Well, they have done it again.
My husband called me from work today rather upset. He had just gotten off the phone with his best friend who he had grown up with. This friend grew up in an EXTREMELY disfunctional JW home. His parents were quite abusive, verbally and emotionally. They are ex-military who became JWs when the kids were little. Extremely strict with everything, including the JW stuff. He and one sister were baptised, while the youngest never did. Well, this friend got married at a very young age to a women quite a bit older than himself. They had a rocky start as they were publicly reproved immediately upon marrying (apparently they hadn't waited until it was official, felt guilty and *confessed*) After a very rocky marriage with hubby's friend being disfellowshipped for a time, then reinstated, the marriage ended in divorce. He was disfellowshipped again for divorcing without scriptural grounds (his wife was very mentally unstable a lot of the time, and was pretty abusive) His parents would have NOTHING to do with him at all. They would not accept his phone calls, or speak to him AT all.
Well to make a long story short this friend not too long ago found and absolutely wonderful, sweet women whom he married. She is not a JW, and never has been (lucky girl :) Then out of the blue the friend get's a call from his dad stating that the Watchtower has changed it's mind on divorce, and now an emotionally abused spouse can be scripturally divorced, so that it would be alright if he and his new wife came to visit them (the parents) (arghhhhhhhhhh, how big of them) He asked him if he had thought about contacting the elders in his area to see about studying again, and getting back into the org. The friend didn't really say much, kind of edged around the issue without commiting. So anyway the friend, quite excited at the thought of actually making peace with his folks makes arrangements to go visit them. He makes airline reservation, the wife arranges time off work, etc. Well...today his dad calls him again and asks if he has called the elders at all. The friend says "no" and the father says "Well then, I'm afraid I don't think that we could in good conscience let you come to stay with us" OMG!!!!!!!!!!!! Mind you they talk to the youngest sister no problem what so ever, this sister lives with her worldy (aka *normal*) boyfriend and has gotten into all manner of troubles...but this is just fine because she hasn't been baptised. The hypocrisy of these people is absolutely STUNNING. The friend spent an hour on the phone today with my husband because he was so upset and disgusted :( Just when I don't think I could be any more disgusted......
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