Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but I think it was Dekker who said that if WT has nothing to hide, they’d open their doors and do an independent investigation.
He of all people knows that’s nonsense, and standards of evidence and burden of proof doesn’t work that way. He KNOWS this.
Again, this whole case isn't a trial. It's an effort to make sure the JW organization has the proper knowledge, policies and practices to handle abuse cases in a way that's best for he victims.
The investigation isn't meant to judge Watchower, but to help them improve where needed.
And of course the minister of justice and his civil servants know this. They're quite prudent when it comes to not suggesting unlawful investigations.
Therefore the fact that they did insist on JW starting an investigation should tell you that such an investigation would be lawful (just as it was with the Catholic Church, the sports community, etc.)
If 300 people accused me of dealing illegal drugs because I am a doctor who
writes prescriptions to sick people, that doesn’t mean I’m dealing illegal drugs.
Therefore, I am under no legal or moral obligation to offer my patient files to a government.Nor do I have to submit to the requests of a government.
Do you think Watchtower has a moral obligation to their members?
Do you think Watchtower has a moral obligation to victims of child abuse whose case was handled by JW elders?
Would you trust a day care facility that had multiple complaints from customers about how they treat children, but simply dismiss those complaints and refuse to provide any transparency?
How would you view any other church that appears to have systemic child abuse issues in multiple countries, lost or settled dozens of court cases, has thousands of complaints re. abuse, but refuses to acknowledge even the possibility they may have a problem, and refuses to cooperate with the government on clearing up that issue?
By the way the government wasn't simply requesting files: they wanted Watchtower to review their own policies and procedures and past abuse cases, in an independent and transparent fashion.