“I’ve never seen any properties kept in better shape,” Tim says. “Anyone who buys them will be happy that they did and they won’t need to spend a dime on upgrades to infrastructure.” Tim, who tells us he attended a breakfast at the White House about a decade ago, goes as far as to say the buildings are better maintained than the presidential residence.
AndersonsInfo
JoinedPosts by AndersonsInfo
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Article: Witnesses Portfolio ‘Better Maintained Than The White House.’
by AndersonsInfo inhttps://www.bisnow.com/new-york/news/commercial-real-estate/what-makes-the-jehovahs-witnesses-portfolio-special-and-what-the-latest-property-to-hit-the-market-could-become-60632 .
“i’ve never seen any properties kept in better shape,” tim says.
“anyone who buys them will be happy that they did and they won’t need to spend a dime on upgrades to infrastructure.” tim, who tells us he attended a breakfast at the white house about a decade ago, goes as far as to say the buildings are better maintained than the presidential residence..
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RUSSIA: Jehovah's Witnesses face possible liquidation
by AndersonsInfo inhttp://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2181.
24 may 2016. russia: jehovah's witnesses face possible liquidation.
by victoria arnold, forum 18. if prosecutors proceed with their threat to liquidate the jehovah's witness headquarters near st petersburg, thousands of local congregations across russia could also face prohibition of their activities and individuals could be vulnerable to criminal charges for expressing their beliefs, forum 18 notes.. the jehovah's witnesses' principal body in russia is under threat of dissolution as an "extremist" organisation after the deadline in an official warning from the general prosecutor's office expired on 10 may, forum 18 notes.
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AndersonsInfo
http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2181
24 May 2016
RUSSIA: Jehovah's Witnesses face possible liquidation
By Victoria Arnold, Forum 18
If prosecutors proceed with their threat to liquidate the Jehovah's Witness headquarters near St Petersburg, thousands of local congregations across Russia could also face prohibition of their activities and individuals could be vulnerable to criminal charges for expressing their beliefs, Forum 18 notes.
The Jehovah's Witnesses' principal body in Russia is under threat of dissolution as an "extremist" organisation after the deadline in an official warning from the General Prosecutor's Office expired on 10 May, Forum 18 notes. If prosecutors decide to pursue liquidation, thousands of local Jehovah's Witness congregations across Russia could also face prohibition of their activities and individuals could be vulnerable to criminal charges for expressing their beliefs.
If dissolution of the Administrative Centre is pursued, this would be the first instance of a registered, centralised religious organisation with active subdivisions being liquidated for "extremism", Forum 18 notes.
Lawyers have until 10 June to challenge the warning in court, the Administrative Centre told Forum 18 from St Petersburg. Lawyers for the Administrative Centre are planning to lodge a challenge at Tver District Court in Moscow, and told Forum 18 they still hope that the matter will be resolved in their favour. READ MORE -
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AndersonsInfo
The hour absolutely flew by because the interview was so engrossing. Joy, you have such an engaging personality that makes you so easy to listen to. Not only did your sincerity shine through, but you expressed yourself with confidence because of your wealth of experience and knowledge, especially when you discussed your years of living and working at Bethel and as a nurse-midwife dealing with the JW blood ban.
Thanks Lady C and Joy for the time and effort it took to put together an especially absorbing interview. Lady C - I liked the warmth and enthusiastic style you exhibited as you questioned Joy. I look forward to more interviews with former JW women, like Joy, who now don't have to hide their intelligence, creativity and excellent ability to engage in leadership roles.
Barbara
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Informative Article-The Guardian: Police expect 30,000 new child abuse reports from Goddard inquiry
by AndersonsInfo inhttp://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/may/19/child-sex-abuse-police-expect-30000-goddard-inquiry-cases.
police expect 30,000 new child abuse reports from goddard inquiry .
sandra laville.
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AndersonsInfo
Police expect 30,000 new child abuse reports from Goddard inquiry
Thursday 19 May 2016 14.42 EDT Last modified on Friday 20 May 2016 03.09 EDT
Exclusive: Extent of child sexual abuse in England and Wales begins to become clear as inquiry passes on 100 cases a month.
The scale of child sexual abuse in England and Wales is being exposed by evidence from thousands of victims, with cases being passed to police at a rate of 100 a month by the public inquiry set up following the Jimmy Savile scandal.
Simon Bailey, head of the national coordinating unit Operation Hydrant, said his team was expecting to be given 30,000 reports of new child sexual offences by the end of the Goddard inquiry, and predicted the rate of referrals of allegations of abuse would increase.
Reports of child abuse to forces across the country are continuing to rise, said Bailey, who is the chief constable of Norfolk. He calculated that the continuing increase would mean that by 2020 police across the country would be investigating 200,000 cases of child sexual abuse.
Bailey added: “It is fair to say I am surprised by the extent of abuse being exposed, it is shocking. In trying to get a message across to the public about the scale of this, it is important to remember that behind each of these figures there is a victim.
“We are seeing a significant rise in the number of referrals each month from the Goddard inquiry, and these allegations relate to abuse in a range of institutions from the church, to schools, the scouts and hospitals.” READ MORE
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Germany-Trial Over Abuse Among Jehovah's Witnesses. At least two boys were raped...
by AndersonsInfo intrial over abuse among jehovah’s witnesses.
at least two boys were raped in the beliefs community at greifwald.
by cornelia meerkatz.
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SEX ABUSE: JEHOVAH’S WITNESS SENTENCED, His victim was only eleven; May 10, 2016 http://www.nordkurier.de/anklam/sexueller-missbrauch-zeuge-jehovas-verurteilt-1022473505.html
The district court for Greifswald (northeaster Germany) has condemned a man for the sexual abuse of a child to one year and two months probation and a fine of 900 euros. Thus, the Court largely followed the request of the prosecutors. The defendant had given a fully comprehensive confession and so spared the victim from having to testify in court, according to Judge Wittke. He show recognizable remorse and did not commit any further offenses since 2005.
The Greifswalder confessed to having carried out sex acts in 2005 against eleven boys in two cases. The boys had come to think of him as a "fatherly friend" that "was all too close," the accused said. He regrets these acts and has claimed to have apologized to the family.
Other allegations
A then 14-year-old boy, kept money for satisfying him orally. The defendant was acquitted of this charge, since it alone remained as an issue at trial and at the time of the act was not criminal.
The Baltic newspaper had earlier reported that the man was said to have abused the boy during "Jehovah religious ceremonies in Greifswald Kingdom Hall.” The defense attorney and judge Daniel Wittke expressed surprise at this. "I did not see that in the file," said Wittke.
The 53-year-old testified that he had begun long-term therapy after the incidents. He was abused as a child by his own father and his brother. He discussed staying away from children with a therapist. He did not feel attracted any more to children.
Witnesses responded late
The defendant was a member of Jehovah's Witnesses. About a year after the abuses he had turned to the "elders" and confessed to the deeds. They did not react until years later and expelling him from their community in 2012.
He was not allowed to attebd the church in Greifswald, so as not to meet his victims. Moreover, it is part of his sentence, that the parishioners are not to talk to him.Sein Opfer war erst elf: Sexueller Missbrauch: Zeuge Jehovas verurteilt | Nordkurier.de -
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Germany-Trial Over Abuse Among Jehovah's Witnesses. At least two boys were raped...
by AndersonsInfo intrial over abuse among jehovah’s witnesses.
at least two boys were raped in the beliefs community at greifwald.
by cornelia meerkatz.
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AndersonsInfo
Trial Over Abuse Among Jehovah’s Witnesses
At least two boys were raped in the beliefs community at Greifwald
By Cornelia Meerkatz
May 10, 2016
Greifswald. Abuse trial before the Greifswald District Court: It’s alleged that a now 53 year old man from the Hanseatic city in 2005 during religious ceremonies at the Greifswald Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses molested two children, both boys. One of the boys at the material time was twelve, and abused twice by the defendant. The other boy in 2005 was over 14 years old but not yet of age. The spokesman for the prosecutor of Stralsund, Martin Cloppenburg, confirmed the charges. The trial starts Tuesday. Quoted is a day of the trial.
According to the central office for information besides this one case there are far more cases of abuse among Jehovah's Witnesses. It has been stated that there have been at least 20 assaults. However, up until beginning with the two young men, who are now in their early and middle 20’s none of the victims have yet spoken up or given evidence.
A person knowledgeable of Jehovah's Witnesses in regard to the intimidation of victims or potential witnesses may be testifying in court. "Child abuse must be severely punished, because is in our Bible that we are to protect our children and to take care of them," said members of the religious community in contrast to the office of information.
Original Article In German: http://www.ostsee-zeitung.de/…/Missbrauch-bei-Zeugen-Jehova…
Info about Greifswald in northeastern Germany https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greifswald
Rough translation by google
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Inside NYC's Social Club for the Former Devout!
by truthsetsonefree ini am very proud of this video and article.
this marks the going public of a community that i co-founded with my friend todd kadish that is very important in new york city, indeed for everyone.
especially for those who have escaped from some very controlling organizations a chance to integrate into the real world while still feeling validated and avoiding bitterness.
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AndersonsInfo
Wonderful idea. We like the name of the group, Formerly Fundamentalist NYC. How about starting groups all over the US, Formerly Fundamentalist Nashville, or Formerly Fundamentalist LA, Formerly Fundamentalist AnyCity.
If interested, To get involved, email [email protected].
Barbara and Joe
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Review of Dr. Chryssides' new book on Jehovah's Witnesses
by Old Goat inhttp://truthhistory.blogspot.com/2016/04/a-review.html.
the book costs 140.00, but i bought it.
i agree with dr. de vienne's review.
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AndersonsInfo
Further comments from Rud Persson:
"Old Goat stated: "Rutherford did indeed express reservations about
the Society´s management, expressing them to Russell. This is in the
original documentation."
My response was to Chryssides´s claim that Rutherford was concerned
about elections "for life" and that he felt that the charter contained
illegal portions. Rutherford did not voice any concern regarding this
until his position was challenged at least four months after his
election. Nor does early documentation say that he expressed his
later claim in this respect to Russell. What Rutherford did claim in
Harvest Siftings, dated August 1, 1917, was that he had told Russell
when the work was moved to New York that board members and officers
had to be "chosen in the State of Pennsylvania, and nowhere else."
(p. 15) But that was not the point Chryssides was making and to which
I responded.It seems that Rutherford did not convince Russell about
the need for choosing directors in Pennsylvania, for he
admitted that "the Society would be maintained with all its original
powers provided the annual elections are held in Pittsburgh." (p. 16)
His bringing up in 1917 his earlier discussion with Russell was to
lend support to his replacing Robert Hirsh, who was elected to the
board and by the board in New York, at Rutherford´s own instigation on
March 29, 1917! He could have had Hirsh, then a strong supporter of
his, elected in Pennsylvania if he had felt this was the correct way
and if he had so insisted, but clearly he saw no need to do so. All
elections to and by the board after the move to New York were taking
place in New York, and Russell was convinced, and rightly so, that
such elections were legal and proper. Even Rutherford was elected in
this way in 1910. If that had been an illegal election, Rutherford
would not have been a legal director in January 1917 and since the
charter clearly ruled that only directors could be elected president,
vice president and secretary-treasurer, his election to president in
1917 would then have been illegal even though it took place in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This was pointed out by competent lawyers
during the conflict. J.D. Wright and I.F. Hoskins had been elected to
the Board in Pennsylvania before the removal to New York. Rutherford
would have to come up with something else to get rid of them. It is
here his attack on the charter regulation about election "for life"
became useful.
He claimed in the summer of 1917 that this clause in the charter was
illegal and to no effect, holding that directors had to be elected
annually according to law. This was necessary in order to get rid of
three of his opponents on the board. However, it is clear that Russell
wanted the Society put on a really legal footing when he drew up the
charter in 1884. Consequently he had it examined by competent legal
counsel and had it approved by the authorities. It is not surprising,
therefore, that Rutherford never even attempted to explain how such a
carefully established charter could contain an illegal clause. The
Judge did not care much about the law anyway. In 1917 he claimed that
directors had to be elected annually according to the law. But just a
few years afterwards he felt that such restraint was troublesome and
wanted longer terms. And hey presto! it then became possible to
disregard the rule about annual elections! So much for his concern.
The books by Schulz and de Vienne have been mentioned here and I take
the opportunity to express my admiration for their excellent works.
I also find the material being presented at the site Watch Tower History
first rate. In the sketches I am preparing on people involved in the
1917-1918 conflict, I have accepted and used some of the research
presented at their website, so far on Gertrude W. Seibert and William
F. Hudgings, giving full credit. "
Rud
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Review of Dr. Chryssides' new book on Jehovah's Witnesses
by Old Goat inhttp://truthhistory.blogspot.com/2016/04/a-review.html.
the book costs 140.00, but i bought it.
i agree with dr. de vienne's review.
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AndersonsInfo
The following information is mostly a negative review of Dr. Chryssides' new book on Jehovah's Witnesses, by Rud Persson of Sweden:
There are three major books published on Jehovah´s Witnesses in English
in recent years, "Judgment Day Must Wait" by Poul Bregninge (2013) , the
third edition of "Apocalypse Delayed" by M.J. Penton (2015) and
"Jehovah´s Witnesses Continuity and Change" by George D. Chryssides
(2016). Of these three Penton´s work is by far the best in my view.
When I learned about Chryssides´ book I at once ordered it but did not
expect an excellent work. The reason is that I have a book called
"Sacred Schisms" from 2009 in which Chryssides authored a chapter called
"Finishing the Mystery: the Watch Tower and `the 1917 schism´" (pp.
109-127). The book was very expensive, but since I am writing
extensively on this particular subject I felt I had to check it. I am
sad to say that this chapter by Chryssides is one of the worst and least
scholarly presentations of the subject I have ever come across. It is so
full of error as to be practically worthless. Chryssides had not done
his homework properly and had not studied the rich contemporary source
material.
His fresh book does not show as many mistakes about the 1917-1918
events, but there are still so many errors that one can recommend the
book only with strong reservations . He indicates on pp. 78 and 79 that
Rutherford expressed disquiet about the way in which the Society´s
affairs were organized and that as four of the acting directors had not
been properly elected he appointed four new ones. In actual fact
Rutherford voiced agreement with the existing system already in The
Watch Tower, December 15, 1916. He did not think of making changes until
the four he later replaced indicated that the Society should be run by
the Board of Directors, in harmony with the Charter, and not by
Rutherford alone. He felt he had to act against them as he was not
prepared to step down from his position. He stated in print in the fall
of 1917 that if they had not wanted to limit his authority he would
never had called the legality of their directorships in question. The
board of directors controversy was one of the biggest crisis ever in the
Society, but in his new book Chryssides does not even mention that there
was such a controversy!
On p. 79 he claims that at the election in 1918 Macmillan was elected
vice president while Pierson was elected to the Board. In reality it was
C.H. Anderson who was elected vice president and Pierson did not even
make the board. This mistake is inexcusable as the facts are so easy to
ascertain. Chryssides did better in his description of Paul S.L.
Johnson´s activities in Britain. But there he had at his disposal Albert
Hudson´s excellent book on Bible Students in Britain. Still he made the
wrong statement that Johnson left England on "4 April 1917." Johnson
himself repeatedly stated that he left on April 1, 1917. No early source
says he left on April 4.
On pp. 84 and 86 he says that Johnson was "was one of the vociferous
objectors to the Finished Mystery" and that on July 17, 1917 "when a
copy was left at each person´s place at the breakfast table" Johnson
"started a protest and heated argument continued for some five hours."
There is not much truth in these statements. The Finished Mystery was
surely announced on July 17, 1917, but not at "the breakfast table" but
at the dinner table. The book was not left beforehand at each person´s
place. It was stored on a table in the dining room. Not until Rutherford
had announced that he had replaced four directors did he announce that
the book was there for everyone to get. Not one word about The Finsihed
Mystery was said on this occasion, the dramatic announcement about the
board being a much hotter subject. The entire five-hour commotion was
about the board matter. And while Johnson participated he did not
"start" the protests. Johnson and the directors did later speak out
about the book, but it took quite some time before they did.
Here Chryssides has swallowed the Society´s and his Watchtower friends´
false presentation's hook, line and sinker. The rich contemporary
documentation of both sides cuts the Society´s history presentations to
pieces. The persons who the Society has relied on have had their
memories weakened and changed after several decades in the organization.
Even Mcmillan had a poor memory after so many years.
It is difficult to escape the impression that Chryssides sometimes
accommodates his Witness friends. He does present criticism at times,
but this criticism seems to be imbedded in cotton so as not to hurt his
friends. His bias is sometimes obvious. He challenges Penton´s statement
that Rutherford made a "dramatic doctrinal switch" regarding the
teaching about the Jews. (p. 114) But Penton was 100 per cent correct.
The 1932 change regarding the Jews was a major one, certainly a
"dramatic doctrinal switch." Chryssides does not seem to be aware of the
pro-Jewish position stated in Rutherford´s earlier writings, such as
"Comfort for the Jews" from 1925 and the book "Life" published in 1929.
Neither of these publications is listed in Chryssides´ bibliography .
Also, Chryssides is weak on the Society´s stance on blood. He does not
outline how the Society in 2004 differentiated between forbidden and
allowable blood components. (The Watchtower, June 15, 2004) Since the
Society claims that blood leaving a body belongs to God and is not
permitted for any use whatsoever and is not allowed even to store, the
the fact that certain blood components nevertheless may be viewed as
permissible has to be viewed as hypocrisy. Not surprisingly Chryssides
does not call a spade a spade.
It would be unfair, however, not to admit that Chryssides makes many apt
observations. He treats the Olin Moyle and Carl Olof Jonsson cases
fairly well and he uses the current elder book (2010) which strictly
speaking is confidential material that he is not supposed to have access
to. He informs his readers about the chronology which was shortened by
about 100 years in 1943, and he offers a number of excellent pictures.
So I will keep my copy. The book was so shockingly expensive that it is
doomed to sell poorly.
Rud Persson
Sweden
April 23, 2016 -
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NYTimes: Sex Abuse and the Catholic Church: Why Is It Still a Story? Mentions JWs
by AndersonsInfo inhttp://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/20/insider/sex-abuse-and-the-catholic-church-why-is-it-still-a-story.html?mabreward=a3&moduledetail=recommendations-0&action=click&contentcollection=americas®ion=footer&module=whatsnext&version=whatsnext&contentid=whatsnext&src=recg&pgtype=article.
by laurie goodstein april 20, 2016 .
synopsis: .
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AndersonsInfo
By LAURIE GOODSTEIN APRIL 20, 2016
Synopsis:
But they often wait years before they are ready to speak. They are too ashamed, or confused, or afraid of not being believed. But eventually they tell someone, and once they start speaking, some cannot stop. That’s why the sexual abuse story has emerged so slowly, over years, in waves. Abuse victims are like combat veterans: The war is long over, but the coping is not. Years after the Vietnam War ended, people are still writing memoirs and making movies, still processing what happened.
Of course, child sexual abuse is an issue everywhere, not just in the Catholic Church. The Times has written about it in schools, scouting organizations, camps, United Nations missions and other faiths. My colleagues on the Metro desk wrote a disturbing series on the cover-up of child abusers in the Orthodox Jewish community in New York. I have covered cases of sexual abuse in such a wide variety of religions that I have trouble keeping track: Protestant, Jewish, Hindu, Jehovah’s Witnesses and the most bizarre story of all — an international Christian cult called the Children of God.
