Police commissioners now more willing to act against "corrupt elders"

by ozziepost 7 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

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  ozziepost

  As many long-time posters will know, Mrs Ozzie and I were very much involved in the preparation and presentation of Channel Nine's "Sunday" program a couple of years ago. It exposed the covering-up of child abuse within the Witness organisation and the subsequent shunning of 'whistle blowers'.
  

  The reaction to this program was devastating for the JWs in Australia; in short time many resigned from the Witnesses but the fallout did not stop - it's continued, and we've even seen new posters "sign up" on JWD as a result of that program.

  At the time a federal judge was quoted in the program as saying that the Witness heirarchy in Australia were guilty of obstructing and "perverting justice" and he could not see why criminal charges should not be laid. However all went quiet - or so it seemed.

  In Australia, as elsewhere, there have been many (too many!) cases of child abuse within churches, including the Witnesses. Now the political will to take action has arisen with the NSW Police Commissioner soliciting the support of other states Police commissioners in taking more resolute action against the individuals involved. Apparently, the WTS is particularly targetted with the NSW Police Commissioner in conversation calling them "corrupt". We hear that the Tasmanian Police Commissioner has gone further by referring to them as "fraudulently corrupt".

  Many have wondered about the bizarre episode in Tasmania reported by me yesterday. Who was involved? It was a "whistle-blower" who has stepped away from the WTS because of the abuse issue and is prepared to give evidence against certain elders of JWs in Australia. The episode seems to indicate that he has been targetted by the elders as reported in this thread:
  

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/81909/1.ashx

  So there you have it! It was as much to do with silencing a whistle blower as anything else! This man is prepared to take his stand and the Police Commissioner who took out orders against the elders did so because he told the whistle blower of his concern that he was in danger.

  What can be done? Now, especially, is the time for anyone in Oz to come forward who has knowledge, however small, of elders covering-up child abuse and protecting paedophiles in the congregations. Do you know anything that needs to be reported? If so, the police are anxious to hear from you.

  Cheers, Ozzie
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  metatron

  excellent news! It's wonderful to hear about more and more people standing up to the Watchtower!

  I believe we can expect to hear more cases like this because the no-growth malaise in Europe and english speaking nations

  will enable resentment against the Watchtower. To create opposition, you first need apathy - then resentment can set in, once

  members of the "flock" drift towards feeling deceived and used by the organization.

  metatron
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  iiz2cool

  Many have wondered about the bizarre episode in Tasmania reported by me yesterday. Who was involved? It was a "whistle-blower" who has stepped away from the WTS because of the abuse issue and is prepared to give evidence against certain elders of JWs in Australia. The episode seems to indicate that he has been targetted by the elders as reported in this thread:

  Yes, something needs to be done about them and their practice of stalking former members who speak out against them. What's next? Hit teams to silence witnesses? I'm sure they'd find a way to justify even that, calling it 'theocratic warefare?'.

  Walter
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  ozziepost

  something needs to be done about them and their practice of stalking former members

  I found it interesting that the police attitude is that it was threatening behaviour and accordingly the "victim" was under threat.
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  iiz2cool

  I thought Happy Guy made an interesting post here about Canadian laws regarding harassment. Considering the amount of stalking, stake-outs, and unwanted calls some of us are subjected to, I think it's a good idea to get police involved more often.
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  ozziepost

  iiz2cool:

  How right you are! The fact is, and I emphasize "fact", ex-dubs or more espcially lapsed dubs are subject to stalking and harrassment. Something which would never be tolerated by society at large. I'm led to believe that the police commissioner referred to could see that point loud and clear. interestingly the NSW commissioner really had the goods on dub elder tactics and is leading the charge to bring them to account.

  We shall see if the WTS wriggles out of it one more time!.

  Cheers, Ozzie
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  Joyzabel

  Great news, Ozzie.

  I hope many more authorities will become involved in protecting abuse victims. And helping the whistle blowers.

  Elders need to be aware of how the WT has distanced themselves and allowed the innocent elders who followed WT policy be hung out legally. The cover up is bad enough, but true believing elders who give their all to mother? may find themselves sued.

  J
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  Big Tex

  We shall see if the WTS wriggles out of it one more time!

  Oh no doubt they'll whine about persecution. I can't help but feel like Australia is ahead of the rest of the world in this area. Hopefully in a few years other countries will begin to investigate and take action to protect innocent people.

  Thanks Ozzie.