by AndersonsInfo 147 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse
A cursory glance seems to indicate that this is a "private" action being commenced, and all the legal documents I downloaded are signed by Mr. Unthank and not a government official.
Additionally, the statute copied at the beginning of this thread is Mr. Unthank's opinion of how the statute could be interpreted and re-written to include the term "faithful and discreet slave."
BARBARA- Holy Moly ! I feel like this has a possibility of REALLY turning the screws of justice on the WT leaders in Australia. And from what I gather from reading it- if they don't want to play ball and honor the Working with Children act of 2005 - then by extension the Bethel GB members at New York would be implicated individually with possible criminal negligence ! Am I reading this correctly ? I hope so. The leaders of this organization have been too arrogant for far too long and too lax in protecting children from molesters. Bring it on. It's about time
This is from another country. Here's my initial take:
1) A state in Austrailia wrote a basic law that required everyone who worked with children to get a special license (background check). The law was passed in 2005ish. It's purpose is to put the public at ease that everyone who works with children has had a background check, and if something comes up...the state can revoke the license.
2) This law was required by all, from school teachers to ... even the Catholic church has obtained its licenses for its priests, nuns, choir directors, etc.
3) The Watch Tower has it in its corporate charter and various other materials that it works with children. It preaches the gospel to children, meets children at the door, conducts Bible studies, oversees children in its ministry, and even in the construction of new buildings. Clearly, the Watch Tower is no more exempt from this law then the Catholic church.
4) The Watch Tower has been put on notice that it is required to have these licenses for the CO's, DO's, MS's, Pioneers, Publishers, etc.
5) The Watch Tower refuses to get the license or to tell the JDubs to get it. ...... This begs the question, "Why?" Theh law imposes fines and criminal liability for not getting it. So, why not get the license? What is the Watch Tower hiding in its ranks? Is it a pedophile ring?
6) The government is supposed to ensure that the laws are followed. But, the Watch Tower has gotten a "get out of jail" card for free? Does the nice dress of Watch Tower officials and rank & file fool the government into thinking they are exempt? Is there corruption between the Watch Tower and the government?
7) If the government looks the other way, can a private citizen enforce the law? This happens in the United States with 'citizen arrest' and it is available in both Australia and in its states, like Victoria
Laws by country
The power to arrest is granted by both federal and state legislation, however the exact power granted differs depending on jurisdiction. The power to arrest for a Federal offence is granted by s.3Z of the Crimes Act 1914. [ 2 ] Under the Act, a person who is not a police constable may, without warrant, arrest another person if they believe on reasonable grounds that:
A person who arrests another person must, as soon as practicable after the arrest, arrange for the other person, and any property found on the other person, to be delivered into the custody of a constable.
In the Australian state of Victoria, the power to arrest is granted in section 458 of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic). [ 3 ] It states that a person may, without a warrant, arrest a person that they find committing an offence for one or more of the following reasons:
A person may also arrest another person if they are instructed to do so by a member of the police force, or if they believe on reasonable grounds that they are escaping legal custody.
Section 461 states that if an arrest is made under 458 of the Crimes Act, and is later proven to be false, then the arrest itself won't be considered unlawful if it was done so on reasonable grounds. Section 462A allows any person the right to use force ‘not disproportionate to the objective as he believes on reasonable grounds to be necessary to prevent the commission, continuance or completion of an indictable offence or to effect or assist in effecting the lawful arrest of a person committing or suspected of committing any offence’.
So, it appears that Mr. Unthank is making a citizen's arrest on the Watch Tower/elders/etc for not complying with this child license/background check act! This will garner the attention of the media, most likely. How can the politicians and/or police ignore it then?
As for the "Jehovah and Jesus" language, well it reads darn strange to me as a US citizen where separation of Church and State has even taken out swearing on the Bible as part of taking the perjury oath. But, perhaps in Austrailia which is based more on the King of England's common law where the King got his authority from God? But, it's just strange for me to read that part of the website quoting all the bible verses!
Skeeter
Please, Lady Lee, pick your jaw off the ground; it's not a nice look. A careful reading shows this is a private individual's manoeuvre that has extremely little chance of going ahead and if it does proceed, will have little crown authority over the Watchtower Society in the USA. You'll note that the latest date for compliance with the Victorian act was July 2008 - almost 3 years ago. That no prosecuations have ensued suggests this ain't the news blast it's claimed to be. I'd also suggest that it probably isn't just the JWs who have failed to comply.
Yes, Justitia it appears you are right but Australian law allows for this type of action, or so I'm told. I was also told that Mr. Unthank acts as "prosecutor" too which to me is very unusual as compared to US laws. It is confusing and that's why the personal replies from politicians to Mr. Unthank were included that seem to indicate that what he has done is acceptable. One thing for certain, the Watch Tower is in non-compliance with the law since 2008. I looked on the Internet to see if I could find out what the other religions have done in this regard and they have complied. Why Watch Tower hasn't is a mystery. Perhaps we will be hearing their reasons for not doing so if they have to appear before an Australian magistrate.
Posting this information about "The Submission 2011" was sure to generate many comments and questions here on JWN, but it is news that surely would interest all of us and to see if it has validity.
Steve2, there are 700,000 people in Victoria that hold WWC cards, and according the Steven the only religion not to have applied for them. Baptists as an example have a very well defined process to ensure that their ministers comply with this law. Since Steven has confronted the Watchtower about this some years ago, I am sure the Watchtower has good reasons for why it has not complied. What will be interesting is whether:
It was in shortly after this Victorian rule was introduced (and as a direct result) that Witnesses stopped conducting Scripture classes in Australia due to their unwillingness to comply. It says volumes about how the Watchtower is trying to keep the secrets of its Ministers out of the spotlight, in favour of doing what is best for its children.
In looking at this act, it's implications are not small and the Australian legislature recently agreed with the Act Victoria has given out over 700,000of these notices! That's alot of people who are complying with this law. This law is being phased in, and many chuches, schools, sporting clubs, etc. have complied.
I am definately not going to diss this idea that the Watch Tower is not culpable. Clearly, in reading the law and webpages on this subject, the Watch Tower falls under the law. And, alot of other Victorians are getting their license!
The Working with Children (WWC) Check commenced April 2006. Statistics for the period 3 April 2006 to 31 December 2010 are as follows:
The Working with Children(WWC) Check involves:
Broadly, the criminal offences of most significance for a WWC Check are:
The national police records check may reveal criminal history information held by police in Victoria and other States and Territories. Further information can also be sought from other bodies, such as the courts, Corrections Victoria, the Department of Human Services and employers. This information can include circumstances where a court has:
It can also include information about:
....
What strikes me the most, is that the government has access to your public health records. Tell a psychologist you dream of little Johnny, and you would be denied a card....
What strikes me also...is that the Watch Tower doesn't want to comply with this law. Like a child who doesn't want to show his parents the report card, the Watch Tower doesn't want to show the government their peoples' records.
Perhaps the Watch Tower is viewing this as a draft card or giving the government too much information on who is a JW...becuase they fear the government may one day use it to round them up! Perhaps that is the GB's fluff reason, and the real reason is that they know alot of the elders and rank & file will not pass the check.
Skeeter
I promise to stop yawning when I see action. Compliance was expected in mid 2008. That's almost 3 years of non-compliance and still no action by the courts. That it falls upon a private individual, rather than a state body, to take it to court shows how hands-off the Australian government is. There is a world of difference between a religion refusing to comply and refusing to comply because it's got something to hide. The interesting thing is how a private individual - and not the police or state government - will try to prove the Watchtower Society has got something to hide.
that Witnesses stopped conducting Scripture classes in Australia
What are scripture classes? Where are they held? Are they personal bible studies or something at the KH?
