These questions were added in 1996, so I guess that's when they started asking them. I was dunked in 1996, coincidentally, and I don't remember this question, but it's not something that would have left much of an impression at the time, I suspect. I was dunked in a pool in a JW-owned assembly hall, where the pool was always kept filled, so maybe they kept those chlorinated, but not pools in rental halls or stadiums. BTW, the letter reads in part:
" To assist the elders in providing guidance for those with a communicable and potentially fatal disease who request baptism, the following additional questions are to be reviewed with candidates for baptism. In addition to this letter, an insert for the Our Ministry book outlining this information will soon be provided for each elder.
When covering question 4 on page 191 under the subheading "Sanctity of Life," be sure to include the following questions:
(a) What responsibility rests upon a person who is infected with a communicable disease that is potentially fatal?
Keeping an eye, not in personal interest upon just your own matters but also in personal interest upon those ofthe others.-Phil. 2:4.
All things, therefore, that you want men to do to you, you also must likewise do to them.-Matt. 7:12.
(b) To avoid transmitting a potentially fatal disease to others, (I) why would it be better for an infected person not to initiate public
displays of affection such as hugging and kissing?
(2) why would it be best to attend the Congregation Book Study at the
Kingdom Hall, if at all possible?
(3) why should infected ones not react negatively when some choose not to
invite them into their homes?
(4) why would it be wise to choose voluntarily to have a blood test before
beginning a courtship?
When covering Question 3 on page 217, be sure to ask the following question: (a) If one has a communicable disease, why is letting the presiding overseer
know about it before that one gets baptized the loving thing to do?"
