GLTirebiter

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Posts by GLTirebiter

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  97

  I think the Society might drop its appeal over the Conti case

  by cedars in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  i've been giving some thought to the recent development in which the judge has ruled that the society is barred from completing any property transactions until the appeal is over, which could take up to two years or even more.. i've submitted an article to randy at freeminds in which i basically argue that it is no longer in the society's interests to appeal this case.

  if i correctly understand the restrictions placed on the society by the judge, then the governing body has far more to lose by appealing than they could conceivably gain.. think about it.... by appealing, they buy themselves time in which to formulate a long-term strategy for dealing with the fallout of this case, but will be barred from liquidating $1 billion in property assets at a time of global economic uncertainty when their donations are dwindling.

  there is also no guarantee that their appeal will be upheld.by dropping their appeal, they take a hit and pay $23.8 million but retain the freedom to see through their real estate projects; retain their financial flexibility to respond to dwindling donations, and get to pretend to their followers (as with the un scandal) that it never happened.of course, i am only saying that dropping the appeal would be the only intelligent option for the society, assuming they are aware of how legally precarious their child abuse policies are.

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  GLTirebiter

  notjustyet: I would think that if they took the cash and deposited it into a account that the courts had control over, then this hold on selling property would be lifted.

  That would make sense if they have enough cash on hand to fund that account and pay their regular day to day expenses. My impression is that they have plenty of real estate and other physical assets, but not much extra cash in the bank. Their austerity moves suggest this is the case: closing some branches, selling off expensive Brooklyn real estate and moving to a less expensive part of the state, etc. Those are signs of limited cash flow. (In other words, you pay the electric bill with dollars, not real estate holdings).
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  26

  A Real and Authentic Letter from a Jehovah's Witness Mother to Her Son

  by God_Delusion in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i found this letter on dave reekie's blog and asked him if i could write a piece about it.

  i am glad that he accepted.. it's so rare to find a real, authentic handwritten letter from a jehovah's witness parent to their disfellowshipped child, so we hope you can read it and show it to any apologists that claim the watchtower society doesn't condone shunning.. you can read the article here.. .

  warm regards,.

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  GLTirebiter

  "The lady doth protest too much, methinks." [Hamlet, Act III, Scene 2] Two sentences from the letter stand out:

  This letter is being written by me with no outside coercion or influence because there are things I want to say to you.

  I must emphasise that what I am about to say to you is not influenced by any other living person, but is purely directed by my conscience and a desire to regain my peaceful friendship with God.

  Not once, but twice she insists that there is no outside influence. This is not the first time I have seen such words in letters from JWs to the DA'd, DF'd or non-believers. Can any (former) elders confirm or deny that this language is suggested by the organization, and whether in writing or passed down orally?

  The phrases "directed by my conscience" and "regain ... friendship with God" say much about the situation. Who directed the formation of the conscience, that now directs her? Who taught her that tearing normal family relationships asunder is necessary to be "friends with God?" The answer to both questions is, of course, the Watchtower leaders. They are not the sort to dine with tax collectors and sinners--after all, it would bring such reproach on the organization if their religion should accept those souls in most need the Lord's mercy!
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  102

  Is the Borg "really" guilty in the Candace Conti case ???

  by RubaDub in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  full disclosure:.

  i am an active (2-4 hrs/month) 3rd generation jw hovering under the radar.

  been posting here for 10 years.

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  GLTirebiter

  Anyway, what should the Society (or any other Organization) do when a known pedofile (or other serious sinner) is in or moves into the congregation ???

  1. Report any and all credible instances of child abuse to the proper authorities, without delay, without exception.
  2. Cooperate fully with any investigation that ensues.
  3. Do not allow any suspected abuser access to children, whether in a formal capacity or as a lay member of the group, regardless whether the children are members of the congregation or not (e.g. door-to-door service).
  4. Require background investigations and training for all having contact with children.
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  10

  There is NOT "Spiritual Confidentiality" privilege for sexual abuse claims!

  by 3Mozzies in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  .

  i just love this section from the case:.

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  GLTirebiter

  Justitia, use the IE compatiblity mode (or a different browser)
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  10

  There is NOT "Spiritual Confidentiality" privilege for sexual abuse claims!

  by 3Mozzies in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  .

  i just love this section from the case:.

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  GLTirebiter

  It does not apply when the victim accuses someone else.

  Also, it does not apply unless there is an expectation of privacy. In a judicial committee, there are witnesses who know there is an investigation. There are multiple elders, instead being a one-on-one private confession. If the committee makes a finding, there will be a "... is no long one of Jehovah's Witnesses" announcement from the stage, or a "marking" local-needs talk.There is no reasonable expectation that what transpires in a judicial committee hearing will be kept private. (The same logic applies in the Los Angeles case 3mozzies referred to: if it was documented, then it was not a private matter between the penitent and confessor, and not protected by clerical privilege).
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  97

  Greetings from Candace Conti

  by AndersonsInfo in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  candace asked me to tell you thank you for all your kind expressions of support.

  this really means a lot to her.

  she wants you to know that she is coping well with all the stress and excitement, even though she's had years of anger and frustration because of being abused for so long, first by the molester, and then by the wt.

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  GLTirebiter

  Thank you, Candace, for your strength and perseverance. You have made a difference!
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  42

  Excellent news article re Candace Conti's abuse, not for the sensitive or tender-hearted

  by yesidid in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/06/15/bauq1p2ph2.dtl.

  sadly there are details which may make you heave or want to commit violence..

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  GLTirebiter

  "This is the first case I know of where a church has been hit with liability involving a rank-and-file member,"

  This glosses over the point that written policies from WTBTS headquarters tell the BOE report to the lawyers at Bethel first, rather than to the legal authorities, and to do as little as possible to comply with the "mandatory reporting" laws (use a pay phone, don't give a name, etc.) rather than cooperating fully with the investigators. The direct consequence of that written policy was that Kendrick was able to continue his crimes, leading to further harm to plaintiff and other victims. That WTBS policy of negligence is what the case is about, and the jury agreed with the claim.

  Besides, don't they say that all baptized publishers are "ordained ministers", and that they don't have any special "clergy class?"
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  16

  ny jw principle causes problem banning patriotic song...on foxnews now

  by oompa in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  god bless the usa song by lee greenwood...is making little kids sing a bieber love song instead lmao...baby baby baby....and it is a very long segment with lee himself making good points about the idiot jw as did the mom of a kid the jw lady principle bitch slapped for singing the song...that is not literal all you pc sensitive types out there.....oompa.

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  GLTirebiter

  Do the parents know how close Bethel is to their neighborhood, in case they wanted to have a protest and get it on national TV? Just sayin'...
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  42

  Nephew Readying for Harvard

  by snowbird in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  since he disregarded the elders' "encouragement" to turn down the fellowship offer from harvard, he's being deleted as a ministerial servant.. he leaves in august.. i'm so happy for and proud of him!.

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  GLTirebiter

  Sylvia, this is awesome! Congratulations to your nephew, and be proud of that young man!
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  22

  Did Jesus ever use the name Jehovah?

  by biometrics in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  while growing up as a jw this was a question i often wondered about: did jesus ever call his heavenly father by the name jehovah?

  and if he did, why wasn't it recorded.. i know there's plenty of references such as john 17:6, 26 where it says "i have made your name manifest to the men ...".

  however is there anywhere in the bible where jesus used the actual word jehovah?.

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  GLTirebiter

  Jesus would not have said "Jehovah", because that mis-translation originated many centuries later. A Spanish monk mixed up consonants for the divine name (written form) with vowels for the Hebrew word "Adonai" (Lord, the spoken replacement word), thus producing the hybrid "Jehovah".