Hi, I am Possum and have been posting for a short time just thought I would introduce myself with much trepidation. I am a third generation ex witness. Grandparents originally lured into cult in 1920 after the death of a precious child. My father in his words "disobediently" married out of the truth. My Canaanite mother eventually was dis-fellowship and us children became mere pawns in a vicious custody tug of war. Weekend visits mother would send me in mini skirts father would unpick them to modest length and frantic witnessing for the weekend. 1975 just around the corner!! My brother (non- witness) now 57 has ongoing narrative grandfather and father where buying him a pair of jeans and grandfather said to father "don't buy good ones Armageddon will be here before he gets full use of them" when 7 years old ". I was playing in swimmers in front garden and father reported me to local police for immorality. But never reported his fathers sexual assaults on minors to any worldly authorities only Elders (some of who where his employees and young nephews). Mother very traumatised by her involvement with witnesses and succumbed and died from an alcoholic related illness. The organisation has effectively deprived me of both parents, as my father professes (delusional) to be anointed has been effectively castrated by the cult from acting as an autonomous individual. I came back to the org as an adult after a very early marriage breakdown. Re married in cult and my only daughter was sexually assaulted by a prominent elder while on a "shepherding "call. After protecting him with "two witness rule" for 12 years my daughter remembered the abuse (which made her 'demonized)'. We started to speak out about the danger of two witness rule. My daughters abuser eventually left his wife, disassociated himself and moved in with a younger women with small children. Since I come from a very large witness family in small town the impact of shunning was extremely emotionally and physiologically and physically damaging. My husband and I had to leave town! We are now in our 50,s and 60,s and trying to start a new life. My grandfather Johnston (world champion axe man) was a serial pedophile who systematically raped most of my cousins. Got caught red handed twice and dis-fellowshiped twice. Reinstated and buried with full honors. Left a trail of devastated broken women not just family members and never!! taken to police. Some of his victims accessed of lack of faith because of unwillingness/inability to participate fully in field service and meeting. Blame the victims!!!Because keeping the facade of the good witness/local hero was more important than the safety of the children in the small town Atherton where he resided. I would not doubt there will be non-witness victims. If witnesses families did not know what he was dis-fellowshiped for (what hope have the worldly people who would welcome him into their houses??) I have named Ivor Johnston in my nine page submission to the Australian Royal Commission so I feel no need to further protect him as well. I have been accused of "poisoning other hearts" by revealing abuse in JW I have enrolled in a University course and one of my professors states that post-cult I display all the symptoms of a battered women escaping domestic violence. Have found other persons posts a great source of comfort, encouragement and amusement. Thanks
possum
JoinedPosts by possum
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Human rights issue
by possum inhi, i am possum and have been posting for a short time just thought i would introduce myself with much trepidation.
i am a third generation ex witness.
grandparents originally lured into cult in 1920 after the death of a precious child.
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Does the RC have the names of the 1006 abused victims?
by Dumplin ini've updated my jw wife on the highlights of the rc proceedings each day as they occur.
but tonight she said something that made my blood boil (which i am usually in complete control of).
she said something to the effect that victims need to not dwell on what happened and let it control their lives.
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possum
Australian social workers do alot of work with abuse victims in line with the Australian Social Workers Code of Ethics (AASW) 2010 https://www.aasw.asn.au/document/item/1201. Australian social workers are not a registered entity and must voluntarily abide by this code of ethics and practice. American social workers are registered and can be stuck of the register for unethical practice and decision making. Applewhite clearly is not safe to practice. -
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Dr Applewhite and Conti's case
by Viva la Vida inthis is from conti's appeal veredict:.
monica applewhite, a clinical social worker and an expert on child sexual abuse, testified for defendants that watchtowers policy against disclosing private information .
very closely mirror[ed] the codes of ethics of the national association of social workers and the american counseling association.
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possum
Applewhite according to American board of examiners in clinical social work https://www.abecsw.org/about-code-ethics.html ABE’s Ethics Code consists of general principles rather than specific rules and regulations. Specific rules and regulations are contained in various sections of some state license statutes, state Societies for Clinical Social Work, and the National Association of Social Workers. Watered down snake oil from gun for hire!!! social workers who deal with the victims of WT society and other quasi religious organisations over the world will be horrified!!! -
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Does the RC have the names of the 1006 abused victims?
by Dumplin ini've updated my jw wife on the highlights of the rc proceedings each day as they occur.
but tonight she said something that made my blood boil (which i am usually in complete control of).
she said something to the effect that victims need to not dwell on what happened and let it control their lives.
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possum
Its seems like the ones who give a submission are followed up. My relative has been contacted by a detective re: investigation of abuser? Have tried to encourage others to submit to commission. Extremely reluctant and damaged persons with no exit plan from organisation. Paralyzed by extreme fear of the world. Organisation seems to keep them in an infantile state of dependency. -
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Does the RC have the names of the 1006 abused victims?
by Dumplin ini've updated my jw wife on the highlights of the rc proceedings each day as they occur.
but tonight she said something that made my blood boil (which i am usually in complete control of).
she said something to the effect that victims need to not dwell on what happened and let it control their lives.
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possum
My daughter gave evidence in person and the commissioner said the person after her giving evidence was 80 yrs old. Many victims never recover and then blamed for lack of faith because of reluctance to go witnessing attend meeting/alcoholism and sometimes with the very person who abused them. No police/ no justice and no psychological (heaven forbid worldly) assistance. -
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How many of the 1.006 alleged abusers will be investigated by Police?
by Listener inthe commission has the names of 1,006 alleged abusers within australian congregations since 1950. some will have died and others will already have been prosecuted but the branch did not report any of these allegations to police.. the terms of reference for the royal commission is more about redress for the victims but that can include criminal prosecution although they are more focused on financial compensation.. however, now that they have the names of 1,006 potential criminals there is some responsibility to see that they are dealt with criminally.
it appears to be in their authority to have cases followed through by referring them for further investigation.
this is clear because the commissioner has recently reported that to date, they have done so in 493 cases identified within the scope of their commission.
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possum
after many,many years of obeying the two witness rule the "protected" abuser dissociated himself from our cong. The elders then kindly visited our inactive, sad, mostly shunned damaged family and offered his head on a plate by saying go ahead and tell the police now if you want to he's not one of us anymore. Knowing full well we did not have the funds and/or resources. -
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Do you feel vindicated by the exposure of the WT Society in Australia? It seems like a feeding frenzy on here! I love it. You?
by Wasanelder Once inare you pleased with the exposure of the society in australia?
do you feel personally vindicated by it?
do you think it gives you credibility with others now that all the things you said were going on, actually are documented?
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possum
My husband hooked up the live streaming to telly so we watch with a measure of bemusement, sadness, anger, frustration and embarresment that we where ever associated with that absolutely godless cruel cult.
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How many of the 1.006 alleged abusers will be investigated by Police?
by Listener inthe commission has the names of 1,006 alleged abusers within australian congregations since 1950. some will have died and others will already have been prosecuted but the branch did not report any of these allegations to police.. the terms of reference for the royal commission is more about redress for the victims but that can include criminal prosecution although they are more focused on financial compensation.. however, now that they have the names of 1,006 potential criminals there is some responsibility to see that they are dealt with criminally.
it appears to be in their authority to have cases followed through by referring them for further investigation.
this is clear because the commissioner has recently reported that to date, they have done so in 493 cases identified within the scope of their commission.
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possum
A member of my family who was a minor at the time of the abuse and submitted to the commission has been contacted by a detective wanting to discuss possible legal action. -
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Today I reversed preached to JW's about the scandal in Australia
by ILoveTTATT2 inso today a friend recommended that i ask the witnesses about the news in australia.
i am in mexico, in a city called mazatlan.. two weeks ago i talked with some jw's on the cart about the septuagint and the different bible versions.
so we had had a decently amicable conversation back then (i have never admitted i was a jw).. so today i saw them again, same place, same time.
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possum
Been there done that! two witness policy protected our child's abuser and when we finally!! got the courage to wake up and speak up we where vilified, shunned, called demonized, accused of poisoning other peoples hearts by sharing information. -
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Royal Commission convened for now, but Jackson is an asshole
by umbertoecho ini have just finished listening to this man jackson.
i remember him well.
he is twisting things around as much as he is allowed.
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possum
umbertoecho, was invited by an officer working for commission first of all to publicly give my testimony but in the end was not needed also invited to come and observe. Unfortunately university commitments ( i am a student) and finances stop me making the trip. Riveting to watch love it!