Posts by Axelspeed

16

Would this be any use to the Royal Commission?

by freddo in

i believe this shows how the org.

doesn't want to be held accountable to secular legal authorities.. in the 1991 green elders handbook (used between 1991 and 2010) there is a blank page (page 143) and at one elders school we were instructed to write six expressions that "should not be used on s77 + s79 forms (df and da forms)".. 1) anything alluding to or naming one of the society's legal advisers.. 2) any mention of the legal desk.. 3) any comments referring to direction from the society.. 4) any comments mentioning anyone other than the committee itself as a possible influence in the decision reached.. 5) any comment that might suggest someone with a critical eye that the committee did not reach its decision on its own but instead somehow yielded to the influence of an outside party.. 6) any comments indicating the elders mishandled the case or committed any error in the investigation or the judicial committee process.. i have in my possession two elders handbooks with these exact words written in each in different handwriting.

.

Axelspeed

sir82: Wouldn't have been easier to just print off a piece of paper for each elder?

Lol. I remember that meeting vividly as I had just been recently appointed elder and getting the spanking brand new book. As I was writing those phrases (And they slowly repeated them word for word just as at your meeting) I remember thinking, "WTH, isn't this like ...a brand new book?? Why am I writing so much on blank pages when they could have just printed it in?? And what's with the extra wide margins?" But even as I wrote it, deep inside I knew something didn't feel right.

It's hard to believe I was ever such a sheep. Ugh!

67

My Issue: How To Step Down As A MS Without Getting Noticed

by JW_Rogue in

so that other thread was fun but now i need some help with something.

i was born in the truth most of my family is in.

although they aren't outwardly super spiritual i doubt any of them would ever leave.

Axelspeed

Not sure how long you are in the process of trying to step down, but here's my exp:

I was constantly being used, sometimes multiple parts in one night. I was also the school overseer and a bs (in every sense) conductor. I asked politely to resign, even temporarily, but was continually rebuffed, and "encouraged" to keep going. I went on for about another year, and then changed congregations with the real purpose of never serving again.

When the time came for re-appointment by the elders at the new hall, I meant to say "no", but when I opened my mouth "yes" came out. I guess because I was so used to saying yes to every assignment. The minute we left that back room I was kicking myself knowing I had defeated my whole purpose. I shortly thereafter -maybe 2 meetings later - resigned for good, stating personal reasons and needing a break. It was much easier at the new hall as there was much less of an emotional attachment to people I barely knew, and they for me. It was a little awkward (but only a little) and made my fade much much easier.

21

Mandatory reporting and misprision

by Xanthippe in

day 7 of the australian royal commission has chair justice peter mcclellan raising the point that i have been wondering about all along, which is, how can these elders not report child abuse to the authorities especially when a full confession has taken place?.

justice mcclellan asked toole, the wts's lawyer, if he is aware that there is a difference between an organisation being required to have mandatory reporting of child abuse to the authorities and misprision which is the concealment of a felony, itself a criminal offence?

toole says he is aware of it now but he wasn't before!

Axelspeed

double post

21

Mandatory reporting and misprision

by Xanthippe in

day 7 of the australian royal commission has chair justice peter mcclellan raising the point that i have been wondering about all along, which is, how can these elders not report child abuse to the authorities especially when a full confession has taken place?.

justice mcclellan asked toole, the wts's lawyer, if he is aware that there is a difference between an organisation being required to have mandatory reporting of child abuse to the authorities and misprision which is the concealment of a felony, itself a criminal offence?

toole says he is aware of it now but he wasn't before!

Axelspeed

It is mandatory to report allegations of abuse. The JWs do not do even that. They investigate and collect all those intimate detils about minor sex, first. And then they deal with the crime.

Very good point.

21

Mandatory reporting and misprision

by Xanthippe in

day 7 of the australian royal commission has chair justice peter mcclellan raising the point that i have been wondering about all along, which is, how can these elders not report child abuse to the authorities especially when a full confession has taken place?.

justice mcclellan asked toole, the wts's lawyer, if he is aware that there is a difference between an organisation being required to have mandatory reporting of child abuse to the authorities and misprision which is the concealment of a felony, itself a criminal offence?

toole says he is aware of it now but he wasn't before!

Axelspeed

I find this interesting as well given their requirement for fellow believers to always report serious sin to the elders or bear the consequences themselves (Leviticus 5:1). Couple this with their insistence that they that they take so seriously the principle of "being in subjection to the superior authorities" as god's agent in punishing law-breakers (Romans 13:1,2), and it defies logic and the common sensibilities of most people and seems at best criminally negligent that they are not more-forthcoming and proactive in going to the authorities.

This is actually therapeutic...We are to be in fear of the government placed there by God and simultaneously believe that they are under Satan to be destroyed at Armageddon. I see why I was so screwed up.