Posts by Nicholaus Kopernicus

7

The WT and child safeguarding chasm

by Nicholaus Kopernicus in

the following are some notes from my recent level iii child safeguarding training.

i have tabulated the notes and then expressed my thoughts about the training and the paradigm of the wtbts / christian congregation of jehovah's witnesses...... .

course notes....... steps to take when one learns of / receives a complaint of child abuse.. uk level iii child safeguarding training (excerpt).. .

Nicholaus Kopernicus

Diogenesister: please post on exjwreddit as you suggest. Tnx - NK.

7

The WT and child safeguarding chasm

by Nicholaus Kopernicus in

the following are some notes from my recent level iii child safeguarding training.

i have tabulated the notes and then expressed my thoughts about the training and the paradigm of the wtbts / christian congregation of jehovah's witnesses...... .

course notes....... steps to take when one learns of / receives a complaint of child abuse.. uk level iii child safeguarding training (excerpt).. .

The following are some notes from my recent Level III Child Safeguarding Training. I have tabulated the notes and then expressed my thoughts about the training and the paradigm of the WTBTS / Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses.....

Course notes......

STEPS TO TAKE when one learns of / receives a complaint of child abuse.

UK Level III Child Safeguarding Training (excerpt).

Adults looking after children or young people should be aware of the risks of abuse (by adults or other young people), and take steps to reduce those risks.

Staff or volunteers in charge of children or young people should know what to do if they suspect that someone is being physically or sexually abused, or if someone tells them that this is happening.

The following key points give a guide on what to do and what not to do…..

· Never think abuse is impossible in your organisation or group, or that an accusation against someone you know well and trust is bound to be wrong.

· Children and young people often te3ll other young people, rather than staff or adults, about abuse – make sure that your senior young people know the poits on this sheet as well as the responsible adults.

Stop, Listen & Believe

Always stop and listen straight away to someone who wants to tell you about incidents or suspicions of abuse.

Write Brief Notes

If you can, write brief notes of what they are telling you while they are speaking (these may help later if you have to remember exactly what was said) and keep your original notes, howver rough and even if you wrote on the back of something else (it’s what you wrote at the time that may be important later – not a tidier and improved version you wrote up afterwards!). If you don’t have the means to write at the time, make notes of what was said or observed as soon as possible afterwards.

Never Make Promises

Never make a promise that you will keep what is said confidential or secret – if you are told about abuse you have a responsibility to tell the right people to get something done about it. If asked, explain that if you are going to be told something very important that needs to be sorted out, you will need to tell the people who can sort it out, but that you will only tell the people who absolutely have to know.

No Leading Questions

Do not ask leading questions that might give your own ideas of what might have happened (e.g. “did he do X to you?”) – just ask “what do you want to tell me?” or “is there anything else you want to say?”

Report Immediately

· Immediately report the abuse to a line manager

· Follow the correct workplace procedures for reporting abuse

Protection

Discuss with the person in charge whether any steps need to be taken to protect the person who has told you about the abuse (this may need to be discussed with the person who told you).

Do not carry out investigations

Never attempt to carry out an investigation of suspected or alleged abuse by interviewing people etc, - social services and police staff are the people trained to do this – you could cause more damage and spoil possible criminal proceedings. It is your duty to refer concerns on, not investigate.

Refer

· As soon as possible (and certainly the same day) the person in charge should refer the matter to the local social services department (helped by your notes).

· Follow their requests about what to do next.

· They will set up any necessary investigations and can advise you – that is their statutory job.

Notes /thoughts:

The training emphasises sharing with appropriate expertise to enable protection of the victim. The WT practice is to retain in house where expertise is minimal and the victim is thus not protected. Children deserve expertise. Parents are reassured at the availability of expertise. WT BoE have a paucity of expertise as the WT society’s philosophy is one which is inimical to higher education.

The guidance tabulated above is not rocket science. It is simple and straightforward. Yet there is a chasm between this guidance and the practice within the paradigm of the WT. That the WT society isolates itself from the “superior authorities” is quite telling, especially where vulnerable children and adolescents are concerned.

Part of the concept of love is that of protection. The above tabulated advice is protective of a victim. The WT paradigm is protective of itself and is demonstrably loveless towards victims. Indeed, the mal-experience of the victim is likely to be compounded by the practices of the WT society. The WT society uses the illustration of a shepherd rather generously. Yet by its actions, it demonstrates that it is a pseudo-shepherd in that a victim of child abuse is seen as adversarial, and thus an object to be scape-goated and marginalised.

If you are a JW and a ministerial servant or elder, and also a nurse, a doctor, a social worker, or other health / care professional, you could well be putting your professional status at risk by following the guidance of the WT society exclusively as you are required by them to do as its guidance is protective of the institution and not the victim. As a health / social care professional, you are required to protect the victim.

If you are a health professional JW but not a ministerial servant or elder, surely as a parent, you would prefer the above guidance founded on empirical expertise to be followed, rather than the WT society’s pseudo-guidance to be followed, which is focussed on containment within the organisation.

If you are a British JW, remember that quite recently, the WT Society of Britain sent its officers to Eire regarding several elders whose conscience directed them to disclose a case of abuse to the Garda (Irish Police). The outcome was that several of those elders were deleted as they were found by the WT society of Britain not to be of sound mind! But as a parent, wouldn’t you have found the elders’ approaching the Garda to be reassuring? This example of mal-conduct on the part of the WTBTS of Britain (aka Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses / aka IBSA – International Bible Students’ Association) evidences an especially bad record of protecting individuals who are victims of child abuse. This is a society which superficially extolls “lowliness of mind” and “reasonableness” and yet in practice puts itself (the institution) first, and is unreasonable in its aggressively litigious paradigm of having tried to obstruct the Charity Commission and deleting the small number of elders who decided to follow their consciences.

If you are a JW ministerial servant or elder, I hope you realise one day soon, that your Britain Branch isn’t providing you with the child safeguarding training you need. Their omission of training is wanton. That you acquiesce with their paradigm of protecting the org above the child can get you into trouble. The best thing you can do is to resign as an elder or ministerial servant. If you can’t do that then at least quit as a charitable trustee if you are an elder. If you can’t resign as an elder nor quit as a charitable trustee, then at least search around for third party liability insurance to cover yourself for following the woeful advice of the WTBTS of Britain.

Just look at what’s happened to the charity in the UK which sought to conceal that some of its employees abused children in Haiti and elsewhere. Their receipt of donations is significantly down such that they are having to shed employees, sell property, and curtail their charitable activity. The difference which sticks out in my mind is that they have acknowledged the problem, apologised, and are putting procedures in place which will mitigate the risk of the situation being repeated. There is no such reflection on the part of the WTBTS of Britain. It remains, cold, conceited, controlling and cagey.

You might think I’m exaggerating by labelling the WTBTS of Britain as “cagey”. However, I remember a time in the UK when direction went out to all the congregation BoE to have “a capable brother” nominated to deal with the press and media. The Britain Branch of the WTBTS also had a press and media individual to portray the organisation. I think it was Paul Gillies – an individual rich in his knowledge, experience, and application of WT protocols. He appeared on British TV only once or twice. The countenance of the TV interviewer conveyed incredulity at his coldness. That neither he nor others are available for interview / scrutiny in more recent times is demonstrative of their failure to meet their own objective of positively portraying the org; is demonstrative of their incompetence as communicators, and reflects their modern day decision to opt for a paradigm of being comprehensively taciturn (cagey).

I am so pleased that their contributions are diminishing; so pleased that their numbers are shrinking. From the influences of the WT society in the UK and elsewhere, may “angels and ministers of grace defend us” as Hamlet said!

1

Prayers for survivors of child abuse

by Nicholaus Kopernicus in

i no longer attend jw meetings.

i can't read jw literature either.

it's so difficult now to contemplate opening the pages of a watchtower magazine knowing that the organisation which publishes it is steadfast in refusing to engage in child safeguarding.

Nicholaus Kopernicus

I no longer attend JW meetings. I can't read JW literature either. It's so difficult now to contemplate opening the pages of a watchtower magazine knowing that the organisation which publishes it is steadfast in refusing to engage in child safeguarding.

If you are a JW still, you know that if a wrong is perpetrated and the individual is not repentant, s(he) will likely be disfellowshipped by the congregation sentinels. To avoid this outcone, s(he) needs to demonstrate repentence. The sentinels will likely convey that one such indicator of repentence is prayer. Public prayer is engaged in at JW meeting regularly - at the beginning and end of each meeting. Yet when does the brother saying the prayer address the needs of survivors of child abuse?

Here are examples of two prayers which should be, could be said at JW meetings, but never ever will be....

"Prayer I for the victims and survivors of sexual abuse

FATHER

Since your mercy has been revealed

In the tenderness of your Son Jesus Christ, who said to his disciples:

"Suffer the little children to come unto me”,

we pray that Chrustian congregations may be a secure home where all children and vulnerable adults are brought closer to your Beloved Son.

May all those who have been abused physically, emotionally and sexually by your ministers be respected and accompanied by tangible gestures of justice and reparation so that they may feel healed with the balm of your compassion.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord

Amen

Prayer II for the victims and survivors of sexual abuse

Heavenly Father,

who loves and cares for all of your children, especially the smallest and most vulnerable, we entrust to you the lives of the many children and vulnerable adults, who have been sexually abused, and whose trust and innocence have been destroyed. Help us to hear their cries of pain and to take responsibility for so many broken lives.

We pray that within their communities and families they may find understanding and support so that with the help of your grace their wounds may be healed, and they may again know peace.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who shared our weakness in all things but sin, and lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever and ever.

Amen."

Nope! It is unthinkable for such prayerful sentiments to be expressed in a kingdom hall. That such an organisation dares to suggest that others should repent of error is just so sickening. This organisation is guilty of great wrong and merely brushes it aside via legalisms.

If you are a JW and reading this, should prayerful sentiments like those above be conveyed at your meetings?

The banality of WT compared with Urbi et Orbi

by Nicholaus Kopernicus in

i listened to the local memorial service via phone link.

found it banal and repetitive.

i took exception to the cboe recommending attending the clam as it's based on the life of christ.

Nicholaus Kopernicus

I listened to the local memorial service via phone link. Found it banal and repetitive. I took exception to the CBoE recommending attending the CLAM as it's based on the life of Christ. Nonsense! It is primarily a WT proselytising exercise and virtually nothing to do with Jesus. Next year, I'll give even the phone link a miss.

Been reading about the JW March broadcast of Licentious Lösch. Then I decided to watch the video. Oh dear! Talk about "... not think(ing) more of ourselves than it is necessary to think..."! Wow! So the California Supreme Court Coward thinks he's going to rule with Jesus "for ever and ever!" But even now he can't so much as rule so as to safeguard little children. Good job Kevin McFree does those funny youtube videos (he done one poking fun at Licentious Lösch's March monologue) so that I can have a hearty laugh as an antidote to the melancholy media of JWs.

So that was that. I then decided to listen to the Pope's "Urbi et Orbi" message. That was so different. Had depth, meaning, pertinence, thoughtfulness. Here's what he said...

"Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!

Jesus is risen from the dead!

This message resounds in the Church the world over, along with the singing of the Alleluia: Jesus is Lord; the Father has raised him and he lives forever in our midst.

Jesus had foretold his death and resurrection using the image of the grain of wheat. He said: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (Jn 12:24). And this is precisely what happened: Jesus, the grain of wheat sowed by God in the furrows of the earth, died, killed by the sin of the world. He remained two days in the tomb; but his death contained God’s love in all its power, released and made manifest on the third day, the day we celebrate today: the Easter of Christ the Lord.

We Christians believe and know that Christ’s resurrection is the true hope of the world, the hope that does not disappoint. It is the power of the grain of wheat, the power of that love which humbles itself and gives itself to the very end, and thus truly renews the world. This power continues to bear fruit today in the furrows of our history, marked by so many acts of injustice and violence. It bears fruits of hope and dignity where there are deprivation and exclusion, hunger and unemployment, where there are migrants and refugees (so often rejected by today’s culture of waste), and victims of the drug trade, human trafficking and contemporary forms of slavery.

Today we implore fruits of peace upon the entire world, beginning with the beloved and long-suffering land of Syria, whose people are worn down by an apparently endless war. This Easter, may the light of the risen Christ illumine the consciences of all political and military leaders, so that a swift end may be brought to the carnage in course, that humanitarian law may be respected and that provisions be made to facilitate access to the aid so urgently needed by our brothers and sisters, while also ensuring fitting conditions for the return of the displaced.

We beseech fruits of reconciliation for the Holy Land, also experiencing in these days the wounds of ongoing conflict that do not spare the defenceless, for Yemen and for the entire Middle East, so that dialogue and mutual respect may prevail over division and violence. May our brothers and sisters in Christ, who not infrequently put up with injustices and persecution, be radiant witnesses of the risen Lord and of the victory of good over evil.

We invoke on this day fruits of hope for those who yearn for a more dignified life, above all in those areas of the African continent deeply affected by hunger, endemic conflicts and terrorism. May the peace of the risen Lord heal wounds in South Sudan and open hearts to dialogue and mutual understanding. Let us not forget the victims of that conflict, especially the children! May there be no lack of solidarity with all those forced to abandon leave their native lands and lacking the bare essentials for living.

We implore fruits of dialogue for the Korean peninsula, that the discussions under way may advance harmony and peace within the region. May those who are directly responsible act with wisdom and discernment to promote the good of the Korean people and to build relationships of trust within the international community.

We also beseech fruits of peace for Ukraine, that the steps taken to favour harmony may be consolidated, and facilitated by the humanitarian initiatives needed by its people.

We also invoke fruits of consolation for the Venezuelan people, who, as their bishops have written, are living in a kind of “foreign land” within their own country. May that nation, by the power of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, find a just, peaceful and humane way to surmount quickly the political and humanitarian crises that grip it. May welcome and assistance not be wanting to its sons and daughters forced to abandon their homeland.

May the risen Christ bring fruits of new life to those children, who as a result of wars and hunger, grow up without hope, lacking education and health care; and to those elderly persons who are cast off by a selfish culture that ostracizes those who are not “productive”.

We also implore fruits of wisdom for those who have political responsibilities in our world, that they may always respect human dignity, devote themselves actively to the pursuit of the common good, and ensure the development and security of their own citizens.

Dear brothers and sisters,

The words heard by the women at the tomb are also addressed to us: “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen” (Lk 24:5-6). Death, solitude and fear are not the last word. There is a word that transcends them, a word that only God can speak: it is the word of the resurrection (cf. John Paul II, Conclusion of the Way of the Cross, 18 April 2003). By the power of God’s love, it “dispels wickedness, washes faults away, restores innocence to the fallen, and joy to mourners, drives out hatred, fosters concord and brings down the mighty” (Easter Proclamation).

Happy Easter to all!"

15

Angry the BBC covered J.W. child abuse on the national TV news at 1pm but not 6pm or 10pm

by Isambard Crater in

did the j.w lawyers gag the bbc or something?

not even newsnight covered it.

it was given 3 minutes every hour on the 24-hour bbc news channel though i guess..

Nicholaus Kopernicus

It was also covered on BBC Radio 4s flagship news and analysis programme - "PM". About 4 minutes long, interviews with victims, solicitor, and an MP. Still available for streaming (begins about 10 mins into programme).

The solicitor was especially interesting. She mentioned class actions in Australia and North America and that a momentum seems to be gathering world wide as governments become increasingly aware of the situation. Thus, the "superior authorities" / "God's minister" could protect many from this pseudo Christian and loveless institution. For their esteemed eminences of the Governing Body I can only think that "there may be trouble ahead" and they will have to eventually "face the music and dance"!

5

All Body of Elders in the UK – A Warning!

by Nicholaus Kopernicus in

shortly after rising this morning (monday 20th november 2017), i checked the news on the bbc’s teletext service.

in the uk (page 1010) the following had top billing…... “jehovah’s witnesses ‘covered up’ abuse”.

“children who were sexually abused by jehovah’s witnesses were allegedly told by the organization not to report it.. victims from across the uk told the bbc they were routinely abused and that the religion’s own rules protected perpetrators.. one child abuse lawyer believes there could be thousands of victims across the country who have not come forward.. the organization said it did not ‘shield’ abusers and any suggestion of a cover-up was ‘absolutely false’.”.

Nicholaus Kopernicus

Yes Darkspilver, analogue teletext was closed down years ago (BBC CEEFAX). Digital teletext continues! Piece I quoted was from UK teletext news section - page 1010. Now removed due to incursion of other news items.

BBC continuing to broadcast short synopsis of the "cover up" during regular half hour cycles in its 24 hr news channel however.

5

All Body of Elders in the UK – A Warning!

by Nicholaus Kopernicus in

shortly after rising this morning (monday 20th november 2017), i checked the news on the bbc’s teletext service.

in the uk (page 1010) the following had top billing…... “jehovah’s witnesses ‘covered up’ abuse”.

“children who were sexually abused by jehovah’s witnesses were allegedly told by the organization not to report it.. victims from across the uk told the bbc they were routinely abused and that the religion’s own rules protected perpetrators.. one child abuse lawyer believes there could be thousands of victims across the country who have not come forward.. the organization said it did not ‘shield’ abusers and any suggestion of a cover-up was ‘absolutely false’.”.

Nicholaus Kopernicus

Shortly after rising this morning (Monday 20th November 2017), I checked the news on the BBC’s teletext service. In the UK (page 1010) the following had top billing…..

“Jehovah’s Witnesses ‘covered up’ abuse”

“Children who were sexually abused by Jehovah’s Witnesses were allegedly told by the organization not to report it.

Victims from across the UK told the BBC they were routinely abused and that the religion’s own rules protected perpetrators.

One child abuse lawyer believes there could be thousands of victims across the country who have not come forward.

The organization said it did not ‘shield’ abusers and any suggestion of a cover-up was ‘absolutely false’.”

I then turned to the BBC online news to find this more detailed account…..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-42025255

I know that there are a few individual elders in the UK who are also professionals and who are registered with a professional body as legally required to continue practicing their profession. I have in mind, those who are health professionals. Without exception, there is a moral and ethical expectation that such a health professional will follow established guidelines in reporting any type of child abuse to the requisite department of the local authority – be it social services, or police. An elder who is such a health professional and who yields to the requirements of their esteemed eminences - the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses - to confine their reporting to the legal/service desk will likely be putting their professional registration in jeopardy in consequence. Yet, if such an elder lives up to his professional ethics / code of conduct and involves local authority departments, he will likely be deleted as an elder by the representatives of the Britain Branch of the WTBTS (aka The Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, aka the International Bible Students Association). Such an elder is thus in a “double-bind” (Bateson – 1956) or “loose loose” situation in that he will likely place his professional registration in jeopardy or his position as an elder in jeopardy. The latter scenario is now clearly established following the Britain Branch of Jehovah’s Witnesses having sent three of its sentinels to Eire resulting in two elders being deleted (including the CoBE). That they sent their own sentinels rather than issuing instructions to trusted individuals in Eire is highly significant and demonstrates no tolerance for elders who elect to follow their conscience.

It could be argued that more is now expected of health professionals than formerly in that the safeguarding provisions were, until recently, focused on children and vulnerable adults. Vulnerable has now been removed so that anyone who has been abused can benefit from safeguarding provisions – not just children or those hitherto regarded as vulnerable.

So what can you do?

You can just hope that you are never presented with a situation of abuse. However, you would be well advised to reflect on the response of the Britain Branch to elders in Eire who followed their conscience. Hardly Christlike! Not at all loving!

You could make a tactical withdrawal from the role of being an elder. Family pressures, personal problems perhaps? You will receive a visit if you withdraw from the role however (see your Shepherding the Flock text).

If you feel unable to withdraw, then you could consider obtaining 3rd party indemnity insurance. This will likely not protect you against your professional registration being jeopardised, but might provide you with protection if you are sued for not disclosing abuse to the local authority. This protection is not guaranteed however. You would need to check the provision of the indemnity insurance. Wilful, planned non-disclosure may not be insurable in which case your estate and your profession could be at risk and your only option may be to mitigate risk by withdrawing from the elder role as already mentioned. Inadvertent failure to disclose may be covered by insurance – again, it’s best to check.

Are you reaching out?

If you are, then bear in mind what deep risks you may be facing as a result of your required deference to their esteemed eminences - the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses. If you are a health professional, or other professional which involves registration with an ethical/regulatory body in order to practice, then give reaching out a very wide berth!

Even if you are not a registered professional, your adhering to the requirements of the Governing Body as outlined above, could lead to you placing your estate in jeopardy should you fail to disclose child abuse to the local authority.

PS: More coverage of the "cover up" on BBCs main news.

35

Is All The Bad Publicity About The Watchtower Pedophile Lawsuits Causing Contributions To Nose Dive Worldwide?

by Brokeback Watchtower in

i think with all the child molestation lawsuits the watchtower corporation is and has been hit with is the main reason for all the prime property sell off recently.

the silent lambs protest back in 2001, and the dateline prime time expose probably was the death knell for the watchtower's hey day in brooklyn.. their membership is drying up, young people are leaving in droves, the situation is no doubt far worse than the annually published yearbook figures show and so they ceased it's publication permanently.

and those left remaining are experiencing a huge grab of money from their congregations accounts and now are required to make pledges about how much they can contribute which i think is a last ditch effort by the governing body to squeeze more money out of the rank and file watchtower indoctrinated drones.. i think all this is happening because even those still loyally attending are hearing reports of these tremendous pay out that the watchtower is making to the victims of their self serving policies that put young ones at great risks so that even the rank and file don't want to contribute to pay court costs and so are withholding giving contributions to a very great extent.

Nicholaus Kopernicus

In my congregation, there are at least nine persons that I know of who have ceased giving any contributions. Of those nine, three hitherto gave to the congregation and the WT society. The overall amount given to the congregation is reduced such that it has to draw on its savings to meet expenditures. Its savings however, was reduced from £50,000 to £30,000 following the branch suggestion of donating the £20,000 "held by the society".

17

"Jehovah's Witnesses' withheld info will cost them..."

by Nicholaus Kopernicus in

latest perspective of the san diego reader on wts loosing its $4000 per day sanction appeal.... https://m.sandiegoreader.com/news/2017/nov/10/ticker-jehovahs-witnesses-withheld-info-4000-day/?templates=mobile.

Nicholaus Kopernicus

Latest perspective of the San Diego Reader on WTs loosing its $4000 per day sanction appeal...

https://m.sandiegoreader.com/news/2017/nov/10/ticker-jehovahs-witnesses-withheld-info-4000-day/?templates=mobile

64

Why is there such a 'high turnover' within the Jehovahs Witnesses?

by UnshackleTheChains in

i happened to come across a time article in 2008. it was basically talking about the high turnover in american faiths.

it mentioned the jdubs and highlighted the following point.. an even more extreme example of what might be called "masked churn" is the relatively tiny jehovah's witnesses, with a turnover rate of about two-thirds.

that means that two-thirds of the people who told pew they were raised jehovah's witnesses no longer are — yet the group attracts roughly the same number of converts.

Nicholaus Kopernicus

The aberrant behaviour of many a BoE is - I'm sure - a significant factor. Very few are in possession of people skills / emotional intelligence. Those who are tend to find a way of stepping down from the role.