Posts by ThomasCovenant

posted

13
JWs at the Edinburgh Festival
by passwordprotected in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
my girlfriend and i took the train through to edinburgh to soak in the atmosphere and catch a few free comedy shows at the fringe festival.. almost immediately i spotted them; jw.org witnesses.. how did i know it was them?.

well, the middle-aged, tall man wearing the suit, shirt and tie was a big clue.

that and the fact that he was holding the hand of a similarly tall, middle-aged woman, dressed in the jw uniform of long skirt, blouse and light summer jacket.
ThomasCovenant

I was at the Bristol Harbour Festival a couple of weeks ago and I counted four different trolleys with nearby Witnesses.

I stood directly next to the three 'brothers' that were manning one as it was up against the railings of the harbour wall as people were crowded against the rails to see the activities on the water.

I listened in to their conversation as they were discussing moving the trolleys as nobody could see them as they were concealed by the crowd.

As they were discussing whether to do it again at next years festival one of them said, ''if Armageddon isn't here by then''. He looked about 20 years old. There was a pause, then the older brother said, ''He always has to put a dampener on thngs'' as they all chortled.

I have to admit that, every time I see the Witness stands, my blood boils.
17
An Unexpected 2 Hour Anti-Leads to an Unexpected Return Visit
by truth_b_known in
1. jw
2. experiences
i just spent 30 minutes writing this story and lost it all before i hit submit.

i'll try to be brief.. last night a former co-worker of my wife's called saying he was on his way to the house to drop off a job he would like her to do.

we haven't seen him in over 8 years.
ThomasCovenant

The truth about the Truth
37
Snare & Racket's Graduation Picture
by cofty in
1. jw
2. friends
after years of hard work and study, former bethel boy snare & racket is now officially a medical doctor.. his story is an inspiration that there can be life after the watchtower.

he has given me permission to post his graduation picture.. .
ThomasCovenant

Is that St David's Hall Cardiff?
35
If you don't like being a Jehovah's Witness then leave....
by Quirky1 in
1. jw
2. friends
if you don't like being a jehovah's witness or going to the kingdom hall or the society then leave.... it's as simple as that... .

i left several years ago and have not been hounded, bothered or sought out by anyone.

i still see them from time to time, and yes, they do pour out the love bomb when you run into them, but eh, you know what?
ThomasCovenant

''I left several years ago and have not been hounded, bothered or sought out by anyone.''

Me too.

Attended every meeting for over thirty years. Attended one week, didn't attend the next.

Life carried on.
10
BBC Report - Abuse Victim of JW Elder Speaks Out.
by Joe Grundy in
1. watchtower
2. child-abuse
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-28151300.

.

headline: "jehovah's witnesses' criticised over handling of sex abuse".
ThomasCovenant

Very good Blondie.
18
ex elder sentenced to 14 years.
by ThomasCovenant in
1. watchtower
2. child-abuse
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/im-relieved-everybody-now-knows-7357125.

.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-28127683.
ThomasCovenant

After Karen first reported the sickening abuse as a teenager she was forced to face Sewell at three meetings organised by the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Respect church elder Sewell branded her a liar and avoided being disciplined.

“I think that’s probably the worst part about the whole thing. I would even go as far as to say that it’s even worse than what he did to me,” said Karen.

“To say I was crushed would be a bit of an understatement. The bottom line is no child should ever be made to sit in front of a person who has touched them and say what that person has done to them.”

She added: “I prayed about this whole thing before it began and I did for the duration while this has been going on, every day practically.

“I’ve not lost my faith – it’s not my faith that’s gone, it’s my trust in the elders that’s gone.”

(my bold)
18
ex elder sentenced to 14 years.
by ThomasCovenant in
1. watchtower
2. child-abuse
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/im-relieved-everybody-now-knows-7357125.

.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-28127683.
ThomasCovenant

His victims were banned from "gossiping" about the attacks by other church elders.

'No remorse'

One told the court: "I just felt totally crushed. It was as if he had this power over everyone and no-one could see the real him except for me."

Sewell was cleared of the complaints by a Jehovah's Witness judicial committee after the women reported his behaviour to the church.
18
ex elder sentenced to 14 years.
by ThomasCovenant in
1. watchtower
2. child-abuse
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/im-relieved-everybody-now-knows-7357125.

.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-28127683.
ThomasCovenant

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/im-relieved-everybody-now-knows-7357125

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-28127683
25
Jehovah's Witnesses destroyed documents showing child abuse allegations against church elder
by burnedout in
1. watchtower
2. child-abuse
mark sewell convicted of eight historic sex charges, including rape.

.

i can not copy the link, but go to walesonline.co.uk.
ThomasCovenant

During his summing up, Judge Richard Twomlow touched on the church’s two-witness rule and told the jury it meant anything alleged to have happened in private “can never be proved” unless both people involved agree.

“Almost all sexual activity, whether consensual or not, happens in private,” he said.

As a result, Sewell’s first victim had to “challenge” him at a judicial committee convened by the church, he said.

The judge added: “How effective that can actually be as an actual judicial inquiry may be open to doubt.”

Significantly, given the church’s claim that no details were retained in respect of historic abuse allegations against Sewell, the letter to elders states: “Information concerning an individual accused of child molestation, proved or otherwise, should be placed in the congregation confidential file and marked ‘Do Not Destroy’ and kept indefinitely.”
25
Jehovah's Witnesses destroyed documents showing child abuse allegations against church elder
by burnedout in
1. watchtower
2. child-abuse
mark sewell convicted of eight historic sex charges, including rape.

.

i can not copy the link, but go to walesonline.co.uk.
ThomasCovenant

I have just received the 'Wales on Sunday' newspaper and this is the front page headline along with a full two page spread on p4-5.