Most are wondering: What prompted the WT GB to suddenly decide to eliminate the publisher requirement of reporting their monthly hourly field service activity?
Here's a possible scenario and time of events that could have transpired over the last month or so leading up to GB Herd's announcement at the Annual Meeting abolishing Publisher monthly hourly field service reporting:
Not sure when exactly, but within the past couple of months the Catholic Church's CSA law firm lead attorney representing WT in the Pennsylvania statewide CSA investigation may have contacted WT's lead attorney Philip Brumley. The following conversation "maybe" takes place:
C C CSA Attorney: "Hello Mr. Brumley. As I handle your & WT's CSA case a matter of great concern regarding children in your religion has come to my attention."
Philip Brumley: "And what concern is that?"
C C CSA Attorney: "While interviewing numerous elders from various congregations regarding allegations of mishandling of Child Sex Abuse throughout the State of Pennsylvania...it has come to my attention that your Church requires children as young as 6, 7, 8 years of age & possibly younger to submit monthly hourly reports to show how much time they've devoted proselytizing in public for the Watchtower Organization. Is this true?"
Philip Brumley: "Yes it's true. A large percentage of our members are made-up of children possibly as young as 6 years old. They're referred to as 'Publishers' who engage in the ministry like the rest of us older ones & at the end of the month they turn in a monthly report showing how much time they've spent in the ministry along with placements of literature they've handed out to strangers or interested ones."
CC CSA Attorney: "Philip...I'll be honest with you. It's difficult enough defending your Organization against allegations of Child Sex Abuse! Now this...what you're describing to me sounds very much like the exploitation of children. The Courts & Jurors alike come down very hard on Organizations who capitalize-on & take advantage of children in this manner. Something needs to be done immediately to deflect & keep the Pennsylvania AG from drawing too much attention to the amount of time you engage your children in the Public Ministry."
Philip Brumley: "I see your point! I'll relay your concerns to our Organization's Leadership & get back to you." (Click)
Weeks go by before WT attorney Philip Brumley gets back to the Catholic Church's CSA attorney. Here's what "maybe" was said:
Philip Brumley: "Hello Counsel. I've met with the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses on numerous occasions since we last spoke about your concerns regarding the involvement of our very young children as 'Publishers' in the Public Ministry & requiring them to report their monthly time spent. We've decided to make an immediate announcement at our up & coming Annual General Meeting to the effect that effective November 2023 no Publisher henceforth will be required to turn in a monthly hourly field service report. Hope that helps Counsel."
C C CSA Attorney: "It's a start but hardly enough I'm afraid! I'm must tell you that my scope of work & fees in defending WT have practically doubled if not trippled if we consider the Exploitation of Children as another charge/allegation! I'll be in touch!" (Click)
Here's a possible scenario and time of events that could have transpired over the last month or so leading up to GB Herd's announcement at the Annual Meeting abolishing Publisher monthly hourly field service reporting:
Not sure when exactly, but within the past couple of months the Catholic Church's CSA law firm lead attorney representing WT in the Pennsylvania statewide CSA investigation may have contacted WT's lead attorney Philip Brumley. The following conversation "maybe" takes place:
C C CSA Attorney: "Hello Mr. Brumley. As I handle your & WT's CSA case a matter of great concern regarding children in your religion has come to my attention."
Philip Brumley: "And what concern is that?"
C C CSA Attorney: "While interviewing numerous elders from various congregations regarding allegations of mishandling of Child Sex Abuse throughout the State of Pennsylvania...it has come to my attention that your Church requires children as young as 6, 7, 8 years of age & possibly younger to submit monthly hourly reports to show how much time they've devoted proselytizing in public for the Watchtower Organization. Is this true?"
Philip Brumley: "Yes it's true. A large percentage of our members are made-up of children possibly as young as 6 years old. They're referred to as 'Publishers' who engage in the ministry like the rest of us older ones & at the end of the month they turn in a monthly report showing how much time they've spent in the ministry along with placements of literature they've handed out to strangers or interested ones."
CC CSA Attorney: "Philip...I'll be honest with you. It's difficult enough defending your Organization against allegations of Child Sex Abuse! Now this...what you're describing to me sounds very much like the exploitation of children. The Courts & Jurors alike come down very hard on Organizations who capitalize-on & take advantage of children in this manner. Something needs to be done immediately to deflect & keep the Pennsylvania AG from drawing too much attention to the amount of time you engage your children in the Public Ministry."
Philip Brumley: "I see your point! I'll relay your concerns to our Organization's Leadership & get back to you." (Click)
Weeks go by before WT attorney Philip Brumley gets back to the Catholic Church's CSA attorney. Here's what "maybe" was said:
Philip Brumley: "Hello Counsel. I've met with the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses on numerous occasions since we last spoke about your concerns regarding the involvement of our very young children as 'Publishers' in the Public Ministry & requiring them to report their monthly time spent. We've decided to make an immediate announcement at our up & coming Annual General Meeting to the effect that effective November 2023 no Publisher henceforth will be required to turn in a monthly hourly field service report. Hope that helps Counsel."
C C CSA Attorney: "It's a start but hardly enough I'm afraid! I'm must tell you that my scope of work & fees in defending WT have practically doubled if not trippled if we consider the Exploitation of Children as another charge/allegation! I'll be in touch!" (Click)