mamalove - watch for an announcement in the next few days.
Scott77 - I contacted both the ACLU and the Americans for Separation of Church and State. While they sympathized with the situation in Menlo Park, they explained that their focus is directed to cases where a government entity olr elected official is involved in either promoting or publicly supporting religious ideals or teachings. They do not involve themselves in cases where there is a disagreement between churches and their members. My contact at the ACLU simply told me that they should pursue the case in the civil courts and then find themselves another religion. "Why would anyone want to belong to a church that treated its own members so poorly?" was one comment.
I've been unsuccessful in contacting anyone directly involved in the Bonham, Tx case, but I did hear from an anonymous someone relatively close to the situation. His summation was that the brothers who fought the WT over the old Kingdom Hall "won the battle, but lost the war." Very few of them remain JWs and the rest ended up going to the new KH and asked for reinstatement. Again, I have no way to confirm any of that information, but I have heard similar stories in the past. Maybe Randy Watters or some of the other posters might have better and later information they can share.
The local brothers in Menlo Park who are the plaintiffs do not really want to get too much publicity about this case, so have not gone to the newspapers themselves. I was contacted by a local newspaper reporter about the case, but I've only shared those facts that are clearly public and available in court documents. My contacts continue to remain anonymous, even to me, and give me only sketchy information. Some of my contacts claim not to be JWs themselves, but only friends or distant relatives to the principal players. I have been told that the principals will not talk to me because I am an "apostate," which might complicate their situation with the Society's rules. It certainly complicates my involvement in the case because that makes everything I am getting "hearsay" or unconfirmed by any of the primary players.
The whole case, while interesting and rife with possibilities, has become very difficult to work with and frustrating. Some of the members of the local congregations have contacted me (again anonymously) and seem to be equally divided in their support for the plaintiffs. I think most of them really support the brothers personally, but are afraid to take a stand publicly for fear of being DF'd or otherwise punished themselves. While most agree that the CO, DO and others were totally out of line in their actions, being "too rough and pushy" and "drunk with their own power," they still feel that they did have the support of the Watchtower headquarters and therefore have the authority to do as they felt was necessary.
Last I heard, the plaintiffs are in line to be DFd, but I have not been able to verify that, nor do I know their current status. Apparently they are not attending any of the local Kingdom Halls because of fear of creating a scene. They apparently want to go (who knows why?), but don't want to expose themselves to possible abuse or threat of arrest.
Devil_Fish - are you out there? Check your PMs.
JV
