According to a recent Helsingin Sanomat article, there are over 200 Kingdom Halls in Finland. And over the last three years, 22 KHs have been sold and five new Halls have been built. Currently, seven KHs are listed for sale and two new ones are under construction. Finally, one Assembly Hall is also on the market.
Corney
JoinedPosts by Corney
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Finland: significant (nearly 1/10) reduction in number of Kingdom Halls
by Corney inaccording to a recent helsingin sanomat article, there are over 200 kingdom halls in finland.
and over the last three years, 22 khs have been sold and five new halls have been built.
currently, seven khs are listed for sale and two new ones are under construction.
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Corney
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READ: Watchtower's SCOTUS petition
by Corney inon june 25, 2019 watchtower ny filed petition for a writ of certiorari in the u.s. supreme court.
the society asks to reconsider a $4 million judgment against it in a california child abuse case.
docket: https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/19-40.html .
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Corney
On June 25, 2019 Watchtower NY filed petition for a writ of certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Society asks to reconsider a $4 million judgment against it in a California child abuse case.
Docket: https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/19-40.html
Petition: https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/19/19-40/104104/20190625174601258_288149_Petition.pdf (103 pages)
The questions presented are:
1. Did California violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments when it held the former national offices of Jehovah’s Witnesses (Watchtower) responsible for the criminal act of a congregant during non-church activity?
2. Did California violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments when it ordered Watchtower to produce intra-faith communications regarding ii Bible-based religious appointment processes and thereafter punished Watchtower for protecting the privacy rights of non-parties?
3. Whether the Seventh Amendment’s guarantee of the right of trial by jury is incorporated against the States under the Fourteenth Amendment?
AFAIK, it's the first time Watchtower asks the Supreme Court of the United States to hear a child abuse case.
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China Crisis | 18 members of Jehovah's Witnesses arrested and indicted
by jwleaks inon april 15, 2019, total of 18 jehovah's witnesses in china were arrested and charged with indictable offences relating to, "using an evil religion organization" to "incite the obstruction of law enforcement," and one charge relating to, "obstructing law enforcement by organizing and using an evil religious organization.".
since the arrests, the governing body of jehovah's witnesses have remained silent on the plight of these 18 jehovah's witnesses in china.. link to translation of indictment:.
https://jwleaks.org/2019/07/09/china-crisis-for-jehovahs-witnesses-18-members-indicted/.
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Corney
ROFLMAO
As I understand, it's your opinion that Watchtower criticize Russia not because Russian authorities have launched a war against Jehovah's Witnesses, routinely intimidate, harass, humiliate and imprison them, not because Russian cops torture them with total impunity, not because the state has robbed the org etc. etc. Watchtower does it just because of the Gosdep, right?
Also, did you spend the last two years in coma? The Trump administration considers China to be America's biggest enemy, and Trump is extremely reluctant even to criticize Russia or Putin. Another enemies are Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, and Syria; and Watchtower is virtually silent about that countries. How do you explain it?
No, I don't know exactly why Watchtower is silent in this case, and I'm not going to speculate. It doesn't make your "explanation" less ignorant and illogical.
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China Crisis | 18 members of Jehovah's Witnesses arrested and indicted
by jwleaks inon april 15, 2019, total of 18 jehovah's witnesses in china were arrested and charged with indictable offences relating to, "using an evil religion organization" to "incite the obstruction of law enforcement," and one charge relating to, "obstructing law enforcement by organizing and using an evil religious organization.".
since the arrests, the governing body of jehovah's witnesses have remained silent on the plight of these 18 jehovah's witnesses in china.. link to translation of indictment:.
https://jwleaks.org/2019/07/09/china-crisis-for-jehovahs-witnesses-18-members-indicted/.
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Corney
DD The specific consequences are irrelevant as the JWs knew they were breaking the law.
No, they aren't irrelevant. Nulla poena sine lege. Just because a person has broken a legal rule, doesn't mean government is authorized to break the law, and its fundamental principles. The opposite contradicts the very idea of law. Or do you think that it would be OK for authorities to suddenly, arbitrarily and retroactively declare some copyright violations, say, "acts of cyberterrorism" and punish them accordingly?
DD They willingly volunteer to enter China
All the defendants are Chinese citizens born in China. Did you read the indictment?
Dmitriy So, 18 people will be guaranteed to sit, but GB is silent. Goats! Does anyone else have doubts that their priority is the US state interests?
Can you explain your "logic"? Now, when the confrontation between the US and China is escalating, and the US Government repeatedly accuses China of human rights violations, Watchtower's silence about those Witnesses proves... What does it prove? And can you provide a single fact really supporting your claim?
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China Crisis | 18 members of Jehovah's Witnesses arrested and indicted
by jwleaks inon april 15, 2019, total of 18 jehovah's witnesses in china were arrested and charged with indictable offences relating to, "using an evil religion organization" to "incite the obstruction of law enforcement," and one charge relating to, "obstructing law enforcement by organizing and using an evil religious organization.".
since the arrests, the governing body of jehovah's witnesses have remained silent on the plight of these 18 jehovah's witnesses in china.. link to translation of indictment:.
https://jwleaks.org/2019/07/09/china-crisis-for-jehovahs-witnesses-18-members-indicted/.
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Corney
cofty,
You're right - certain expressions in my comment were inappropriate.
jwleaks,
I want to apologize to you for the offensive language in my comment. I don't retract other parts of the comment and still think you were wrong, but it doesn't excuse name-calling. I'm sorry.
yalbmert99,
Bitter Winter is one of the most informative resources about religious freedom in China. And their translation is better than ChinaAid's one.
smiddy3,
Those JWs couldn't know the consequences. Wording of Article 300 is extremely vague, and the same applies to interpretation provided by the Supreme People's Court. And JW religion never has been placed on any xie jiao list.
They knew, or should have known they could be prosecuted for administrative "offence" of violating Religious Affairs Regulations, not for "crime". That prosecution violates not only freedom of religion but also fundamental rule of law values including the well-established principle of nullum crimen, nulla poena sine lege certa (the prohibition of determining criminal offences and penalties by means of void, undefined, or unclear concepts).
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China Crisis | 18 members of Jehovah's Witnesses arrested and indicted
by jwleaks inon april 15, 2019, total of 18 jehovah's witnesses in china were arrested and charged with indictable offences relating to, "using an evil religion organization" to "incite the obstruction of law enforcement," and one charge relating to, "obstructing law enforcement by organizing and using an evil religious organization.".
since the arrests, the governing body of jehovah's witnesses have remained silent on the plight of these 18 jehovah's witnesses in china.. link to translation of indictment:.
https://jwleaks.org/2019/07/09/china-crisis-for-jehovahs-witnesses-18-members-indicted/.
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Corney
Bitter Winter provides the better translation of the indictment.
https://bitterwinter.org/jehovahs-witnesses-in-xinjiang-how-to-become-a-xie-jiao/
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China Crisis | 18 members of Jehovah's Witnesses arrested and indicted
by jwleaks inon april 15, 2019, total of 18 jehovah's witnesses in china were arrested and charged with indictable offences relating to, "using an evil religion organization" to "incite the obstruction of law enforcement," and one charge relating to, "obstructing law enforcement by organizing and using an evil religious organization.".
since the arrests, the governing body of jehovah's witnesses have remained silent on the plight of these 18 jehovah's witnesses in china.. link to translation of indictment:.
https://jwleaks.org/2019/07/09/china-crisis-for-jehovahs-witnesses-18-members-indicted/.
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Corney
OP, you're a freaky dishonest state terrorism apologist. Do you really believe you may demand anything?
Also, did ChinaAid Association authorize you to use its translation? And why didn't you even mention who made this translation?
Also, in fact, Mr. Christensen doesn't appear in the photo you used; the person in the center of the photo is Robert Delahaije, and you did or should know this.
Also, your claim that "Christensen came under the watch of Russian officials after he assisted Sanderson and his entourage ‘flee underground from Russia’" is totally false.
Also, your claim that Mr. Christensen was a "Watch Tower official" and "representative" is misleadingly vague, if not wrong. Why didn't you just write that he was a local elder and a COBE who lived in Russia for decades?
sir82 How much real estate does the WTS own in China? There's your answer.
How much real estate does the WTS own in Eritrea? in Uzbekistan? in Tajikistan? in Turkmenistan?
Do you understand now why your answer is not just clichéd, but also wrong?
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Help needed - sources on sale if Watchtower properties to religious organizations
by closed incould you, please, help with finding sources.
i need a list of kingdom halls, bethel's or just any properties sold by the watchtower to religious or political organisation.
it would be the best if it was on one of official jw websites.
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Corney
Assembly Hall in Bessemer, AL has been sold to Abundant Fountain of Life Ministries Inc. for $540,000, far below $995,000 initial asking price.
June 30th Grand Opening: video
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Help needed - sources on sale if Watchtower properties to religious organizations
by closed incould you, please, help with finding sources.
i need a list of kingdom halls, bethel's or just any properties sold by the watchtower to religious or political organisation.
it would be the best if it was on one of official jw websites.
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Highlights from Watch Tower Britain and IBSA reports
by Corney inhere are some highlights from watch tower britain and ibsa annual reports.
1. no more printing operations in britain.
it’s already has been reported: .
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Corney
Here are some highlights from Watch Tower Britain and IBSA annual reports
1. No more printing operations in Britain
It’s already has been reported:
https://printbusiness.co.uk/news/Jehovahs-Witnesses-close-north-London-web-offset-operation/110571/
Now it’s official:
WTB 2018 Report, p. 1
2. WTB and IBSA had a record amount of cash at the end of 2018 financial year — £117.7 million.
3. During 2016 – 2018 FY, Watch Tower Britain built only 8 Kingdom Halls and refurbished 269 ones.
Five years ago IBSA claimed that "around 15 to 20" new Kingdom Halls were built each year in GB and Ireland. See IBSA Operational Statement, section 3.25.
4. During 2017 – 2018 FY, IBSA earned £5.8 million from the sale of its tangible fixed assets.
5. The branch relocation project has already cost at least £80 million — and it’s expected to cost another £45 million.
p.s. I would be grateful for any correction, in case I've overlooked or misunderstood something.