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  28

  Governing Body member rumors

  by Insider in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  does anyone know of any good rumors about specific members of the wt governing body?

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  comment

  No offense, but isn't this the sort of thing an "Insider" is supposed to know?

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  3

  Tri-City Herald reports on Dateline

  by comment in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my apologies if this has already been posted.

  it's an advance article from the tri-city herald of may 28 about the dateline program:.

  http://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/2002/0528/story3.html.

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  comment

  Hi Dawn,

  I don't live near the Tri-City area. I just found the link to this story through a search engine and thought I would bring it to the group's attention.

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  3

  Tri-City Herald reports on Dateline

  by comment in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my apologies if this has already been posted.

  it's an advance article from the tri-city herald of may 28 about the dateline program:.

  http://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/2002/0528/story3.html.

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  comment

  My apologies if this has already been posted. It's an advance article from the Tri-City Herald of May 28 about the Dateline program:

  http://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/2002/0528/story3.html

  'Dateline' to feature Othello sex abuse case

  This story was published 5/28/2002

  By Shirley Wentworth
  Herald Basin bureau

  OTHELLO -- This rural Basin town will be prominently featured tonight in a Dateline NBC segment investigating allegations that elders in the Jehovah's Witness church have covered up cases of child molestation.

  Producer Rich Greenberg said a civil lawsuit brought against the elders in the Othello Spanish Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses and Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York are a key part of correspondent John Larson's report, which airs at 10 p.m.

  The lawsuit was filed by a former Othello woman, Erica Rodriguez, 23, who was raped weekly by a former elder of that church from the time she was four until she moved from the area at 11.

  Judge Edward Shea, U.S. District Court Judge in Richland, last week granted the Watchtower's motion to dismiss the case, ruling that it doesn't fall within federal jurisdiction.

  Watchtower spokesman J.R. Brown said the church has a strict policy about sex abuse and advises congregation leaders to follow state law about reporting abuse. He maintains all accusations made by church detractors are false. But Rodriguez's attorney, Jeff Anderson of St. Paul, Minn., said the case still has merit and he plans to file a new suit in state court.

  Rodriguez was the second person in the nation to have filed a suit against the religious group for allegedly failing to properly respond to accusations of sexual abuse by its members.

  Manuel Beliz was declared guilty by two separate juries and is serving an 11-year sentence for abusing Rodriquez.

  Her civil suit alleged that Beliz repeatedly threatened her with disfellowshipment from the Jehovah's Witnesses if she told police about the abuse, a threat she said was reiterated by elders in Sacramento, Calif. Disfellowshipment means being cast out of the church and shunned by family and friends.

  The lawsuit also stated that elders in the Othello church violated state law by not reporting the sex abuse, instead allowing the abuse to continue while giving Beliz positions as ministerial servant and elder.

  Rodriguez also alleged that church policy tolerates child abuse, blames and humiliates victims and fails to report abuse to appropriate authorites.

  The story has been drawing national attention along with the deluge of stories about abuse within the Catholic Church.

  Two former church members in Kentucky said they were excommunicated for cooperating with the Dateline investigation.

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  9

  Question re tower logo at Bethel (NYers??)

  by comment in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a friend of mine in new york just told me that the big tower logo on the side of bethel is no longer there.

  instead, there's a giant neon sign saying "watchtower" and a digital clock.. how long has this been the case?

  does anybody know why they got rid of the tower logo?.

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  comment

  I'm not totally sure from the description I was given. Maybe if someone could just give a "Before" and "After," that would clarify things.

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  9

  Question re tower logo at Bethel (NYers??)

  by comment in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a friend of mine in new york just told me that the big tower logo on the side of bethel is no longer there.

  instead, there's a giant neon sign saying "watchtower" and a digital clock.. how long has this been the case?

  does anybody know why they got rid of the tower logo?.

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  comment

  A friend of mine in New York just told me that the big tower logo on the side of Bethel is no longer there. Instead, there's a giant neon sign saying "WATCHTOWER" and a digital clock.

  How long has this been the case? Does anybody know why they got rid of the tower logo?

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  8

  What is the Special talk on?????????

  by JT in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for those of you who still swing by the hall from time to time.

  what is the special talk on this year?.

  thanks

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  comment

  Hi JT,

  It's on a topic that the Society has NEVER covered before!

  "Keep Close in Mind the 'Fear-Inspiring Day'!"

  If you visit the Watchtower Observer site, you can read the full talk outline.

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  1

  Dear Prudie comments on JWs (?)

  by comment in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i think it's pretty safe to assume that the letter-writer is referring to jws, unless it's mormons.

  i liked the sentence in the response that begins: "it has always interested prudie...".

  http://slate.msn.com/?id=2063825.

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  comment

  From slate.msn.com. I think it's pretty safe to assume that the letter-writer is referring to JWs, unless it's Mormons. I liked the sentence in the response that begins: "It has always interested Prudie..."

  http://slate.msn.com/?id=2063825

  Dear Prudence,
  My question is simple: How do I politely but firmly put an end to a certain pair of religious solicitors who visit my house every few months? I've tried being rude, truthful, and just plain lying to get them to leave. They keep showing up. I am very comfortable in my religious orientation and have tried using that angle as well. I know these people are pests to a lot more people than just me. I appreciate what they're trying to do, but they need to respect my wishes as well. What's up?

  —Hiding From the Doorbell

  Dear Hide,
  Alas, the time has come for no more Mr. Nice Guy—or in your case, Mrs. It is hard to believe that the same pair of pushy clods continues to try their luck, but if this is the case, the next time they ring your bell, try one of the following. If you see them from the window, ignore the bell. If you open the door, tell them they have very poor memories—then close the door. If they hound you some more, call the police and inform them that unwelcome solicitors are disturbing your peace and trespassing. It has always interested Prudie, who has dealt with these pests herself, that their hierarchy has not figured out that for every person willing to listen to a front-door spiel, probably a hundred are annoyed. Religion is not something to be sold door-to-door. Fuller brushes are.

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  Calgary JW girl seeks non-transfusion treatment

  by comment in

  1. social
  2. current

  here's the full story, published march 26: .

  http://www.canoe.ca/cnewslaw0203/26_transfusion-sun.html.

  transfusion girl: i want the best treatment.

• 

  comment

  Here's the full story, published March 26:

  http://www.canoe.ca/CNEWSLaw0203/26_transfusion-sun.html

  Transfusion girl: I want the best treatment

  By MELISSA RIDGEN-- Sun Media

  CALGARY -- A 16-year-old leukemia patient who has been ordered by the court to undergo blood transfusions, spoke out for the first time yesterday saying she wants the treatments stopped in favour of a different treatment offered in the U.S. which doesn't go against her religious beliefs.

  The girl -- who is now a ward of the province and cannot be named -- wants to go to Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles where a doctor has offered her a treatment option that won't compromise her beliefs as a Jehovah's Witness.

  "Not only is it better for me mentally with my religious beliefs, but I would be respected and treated with dignity as a person and I would be given better medical treatment," she said from her room at the Alberta Children's Hospital yesterday, where her lawyer said she has been restrained and forced to undergo treatment she doesn't want.

  "I just want the best treatment for my leukemia and if that's at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre then that's where I want to be."

  It will be up to the court to decide whether she goes to L.A., and it isn't known how treatments there would be paid for.

  The girl was diagnosed in mid-February with acute myloid leukemia and after a court fight, she was ordered to undergo the life-saving blood transfusions, which her father supports but her mother does not.

  [email protected]

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  6

  Good ol' dress, grooming and entertainment

  by comment in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when did the phrase "dress, grooming and entertainment" become such a mantra for the watchtower society?.

  this may just be my impression, but in the late 1970's and early 1980's, there didn't seem to be a part on every district convention and circuit assembly program about "dress, grooming and entertainment.

  " but in the 1990's, there sure was.. even as a faithful witness, i started to find this emphasis a little embarrassing.. i mean, couldn't there be something more important to worry about?

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  comment

  Xander,

  You may have a point, in terms of their point of view. My feeling is that I would have stayed a Witness despite not having exactly the "correct" length of hair or taste in music or whatever, if I didn't know the things I know now.

  But for someone who wants an easy source of blame for my "demise," I guess that would fit the bill.

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  6

  Good ol' dress, grooming and entertainment

  by comment in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when did the phrase "dress, grooming and entertainment" become such a mantra for the watchtower society?.

  this may just be my impression, but in the late 1970's and early 1980's, there didn't seem to be a part on every district convention and circuit assembly program about "dress, grooming and entertainment.

  " but in the 1990's, there sure was.. even as a faithful witness, i started to find this emphasis a little embarrassing.. i mean, couldn't there be something more important to worry about?

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  comment

  When did the phrase "dress, grooming and entertainment" become such a mantra for the Watchtower Society?

  This may just be my impression, but in the late 1970's and early 1980's, there didn't seem to be a part on EVERY district convention and circuit assembly program about "dress, grooming and entertainment." But in the 1990's, there sure was.

  Even as a faithful Witness, I started to find this emphasis a little embarrassing.

  I mean, couldn't there be something more important to worry about? Couldn't we please have some more talks about environmental degradation or nuclear war?

  You didn't see many people "falling out of the truth" as a direct result of their choices in "dress, grooming and entertainment."

  Before the time when I had to quit associating, I attended every meeting and gave talks in the Theocratic Ministry School and Service Meeting, surpassed the congregation average in field service hours, and generally conducted myself as a model Witness.

  I also owned some ripped clothing for daily living, wore my hair a little shaggy, and enjoyed listening to heavy metal.

  And if I had not discovered all the problems with the Society's doctrines and policies, I would probably be carrying on just the same, whether it was the Hall or heavy metal.

  To me, the emphasis on "dress, grooming and entertainment" is just another way for the Society to create guilt and control you. (You know, the sort of thing that Witnesses always ascribe to the Roman Catholic Church.)

  comment