And btw some pretty developed countries have shockingly low age of consent. Germany is 14. Japan and south Korea is 13.
Richard Oliver
JoinedPosts by Richard Oliver
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347
ARC - Case Study 54 - All Exhibits have been released
by jwleaks inall exhibits for case study 54, jehovah's witnesses and watchtower, have been released by the arc.. http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/exhibits/10908a67-70c5-4103-94cc-dac096fdb585/case-study-54,-march-2017,-sydney.
exhibit list.
joint statement of o'brien and spinks.
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347
ARC - Case Study 54 - All Exhibits have been released
by jwleaks inall exhibits for case study 54, jehovah's witnesses and watchtower, have been released by the arc.. http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/exhibits/10908a67-70c5-4103-94cc-dac096fdb585/case-study-54,-march-2017,-sydney.
exhibit list.
joint statement of o'brien and spinks.
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Richard Oliver
Yes Australia is a developed first world country. And if you listen to the full commission hearing you will see that since the last hearing there were a number of cases that were reported to the authorities if they were required to do so or not. Some were reviewed by authorities for further prosecution and some were dismissed because the secular authorities deemed it not a child abuse case. The current evidence list does not contain any specific information on those but it was asked in writing by the commission and was answered in writing as well as answered verbally.
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347
ARC - Case Study 54 - All Exhibits have been released
by jwleaks inall exhibits for case study 54, jehovah's witnesses and watchtower, have been released by the arc.. http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/exhibits/10908a67-70c5-4103-94cc-dac096fdb585/case-study-54,-march-2017,-sydney.
exhibit list.
joint statement of o'brien and spinks.
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Richard Oliver
LoveUniHateExam:
I have discussed this before. This is a worlwide policy that must fit a worldwide audience. There are some countries that have very lax child abuse policies or extremely low age of consents. So if child abuse occurs in one of those countries, where is Watchtower supposed to report it too? That is why they put in that they have to contact legal, so that legal can make sure that all applicable laws are followed.
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347
ARC - Case Study 54 - All Exhibits have been released
by jwleaks inall exhibits for case study 54, jehovah's witnesses and watchtower, have been released by the arc.. http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/exhibits/10908a67-70c5-4103-94cc-dac096fdb585/case-study-54,-march-2017,-sydney.
exhibit list.
joint statement of o'brien and spinks.
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Richard Oliver
I cannot speak what happened prior to August 1, 2016 so I won't. According to all indications this is a letter that was sent out to all BOE to be put into their permanent file for policies and letters. It does seem to indicate that it replaces a letter from 2012. Since the guidelines for all service departments make reference to this letter then it would indicate that it is policy for worldwide Jehovah's Witnesses. Unlike the policy for safeguarding children that is a policy exclusively for the country that is listed in the title. There is one for Australia and one for the UK. The policies on safeguarding children in Australia is still being determined how to verify that each witness sees it or gets the information that is contained in it.
And yes there are some states where mandatory reporters laws are little fuzzy at best. But just because there is a policy to report all cases because that profession is a mandatory reporter, doesn't mean that it is not stated in that policy for the reason. Look at the LAUSD policy on child abuse. Note that they explain why there is this policy and that is to comply with the mandatory reporting laws in the state. People on here love to downgrade the legalise or the legal nuances of something but that is how law works. Something can only be reported if it is illegal.
Also note how complex some of these laws are. Lets take a state in Australia
The reporting obligations in the Northern Territory:
A person is a child up until they are 18, but the age of consent in the state is 16. Now if a child is 14 and a medical practitioner can determine can determine, "If assessment of the young person (over 14) clearly identifies that the sexual activity is between developmentally normal peers aged within two years of each other, and is consensual, a report is not required." But just because a teen is 16 or over doesn't mean that all "consensual sex" is legal another part of the code says "An adult who has a special relationship commits an offense if he/she has intercourse or commits and act of gross indecency with a child over 16."
That is why elders are required to get legal advice from a trained lawyer on a case by case basis because the law is complex.
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ARC - Case Study 54 - All Exhibits have been released
by jwleaks inall exhibits for case study 54, jehovah's witnesses and watchtower, have been released by the arc.. http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/exhibits/10908a67-70c5-4103-94cc-dac096fdb585/case-study-54,-march-2017,-sydney.
exhibit list.
joint statement of o'brien and spinks.
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Richard Oliver
I would speak as myself and give an explanation and would give what I believe but that is not what those gentlemen were asked to speak as, they were asked to speak as representatives so wording is very important.
But how I believe it to be is that one who disassociates themselves have decided that they no longer want to be associated with Jehovah's Witnesses and no longer be considered one of Jehovah's Witnesses. It is a formal way of leaving a religion that one no longer agrees with either from a human or spiritual stand point. I would bring out that Paul speaks of not even eating with such a man that was once called your brother but that is no longer. That even Jesus removed himself from Judas when he excused Judas from associating with him and the other apostles before his betrayal of the Christ. I would say ultimately it is each person's personal decision if they want to shun someone who is disassociated. I am not associated with a Congregation because of my sexuality but in my decades of a witness i have never known anyone who got DF for communicating with a DA or a DF person, I may be living in a fantasy world but that is my experience. I can only speak of the US but that is a perfectly legal thing.
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ARC - Case Study 54 - All Exhibits have been released
by jwleaks inall exhibits for case study 54, jehovah's witnesses and watchtower, have been released by the arc.. http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/exhibits/10908a67-70c5-4103-94cc-dac096fdb585/case-study-54,-march-2017,-sydney.
exhibit list.
joint statement of o'brien and spinks.
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Richard Oliver
Man Outlaw see I have to do your job and post my own stupid memes to myself.
Yes Outlaw because computers never glitch. It is always that I am an idiot correct.....RO
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347
ARC - Case Study 54 - All Exhibits have been released
by jwleaks inall exhibits for case study 54, jehovah's witnesses and watchtower, have been released by the arc.. http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/exhibits/10908a67-70c5-4103-94cc-dac096fdb585/case-study-54,-march-2017,-sydney.
exhibit list.
joint statement of o'brien and spinks.
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Richard Oliver
And btw secular organizations that do require all reports of child abuse to be reported still spell out the reason for why it is in their policy. It states that they are mandated by applicable laws. Even school districts put that term on their policy.
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ARC - Case Study 54 - All Exhibits have been released
by jwleaks inall exhibits for case study 54, jehovah's witnesses and watchtower, have been released by the arc.. http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/exhibits/10908a67-70c5-4103-94cc-dac096fdb585/case-study-54,-march-2017,-sydney.
exhibit list.
joint statement of o'brien and spinks.
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Richard Oliver
Dated August 1, 2016. You can get a copy off the ARC website.
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347
ARC - Case Study 54 - All Exhibits have been released
by jwleaks inall exhibits for case study 54, jehovah's witnesses and watchtower, have been released by the arc.. http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/exhibits/10908a67-70c5-4103-94cc-dac096fdb585/case-study-54,-march-2017,-sydney.
exhibit list.
joint statement of o'brien and spinks.
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Richard Oliver
And Viodit:
Many states allow for anonymous reporting while others don't. If the legislature feels that would hinder the prosecution then you should get those legislatures to change the laws so that it is mandated to get a name. And it is common for people to report crimes annonymously, that is why many police department has Crimestoppers numbers because they know not everyone is comfortable getting involved with the investigation of the crime.
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347
ARC - Case Study 54 - All Exhibits have been released
by jwleaks inall exhibits for case study 54, jehovah's witnesses and watchtower, have been released by the arc.. http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/exhibits/10908a67-70c5-4103-94cc-dac096fdb585/case-study-54,-march-2017,-sydney.
exhibit list.
joint statement of o'brien and spinks.
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Richard Oliver
For reporting the matter to the police Watchtower has removed the two witness rule portion:
Protecting Minors From Abuse
Page 2 Section 6
6. To ensure that elders comply with child-abuse reporting laws, two elders should immedi-ately call the Legal Department for legal advice when the elders learn of an accusation of child abuse. (Rom. 13:1-4) A call should be made even when both persons involved are minors. The elders should not ask an alleged victim, the accused person, or anyone else to call the Legal Department on the el-ders’ behalf. The elders should call the Legal Department even in the following situations:
• The alleged abuse occurred many years ago.
• The alleged abuse is based on the testimony of only one witness.
• The alleged abuse is believed to be a repressed memory.
• The alleged abuse involved perpetrators or victims who are deceased.
• The alleged abuse is believed to have already been reported to the secular authorities.
• The alleged perpetrator or victim is not a member of your congregation.
• The alleged perpetrator is a non-Witness associating with the congregation.
• The alleged abuse occurred before the alleged perpetrator or victim was baptized.
• The alleged victim is now an adult.
• The alleged abuse occurred in the past, and it is unclear
Please note in that same letter there is a distinction between the legal responsibilty:
2. Child abuse includes the sexual or physical abuse of a minor. It would also include the extreme neglect of a minor by her parent. Child sexual abuse is a perversion and generally includes sexual intercourse with a minor; oral or anal sex with a minor; fondling the genitals, breasts, or but-tocks of a minor; voyeurism of a minor; indecent exposure to a minor; or soliciting a minor for sex-ual conduct. Depending on the circumstances of the case, it may include involvement with child pornography or “sexting” with a minor. “Sexting” describes the sending of sexually explicit mes-sages or images electronically.
3. From the Bible’s standpoint, child sexual abuse is a gross sin. (Deut. 23:17, 18; Gal. 5:19-21; ks10 chap. 5 par. 10; w97 2/1 p. 29; g93 10/8 p. 10, ftn.) Jehovah’s Witnesses abhor child sexual abuse. (Rom. 12:9) Thus, the congregation will not shield any perpetrator of such repugnant acts from the consequences of his sin.
Note that paragraph 2 speaks of the legal requirements and section 3 speaks of the congregational actions that would be brought into consideration.
Also following in that same letter:
The elders should carefully adhere to all direction provided by the Ser-vice Department regarding reasonable steps that should be taken to protect minors from one who has engaged in child sexual abuse. For example, the Service Department will provide direction when (1) a congregation judicial committee determines that one guilty of child sexual abuse is re-pentant and will remain in the congregation, (2) one disfellowshipped for child sexual abuse is rein-stated, (3) when an unbaptized publisher or a baptized member of the congregation who denies an accusation of child sexual abuse is convicted by the secular authorities, or (4) one viewed as a child molester by the community or the congregation becomes a publisher or becomes a baptized member of the congregation.
18. Direction from the Service Department to the elders will include restrictions imposed on an individual’s activities within the congregation, on his participation in the field ministry, and on his interaction with minors. The elders will be directed to caution the individual never to be alone with a minor, not to cultivate friendships with minors, not to display affection for minors, and so forth. In some cases, the Service Department may specifically direct elders to inform parents of minors within the congregation of the need to monitor their children’s interaction with an individu-al. If the body of elders has questions about a past case, two elders should be assigned to call the Service Department for direction. The coordinator of the body of elders should ensure that newly appointed elders and elders who move into the congregation are made aware of the Service De-partment’s direction regarding such individuals.
19. One who has engaged in child sexual abuse does not qualify to receive any privileges in the congregation for many years, if ever. This includes seemingly minor privileges. Elders should keep in mind what is stated in the January 1, 1997, Watchtower article “Let Us Abhor What Is Wick-ed,” page 29, paragraph 2: “Child sexual abuse reveals an unnatural fleshly weakness. Experience has shown that such an adult may well molest other children. True, not every child molester repeats the sin, but many do. And the congregation cannot read hearts to tell who is and who is not liable to mo-lest children again. (Jeremiah 17:9) Hence, Paul’s counsel to Timothy applies with special force in the case of baptized adults who have molested children: ‘Never lay your hands hastily upon any man; nei-ther be a sharer in the sins of others.’ (1 Timothy 5:22).” Therefore, if the body of elders believes that one who has engaged in child sexual abuse decades ago may now qualify for minor privileges, such as carrying or adjusting microphones, operating audio/video equipment, or assisting with accounts, liter-ature, magazines, or territories, they should assign two elders to call the Service Department. The as-signed elders should call the Service Department before any congregation privileges are extended.
Please note that it does not matter if the congregation finds the person guilty or not on a two witness requirement. If the secular authorities has already made the determination, restrictions WILL be placed on the person.