurel jehovah's witnesses congregation.

  a motion for summary judgement is denied in a case against the laurel congregation of jehovah's witnesses and some individuals over child abuse reporting issues.a lawyer for the congregation maintained that elders were exempted from reporting requirements under a state law because of clergy privilege and confidentiality.the case resulted from allegations that elders did not report an unlawful sexual relationship between a woman and a 14-year-old boy, both of whom were members of the jehovah's witnesses congregation.. download the court opinion here.

  http://courts.delaware.gov/opinions/download.aspx?id=235880.

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  OrphanCrow

  Oh.

  Methinks we read different documents, Fisherman.
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  161

  Court denies summary judgement for Laurel Jehovah's Witnesses congregation

  by OrphanCrow in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  court denies summary judgement for laurel jehovah's witnesses congregation.

  a motion for summary judgement is denied in a case against the laurel congregation of jehovah's witnesses and some individuals over child abuse reporting issues.a lawyer for the congregation maintained that elders were exempted from reporting requirements under a state law because of clergy privilege and confidentiality.the case resulted from allegations that elders did not report an unlawful sexual relationship between a woman and a 14-year-old boy, both of whom were members of the jehovah's witnesses congregation.. download the court opinion here.

  http://courts.delaware.gov/opinions/download.aspx?id=235880.

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  OrphanCrow

  fisherman: It is axiomatic that context of this discussion is the posted Court "OPINION" not the whole world.

  Well...in a way, the "court opinion" does speak for the 'whole world'. That is how our legal system works.

  The District Attorney represents "the people". In other words...all of "us".

  In this case, the judge sided with the DA - with "us"...the whole world.
• 
  161

  Court denies summary judgement for Laurel Jehovah's Witnesses congregation

  by OrphanCrow in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  court denies summary judgement for laurel jehovah's witnesses congregation.

  a motion for summary judgement is denied in a case against the laurel congregation of jehovah's witnesses and some individuals over child abuse reporting issues.a lawyer for the congregation maintained that elders were exempted from reporting requirements under a state law because of clergy privilege and confidentiality.the case resulted from allegations that elders did not report an unlawful sexual relationship between a woman and a 14-year-old boy, both of whom were members of the jehovah's witnesses congregation.. download the court opinion here.

  http://courts.delaware.gov/opinions/download.aspx?id=235880.

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  OrphanCrow

  talesin: It would be great if a 'win' like this happened in Canada - we could all write and push for criminal prosecution. It is federal law for any adult to fail to report, but especially those are charged with the care of children; eg, teachers, coaches, health care professionals, clergy ...

  Yeah...just wait until that case in Newfoundland moves ahead. Then the elders will be saying "but we aren't clergy!...we are lowly servants of the flawk".

  
  
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  161

  Court denies summary judgement for Laurel Jehovah's Witnesses congregation

  by OrphanCrow in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  court denies summary judgement for laurel jehovah's witnesses congregation.

  a motion for summary judgement is denied in a case against the laurel congregation of jehovah's witnesses and some individuals over child abuse reporting issues.a lawyer for the congregation maintained that elders were exempted from reporting requirements under a state law because of clergy privilege and confidentiality.the case resulted from allegations that elders did not report an unlawful sexual relationship between a woman and a 14-year-old boy, both of whom were members of the jehovah's witnesses congregation.. download the court opinion here.

  http://courts.delaware.gov/opinions/download.aspx?id=235880.

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  OrphanCrow

  sfb: Does this mean individual elders will be prosecuted?

  I think that JW elders (and ex-elders) who didn't report child abuse should be getting a little nervous right about now.

  This should shake their confidence in the Watchtower legal advice.
• 
  161

  Court denies summary judgement for Laurel Jehovah's Witnesses congregation

  by OrphanCrow in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  court denies summary judgement for laurel jehovah's witnesses congregation.

  a motion for summary judgement is denied in a case against the laurel congregation of jehovah's witnesses and some individuals over child abuse reporting issues.a lawyer for the congregation maintained that elders were exempted from reporting requirements under a state law because of clergy privilege and confidentiality.the case resulted from allegations that elders did not report an unlawful sexual relationship between a woman and a 14-year-old boy, both of whom were members of the jehovah's witnesses congregation.. download the court opinion here.

  http://courts.delaware.gov/opinions/download.aspx?id=235880.

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  OrphanCrow

  slidingfast: This is significant since it recognises that a JC is not a with a penitent but is an investigation with sanctions. Since this is the Delaware Supreme Court it also sets a legal precedent.

  Yes. This is a very important ruling that will not allow the JW elders to use the "clergy-penitent" clause in order to escape mandatory reporting.

  Huh. Betcha a lot of elders are gonna be pissed that they listened to the Watchtower lawyers instead of following the law.

  Real world - 1

  Watchtower - 0
• 
  161

  Court denies summary judgement for Laurel Jehovah's Witnesses congregation

  by OrphanCrow in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  court denies summary judgement for laurel jehovah's witnesses congregation.

  a motion for summary judgement is denied in a case against the laurel congregation of jehovah's witnesses and some individuals over child abuse reporting issues.a lawyer for the congregation maintained that elders were exempted from reporting requirements under a state law because of clergy privilege and confidentiality.the case resulted from allegations that elders did not report an unlawful sexual relationship between a woman and a 14-year-old boy, both of whom were members of the jehovah's witnesses congregation.. download the court opinion here.

  http://courts.delaware.gov/opinions/download.aspx?id=235880.

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  OrphanCrow

  Court denies summary judgement for Laurel Jehovah's Witnesses congregation
  

  A motion for summary judgement is denied in a case against the Laurel Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses and some individuals over child abuse reporting issues.
  A lawyer for the congregation maintained that elders were exempted from reporting requirements under a state law because of clergy privilege and confidentiality.
  The case resulted from allegations that elders did not report an unlawful sexual relationship between a woman and a 14-year-old boy, both of whom were members of the Jehovah's Witnesses congregation.

  Download the court opinion here

  http://courts.delaware.gov/opinions/download.aspx?ID=235880
  
  
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  5

  Canadians - please sign petition to stop paid blood donor clinics

  by OrphanCrow in

  1. watchtower
  2. medical

  blood saves lives.

  a safe blood supply is vital for the health of everybody.. in canada, the province with the highest rates of hiv and hep c is saskatchewan.

  and it is in this province, run by a right wing government, where for-profit blood donation will be rolled out.. http://regina.ctvnews.ca/company-that-pays-for-blood-donations-opening-first-sask-clinic-1.2741056.

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  OrphanCrow

  Blood saves lives. A safe blood supply is vital for the health of everybody.

  In Canada, the province with the highest rates of HIV and Hep C is Saskatchewan. And it is in this province, run by a right wing government, where for-profit blood donation will be rolled out.

  http://regina.ctvnews.ca/company-that-pays-for-blood-donations-opening-first-sask-clinic-1.2741056

  And a video as to why paid blood donor clinics are dangerous to a country's blood supply:

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaUHhHBbkV0

  If you are a Canadian, and feel as strongly as I do about protecting our blood supply, this is the link to a petition that is open for signatures until May 17, 2016:

  https://petitions.parl.gc.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-126

  Whereas:

  • Over 30,000 Canadians were infected with HIV and Hepatitis C via tainted blood in Canada, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Canadians and harming countless families;

  • Canada spent $17 million dollars on a publicly-funded federal inquiry which revealed that the paid-donor system was a key factor contributing to Canadians receiving tainted blood;

  • Billions of dollars in compensation have been given to those who received tainted blood and their families due, in part, to Canada's former reliance on blood from paid donors;

  • The Krever Inquiry recommended an end to a private, for-profit blood donor system in Canada, citing these five basic principles regarding how the blood system should be governed: 1. Blood is a public resource; 2. Donors should not be paid; 3. Sufficient blood should be collected so that importation from other countries is unnecessary; 4. Access to blood and blood products should be free and universal; and 5. Safety of the blood supply system is paramount;

  • Our blood plasma is not meant to be a commodity that is bought and sold, we must protect our voluntary blood system in Canada and ensure we have one national operator, the Canadian Blood Services, to oversee blood collection and plasma collection in our country.

  We, the undersigned, residents of Canada, request (or call upon) the Government of Canada to:
  Refuse to issue or approve any license to Canadian Plasma Resources or other private, for-profit, donor-paid blood products company to operate in Canada; and
  Implement legislation that ensures no for-profit, donor-paid blood donor clinics are allowed to operate in Canada.