Posts by jw07

church elders refused to comment on a child abuse scandal because they had a 'duty to god' to keep the sex attacker's confession a secret, a court heard.. jehovah witness ministerial servant gordon leighton admitted sexually abusing a child when he was confronted with allegations before elders at his church,newcastle crown court heard.. but during the official police investigation the 53-year-old, who hit the headlines in the 1990s when his wife yvonne, 28, died after refusing a blood transfusion after childbirth on religious grounds, denied any illegal wrongdoing.. when detectives asked elders simon preyser, harry logan and david scott to make statements about the confession, all three refused and said what they had heard was confidential.. the elders knew about the admissions for three years, but refused to cooperate with the criminal investigation, the court heard.. .

the trio kept that stance when the case was brought before newcastle crown court.

jw07

Did you see this?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2365992/Gordon-Leighton-child-abuse-trial-orders-Jehovahs-Witness-leaders-evidence.html

Church elders refused to comment on a child abuse scandal because they had a 'duty to God' to keep the sex attacker's confession a secret, a court heard.

Jehovah Witness ministerial servant Gordon Leighton admitted sexually abusing a child when he was confronted with allegations before elders at his church,Newcastle Crown Court heard.

But during the official police investigation the 53-year-old, who hit the headlines in the 1990s when his wife Yvonne, 28, died after refusing a blood transfusion after childbirth on religious grounds, denied any illegal wrongdoing.

When detectives asked elders Simon Preyser, Harry Logan and David Scott to make statements about the confession, all three refused and said what they had heard was confidential.

The elders knew about the admissions for three years, but refused to cooperate with the criminal investigation, the court heard.

The trio kept that stance when the case was brought before Newcastle Crown Court. Each was then issued with a witness summons.

They then launched a court battle against the summonses but were ordered to testify by Judge Penny Moreland after months of legal wrangling.

Their barrister Richard Daniels said the men had a 'duty to God' not to breach confidence.

He added: 'Privileged communication between members of the congregation and ministers is an absolute right and duty and there is no power in law to breach such a confidence.'

Judge Moreland made an order that the men must reveal what they heard and said: “It is apparent that the three elders who were present when this conversation took place are in possession of relevant evidence as to a point which is of real significance in this case.

'They claim the right of confidentiality, they claim that what they heard said by the defendant during the course of that meeting ought to be subject to privilege, as ministers of religion.'

Judge Moreland refused to withdraw the summonses and said: 'Public interest is clearly in favour of this evidence being given.

'What was said by the defendant on that occasion is of great significance in the trial.'

Jehovah Witness church elder Harry Logan who gave evidence in the trial of Gordon Leighton who was found guilty

Jehovah Witness church elder Harry Logan and Simon Preyser (right) who gave evidence in the trial of Gordon Leighton who was found guilty

Jehovah Witness Church Elder David Scott at Newcastle Crown Court

Despite the judge’s ruling, the men refused to make statements to police until just hours before they were called as witnesses before the jury.

Leighton, who has since been expelled from the church at Lampton Kingdom Hall in Washington, Wearside, denied two charges of indecency with a child and seven of indecent assault.

He was yesterday found guilty of two charges of indecency with a child and six of indecent assault.

He was found not guilty of one indecent assault charge, on the direction of the judge.

Judge Moreland remanded him in custody until August 23, when he will be sentenced.

The judge told him: 'You know, I am sure, that the inevitable sentence is one of immediate and lengthy custody.

'You will be remanded in custody in the meantime.'

Prosecutor Katherine Dunn told the court it was in 2009 the victim broke her silence about what Leighton had done to her.

The court heard at a special meeting, aimed at 'keeping the congregation clean', Leighton 'admitted sexual abuse' and made excuses for his vile behaviour.

Miss Dunn said: 'The elders conducted their own investigation.

'A meeting was arranged and the defendant was confronted with the allegations.

'After initially denying the allegations he broke down and admitted sexually abusing the complainant.'

The court heard Leighton, from Ayton, refused to answer any questions when interviewed by detectives and claimed his confession at the meeting was limited to masturbation and reading pornographic material.

Throughout the six day trial Leighton denied all allegations against him and denied he had confessed to the elders.

He told jurors: 'It never happened.

'It’s all untrue.'

Leighton had also denied unrelated assault charges, which he was found guilty of.

18

New JW.org video on "helping" prisoners

by cedars in

jw
friends

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-vjlssg3xi.

you can't help but feel sympathy for these guys.

some of the things they did will have been horrendous, but they are paying their dues to society through their incarceration.. what they don't deserve is to become mentally imprisoned to a damaging cult.. .

jw07

Ties, in a prison? Great way to HANG yourself!

8

BSc in Celestial Education

by jw07 in

jw07

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is in an all-out war against education. From convention and assembly parts, to Watchtower study articles every other week, to the current Jeremiah book, additional learning is being demonized without scriptural evidence.

A few months ago we had a Zone Overseer’s (I hate that term) talk in which he said that we definitely don’t need more than a high school education. We could stop after that and Jehovah would provide the highest education in its place: a Celestial Education (sounds allot like the philosophy of LDS church member Michelle Stone, who has been touting that term).

Sorry, I pressed ctrl+s and saved without completing (it's a habit of mine while typing)

In my country this lunacy has caused very subtle, but stinging divisions among witnesses. “X and Y are bad association because they are attending college, you know the kinds of people that hang out there, right?” The uber-zealous tend to think the worst of college attendees and hardly fail to make it know. “You’re in college? So when do you go to service, have you ever pioneered?”

Despite the paper thin logic many of the next generation of Witnesses (16-20) seem to be gobbling up the rhetoric, the majority of them barely scraping through school to rush off to pioneer fresh out of high school. They love to boast and throw the term Celestial Education around as well. “I’m forgoing college to gain a Celestial Education.”

They will know in a couple of years that no amount of Celestial Education will put food on the table, or will be recognized by any sane employer.

What’s happening in your of the world regarding how those just leaving high school are responding to Watchtower propaganda on education?

8

BSc in Celestial Education

by jw07 in

jw07

15

Official: All Watchtower Brooklyn Properties Are Sold!!

by iclone in

jw
friends

jw07

Why do you say that?

9

Finding Life Beyond Our Earth

by frankiespeakin in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfu0cfsl7fw.

jw07

If there is irrefutable evidence of other intelligent life discovered, the Watchtower's explanation could probably be summarized as: "Satan is trying to distract God's servants from the issue of universal sovereignty by making it APPEAR that there is life elsewhere." Or perhaps they will even spin it as 'Satan creating life elsewhere'.

36

We're Jehovah's Witnesses. We speak out in fearlessness.........

by punkofnice in

then why aren't the gb personally going out and spearheading the preaching in places like china for instance and muslim countries?.

no money in it?.

they are afraid of getting killed?.

jw07

@Vidiot: I think there would be a fairly large Exodus during the power vacuum / power struggle, coupled with the illusion of invulnerability being shattered. This coming from lurkers and those waking up looking for hard and fast proof that it's just a corporation. However, the die hard remnant would be even more fanatical and support whatever form of leadership which rears its head from Headquarters.

36

We're Jehovah's Witnesses. We speak out in fearlessness.........

by punkofnice in

then why aren't the gb personally going out and spearheading the preaching in places like china for instance and muslim countries?.

no money in it?.

they are afraid of getting killed?.

jw07

Why don't they denounce ISLAM and it's leaders the way they do the Catholic Church? That would show real brass BALLS.