hillary_step	Re: My Letter to the Elders in My Late Father's Congregation
	Cruzanheart, A touching and compelling letter. I am truly sorry for you and your family, and above all for the grotesque treatment that your father received at the hands of men who were obviously not fit to clean his shoes. The results of WTS shunning policy are too bloodied to be washed clean, even in the waters of time. Your poor father was one of many victims killed by this disgusting policy. At a time when your father needed his friends, they were not to be found, and this after decades of 'Theocratic' service. For any of you JW ‘lurkers’ reading this post who might be thinking, 'Yes, but we have only one side of this tale, we have yet to hear the elders and CO's side', let me tell you that I have held the hands of a number of widows and widowers over the years who grieved over the bodies of their shunned mates. I know both sides of the tale and nothing will rationalize away a tomb filled with persons like Christine's father. Over four years ago a very senior member of an overseas Branch visited Brooklyn and took the opportunity to present his concerns regarding the shunning policy to the GB. The part of the policy that he objected to was the fact that a person who for example was baptized at sixteen, was disfellowshipped at seventeen and then went on to grow up, get married, have children and become a useful member of society was still viewed and treated as a disfellowshipped person until the day that they died. This would take place even if that person no longer viewed himself as a JW. As you know, as of this date no change in policy has taken place, due no doubt to fears of legal repercussions when people who have been disinherited and ignored by their families seek legal redress for their sufferings. Think about it. There are JW's at a very senior level who are deeply disturbed about the way the WTS treats those it disciplines. Eventually as time progresses this policy WILL change and modify itself to jigsaw with legal requirements and the natural progress of social and theological evolution. How will you feel then? Personally, I am ashamed that I was ever a part of such a system, let alone that I once supported it. A hopping mad - HS HS
IP: XJt2DshDFuXY/UdA	by hillary_step: Correct formatting