Pass on this info: (in your own words)
1) In the lawsuits being filed against Jehovah's Witnesses and the Watchtower Society, This is what the lawyers for the plaintiffs have at their disposal and in their arsenal:
1967 'Your Word is a Lamp to My Foot;
1972:'Oraganization for Kingdom-Preaching and Disciple-Making;
1983: Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry
WT 11/15/73 WT 11/1/95
1989: Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry
Ongoing: "Pay Attention To Yourselves and to All the Flock"
The first four books say the following: "If a Jehovah's Witness feels they have been harmed by another Jehovah's Witness, they may speak of it TO THAT OTHER WITNESS; or to the one or two witnesses to the evidence OR TO THE ELDERS (in some cases the ELDERS ONLY). The WT's 11/1/73 and 11/1/95 also restates the same principle but adds that a Witnesses may speak to others IF THE 'offending' Witnesses HAS BEEN DISFELLOWSHIPED but does not appear even in that case to encourage it.
The 1989 edition of the OAM book states further: "Having done this [gone to the elders] you have taken it as far as you can. Leave the problem in the hands of the responsible members of the congregation and trust in Jehovah that it will be resolved.
And in all cases, the primary endeavor will be to restore the wrongdoer/instill wholesome fear in any onlookers/protecting the congregation's good name.
In all these books, it states that two or more credible witnesses to two different acts at different times of the accused CAN be a basis for congregational action. This was reiterated at the recent Elder's school. Watchtower makes an EXCEPTION for abused children: they must have two witnesses to the abuse or they will not be offered assistance or protection and in fact they can be EXPELLED for their accusations. J.R. Brown, spokesperson for Watchtower, said publicly "We don't change for anybody".
ALL these books are in the possession of lawyers for the plaintiffs. The text of ALL these books are available all over the internet, and have been for years. The AUDIO of the most recent elder's school is on the internet as well.
This is a done did deal. Watchtower conspired with ALL Jehovah's Witnesses for over thirty years to hide sexual abusers in their organization IN WRITING..AND send them to the public's FRONT DOORS.
Women, since World War Two, cannot hold positions of responsibility in the organization. Known child molesters cannot hold positions of responsibility in the organization. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE???
Jehovah's Witnesses BRAG about their 120 years of religious freedom in the United States. They BRAG about their 38 Supreme Court Victories. They BRAG about their tax exempt status, which means they've received millions if not billions of dollars of taxpayers' subsidies on top of everything else.
And in return, Jehovah's Witnesses have given the public dead children (26 faces on the cover of an infamous Awake...They died for their faith) and RAPISTS AT THEIR DOORS. This the public will NOT FORGIVE.
2) That covers the Watchtower's role. Next up, the specific lawsuits (Erica, Holly and Heather and the others) indicating elder's roles.
3) refer them to silentlambs.org and point out the sentencing hearings of Berry and Belize, and the insane testimony by the Witneses, which brings out the publishers roles. You have now established the organizational-wide policy.
4) provide/link to the Dateline/Panorama transcrips and video.
5) provide links to the fact that Germany, Australia, Canada, Finland are all doing stories on the issue.
6) Provide links to the fledgling British investigation; the recent letter-writing camapign; the Ritzville group, the Dravvenville group, and the upcoming Silentlambs March. (September 27 2002)
Sit back and watch them scramble.
Edited by - dungbeetle on 23 July 2002 23:40:35
