Posts by purplesofa

62

Do you feel that suicide is wrong?

by dandingus in

jw
friends

minimus got me thinking with his thread about whether or not you know anyone that committed suicide.

i think it might be interesting to see what the opinions are.. what do you think?.

are there cases where it is understandable?

purplesofa

I have to add this:

After having two suicide deaths in my family, when my daughter had two drug overdoses, I was hellbent and determined she would not take her life.

I tried to learn from past mistakes of my dad and brother,

There is so much energy that comes when a person gets to this point. IF they will express whats going on.

I don't know what came out of me to help my daughter but it was life changing, I could not be a witness any longer to do it.

I wish I could explain it, I think I am still recovering from it. But as you know sometimes when a rescuer saves a life they lose theirs in the process

or can become very hurt themselves. It was the most selfless time in my life helping her to want to be alive.

I have a very close witness friend ( I posted about meeting with her recently) She went through a terrible thing in her KH, that affected her family greatly and herself.

I was just coming back from being DF and was reuniting with her. She was practically shunned in the congo and circuit for her husband leaving the truth. It was painfullly

excruciationg for her. I was appalled at the treatment of her.

One day after work, she stopped by, we went out to my car to talk a few minutes.........A few minutes lasted until after midnight. Hers is one of two of the most painful witness stories I have ever heard. We had many talks after that, I was emotionally drained after our visits. I loved this woman dearly and she had been such an anchor for me with my problems. To see her like this was beyond what I could believe. A few months later I got a card in the mail from her thanking me for saving her life. I knew she meant it. I never hated the organization more than then for what they had done to her.

I guess what I am trying to say, love and give when you can. Unconditionally.......sometimes when you save a life you might lose your own, and I am not just meaning just physically. It's a risk all those that go to save lives takes.

purps

62

Do you feel that suicide is wrong?

by dandingus in

jw
friends

minimus got me thinking with his thread about whether or not you know anyone that committed suicide.

i think it might be interesting to see what the opinions are.. what do you think?.

are there cases where it is understandable?

purplesofa

Aren't the ones living being selfish in some way with their anger towards the person?

Be angry at the circumstance and not the person.

purps

62

Do you feel that suicide is wrong?

by dandingus in

jw
friends

minimus got me thinking with his thread about whether or not you know anyone that committed suicide.

i think it might be interesting to see what the opinions are.. what do you think?.

are there cases where it is understandable?

purplesofa

It's a persons choice.

Each individual cicumstance is unique to that person.

Here is a movie of a true story of a man that fights for the right to commit suicide.

The Sea Inside (Spanish: Mar adentro ) is a 2004 film by the Spanish director Alejandro Amenábar . It is based on the real-life story of Ramón Sampedro (played by Javier Bardem), a Spanish ship mechanic left quadriplegic after a diving accident. Sampedro fought a 28-year campaign in support of euthanasia and his right to end his own life. He was not able to get the court to rule in his favor, but he did end his life (after drinking cyanide).

90

Do You Personally Know Of Anyone That Committed Suicide?

by minimus in

jw
friends

lately, i've come to find out that a more than a few people in the area had killed themselves.

most of the people i know of were in their early twenties or forties.

for those loved ones surviving them, it was mostly a shock!

purplesofa

Yes, my stepdad and brother.

My stepdads suicide was the first. I had been newly baptised and freshly divorced. I did not handle it well at all.

I started drinking the day we buried him, I was never a drinker and did not handle that well and soon found myself

committing fornication and got DF. I went to grief counselling and took my kids as well, my stepdad was like my real father and

grandfather to my kids. We were all devastated. I found that my behaviour was typical of grief and started pulling myself out

of the situation. My stepdad was an amazing person, level-headed, slow to anger, everyone looked to him for advice. He touched many

peoples lives.

When my half brother committed suicide, the suicide part was a bit easier to accept as I had done allot of research on it.

I was fading as a JW so I did not have that pressure so much on me. At the funeral when I met my little brothers friends

getting to know the a little, I was amazed at how many of them thought of him as their BEST friend.

I still miss them both terribly and my life has never been the same.

The stereotypical thoughts I had about families with suicide deaths went out the window, these men were not crazy mad people.

Now you got me all weepy, grrrrr

purps

32

Interesting stats of JWN visitors: 74% from U.S. and 2.3% from U.K.

by paul from cleveland in

jw
friends

i would have thought more traffic came from the uk since there are so many posters from there.. .

purplesofa

Simon did post a report last year of all the hits from different countries.

nothing like the report posted from Alexa, from what I can remember.

purps

41

If this don't scare you, nothing will

by purplesofa in

.

purplesofa

My baptism was put off from a delay in filing our tax returns........which had nothing to do with me, it was my ex-husband.

An elder kept wondering why I had not gotten baptised and when he found out why took care of the whole mess.

But I specifically remembering that being asked of me as a requirement for baptism. I had to be right with the law of the land.

purps

41

If this don't scare you, nothing will

by purplesofa in

.

purplesofa

OK, thats what I thought,

and this letter is dated '92.

As long as the law of the land lets them cover-up the WT society will do that, no matter what the crime is.

41

If this don't scare you, nothing will

by purplesofa in

.

purplesofa

paul, i wonder what year that came into effect?

I found this interesting.

3. W ERE THE S TATEMENTS M ADE TO A C LERGYMAN?

The typical statute provides that only those confidential communications made to clergymen, priests, or ministers of the gospel are privileged. Communications made to nuns, 26 an elder and deacon in the Christian Church,27 lay religious counselors whose services are not indispensable,28 “lay ministers”29 and unordained, self--proclaimed ministers,30 and a “born--again” police officer who was a former deacon in his church,31 have been held not to be privileged. But communications made to lay religious counselors whose services are necessary because of the number of people requiring counseling,32 and to elders in the Presbyterian Church,33 have been deemed privileged.

It has been held that the IRS could not be prevented from inspecting church records on the basis of the privilege against disclosure of confidential communications to clergymen, since the term clergyman applies only to natural persons and not to church corporations.34

41

If this don't scare you, nothing will

by purplesofa in

.

purplesofa

lol, yeah, I agree choosing life

9

Discussion board: Nancy Grace Re: child molestor sues for right to go door to door!

by crazyblondeb in

jw
friends

come join the discussion!

tell your experience!.

let's keep it real, maybe she will have a show about this!.

purplesofa

Here is the discussion so far

Kerry Louderback-Wood Nancy,
Jehovah's Witnesses have allowed pedophiles as preachers, elders, and other church positions. They have lost court cases. See "Pedophlia in an American Religion" It's mainly the California, Oregon, etc. class action suit The religion took it all the way to the California Supreme Court, where thier argument that the elder meetings were confidential. The Court said that clergy privl. was there to protect the follower, not the church. Also, one of America's most wanted is a Jehovah's Witness sex offender see www.watchtowerdocuments.com .

NOW, the Watchtower is getting more brazen. While I don't know if this is Watchtower funded or not, this sex offender wants to preach door-to-door.
http://www.local12.com/news/local/story/Sex-Offender-Sues-For-Right-To-Go-Door-to-Door/cLPCJvWPjketNvr1rUn_Iw.cspx?rss=30

In another case, an accused sex offender is suing for defamation.
Did you see this "he said, he said"?
http://www.newrossstandard.ie/news/i-have-been-through-anguish-2089084.html

Please report on this! Yesterday at 7:22am · Report </form>
Kerry Louderback-Wood Phillip Garrido was another Jehovah's Witness who the parole board considered to no longer be a threat (due to his religion), when he was released.

Look at http://www.silentlambs.org/ , a website that lists alot of the sex predators who are Jehovah's Witnesses.

Look at a man named Delray Grant from the UK. A Jehovah's Witness who is accused on praying on multiple elderly women, sexually assaulting them.

Do you want to open your door to a sexual predator, and allow them into your home for a "Bible Study?" Yesterday at 6:08pm · Report </form>
Kerry Louderback-Wood A Cincinnati Jehovah's Witness, who is also a registered sex offender, is suing the State of Ohio for the right to go door to door as part of his faith.

37 year old Lawrence Bullard is suing his local parole officer and the Ohio Department of Corrections. His parole officer allows him to go door to door once a month, but Bullard wants more-to be able to go out at least two times a week. Bullard says the state is forcing him to choose between his faith and his freedom.

Bullard's sex conviction was in New York State. In 2001, Bullard broke up with a fellow church member, whom he was dating. Bullard's attorney says his client was upset and confused, and let himself into the woman's home. The lawsuit says he hid in her closet and, "At some point, he forcibly kissed her and fell to the floor on top of her. He then put his hands down her pants, touching her pubic area." The attorney says Bullard called police himself, and admitted to the crime.

Bullard now lives in East Price Hill and is registered on the Hamilton County Sheriff's sex offender website. Bullard is also a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in his neighborhood. He says the lawsuit is about bearing witness to his faith. Bullard's attorney is with the Ohio Justice and Policy Center in Downtown Cincinnati. He says Bullard's church is aware of his conviction and he is always with another church member when he goes door to door and by limiting him, the state is limiting his right to exercise his religion and his right to free speech.

Bullard and his attorney refused an on-camera interview with Local 12. The Jehovah's Witness World Headquarters released this statement, saying "While all Jehovah's Witnesses participate in the public ministry, each decides personally how often he/she will share in it. Some are able to do more due to circumstances, some less. Encouragement is given to all Witnesses at our weekly congregation services to engage in public ministry as often as individual circumstances allow."

In his lawsuit, Bullard is asking for a retraining order against the Adult Parole Authority, who will put out a warrant for Bullard's arrest if he goes door to door more than once a month.

The State Department of Corrections says they cannot comment on a pending lawsuit. Yesterday at 6:40pm · Report </form>
Kerry Louderback-Wood The Watchtower exerts extreme control over its followers. The Watchtower seems supportive of this lawsuit, yet at the same time trying to make it sound like it's his choice to sue. If the Watchtower didn't want this lawsuit, all the church would have to do is to tell him to not sue... "Brings bad press against Jehovah, closing doors.." I think the Watchtower wants this lawsuit.... Yesterday at 6:42pm · Report </form>
Shelley Brammer Truesdell My stepfather, a ministerial servant in the jw's, and one that rose in the ranks, molested me for many years. The elder's in our home congregation knew of this, and kept in quiet, blaming me. He was allowed to hold postions of authority, and preach door to door. It wasn't until last year, after me contacting an elder in his current congregation at the time, that they formed a "judicial hearing" to look into this. He confessed to what he did. However, they wouldn't tell me what action they took. Since then, he has moved into another congregation in California. He always moves every couple years.

Growing up in a small community in mid MO, I personally know of 3 child molestors. One was disfellowshipped, but reinstatement as an elder after about a years.

I truly wish that this could be made more public. If just one child can be saved, it's worth it! Yesterday at 8:14pm · Report </form>
Mary Aguilar Buttafuoco I also, agree with Kerry Louderback-Wood the way the Watchtower Organization handles abuse case's such as: Pedophilia, domestic voilence they cover up and don't allow the victims to have a voice and they continue to have these perverts inside the congregations ! I don't want them at my door! How dare that man try to sue !
Lawrence Bullard disgraceful!!

Mary (" Victims Speak Out") Yesterday at 8:18pm · Report </form>
Mary Patterson Lawrence Bullard must not be working on all thrusters. First of all, he lied when he stated that his religion requires him to go out knocking on doors "twice a week". There is no mandate telling Witnesses this. In fact, you can be a publisher on as little as 15 minutes anymore (gotta keep those figures up!).

My own take is that ol' Lawrence is desperately trying to 'make up for past sins' by trying to become a "super-fine Christian". In his own warped mind, he probably thinks that by going public with this, everyone in his congregation will go: "Wow! See how faithful Brother Bullard is?! What a fine example he is to others! By fighting for his Right to go out and preach more, he's obviously putting Jehovah first!"

This has got to be hugely embarassing for the WTS as well as his own congregation and I'm surprised the elders haven't told him to just keep his stupid trap shut.

Then again, in the Watchtower world, they have a very warped view of reality and how insane they appear to the average Joe. The phrase "give em enough rope" comes to mind..... Yesterday at 8:30pm · Report </form>
Gary Neal The bottom line is that the man did the crime, now he has to do the time, pay the fine, etc.. In other words, his limitations are a result of his crime, in other words, it is his punishment. Why is he pushing so hard to get his 'right' to preach more door to door?

If he really wants to get the 'gospel' out more there are other ways. He can place tracts in restrooms, laundromats, and large stores like Wal-mart. He can also do some 'informal' witnessing. But I guess he can't 'count time' for these activities and therefore does not appear 'spiritual' in the eyes of 'Jehovah' (er, the Watchtower Society). Yesterday at 8:30pm · Report </form>
Leslie Grable If you won't even let a sex offender live within a certain radius of a school, why would we let one go right to someones door??? Yesterday at 8:38pm · Delete Post </form>
Mary Aguilar Buttafuoco yes excatly how dare him try to sue!! Yesterday at 8:40pm · Report </form>
Mary Aguilar Buttafuoco Sex Offender Sues For Right To Go Door to Door
www.local12.com
Lawrence Yesterday at 8:44pm · Report </form>
Mary Aguilar Buttafuoco http://www.local12.com/news/local/story/Sex-Offender-Sues-For-Right-To-Go-Door-to-Door/cLPCJvWPjketNvr1rUn_Iw.cspx Yesterday at 8:46pm · Report </form>
Melody Powell Blankenship Jehovah's Witnesses are an evil cult that seek out their victims by going door-to-door. They especially prey on the young and elderly! Please be very careful when opening the door to ANYONE from this evil cult. They seek to destroy families and relationships unless you are "one of them." Very, very evil CULT!!! Yesterday at 8:57pm · Report </form>
Leslie Grable The more I think about it I don't even understand why the courts are allowing this sex offender to go door-to-door once a month. We have laws to protect children do we?
Haven't we learned anything from our past mistakes? Yesterday at 9:05pm · Delete Post </form>
Mary Aguilar Buttafuoco I know i am so confused!!! Yesterday at 9:06pm · Report </form>
Leslie Grable I certainly think one can worship their God without having to go door-to-door,
I think that is a privilege this person should have lost. Yesterday at 9:12pm · Delete Post </form>
Mary Aguilar Buttafuoco Yes, especially since he is a convicted pedophile! Yesterday at 9:12pm · Report </form>
Melody Powell Blankenship Over 23,000 cases of child sex-abuse going unpunished all because of the two-eyewitness rule is a crock of BS. How many pedophiles would actually abuse a child in the presence of someone else anyway? Yet the WTBTS chooses to protect the pedophile and not the children! Something is WAY wrong here! Just sayin'....... Yesterday at 9:21pm · Report </form>
Mary Aguilar Buttafuoco You are so right!! Now this jerk want's to go door to door! Yesterday at 9:23pm · Report </form>
Kerry Louderback-Wood In this news story, the Jehovah's Witnes church reasoned that there would be another follower accompanying the sex offender. So, does that mean that the public is safe? Are the Jehovah's Witnesses and the church going to protect the public from a sex offender?

The reason the witnesses go out in service in pairs..is for THEIR own protection.

The whole goal of going out in door to door service is to start a Bible study (really, studying Jehovah's Witness books that explain their Bible). The Bible study, may, in the beginning, be with two witnesses. Eventually, though, the Bible study will be a one-on-one situation. When this sex offender gets to this stage, is going to be allowed to do this one-on-one preaching?

Jehovah's Witnesses, for the most part, do not even realize that there is a sexual predator within their ranks. The reason is that there is a strict prohibition againt bearing false witness against a brother. They interpret a scripture to require "two" witnesses be preasent before a sin or crime can be considered to occur. The result is that brothers who are sexual predators can go about within the organization for a very long time. How is that for protecting the flock, much less protecting the public?

Going door-to-door allows the predator an inside glimpse into each home. He can find out who lives there, children, elderly, dogs, alarms, who is left alone, etc. The UK "Night Stalker" is a recent case that also comes to mind. This Night Stalker raped several elderly women. How did he know when/where/how these women lived?

Some people should not be able to go door-to-door. I agree that a convicted sex offender tops that list. Yesterday at 10:29pm · Report </form>
Raymond Howard You know what and so have the catholic church done many things that are wrong such as allow gay priest. I don't know if this is an attack but hey do the right thing! 16 hours ago · Report </form>
Raymond Howard You know what he did the WRONG THING he did not rape her he was touchy feely with an ex- girlfriend! Wow you gave the impression it was a whole lot more to it . I AM NOT DEFENDING HIM AT ALL ! but come on!!! Attack the whole huh! Oh and Mary not a pedophile did you even read about the case that is soo tragic that you wrote that complete lie! 16 hours ago · Report </form>
Mary Aguilar Buttafuoco He is a sex offender !! Pedopphille, Pervert whatever !! Don't want him at my door!! 12 hours ago · Report </form>
Mary Aguilar Buttafuoco So sorry I read it wrong Raymond it is just that i am so used to reading all about the molester's in the Watchtower org. I should have said Adult sex offender sorry!! 12 hours ago · Report </form>
Kerry Louderback-Wood Unwanted touching is sexual battery. It's a crime, and shows a moral depravity. Hiding in a woman's closet, waiting for her to come home. Crreepy. Why? She was his ex-girlfriend. So, he can't handle rejection. And, he does something so wierd as to touch her genitals, underneath her clothes while she is pinned down on the floor. Sounds like pre-rape stuff to me!

How is he going to handle all the rejection that Jehovah's Witnesses get at the door, if he can't handle a girlfriend breaking up with him?

Look at the Night Stalker case. Then, tell me if these "Jehovah's Witnesses" are doing any service to the Organization. These creeps that want to go "door-to-door" are either being selfish, in the least, or are planning their next attack by carefully learning more about the family inside. 10 hours ago · Report </form>
David Carter Hello Kerry, thank you for posting this information. For years The Watchtower bible and Tract Society of New York, world headquarters for Jehovah's Witnesses have continued in their efforts to not only cover up child molestation, but have also support the nuts that exercise this action against children. The Watchtower Society was sued back in 2007 by victims and had to agree to a gag order in exchange for compensation.

Mary Aguilar and I are team mates and we host a teleconference entitled: "Victims Speak Out", which you can learn more about by viewing my profile. Everything I state is stated in front of Federal Judges, Law Enforcement, FBI, United Nations, CIA and many more. The reason is because The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, world headquarters for JW's are Terrorist and have used the First Amendment Rights to get away with covering up murder, child molestation, fraud, terrorism, and much more.

I would be glad to speak with you if you desire, once and if you have viewed my profile here on Facebook or on myspace:

http://www.myspace.com/wizardofnuttin37

Thank you again for bringing this to our attention and hope you do read these post. Until or IF I ever do hear from you in private, take care and be safe!

Regards,
David Carter
Roanoke, VA

The Victims Speak Out Team:
Host: Mary Aguilar
Co-Host & Tech Adviser: Rick Fearon
Producer: Yours truly 8 hours ago · Report </form>