Ruling is still expected, but at least we now have the August 1 hearing transcript: https://www.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.336935/gov.uscourts.cand.336935.27.0.pdf
Corney
JoinedPosts by Corney
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10
Any more info on DARKSPILVER'S case?
by The Fall Guy inaccording to the latest info i could find, his i.d.
has to be revealed to the wtbts's lawyer.
lol - they'll keep his identity secret from the watchtower imams - not!.
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37
2019 Service Year Report Grand Total
by Listener inthe watchtower is thrilled with the amount baptised in the 2019 service year.
they are reporting an increase in publishers of 103,208 from the 2018 year.. this is what they have posted under global news on their website -.
2019 service year report includes largest baptismal figure in 20 yearswe are thrilled to announce that during the 2019 service year, more than 300,000 individuals were baptized as jehovah’s witnesses.
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Corney
slimboyfat,
We don’t have a figure for new publishers so we make do with the baptism figure as a close approximation. This is reasonable because most unbaptised publishers get baptised within a few years, and those who become inactive before baptism cancel themselves out in relation to the baptism figure. So in any given year the baptism figure may be different from the number of new publishers, but over the long term they follow the same trajectory.
Yep, "over the long term". The 2019 baptism statistics say nothing about 2019 pub number change, and year by year comparisons and calculations based on the numbers of baptisms are unreliable. But I think it's OK to use them to make comparisons by five-year periods and by decades. And again, it's better to use average (instead of peak) pubs numbers for this purpose.
The JW death rate is likely lower than the worldwide average because they are overrepresrned in wealthy countries and they don’t include infants as members.
I'm not sure. On the one hand, the mortality rate in Europe, Northern America and developed countries is actually higher than the global rate, and under-five mortality in these regions is significantly lower than among adult population. On the other hand, the death rate in Latin America is lower than the global one (source, p. 10 et seq.). I think it's only safe to say that the global mortality rate among active publishers is between 0.5% and 1.5%.
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37
2019 Service Year Report Grand Total
by Listener inthe watchtower is thrilled with the amount baptised in the 2019 service year.
they are reporting an increase in publishers of 103,208 from the 2018 year.. this is what they have posted under global news on their website -.
2019 service year report includes largest baptismal figure in 20 yearswe are thrilled to announce that during the 2019 service year, more than 300,000 individuals were baptized as jehovah’s witnesses.
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Corney
slimboyfat Plus if publishers increased 103,208 compared with 303,866 baptisms, that’s a lot of people who have left the organisation. In fact it might just be the biggest gap between baptisms and increase ever: 200,658.
It's incorrect to compare publishers and baptisms numbers - the latter don't affect the former because those newly baptized were already counted as (unbaptized) publishers (typically) for years. Also, the peak pubs numbers are less reliable than average ones.
a 1% mortality rate is sometimes suggested as a rule of thumb that is a generous (overestimate) of the annual death rate of JWs compared with the worldwide death rate of 0.83%.
It's questionable. JWs aren't distributed evenly throughout the world, they are overrepresented in the Americas, Europe and developed countries and grossly underrepresented in Asia and North Africa, not to mention the different age and sex composition. Worldwide rates are hardly applicable here.
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New Zealand Royal Commission into CSA
by joe134cd injust wondering if anybody from nz can tell me when the jws will take the stand in the nz commission into csa.
also, is it possible to get this streamed on the internet live, and is coverage only restricted to this country.
i’m surprised this hasn’t been mentioned more on the internet.
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Corney
As of now, only one investigation is opened - on the topic of redress. The first round of contextual (general) hearings is set for Oct 29 - Nov 8. Next Friday, November 8, Emeritus Professor Des Cahill and Dr Peter Wilkinson "will address the following issues in their presentation:
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2. A summary of Volume 16, Books 1 – 3 of the Report of the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse which dealt with religious institutions, especially the Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, the Orthodox Jewish community, and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. This includes addressing how the care mechanisms failed where the needs of religious personnel were placed ahead of those of the victims;
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4. Prevalence data into clerical sexual abuse, drawing on Australian, German and US data sources, as well as sexual abuse in other religious institutions, especially in the Anglican Church, the Salvation Army and amongst the Jehovah’s Witnesses;
5. A reflection on the New Zealand context and the similarities and differences with comparable nations; and
6. The possible ways forward based on a survey of recommendations made to date."
The hearing will be live streamed, video recording and transcript also will be available.
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New Zealand Royal Commission into CSA
by joe134cd injust wondering if anybody from nz can tell me when the jws will take the stand in the nz commission into csa.
also, is it possible to get this streamed on the internet live, and is coverage only restricted to this country.
i’m surprised this hasn’t been mentioned more on the internet.
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Corney
To be exact, the scope of the inqury isn't restricted to child abuse or to sexual abuse - it's "directed to examine... the historical abuse of children, young persons, and vulnerable adults in State care and in the care of faith-based institutions." The term "abuse" includes "physical, sexual, and emotional or psychological abuse... neglect, and... inadequate or improper treatment or care that resulted in serious harm to the individual (whether mental or physical)." And the term "vulnerable adult" "means an adult who needs additional care and support by virtue of being in... care" or vulnerable "due to their physical, intellectual, disability, or mental health status, or due to other factors" - for example, "[v]ulnerability may also arise in relation to a person’s nationality; race; ethnicity; religious belief; age; gender; gender identity; sexual orientation."
According to its Terms of Reference,
10. The purpose of the inquiry is to identify, examine, and report on the matters in scope. For matters that require consideration of structural, systemic, or practical issues, the inquiry’s work will be informed not only by its own analysis and review but also by the feedback of victims/survivors and others who share their experiences. The matters in scope are:
10.1 The nature and extent of abuse that occurred in State care and in the care of faith-based institutions during the relevant period (as described immediately below):
(a) the inquiry will consider the experiences of children, young persons, and vulnerable adults who were in care between 1 January 1950 and 31 December 1999 inclusive;
(b) the inquiry may, at its discretion, consider issues and experiences prior to 1950. In order to inform its recommendations for the future, the inquiry may also consider issues and experiences after 1999;
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10.2 The factors, including structural, systemic, or practical factors, that caused or contributed to the abuse of individuals in State care and in the care of faith-based institutions during the relevant period. The factors may include, but are not limited to:
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10.3 The impact of the abuse on individuals and their families, whānau, hapū, iwi, and communities, including immediate, longer-term, and intergenerational impacts.
10.4 The circumstances that led to individuals being taken into, or placed into, care and the appropriateness of such placements. This includes any factors that contributed, or may have contributed, to the decision-making process. Such factors may include, for example, discrimination, arbitrary decisions, or otherwise unreasonable conduct.
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10.5 What lessons were learned; what changes were made to legislation, policy, rules, standards, and practices to prevent and respond to abuse in care; and what gaps, if any, remain and need addressing.
10.6 The current frameworks to prevent and respond to abuse in care; and any changes to legislation, policies, rules, standards, and practices, including oversight mechanisms, that will protect children, young persons, and vulnerable adults in the future.
10.7 The redress and rehabilitation processes for individuals who claim, or have claimed, abuse while in care, including improvements to those processes.
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10
Any more info on DARKSPILVER'S case?
by The Fall Guy inaccording to the latest info i could find, his i.d.
has to be revealed to the wtbts's lawyer.
lol - they'll keep his identity secret from the watchtower imams - not!.
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Corney
The latest hearing took place on August 1, and a ruling is still expected. Check it here: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/8509534/in-re-dmca-subpoena-to-reddit-inc/
Another DMCA subpoena case (the Kevin McFree case) has been fully briefed 14 months ago, and no hearing has so far been scheduled.
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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
A Kingdom Hall in the Bronx (959 Cauldwell Avenue aka 606 East 164th Street) was sold this September to the Haitian Baptist Community Church for $1,010,000; the asking price was $1,300,000.
Sources:
In the same month, a KH in Nashport, OH was sold to the Freedomcity Church for $164K:
http://www.muskingumcountyauditor.org/Data.aspx?ParcelID=44-46-02-60-000
Another recent sales:
494 Milford Point Rd, Milford, CT sold by JW Congregation Support to French Speaking Baptist for $400,000 - https://www.milfordmirror.com/news/article/French-Speaking-Baptist-Church-moves-into-former-14419886.php
160 Ferry Rd, Flemington, NJ sold by JW Congregation Support to Iglesia Refugio for $313000 - https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/marketplace/real-estate/2019/08/18/central-jersey-home-sales-aug-18-edition/1931959001/
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U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Appeal by Jehovah’s Witnesses
by annihilator inu.s. supreme court rejects appeal by jehovah’s witnesses of 2015 california trial court ordersan diego, ca, october 24, 2019 --(pr.com)-- on october 7, 2019, the u.s. supreme court rejected the petition for writ of certiorari filed by the watchtower bible and tract society of new york, inc. (“watchtower”), requesting that the supreme court review a case filed by the zalkin law firm in 2013. in the case of jw v. watchtower bible and tract society of new york, inc. et.
al., the riverside superior court of california awarded the plaintiff, “j.w.,” a judgment of $4,016,152.39 plus interest at 10% per year after terminating watchtower’s defense, because it refused to obey the court’s order to produce files of known child molesters within the jw organization.
in 2018, the fourth district court of appeal in california upheld that decision.
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Corney
First, the case documents are available on the Court's site ((1) Petition + lower courts' decisions, annexed; (2) Brief of respondent J. W., a Minor in opposition; (3) Reply of petitioner Watchtower NY).
blondie, careful,
The case you're referring to (the Padron case) was settled twenty months ago.
In this case a judge punished the Watchtower for refusal to produce certain documents (files received by it in response to the 1997 BOE letter) by entering default judgment against them and awarding a plaintiff $4 million without trial. An appellate court affirmed that ruling thus creating a pretty dangerous (for the org) precedent.
smiddy3,
Mere filing of a petition doesn't stay or suspend execution of appealed decisions. This petition didn't "delay a judgment". And since the Watchtower posted a $6,024,228.58 appeal bond on August 15, 2016, the compensation has likely been paid months ago, probably shortly after the appellate court issued its judgment on December 10, 2018
I don't know the exact reason why this petition was filed. Maybe they really tried to overturn the precedent established by a Californian court, or maybe it's just their modus operandi to appeal negative rulings as far as possible - to the best of my knowledge, this case is the first and the only CSA case lost by WT which hasn't eventually been settled.
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Elders accused of playing rape tape to victim, 15; case goes to Utah Sup. Court
by Corney ina woman is suing a local congregation ("kingdom hall of jehovah’s witnesses, roy, utah, an unincorporated association"), individual elders and watchtower ny after, she claims, a judicial committee forced her to listen an audio recording of her own rape.
the trial court summarized the facts as alleged by the plaintiff as follows:.
at the time of the judicial committee, plaintiff was fifteen years old.
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Corney
Just for the record.
The audio of the hearing in this case held before the Utah Court of Appeals (an intermediate appellate court) in January is available on Youtube (begins on 1:09:05): https://youtu.be/pW35u2WqCcE?t=4144
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Lorterdan properties v. Watchtower court ruling about Ramapo property
by Gorbatchov ini found this court ruling about the ramapo property.
is this the same were now the audio / video / digital content location is to be build?.
https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/new-york/nysdce/7:2011cv03656/379925/39/.
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Corney
Gorbatchov,
As to the ruling, it's an intermediate decision striking out some Lorterdan's claims and Watchtower's counterclaims while allowing others to proceed. The case was eventually settled under undisclosed terms.