JohnJBB123

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Posts by JohnJBB123

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  30

  Press Release

  by JohnJBB123 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  december 4, 2001. for immediate release:.

  a national human rights organization is taking jehovah's witnesses to task for claiming to support human rights while denying them to members.. approaches to education, inc., a arizona based human rights group, went public this week about its concerns that the jehovah's witness religion claims to support the un declaration of human rights while at the same time that it denies those rights to its members.

  while jehovah's witnesses claim to be crusaders for freedom of religion and human rights, and in favor of religious tolerance, this is not what they practice within the group, states john b. brown, the executive director of approaches to education, inc, individual members of the jehovahs witnesses are not allowed to question their religious beliefs, because this questioning may elicit a punitive response by the religions leaders.

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  JohnJBB123

  I am still recieveing some calls. Our phone # has changed. It is (520) 400-0650
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  34

  Press release: WT human rights violation

  by Dogpatch in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hello randy,.

  the human rights organization i am affiliated is sending out this press release on human rights violation by the jehovah's witnesses.

  it cites several united nation human rights documents.---john brown.

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  JohnJBB123

  I am still receiving some calls concerning this press release. Our phone # has chang4ed. It is (520) 400-0650
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  3

  Another from Silentlambs

  by JohnJBB123 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  bill bowen, president of silentlambs, snet me the following email.

  i was wondering if anyone else could help.

  please read the following:.

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  JohnJBB123

  Waiting,

  This post was not sent specificully to me, but I am part of a group of that receive email regualrly from Silentlambs
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  3

  Another from Silentlambs

  by JohnJBB123 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  bill bowen, president of silentlambs, snet me the following email.

  i was wondering if anyone else could help.

  please read the following:.

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  JohnJBB123

  Bill Bowen, president of Silentlambs, snet me the following email. I was wondering if anyone else could help. Please read the following:

  "I do not often make an appeal like this, but I believe an unusual situation has developed. "NOTHING VENTURED, NOTHING GAINED" is a good motto and has served silentlambs well. We have ventured forth to help victims of JW child molesters, consequently the gains for victims of abuse have been tremendous due to support from people like you. We know, without a doubt that many of you also are helping victims in your own way too, but thought that perhaps you might want to assist another. As most of you know, Erica Rodriguez has been featured in the news recently. If you have read the newspaper reports, you know that her life hasn't been a picnic because of the damaging effects of molestation. What you may not know is that she is having a very difficult time even as I write this. Recently, Erica's divorce was finalized. What most of you don't know is that she has a baby due in four weeks. She has been very sick through most of the pregnancy, and needless to say, she has not had much support or sympathy from Jehovah's Witnesses in her area. About three weeks ago, a friend asked to give her a baby shower. It was a welcome offer because she has been unable to spend much money on baby things. During the week of the shower, her friend was driving to work when a van coming from the opposite direction crashed across the guardrail and became air born. It landed on top of her Nissan Sentra, killing her instantly. She was survived by a husband and one year old baby. Due to the circumstances, Erica was so sad that she lost interest in any kind of shower. Then she came down with the flu, and was so sick that she had to wait an extra day to get her strength up just to do an interview with a reporter. How would we like to be in her shoes right now? Surely, our hearts go out to her at this time. I am writing this information unknown to Erica because I wish to make a request. About a week ago silentlambs put together a gift basket of baby items and sent it off to Erica. She was absolutely stunned as it was the first baby gifts she had received. I thought I would pass this information on to you, and if you would like to make a donation or send a gift, you may do so in care of silentlambs, PO Box 311,

  Calvert City, KY 42029. We will be glad to make sure she gets what you send. Also, you might wish to keep in mind that Erica is having a boy.

  Usually, in most cases of charitable giving, the contributor has no idea where or who the gift is actually going to, or even if there is really a need. In this instance, Erica is someone you have come to know. Certainly, giving is never compulsatory, but as with all matters concerning this issue, people do what their heart moves them to do. If you feel you can help, and are comfortable doing so, thank you. If you are unsure, we understand and appreciate the support you have given in so many other ways.

  silentlambs"
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  9

  Sent to me from Silentlambs, inc.

  by JohnJBB123 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  please send this press release to all goverment officials, news papers and media organization.

  silentlambs, inc.. public affairs office.

  leader in the silentlambs organization.

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  JohnJBB123

  For immediate release:
  Tuesday, January 22

  Contact:
  Laura Barrett 314-645-5915 w 314-443-5915 cell
  Jeff Anderson (attorney) 651-227-9990, 612-817-8665
  Timothy Kosnoff (attorney) 425-637-3070
  David Clohessy 314-869-7436 ext. 2426, 314-903-3498 pager

  Sexual Abuse Suit Filed Against
  Jehovah's Witness Leaders

  Denomination's New York Headquarters

  Called "Negligent"

  Case May Receive National TV Attention

  Child molesters in the Brooklyn-based Jehovah's Witness church are "routinely given sanctuary, protection, sympathy and support" from church officials according to a new civil sexual abuse lawsuit filed today in

  Washington state. The leadership of the one million member

  denomination was charged with negligence in the suit.

  A Sacramento woman is seeking damages from a Jehovah's Witness leader who repeatedly raped her during childhood and from the New York-based denomination.

  Erica Rodriguez, 23 years old, is suing Manuel Beliz, the Othello Washington Spanish Jehovah's Witness congregation, and the church's official national governing body. Last August, Beliz was convicted of raping and molesting Rodriguez and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. Rodriguez says that Beliz abused her approximately once a week from the time she was four until she was 11, when her family moved to California .

  The case is significant because it is one of a relatively small number filed against the Jehovah's Witnesses' national headquarters.

  "The criminal case was to protect other kids from a dangerous molester," said Rodriguez. "This case is to protect many more kids from a dangerous denomination." She contends that "perhaps thousands" of youngsters are victimized because official Jehovah Witness policies enable known molesters to avoid detection and criminal prosecution.

  During the three-day criminal trial last year, Rodriguez testified that she reported the abuse to two Jehovah's Witness elders in Sacramento , Carlos Chicas and Milton Malendez. The men pressured Rodriguez to keep quiet, threatened to "disfellowship" or excommunicate her, and promised "we will take care of it," the lawsuit indicates. Chicas contacted Othello elder John White but no action was taken.

  After hearing Rodriguez' allegations, the Othello congregation protected Beliz as an elder within the church and shunned her family, Rodriguez said.

  Eventually, Rodriguez contacted the Sacramento police and Beliz was questioned and later prosecuted.

  "This pattern of forbidding abuse victims to contact police or 'outsiders' is standard operating procedure all Jehovah's Witnesses must follow, by direction of the national organization in New York," said Rodriguez' attorney, Timothy Kosnoff of Bellevue, Washington.

  By failing to contact civil authorities, the Jehovah's Witness elders violated Washington 's mandatory child abuse reporting law, Kosnoff said.

  Rodriguez is also represented by Jeffrey Anderson of St. Paul , Minnesota , who has filed more than 400 cases of sexual abuse cases against clergy across the nation. Last summer, Anderson filed a civil suit against Jehovah's Witness leaders in New Hampshire for failing to report two women's abuse allegations to civil authorities.

  "The Jehovah Witness church and the Watchtower Society must protect kids and not molesters," said Rodriguez. "A lot of pain and suffering could be prevented if they would forget about the church's image, take sexual abuse seriously and start reaching out to the victims."

  Rodriguez believes Beliz molested other girls too and hopes her suit "will encourage them to seek justice and begin healing as I have."

  Two juries found Beliz guilty of victimizing Rodriguez. His first conviction was overturned when the deputy prosecutor admitted trying to exclude younger women during jury selection. An appellate court then ordered a re-trial.

  At both trials, dozens of Othello Jehovah's Witnesses and Beliz' family members spoke or wrote to the judge urging a lenient sentence. At the second trial, fifteen current and former Jehovah's Witnesses from across the country came to support Rodriguez and express their disapproval of the church's hierarchy.

  Rodriguez' backers were led by church elder William Bowen of Calvert City, Kentucky, who quit his job last year to lobby for improvements in Witness policies towards abuse victims. Bowen heads "Silent Lambs," the only national support group for men and women abused by Jehovah's Witness officials (www.silentlambs.org, 1-800-WTABUSE).

  "It took a lot of courage for Erica to overcome her trauma and speak out," said Bowen. "She should be praised for helping to save other children. Instead, her church has vilified her. Witnesses have treated other victims in the same way, and this 'shooting the messenger' has to stop."

  Today's civil suit, filed in federal court in Washington 's Eastern District, seeks unspecified monetary damages.

  Beliz is now incarcerated at the Washington penal institution in Walla Walla .

  There are approximately one million Jehovah's Witnesses in the United States and six million across the world.
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  9

  Sent to me from Silentlambs, inc.

  by JohnJBB123 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  please send this press release to all goverment officials, news papers and media organization.

  silentlambs, inc.. public affairs office.

  leader in the silentlambs organization.

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  JohnJBB123

  SF,

  The URL is www.silentlambs.org. Go and check it out
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  36

  Okay Bible Supporters: Support this One

  by FreePeace in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  there have been so many bible thumping posts lately, i thought i would offer an anti-bible article from my truthquest website.

  i wait with bated breath to see how bible supporters will rationalize and explain this one.. .

  atrocities of the bible: the midianites .

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  JohnJBB123

  When it comes down to it the facts, not every event in the Bible can be historically authenticated. There is a good web site that discusses tolerence and human rights issues such as this. This web site has several articles about human rights violations in the Bible. Go to www.religioustolerence.org.
  On the other hand if we launch attacks against the Bible, this may make us look like hate people. The god of the Bible is most certainly entitled to his opinion, of which I do not share
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  3

  Difficult People . . .

  by LoneWolf in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a perspective on difficult people.

  difficult people are among the many.

  even when people appear not to be in rapport, they may actually be so.

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  JohnJBB123

  Thanks for the reminder. I have had a problem with two on this message board. One of them was removed temporarily. I did not make matters any better because I replied to thier hate with more hate. I should have known better.
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  9

  Sent to me from Silentlambs, inc.

  by JohnJBB123 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  please send this press release to all goverment officials, news papers and media organization.

  silentlambs, inc.. public affairs office.

  leader in the silentlambs organization.

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  JohnJBB123

  Please send this press release to all goverment officials, news papers and media organization

  silentlambs, inc.

  PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE

  For Immediate Release January 23, 2001
  More Sexual Abuse Suits Against Jehovah's Witnesses Will Follow, Predicts Ex-Church Elder

  Denomination on "The Edge Of A Crisis," Says Long Time Witness

  New Support Group for Molestation Victims Forms

  A civil sexual abuse lawsuit filed yesterday in Washington State

  against the Brooklyn, NY-based Jehovah's Witnesses’ organization is

  "just the tip of the iceberg," according to the leader of a new

  nationwide support group for church members who have been abused by

  Jehovah’s Witness members and officials. Dozens more victims of abusive

  church leaders may file similar suits, he predicts.

  "Our denomination is now where the Catholic Church was 20 years ago-

  right on the edge of a crisis," said William H. Bowen of Calvert City,

  Kentucky. A former church elder in his local congregation and a

  Jehovah's Witness for 43 years, Bowen now heads "silentlambs, inc" the

  only national non-profit self-help group for men and women molested by

  Jehovah's Witnesses. (www.silentlambs.org, 1-877-WTABUSE) He resigned

  as Presiding Overseer last year and went public with the issue to push

  the denomination's leaders to respond more sympathetically to abuse

  victims and turn over alleged molesters to the criminal justice system.

  "In just a few months, with a shoestring budget and a volunteer staff,

  our group has been contacted by nearly 1000 Witnesses and former

  Witnesses who have been raped or molested by church members," Bowen

  claimed. The alleged victims range in age from 2 to 15, and are located

  from Maine to California across the USA and several foreign countries.

  Repressive and insular church policies, a rigid hierarchy and a strong

  emphasis on obeying church authorities combine to "trap victims in a

  cult of silence," Bowen believes. “Members of other faith groups who

  are abused are more apt to speak up and consult attorneys or turn to

  police,” he feels.

  "Both formally and informally, Witnesses are taught to take all

  matters, especially controversial matters, to church leaders, and to

  avoid bringing shame on the church," said Barbara Anderson, another

  leader in the silentlambs organization. Anderson served for 10 years at

  “Bethel” the Brooklyn, New York headquarters of the denomination. Like

  Bowen, she became disillusioned after being assigned as a researcher on

  how church leaders handled abuse accusations.

  But that "cult of silence" is slowly changing, she believes. "More and

  more Witnesses are realizing that exposing sexual crimes is God's will.

  They realize that getting rid of molesters is healthy for the church.."

  Witnesses are "encouraged, even inspired by the example of victims in

  Catholic and Protestant denominations who have sued their perpetrators

  in recent years with increasing success,” she said.

  "We find that the more conservative and controlling a church group is,

  the harder it is for someone who has been victimized to come forward,"

  said attorney Timothy Kosnoff of Bellevue Washington. Kosnoff has

  handled multiple abuse claims against church personnel.

  "That's why having a support group is so helpful, and that's why

  getting the police or a therapist or any outside professional involved

  is critical," he said.

  While the headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses maintain extensive

  internal files on accused molesters within the church, they refuse to

  make public this information, and, in many cases, do not report the

  crime. As a result, no solid figures exist on the number of Jehovah's

  Witnesses who have been accused of sexual molestation.

  "Whatever that number is, you can be sure it's going to start growing

  quickly and dramatically, when victims discover the church can no

  longer bully victims into silence," said Bowen.

  The denomination has one million members in the United States and six

  million around the world.

  If you would like to receive more information on this topic, see lead attorneys:

  Jeff Anderson 651-227-9990, 612-817-8665 ST Paul, MN.

  Timothy Kosnoff 425-837-9692 Bellevue, WA.

  Or contact William H. Bowen at: 270-527-5350 Fax: 270-527-5351 www.silentlambs.org
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  14

  Ray Franz wrote back!

  by hungry4life in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my friend just called.

  she is very excited she just received a reply to her letter to ray franz.

  she said that it is about six pages long and not a form letter but a personal correspondance regarding the issues and concerns she had written him about.

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  JohnJBB123

  Hey everyone,

  Go to www.commentarypress.com. You can also contact Ray that way. Take care