I think the GB assumed it would be like the U.S. where it seems you can stand up and say I am religious and I am defending the rights of religious people - and get immediate respect. This is Australia and a different ball game altogether.
Xanthippe
JoinedPosts by Xanthippe
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JW EXPERT WITNESS FLOORED BY COMMISSION OF INQUIRY LAWYER
by steve2 inmuch has already been written about dr monica applewhite, the expert witness hired by the jw organization.
her job was to provide "expert" testimony to the australian commission of inquiry into jehovsh's witnesses' policies and practices on child sexual abuse.
astonishingly, dr applewhite was unprepared for the inquiry lawyers' questions.
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Dr Applewhite and Child Abuse
by snare&racket ini am shocked that an expert would simply examine only the literature given to her by the organisation she was defending and simply accept it.
also the ease she has in making huge sweeping statements when comparing the jw's to all other international religious organisations simply undermines her professionalism.. i am also thoroughly shocked at her blatant, 'expert for hire', 'will defend anyone' apparent decision making, the organisation is responsible for covering up thousands of abuse victims by its own records, in australia alone!
never mind their judicial process being heartless and traumatic!.
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Xanthippe
The difference here between what Appelwhite described as an expert witness in the Conti case is that counsel Stewart and justice McClellan are insisting that she sticks to exactly what it says in the Shepherd the Flock book and letters to elders that discuss judicial committee procedure.
She is not being allowed to say just what she understands would happen in a JC or the preparation for it. She says when the elders phone the service deptartment that is when they are given information on caring for the person who may have been abused, but they won't let her get away with that because the publications don't state that happens and she can have no clue it does because she has never witnessed it.
Stewart and McClellan stress over and over what the Shepherd the Flock book does say, that is, 'observers should not be present for moral support'! As the chair points out, so an abuse survivor whether an adult woman or female child has to tell two men what happened in sexual detail, then again she tells three men while confronting her sexual abuser. With, he emphasises, no moral support.
Justice McClellan says that this JW practice offends against current Australian civil justice processes. So Stewart suggests that contrary to her report the JW proceedures do not meet best practice because it is not child or survivor oriented at all.
The difference here is because their remit is to examine JW practices in handling child abuse cases they're looking strictly at what the religion instructs the elders to do in writing, in the elders book and letters to elders.
As never before the GB is under scrutiny as to what they write and instruct the elders to do. In my opinion Applewhite didn't realise that counsel for the Commission would insist on what the GB have written down not on what she thinks happens because in fact this is what she claims to have based her entire report on.
As when she says she thinks it is up to an individual whether a person who has been abused takes part in group therapy but Stewart says the Shepherd the Flock book is discouraging this because people may disclose details of their abuser, perhaps saying who abused them. Applewhite insists it says it's a conscience matter but as, I think, chair McClellan points out, it would be very difficult to take part in group therapy without discussing the details of ones abuse, how useful would such therapy be if you couldn't give details!
Here they have hit on a very important point in WTS publications and the Shepherd the Flock book in particular, that JWs can be discouraged from doing something the GB doesn't want them to do while in the same sentence apparently being told it's a conscience matter. We all know this but it's great to see it made clear on the international stage.
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Nine Seconds that says it all. Have these elders any shame?
by Wasanelder Once inwhat can i add?
this says it all.. elder on stand is mute till prompted.. .
i guess i could encourage you to watch to the end and a guest commentary, lol..
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Xanthippe
A fair fight? Not even close. The WTS is getting the shit kicked out of them and it is about time! They are being exposed for the incompetent and arrogant jerks that they are. I am going to cheer for every knock out punch they get. They have been beating up on children and women for far too long now.
Judical hearing? Yeah...how do they like it now?? - OrphanCrowI wholeheartedly agree with this. Women, teenage girls and small children have been put through hell by these judicial committees. Let's see how they like it.
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Seduction, psychosis and radicalisation
by Half banana inthe jw delusion is a psychosis i.e.
the holding on to a belief irrespective of sound evidence to the contrary.
it has everything to do with the indulgent pleasure of embracing an all encompassing idea which promises to resolve every human frailty and inconvenience.
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Xanthippe
It depends on the individual of course. If the person isn't too paranoid you can use your familial attachment or friendship to show genuine concern and gently mention the doctrinal problems that may have woken you up. If the person is totally brainwashed into believing you are just a bad person with evil motives their perception of you taints everything you say or do.
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Seduction, psychosis and radicalisation
by Half banana inthe jw delusion is a psychosis i.e.
the holding on to a belief irrespective of sound evidence to the contrary.
it has everything to do with the indulgent pleasure of embracing an all encompassing idea which promises to resolve every human frailty and inconvenience.
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Xanthippe
Only when our emotional security has been seriously disturbed. When someone suffers at the hands of elders who don't give a damn or becomes ill through slaving away pioneering etc then the comfort zone starts to crumble and we start to look outside of it for explanations.
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Article: Reveal News Organization: JWs Cover-Up of Child Sex Abuse and Oust a Victim
by AndersonsInfo inhttps://www.revealnews.org/article/jehovahs-witnesses-cover-up-child-sex-abuse-and-oust-a-victim/.
jehovahs witnesses cover up child sex abuse and oust a victim.
topics: criminal justice / religion .
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Xanthippe
Thank you Barbara. What a very sad story! I'm so glad Debbie has finally found happiness and she has her daughter with her. -
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Do you feel vindicated by the exposure of the WT Society in Australia? It seems like a feeding frenzy on here! I love it. You?
by Wasanelder Once inare you pleased with the exposure of the society in australia?
do you feel personally vindicated by it?
do you think it gives you credibility with others now that all the things you said were going on, actually are documented?
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Xanthippe
Yes I am very happy about the exposure this cult is getting as a haven for child abusers. It is horrible that this abuse has happened but the fact that it is being exposed and people like Candace Conti and the Brit lady are starting to get justice is wonderful.
I do feel vindicated yes especially after nearly 27 years of being out and my family staying in! At first I was sure my sister would never see all the web news but just today my non-JW cousin told me my technophobe sister has an iPad. Wow! So pleased, because we all know what comes up when they type in JWs now!
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Does the royal commission have the power to force the Jws to change how abuse is handled?
by hoser ini'm wondering if this is just a hearing or if this commission has teeth?.
some very damning things coming out nonetheless .
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Xanthippe
It is wonderful that WT policies and leaders are being exposed, but in the end, what "punishment" if any can result?
I assume the findings of the Royal Commision will affect the way churches are treated because of their child safeguarding problems. In the UK the Charities Commission is investigation whether or not JWs should have charitable status and therefore tax exemption because of their child safeguarding problems. Presumably the same things will be considered in Australia when this ARC reports its findings.
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VICE NEWS article about child sex abuse.
by C0ntr013r invice, a news outlet that i like to use are now covering the story as well .
link:.
https://news.vice.com/article/more-than-1000-jehovahs-witnesses-have-been-accused-of-child-sex-abuse-in-australia-and-police-never-knew.
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Xanthippe
Good article thank you. Particularly liked the link about the JWs being a dangerous cult which takes you to an article from the Sydney Morning Herald in 2013. -
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Royal Commission convened for now, but Jackson is an asshole
by umbertoecho ini have just finished listening to this man jackson.
i remember him well.
he is twisting things around as much as he is allowed.
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Xanthippe
When the counsel for BCB suggests to the elder how inappropriate it is for only men to handle a case of sexual abuse against a female child and not to include a woman, a sister, in the proceedings, he just stares at her!
When the judge asks Jackson if he realises how many changes have taken place in criminal courts as regards not having children confront their abuser because of the stress this will cause Jackson says he is unaware of these developments.
The world has moved on in understanding and treatment of child victims of sexual assault but this religion is clueless, having nothing in their instructions to elders, as was clearly pointed out to Jackson, about considering the feelings of the child or trying to reduce their stress. Obviously this is the last thing on the minds of the writers of the Shepherd the Flock book.