AUSTRALIA | TRANSCRIPT of Child Abuse Inquiry into Jehovah's Witnesses and Watchtower Society - April 2013

by jwleaks 54 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

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  jwleaks

  JW LEAKS has published the 17 page official transcript of the appearance by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia and Jehovah's Witnesses before the "Inquiry into the Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and other Organisations" conducted on 11 April 2013 in Victoria, Australia.

  http://jwleaks.org/australia/

  QUOTE from Rachel van Witsen, legal counsel for Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia and Jehovah's Witnesses, in reply to who is responsible for reporting child abuse within the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses...

  Ms VAN WITSEN — At the moment, because there is no mandatory reporting for ministers of religion in Victoria, then the victim, who has very often had their dignity removed, is then put in the driver’s seat.

  

  JW LEAKS
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  mP

  Its amazing how many company fronts the WTS has. They surely got the business side of things sorted out like a good religion.
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  AnnOMaly

  Thanks!

  Revealing, frustrating, entertaining, sad.

  The transcript can also be found at,

  http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/fcdc/inquiries/57th/Child_Abuse_Inquiry/Transcripts/Watchtower_Bible_and_Tract_Society_Jehovahs_Witnesses_11-April-13.pdf

  (just in case anyone wants to share it with JWs who may not trust a 'jwleaks' source.)
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  wha happened?

  It's both entertaining, and yet shocking, because these guys really think they don't have to answer to anyone
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  DATA-DOG

  " The purpose in retaining the records is, one, to make sure if a person has been disfellowshipped or disciplined in the past for child sexual abuse, then it would be extremely unlikely they would qualify to be used as a minister in the organisation. "

  Isn't there a WT Study edition that tell the R&F that if anyone has abused a child, then they will NEVER be used in ant position of authority? Then the Shepherd book says differently?! It' says something about child abuse occuring in the past, and the person having evidence of Jehovah's blessing?!?!?

  I can't look it all up right now.. Also, when you are baptized, you then become an ordained minister according to the WTBTS. So if you have been guilty of child abuse and are not df'd, and allowed to go in field service, then you are a minister.

  I would look for some new light on class distinctions/hierarchy soon, for legal reasons.
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  Londo111

  Just wanted to point out that eventually in the transcript, it has O'brien saying everything...one has to piece who is saying what by the context.
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  ABibleStudent

  Thanks jwleaks for posting. I hope that someone can offer testimony about how elders really implement the WTBTS's policies to refut the WTBTS's testimony and show to the commission that the WTBTS is a dangerous cult.

  Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

  Robert
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  AnnOMaly

  The replies are carefully worded and, all credit to the committee members, they often asked the right questions to spear through those carefully worded answers, showing up the inconsistencies and fudging.
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  Tylinbrando

  Obrien can't answer a simple question. Repeatedly after being asked he replies with another question and then finally when he finds himself against a wall defers to "other" legal counsel.

  The amount of misleading obfuscation in the answers from Obrien is telling. At one point he is cautioned to "be careful" that Austrailia has not been kind to religions.....

  This is good stuff.
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  Tylinbrando

  Ms VAN WITSEN — At the moment, because there is no mandatory reporting for ministers of religion in Victoria, then the victim, who has very often had their dignity removed, is then put in the driver’s seat.

  She was clearly pointed to the fact by the bench that this does not absolve the Watchtower from making the CHOICE to report to law enforcement anyway.

  The beatings will continue until the answers improve.