Posts by Listener

46

If You Could Ask the GB Or One Of Its Members...

by Cold Steel in

...one question about anything and get a straight answer, what would it be?

historical, philosophical, theological, eschatological, anything.

.

Listener

Since you know that young children believe that Caleb and Sophie are real, with Morris openly admitting that one child thought he was their grandfather, what are you going to do about that deception?

9

Can't do toasts

by Xanthippe in

i just phoned my cousin who's never been a jw.

last week she went with her son-in-law and my jw sister for a meal after planting a tree at her daughter's grave.

she said when my sister was dropped off at her house her husband said you do know she can't have toast.

It's very strange that her husband had to let your cousin know this. It's as if he was dropping one of his children off and had to let your cousin know the rules.

I think it was very nice of your cousin to express a heartfelt wish to see you and your sister back together again.

16

Article: Public event in Laval to honour Jehovah's Witness who died after giving birth

by AndersonsInfo in

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/dupuis-memorial-jehovahs-witness-1.3857367.

public event in laval to honour jehovah's witness who died after giving birth.

éloïse dupuis refused emergency blood transfusion, now her aunt wants civil code amended to protect others.

Listener

I am very sorry to hear this Axelspeed. Nothing could make up for your loss, not only for you but your whole family.

50

Crisis of Conscience: December 12, 2015 - 50 weeks later

by Jehalapeno in

jw
friends

on december 12, 2015 this statement was made by the copyright holder:.

i am presently considering three different routes to publishing crisis of conscience.

i hope to make a decision within days and plan to publish within weeks.. it has now been 50 weeks since that statement.. has the book been published yet?

Listener

For what it's worth, YouTuber 'The Unwitness'(Joel I think)said a few months ago that he was disappointed with the delay but had been told the reason why and it was legit. Also that it will be well worth the delay from what he had heard and to be patient. He said he couldn't say anymore.

30

AUSTRALIAN ROYAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY: MAIN CONCLUSIONS ON JW ORGANIZATION

by steve2 in

10 response of the jehovah’s witness organisation to the sexual abuse of children.

having regard to the various matters we have discussed in this report, we have reached a number of general conclusions on the jehovah’s witness organisation’s response to the sexual abuse of children.

we do not consider the jehovah’s witness organisation to be an organisation which responds adequately to child sexual abuse.

Listener

As mentioned earlier, they are continuing to look at this matter and in the current Report just released they have said this (I’ll highlight some of the more interesting points) Also, note the heading –‘ Concealment Offences’, sounds like a big problem for them.

Knowing that they will obey the law and being told that they are breaking the law, they would then be obliged to report all cases of criminal activities that fall under that legislation that the Org. becomes aware of. This may include things like rape, stealing, illegal immigrants and so on, depending on the requirements of the legislation. They get away with not reporting it in the USA and other countries because of either an exemption for religious institutions or the perceived idea that they have privilege under 'clergy confession.' The RC is about to tell them that they don't.

Concealment offences The Royal Commission heard evidence that, before the public hearing of this case study, the Jehovah’s Witness organisation did not consider that concealment offences were independent of obligations under mandatory reporting laws to report child sexual abuse.562 Mr Toole said the Jehovah’s Witness organisation had not reported child sexual abuse in New South Wales because it believed that only the mandatory reporting laws applied.563 In New South Wales, section 316(1) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) makes it a criminal offence for a person with knowledge or belief that a serious indictable offence has been committed not to report to authorities information that may materially assist in securing the apprehension or prosecution or conviction of the offender. Similarly, in Victoria, section 327(2) of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) makes it a criminal offence for a person to not disclose to a police officer information that leads the person to form a reasonable belief that a sexual offence has been committed. Both jurisdictions provide a defence of reasonable excuse for withholding information.564 In Victoria, a person will not contravene section 327(2) if that person is (or was at the relevant time) a member of the clergy of any church or religious denomination and they learnt the information in the course of hearing a religious confession.565 There is no equivalent provision in the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW). However, in New South Wales a prosecution under section 316(1) of a person who learnt the relevant information in the course of practising a prescribed vocation (and a person Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au 63 practising a ‘prescribed vocation’ includes a ‘member of the clergy or any church or religious denomination’566) must not be commenced without the approval of the Attorney-General (section 316(4)).567 The Watchtower & Ors submitted that when a survivor of child sexual abuse discloses their abuse to an elder in New South Wales:568 the elder is not required to report the same to the authorities because of the application of the qualification in s.316(1) of ‘without reasonable excuse’ when those words are considered and understood in the light of the requirements of s.316(4) of the [Crimes Act 1900 (NSW)], s.127 of the Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) and the usages and rituals of the Jehovah’s Witnesses faith. First, section 316(4) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) does not offer a defence to a charge of failure to report under section 316(1). Rather, it is relevant only to when a prosecution in relation to a specified class of person may be commenced. We do not consider that section 316(4) is relevant to the determination of whether an excuse is ‘reasonable’ within the meaning of section 316(1). Secondly, we disagree that section 127 of the Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), read together with section 316(1), will mean that an elder of the Jehovah’s Witness organisation will always have a ‘reasonable excuse’ for withholding from authorities his belief or knowledge that child sexual abuse has been committed. Section 127 provides that a member of the clergy is entitled to refuse to divulge the fact and/or content of a religious confession made to that member of the clergy. Whether information has been obtained in the course of receipt of a religious confession will depend upon the specific facts of any given case. It is not apparent to us how the example of a survivor disclosing their abuse to an elder in accordance with the documented policies of the Jehovah’s Witness organisation569 would constitute a ‘religious confession’ within the meaning of section 127 of the Evidence Act 1995 (NSW). On their face, those documented policies are directed primarily to the protection of the ‘spiritual and moral cleanness of the congregation’ from the threat of ‘such offenses as fornication, adultery, homosexuality, blasphemy’.570 The policies do not appear to be directed to encouraging a person to seek absolution for their sins. Even if the example given contemplated the disclosure of their crime to an elder by a perpetrator (rather than a survivor) of child sexual abuse, we are not satisfied, having regard to the evidence before the Royal Commission on the purpose and function of the internal disciplinary process of the Jehovah’s Witness organisation, that such a disclosure would on every occasion constitute a ‘religious confession’ within the meaning of section 127 of the Evidence Act 1995 (NSW). We do not accept that an elder of the Jehovah’s Witness organisation will never be obliged to report his knowledge or belief that child sexual abuse has been committed. Particularly where the abuser confesses to their crime, the obligation to report is compelling. 64 Report of Case Study No. 29 The Royal Commission will consider further the issue of the protection of the confessional in a later public hearing.

30

AUSTRALIAN ROYAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY: MAIN CONCLUSIONS ON JW ORGANIZATION

by steve2 in

10 response of the jehovah’s witness organisation to the sexual abuse of children.

having regard to the various matters we have discussed in this report, we have reached a number of general conclusions on the jehovah’s witness organisation’s response to the sexual abuse of children.

we do not consider the jehovah’s witness organisation to be an organisation which responds adequately to child sexual abuse.

Listener

Smiddy, it was noted in the Findings released by the RC a year ago. This is one thread where it is mentioned

https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/6276815245017088/australian-royal-commission-findings-released

Cofty's post has the quote from that 'Findings Report' and I'll requote it-

F56 This report is referred to the Law Society of New South Wales in relation to the conduct of
Mr Toole in having failed to advise congregational elders of their obligations to report their
knowledge of the commission of certain criminal offences to the police.

Compulsory reporting applies in 2 states in Australia. 1006 cases known to the branch and zero reported to the police, Therefore numerous serious crimes have been committed by elders and branch lawyers.

Now we know why the Australian branch is searching for lawyers and accountants.

2

Response to the recent "infallible" Governing Body propaganda

by web-blog in

i am outraged by the recent "infallible" governing body propaganda.

so, i posted a blog for anyone who might still be confused.

http://faithfulslave.weebly.com/

Listener

Thanks FS, that was a lovely sermon.

25

Australian Royal Commission mentions that G. Jackson was inconsistent

by Daniel1555 in

it's great that the following is officially mentioned in the royal commission's report:.

when asked if the governing body members saw themselves as ‘jehovah god’s spokespeople on earth’, mr geoffrey jackson answered that it ‘would seem to be quite presumptuous to say that we are the only spokesperson that god is using’.

mr jackson’s response seems to be inconsistent with the documentary evidence before the royal commission, which shows that jehovah’s witnesses believe that the governing body is the ‘channel’ by which jehovah’s ‘will’ is communicated to them..

Listener

Then there was the question about the woman raped in the field. Jackson said they did not have the answer and would like to ask Jesus in the future. A few weeks later, they miraculously found an answer and forwarded it the Commission.

6

Australian Royal Commission, March 2017 & the February 2017 Watchtower

by Londo111 in

the february 2017 watchtower says: “the governing body is neither inspired nor infallible.

therefore, it can err in doctrinal matters or in organizational direction.”.

could this frank admission be a prelude to any fallout to australian royal commission’s recommendations in march 2017?.

Listener

The March 2017 Watchtower says that it is important to honor and respect Governments and that there may be benefits for doing so.

25

Australian Royal Commission mentions that G. Jackson was inconsistent

by Daniel1555 in

it's great that the following is officially mentioned in the royal commission's report:.

when asked if the governing body members saw themselves as ‘jehovah god’s spokespeople on earth’, mr geoffrey jackson answered that it ‘would seem to be quite presumptuous to say that we are the only spokesperson that god is using’.

mr jackson’s response seems to be inconsistent with the documentary evidence before the royal commission, which shows that jehovah’s witnesses believe that the governing body is the ‘channel’ by which jehovah’s ‘will’ is communicated to them..

Listener

Jackson also said that he hopes to be a disciple of Jesus, they made mention of this in the report.