Lol...Sword,
No need to PM you. Swingle was the man. He also had some sympathy with Mr. Franz and his views you might want to know.
Anyway, he said that Ray could write whatever he wanted, but as Witnesses of Jehovah our job was to do his will and preach the good news, not go around suing former disgruntled members.
You sound like a good person at heart Sword, but can't you see that you had just been given the party line and you swallowed it hook line and sinker! What you need to ask yourself is whether you have actually heard a denial from any member of the GB of any of the information contained in the book. For goodness sakes man, Swingle could not even hint that he had read the book lest he encouraged you by his own example to read a 'banned' book. Swingle also knew that RF was not a disgruntled member, but that he had felt compelled to write his book and publish it to put to rest the many vile and malevolent rumours that the GB had allowed its adherents ( just to remind you - the only true Christians on earth ) to spread about for many years with impunity. One ex-missionary that I know, still active as a JW had even been told by JW's in good standing that RF was an multiple adulterer and convicted thief!
But it's really silly to use that argument. The GB would have to make public private conversations, they would have to involve many people as witnesses.
On the contrary. Mr. Franz book has been the cause of much disruption and a huge amount of JW's leaving the Organization the past twenty years, more each week. It would be in the GB own interest to publicly prove their case, if they can. And that is the proviso, if they can.
As to whether the WTS would fight cases outside their theological boundaries, well just look at the French taxation issue. They, if you remember were quite willing to pay for a massive advertisment in the New York Times a couple of years ago accusing the French Government of persecuting the WTS by demanding that it pay fair taxes as a religion not designated as such under the French Consititution. Did not Jesus say that Caeser must paid regardless of what Christians thought about the fairness of taxes?
There is no greater liar than the man who lies to himself.
HS
