Posts by AndersonsInfo

33

Toronto, Canada: FREE Screening of Disfellowshipping DOCUMENTARY next Wednesday

by AndersonsInfo in

free film screening at the university of toronto next wednesday, october 19th at 6:00 p.m. .

emmanuel college of victoria university in the university of toronto presents: .

a film by erin mcmichael.

Toronto, Canada: FREE Screening of Disfellowshipping DOCUMENTARY next Wednesday

by AndersonsInfo in

free film screening at the university of toronto next wednesday, october 19th at 6:00 p.m. .

emmanuel college of victoria university in the university of toronto presents: .

a film by erin mcmichael.

AndersonsInfo

Free film screening at the University of Toronto next Wednesday, October 19th at 6:00 p.m.

Emmanuel College of Victoria University in the University of Toronto presents:

How They See Me (Without Seeing Me)

A film by Erin McMichael

University of Toronto, Emmanuel College, Room 119 75 Queen's Park Crescent (located south of Bloor Street West, directly outside of Museum Station on the east side of Queen's Park Crescent)

The screening and faculty panel discussion is free and open to the public.

There will be three senior tenured professors from across Anthropology, Cinema Studies, and Religion Studies speaking afterward about the film. (This might be the first time that a series of academics will gather for the sole purpose of discussing disfellowshipping practices.)

Trailer: http://vimeo.com/23120749

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=252155434830035#!/event.php?eid=252155434830035

Events Poster will follow on another thread.

89

Victoria, Australia: October 11th hearing. All five cases made it through the court...just!

by AndersonsInfo in

this is a preliminary summary only.

i hope to obtain more details later.. .

all five cases are still within the criminal justice system.

AndersonsInfo

From what I understand, Steven is still prosecutor although he has no training and he is waiting for the Office of Public Prosecution to take over. From what I was told, he feels inadequate for the job and under the circumstances believes he is squeaking through. As in the past, I have many questions too, but usually they are answered in time. I post information that I'm sent by someone closely involved in the case and do it immediately without taking the time to send an email asking for explanations. I've been promised, though, that more information will be sent. Yesterday, when I posted the latest events that unfolded in court, it was only an hour later after court closed. I'd say that's pretty quick.

For those who have been away from the organization for many years, I'll explain a little about The Christian Congregation of JWs. From what I've learned, world-wide the Watch Tower has been directing its affairs using the name, Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. In the US, this corporation was established in 2000 in NY. I have purchased the charter. Since then other branches of JWs send out BOE and letters to the congregations under that name. This has been true in Australia as well as most European countries.

I'm as anxious as the next person on this board to know what was revealed in court about the "true legal and religious identity of the FDS" and as soon as I find out, you'll know too.

Barbara

89

Victoria, Australia: October 11th hearing. All five cases made it through the court...just!

by AndersonsInfo in

this is a preliminary summary only.

i hope to obtain more details later.. .

all five cases are still within the criminal justice system.

AndersonsInfo

This is a preliminary summary only. I hope to obtain more details later.

All five cases are still within the criminal justice system. The Crown (the Office of Public Prosecutions) was also present in court via video link and contributed to the proceedings. Several members from the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses attended the hearing as observers, no doubt out of curiosity.

Legal Counsel for Jehovah's Witnesses, Sister Rachel van Witsen, an employee of Vincent Toole Solicitors, presented arguments on behalf of the following "accused":

Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia

Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, Inc.

Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses

Faithful and Discreet Slave

A number of the legal arguments presented by the Watch Tower Society shocked the members of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses who were observing. This included that there is no Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses operating in the State of Victoria or in Australia.

Also the true legal and religious identity of the "faithful and discreet slave" was revealed. (More on this development later)

In relation to the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, the Magistrate made recommendation that consideration be given to having each individual member of the Governing Body criminally charged. He was NOT IMPRESSED that the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses had been refusing to comply with the Working with Children Act since July 2008. He asked for an explanation as to why they refused to comply but none was offered by their legal counsel other than "it has all been sorted out."

An application was made by the Crown (the Director of Public Prosecutions) for an adjournment of the case for four weeks so that they can complete the gathering of evidence in conjunction with Victoria Police.

The next court hearing date is scheduled for November 8, 2011.

I am hoping that more information from our XJW in Australia, who commented on the last court hearing, will be forthcoming asap. Barbara

17

Victoria, Australia: Here is what JWs didn't do--fill out the "Working With Children" Application Form

by AndersonsInfo in

here is a link to a .pdf version of the working with children (wwc) application form that steven unthank has put on his website.

very important reading material to understand the wwc act and to see the questions asked to those who wanted to comply (or not to comply) with the act.

the download link is: http://workingwithchildrencheck.wordpress.com/.

AndersonsInfo

bttt

17

Victoria, Australia: Here is what JWs didn't do--fill out the "Working With Children" Application Form

by AndersonsInfo in

here is a link to a .pdf version of the working with children (wwc) application form that steven unthank has put on his website.

very important reading material to understand the wwc act and to see the questions asked to those who wanted to comply (or not to comply) with the act.

the download link is: http://workingwithchildrencheck.wordpress.com/.

AndersonsInfo

Here is a link to a .pdf version of the Working With Children (WWC) application form that Steven Unthank has put on his website. Very important reading material to understand the WWC Act and to see the questions asked to those who wanted to comply (or not to comply) with the Act.

The download link is: http://workingwithchildrencheck.wordpress.com/

Barbara

33

Victoria, Australia: Answers to questions asked by posters about the Steven Unthank criminal case against WT

by AndersonsInfo in

in reply to questions raised in the thread i started on 10/3/11, victoria, australia: wtbts and gb of jws have shown themselves to be "guilty" respecting previous noncompliance with working with children laws,i said i would talk to contacts in australia and get some answers.

here is the link to the 10/3/11 thread:.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/child-abuse/216634/1/victoria-australia-wtbts-and-gb-of-jws-have-shown-themselves-to-be-guilty-respecting-previous-noncompliance-with-e2809cworking-with-childrene2809d-laws.

AndersonsInfo

In reply to questions raised in the thread I started on 10/3/11, Victoria, Australia: WTBTS and GB of JWs have shown themselves to be "GUILTY" respecting previous noncompliance with “Working With Children” Laws, I said I would talk to contacts in Australia and get some answers. Here is the link to the 10/3/11 thread:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/child-abuse/216634/1/Victoria-Australia-WTBTS-and-GB-of-JWs-have-shown-themselves-to-be-GUILTY-respecting-previous-noncompliance-with-e2809cWorking-With-Childrene2809d-Laws

After a few days of researching the questions, the following answers have been provided by an XJW contact. If more clarity is needed, as the Unthank case progresses, I’m sure the information will be available.

To help avoid confusion, the questions are in black and answers in blue.

-----

Question: "All charges are in relation to allegations of unlawful activities carried out within the Tarragon Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses by the entire Body of Tarragon Congregation Elders. In addition, there are approximately between 100-150 other sets of charges pending in relation to every single congregation in the State of Victoria."

My Q is, what does one single congregation, Tarragon, and it's body of elders, have to do with this? Since this is a state wide issue in all of Victoria, why are all the charges related to that KH/Congregation/BOE? Were there other "unlawful activities" besides failing to comply with the WWCA2005 law that involved only that congregation?

Answer: This is a state wide issue that concerns all elders, bodies of elders, members of the congregations, and every single congregation itself. However, it is just not practical to charge and prosecute every single offence.

In the Traralgon Congregation it was calculated that the Body of Elders (seven in total over the past three years) had allegedly committed over 20,000 individual offences against the Working with Children laws between themselves. This is calculated by factoring in every single elder against every single child, at every single meeting over the past three entire years. State wide, this has amounted to over three million individual offences in relation to elders only.

If you include ministerial servants, volunteers who assist children at the district convention, pioneers and publishers, who take other people's children out preaching, the total amount of actual alleged criminal breaches of the Working with Children laws amounts to almost eight million offences. That is one per every single JW publisher worldwide.

It is not possible for Steven, or anyone else for that matter, to deal with the potential massive scale of offences. The Working with Children laws allow the actual entities that appointed or engaged these elders (and others) to work with children to be charged. So this is what Steven has done. He charged the legally recognized corporations and unincorporated bodies.

However, before Steven could file the charges against each of them, he first had to prove to the Department of Justice that they actually existed and that they actually formed part of the "committee of management" of Jehovah's Witnesses in the State of Victoria.

The evidence, documenting major parts of the entire history of the WTBTS and Jehovah's Witnesses from the very beginning (late 1800's), was thoroughly reviewed by the Department of Justice and by the Victorian Chief Magistrate before giving Steven the authority to charge each of the "accused," including the "faithful and discreet slave."

Evidence was also presented to substantiate the claim that each body or entity did indeed operate within the State of Victoria and that they did indeed have ecclesiastical or corporate authority over the congregational arrangement and the appointment of elders.

Steven Unthank financed it all by himself and never asked anyone for a single cent. He also investigated everything by himself, gathered the evidence by himself, interviewed people by himself, created the "official" criminal charges wording description himself (as there were none in the Department of Justice files), designed the Charges and Summons sheets by himself, appeared before the "Protecting Victoria's Vulnerable Children Inquiry" by himself, filed the criminal charges himself (a group of children paid the filing fees), served the summons' by himself, appeared in court by himself, and has written all the very wordy press releases himself. And the result is that the WTBTS and the JWs, after being charged, finally decided that they will comply with the child protection laws.

As a side note, last week, Steven received his very first monetary donation...$100 sent to him by one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. For the past three years or more he financed everything. He even planted a vegetable garden to cut down on overhead.

Oh, and his casual part-time job, a member of the WTBTS legal team rang up Steven’s JW employer earlier this year and told him to get rid of Steven because of what he was doing.

This is a one-man-show. That is why only one set of charges were filed in relation to one congregation only, the nearest congregation to where Steven lives and about 10 minutes from the court house.

Question: It would be interesting to see the BOE letter that was sent to the elders. Where is the information coming from that this was the case?Answer: The information is coming from a Victorian elder.

Question: Would the letter to the BOE be available during the discovery process of the court case? It seems to me that if the publishers were to see this "top secret" direction from the branch that it would case quite a few to wonder about why the organization refused to comply for years and then suddenly reversed course in secret.
Answer: All letters and information relating to the WTBTS can be subpoenaed for the case as is possible for any criminal trial. The discovery of this information came from the public (an active JW) so therefore it can be shared. Also, the revealing and sharing of this information can also help Steven so that he knows what documents need to be subpoenaed for the case.

Question: The Watch Tower Society , the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses , the Faithful and Discreet Slave, and the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses , last week issued a "special" letter to ALL Bodies of Elders in the State of Victoria instructing them to immediately apply for their Working with Children licenses and to comply with child protection laws. The letter includes instructions that the contents are not to be made public or shared with members of the congregation.

Barbara, can you confirm this: that all of the above issued the letter? If indeed the "Faithful and Discreet slave" were signatories or writers of a letter it would be very interesting would it not? This would also indicate that the slave was a prosecutable body rather than an unknown faceless uncounted and un-consulted group.

Answer: When a letter is sent by "the Society" to bodies of elders (BOE) or to all congregations of JWs in Australia it often contains one of two signatures identifying the issuer of the letter:

Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of Australia (WTBTSA)

or

Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses (CCJW)

Letters may also be sent by the "Jehovah's Witnesses Congregations," which is a registered public company, (company number: ACN 001 825 618). This entity is used by the WTBTS to hold assets and real estate titles and can be likened in structure to when a businessman puts his assets in his wife's name so that if he is ever sued he has no assets to seize.

Within Australia there are also other numerous unincorporated bodies and associations used by the WTBTS that may issue letters. These legal entities, which always contain in their names a reference to "Jehovah's Witnesses," are operated in the names of various local congregation elders who make up the committees. Some of these are:

The Jehovah's Witnesses In Victoria Regional Building Team; The Jehovah's Witnesses Melbourne District Convention Committee

In Australia, the WTBTS has structured and set up these entities in such a way that the Society can never be held accountable or financially liable for errors or omissions (including criminal offences) as the individual local elders are named as 100% accountable for all activities.

Australia has uniform laws governing the operation of charities, religious organizations, and corporations. The elders have almost no say in the operation of these legal entities. If they do question the activities of these entities the elders can be removed.

From time-to-time, the WTS in Australia may send a letter to all bodies of elders or to all congregations signed by "Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses." The CCJW is not registered in Australia as a corporation like it is in the USA. It is used in Australia as a legally identifiable descriptive name. The name "Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses" is not to be confused with "Jehovah's Witnesses" or the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. These are separate operating entities.

Since the year 2000, the Society has been using a number of different names within their publications, including The Watchtower magazine, which on the surface give the appearance of meaning the same, but in reality are completely different. Without going into detail, the easiest way to understand this is as follows: Christian Congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses; Jehovah's Witnesses

These names, as used by the Society, do not necessarily legally or scripturally mean the same, nor do they necessarily refer to the same entity when used in The Watchtower magazine. The name "Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses" is the name that is being used to refer to the "faithful and discreet slave." The name "Jehovah's Witnesses" is the name used to generally describe the congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, comprising men, women, and children.

That is why, when a disfellowshipping announcement is made, it is announced: "[Name of person] is no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses." It is not announced that: "[Name of person] is no longer a member of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses."

Over the past 10 years, almost all instructions and decisions, doctrinal changes, "new light," etc., has been attributed to the "faithful and discreet slave" via their trading name "Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses." This has been done to remove liability away from the WTBTS and allows representatives of the WTBTS, such as lawyers and spokesmen, to state in court or to make a statement to the media, that "we don't practice shunning" or "we take no disciplinary measures taken against those who take a blood transfusion," and so on. The same tactic is used in the elder’s handbook by stating that the book is "congregation property" which legally means that it is the property of the "faithful and discreet slave." This allows WTBTS lawyers to deny that the WTBTS and even the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses issue the instructions the book contains.

The practice of shunning, and the teaching of shunning, is attributed by the WTBTS to the "faithful and discreet slave." It is a refinement of the Theocratic Warfare Strategy, which has now been turned against the members of the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. Carefully, since 2000, the WTBTS has removed itself from the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses and identified itself as a "religious corporation" singularly used by the "faithful and discreet slave" and as such, are no longer liable by attributing decisions to the "faithful and discreet slave."

For a comparison, consider the following:

The 1983 book "Organized To Accomplish Our Ministry" is signed by "The Publishers" on page 5. The publishers are the WTBTS and the IBSA. The book contains no chapter and no subheading discussing the "faithful and discreet slave." The 2005 (update) "Organized To Do Jehovah's Will" is signed by the "Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses" on page 4. The book contains a chapter entitled "Trusting ‘The Faithful And Discreet Slave’" which runs for 7 pages and contains 4 sub-headings. This appears to be a legal maneuver on the part of the WTBTS by attributing all decisions, and any potential mistakes, to the "faithful and discreet slave." Therefore, when letters are issued in Australia signed "Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses" the letter is issued on behalf of the "faithful and discreet slave" and not by the WTBTS.

The "Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses" in Australia is not a legal entity as it is in the USA, but is the name used to sign and issue letters on behalf of the "faithful and discreet slave."This allows the WTBTS deniability in the issuing of letters or instructions. Australian WTBTS lawyer, Vincent Toole, is authorized to issue letters signed by the "Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses" which letters are issued on behalf of the "faithful and discreet slave."

The initial decision to refuse to comply with the Victorian Working with Children laws when they were first introduced in 2008 was made by the Watch Tower Society with instructions issued by through their lawyer, Vincent Toole. By law, this thereby makes the Watch Tower Society 100% liable.

The instructions to now comply with the Victorian Working with Children laws were also made by the Watch Tower Society, but this time the instructions were legally issued through the "faithful and discreet slave" via the trading name of "Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses" thereby putting on public record that it was the "faithful and discreet slave" and their "Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses" that got the laws wrong.

The lawyers at the Watch Tower Society have been, over the past decade, attributing more and more information and procedures within the congregational arrangement to the "faithful and discreet slave" for what appears to be the purpose of legal deniability. This allows the Watch Tower Society to say:

"It wasn't us that didn't comply with the Working with Children laws. It was you!"

38

Victoria, Australia: WTBTS and GB of JWs have shown themselves to be "GUILTY" respecting previous noncompliance with Working With Children Laws

by AndersonsInfo in

the watch tower society, the christian congregation of jehovah's witnesses, the faithful and discreet slave, and the governing body of jehovah's witnesses, last week issued a "special" letter to all bodies of elders in the state of victoria instructing them to immediately apply for their working with children licenses and to comply with child protection laws.

the letter includes instructions that the contents are not to be made public or shared with members of the congregation.. .

this means an investigation authorized by the governing body of jehovah's witnesses and initiated by lawyers representing the watch tower bible and tract society of pennsylvania, inc. have concluded that the victorian working with children act 2005 and the associated child protection laws do indeed apply to all elders serving in congregations throughout the state of victoria both in the public ministry and in their internal ministry, which includes the theocratic ministry school.. .

AndersonsInfo

I also have questions that need answering. My contacts are in the thick of things and have a complete view of the events but are not making themselves clear enough to me, hence the questions. (That's because my contacts are men and we know that men are not detail oriented like women are. )

Perhaps I should have waited on posting, but with so much material coming in because of so much happening down under, if I wait, information gets lost in the shuffle. My attitude is that "it will all come out in the wash" and eventually we'll get it straight.

I'll do my best to ask around and get back to this board with some answers.

Barbara

38

Victoria, Australia: WTBTS and GB of JWs have shown themselves to be "GUILTY" respecting previous noncompliance with Working With Children Laws

by AndersonsInfo in

the watch tower society, the christian congregation of jehovah's witnesses, the faithful and discreet slave, and the governing body of jehovah's witnesses, last week issued a "special" letter to all bodies of elders in the state of victoria instructing them to immediately apply for their working with children licenses and to comply with child protection laws.

the letter includes instructions that the contents are not to be made public or shared with members of the congregation.. .

this means an investigation authorized by the governing body of jehovah's witnesses and initiated by lawyers representing the watch tower bible and tract society of pennsylvania, inc. have concluded that the victorian working with children act 2005 and the associated child protection laws do indeed apply to all elders serving in congregations throughout the state of victoria both in the public ministry and in their internal ministry, which includes the theocratic ministry school.. .

AndersonsInfo

The Watch Tower Society, the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, the Faithful and Discreet Slave, and the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, last week issued a "special" letter to ALL Bodies of Elders in the State of Victoria instructing them to immediately apply for their Working with Children licenses and to comply with child protection laws. The letter includes instructions that the contents are not to be made public or shared with members of the congregation.This means an investigation authorized by the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses and initiated by lawyers representing the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, Inc. have concluded that the Victorian Working with Children Act 2005 and the associated child protection laws DO INDEED APPLY to all elders serving in congregations throughout the State of Victoria both in the public ministry and in their internal ministry, which includes the Theocratic Ministry School.Compliance with the Working with Children laws became compulsory for "religious organizations" within the State of Victoria on July 1, 2008.The Watch Tower Society refused to comply stating they did not have Sunday Schools, although full well knowing that non-compliance is a criminal offence.

As a direct result of their refusal to comply, criminal charges were officially filed on July 26, 2011 in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, Australia, against the entire worldwide religious and corporate hierarchy of the church of Jehovah’s Witnesses.These charges allege ongoing breaches of the Victorian Working with Children Act 2005 as it applies to “religious organizations.”

An initial 35 criminal charges, alleging breaches of mandatory child protection laws, were individually filed against the following corporations and bodies as named in the court documents:

Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses (7 charges)
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania (7 charges)
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia (7 charges)
Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses (7 charges)
Faithful and Discreet Slave (7 charges)Each of the 35 charges carries a fine of up to Au$144,000 and a criminal conviction.

The next court hearing date is scheduled for October 11, 2011.All of the "accused" legally and religiously, form part of the Committee of Management for the Religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the State of Victoria.All charges are in relation to allegations of unlawful activities carried out within the Tarragon Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses by the entire Body of Tarragon Congregation Elders. In addition, there are approximately between 100-150 other sets of charges pending in relation to every single congregation in the State of Victoria.

All current members of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses are also facing potential arrest and charging in relation to each alleged offence as they “knew of, or knowingly authorized or permitted, the commission of the offence."Prior to, and continually after, the July 1, 2008 deadline for compliance, the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses were repeatedly notified that their appointed representatives and elders were engaging in working with children in breach of the Victorian Working with Children laws within their internal ministry in every single Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in the State of Victoria. They were also notified that the Watch Tower Society refused to comply.Regardless of being repeatedly notified, the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses continued to permit the commissioning of the offences.Charges of "lawlessness" and "sin" have been brought against the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses within the congregation, by members of Jehovah's Witnesses, over their Governing Body's refusal to comply with child protection laws.No investigation commenced and the entire case was shut down by Watch Tower lawyers.Steven Unthank has now been vindicated in forcing the Watch Tower Society and the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses to comply with child protection laws.It is worth noting that the only reason individual elders within the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses in the State of Victoria were not personally arrested and criminally charged in relation to alleged breaches of the Working with Children laws, was solely because of positive action taken by Mr. Unthank to protect these very elders and their families by having the corporations charged and not the individual "ministers of religion."For all it's worth, this legal action and maneuver on Mr. Unthank's part has prevented untold needless suffering upon members of the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses.For successfully taking this stand to protect these individual elders, and all children within the Victorian community (via the Public Ministry) and all children within the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses in the State of Victoria (via the Internal Ministry), Steven Unthank is now referred to as being "mentally diseased" and a "criminal" by members of Jehovah's Witnesses--the very same men, women, and children he has protected.

Consequently, the Victorian Human Rights Commission has commenced a formal investigation in relation to these statements by Jehovah's Witnesses under the categories of "religious vilification" and "inciting religious hatred." Now, however, we patiently wait to see if the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses will plead "guilty" on October 11, 2011 at their next scheduled court appearance?

45

Barbara Anderson on conference call right now!

by koolaid-man in

jw
friends

sat oct.1-2011 8pm edt.

.

dial 712-432-8710 when asked for pin use 9925. .

AndersonsInfo

Richard Rawe was the second "apostate" I spoke to after I left the organization. The first was Alan Feuerbacher, someone I knew from when he was about four and I was 14. His father was congregation servant at the first congregation I attended when I became a JW. Alan left the organization in the early 1990s when I was still in Bethel. It was Alan who told me about Richard in 1998 and gave me his phone number. Richard has been my friend ever since. If Richard asks me to be his guest on his phone conference call, I consider it a privilege.