NewStats: 3,265,517 , 8,187,058 topics. Date: Sunday, 15 June 2025 at 01:45 PM 16v4r

Tensions escalated as testimony from Hoffman had just clearly shown that elders in two congregations were aware of the abuse, that the relationship was undisputed, and that Watchtower was a party to this knowledge. It was further revealed that while all of this was going on, Terry Seipp [Monheim’s] husband Dana had hired a private investigator to follow Terry, suspecting what his wife was doing.

Suddenly, in a desperate move, Watchtower attorney John Miller cuts in and calls for a sidebar with the judge:

Miller: I’m sorry, Your Honor. You already ruled. I was too late to ask, but
unless this is breaching the attorney/client privilege, that’s the format you followed, the
instruction you got from the legal department. That’s asking for the legal advice given.

Zeff: Judge, it’s been waived. It was asked in deposition and answered. These
questions were asked. They were answered in deposition. You can’t turn around after not asserting the privilege and turn around and assert the privilege at trial, when it’s already been waived. There is plenty case law on that.

Miller: We didn’t raise it there?

Zeff: Nope. It wasn’t raised at all. I can show you the pages, 19, 20, 21, 23 of the
deposition.

Miller: I’ll trust you if you’re —

Zeff: Here they are — where are the numbers on the pages?

Miller: So, we missed it on him great. Well, then, I’m wasting your time.

Judge Collins: All right. Let’s go back.

Fessler’s attorney Zeff left no stone unturned, as he pressed Hoffman even harder:

Zeff: The reason you ed the legal department was regarding trying to find out what your obligations were regarding reporting sexual abuse. Isn’t that correct?

Hoffman: Yes.

Zeff: And after you spoke to the legal department, you didn’t report sexual abuse to any
authority in Pennsylvania, did you?

Hoffman: We did not report to the police, no.

Zeff: You never received any instruction that there was any legal authority in Pennsylvania to report suspected child abuse, did you?

Hoffman: No.

Zeff: And you didn’t tell Stephanie Fessler’s parents that they could go to the police either, did you?

Hoffman: We may not have, no.

Zeff: Okay. You didn’t. Thank you. I have nothing further.

Zeff, satisfied that he had extracted enough truth from Hoffman to make his case, yielded the floor to Spring Grove hired trial attorney Jud Aaron. Aaron proceeds to discuss Hoffman’s prior deposition in which Thomas Jefferson was mentioned – with little effect – then asks Hoffman about his position as elder, and gets Hoffman to describe the humble simplicity of a typical Kingdom Hall.

In Aaron’s examination of Hoffman, it was interesting that he mentioned that Stephanie’s parents came to him in 2005 seeking help in his position as an ordained elder of Jehovah’s Witnesses. At this point in the trial, this is of consequence since Hoffman and Watchtower were still claiming on the 2nd day of trial that elders were not of the clergy. It seems he was reasoning that if Hoffman were not a clergyman, then he would have no obligation to report the relationship to the police.

Aaron: Were they [the Fesslers] coming to you as an elder?

Hoffman: Yes.

Aaron: Okay. Did they tell you that Stephanie Fessler and Terry Seipp were having some sort of a relationship?

Hoffman: That’s the way I it, some sort of a relationship, correct.

Aaron: And what were you expected to do? What did you do as an elder?

Hoffman: First time we met with Stephanie just to determine what was going on, to give her some biblical help, some counsel to, hopefully, help her change her ways, to find out what was going on.

Aaron: What do you mean “biblical help,” generally?

Hoffman: I’m just showing her some scriptures, some verses on the type of conduct she was leading, that it was going against biblical principles and how to help to — how to go against that.

Jud Aaron next gets Hoffman to testify that in 2005, the Fesslers never told him that there was a sexual relationship between Stephanie and Terry. This was clearly a conflict given that it would be somewhat unusual for Witness parents to seek help from elders if the relationship was a routine mother-daughter type relationship. Aaron attempts to prove that Hoffman knew nothing until he personally confronted Stephanie in 2005.

Aaron: You said that you met with Stephanie in the fall of 2005?

Hoffman: Yes.

Aaron: Okay. Did you try to determine what the nature of the relationship was?

Hoffman: Yes, we did.

Aaron: Did you try to determine whether or not it was sexual?

Hoffman: Yes, we did.

Aaron: And in the course of meeting with Miss Fessler in the fall of 2005, did you learn that there had been some sexual between them?

Hoffman: Yes, we did.

Of interest, Aaron questions Hoffman on whether he had asked the victim if she had been naked with Monheim, or had participated in MouthAction. Incredibly, Hoffman states that he had no information from Fessler that there had been any touching of the genitals, or that the two had been naked together, despite having just testified that he knew there was an ongoing sexual relationship.

Aaron returns once again to his 2014 argument, this time asking a hypothetical question:

Aaron: If, a year earlier, 2004 — I’m asking about your practice now — a year earlier in 2004, a 15-year-old female congregant had told you that she and a 49 or 50-year-old woman were involved in a relationship that involved intimate kissing, open-mouth kissing, french kissing, romantic kissing, whatever you want to call it, would you
have called the legal department for advice?

Hoffman: Yes, we would have.

Aaron: Okay. Do you have any recollection of doing so a year earlier, in the fall of 2004?

Hoffman: No.

Aaron: Well, let me ask you about yourself. Did you ever tell Mr. and Mrs. Fessler that they should not report this relationship to authorities?

Hoffman: No.

Aaron decides to conclude his questioning of the witness, and yields the floor. John Miller from Watchtower has no questions for Mr. Hoffman, and redirect returns to the plaintiff, and Mr. Zeff.

Zeff: Did you have a specific memory, sitting here today — what is it, ten, eleven,
eleven-and-a-half years later of asking Stephanie Fessler whether or not she had MouthAction?

Hoffman: Well, according to my notes, we asked her if there was anything else involved and she said no.

Zeff: Okay. So, you asked her if there was anything else involved?

Hoffman: Right.

Zeff: You didn’t ask her if she had MouthAction. You didn’t ask her if she was naked?

Hoffman: We may not have, no.

Zeff: And do you consider making out and touching breasts to be a sexual act?

Hoffman: Yes.

Zeff: And when you went to the legal department, you really weren’t sure what to do with this situation, were you?

Hoffman: That’s correct.

Zeff: And you relied on the legal department?

Hoffman: Yes, we did.

Zeff: And the legal department is part of the Watchtower?

Hoffman: Yes.

Zeff: Okay. If the legal department told you to report the matter, would you have done so?

Hoffman: Yes, we would have.

Zeff completes his examination by asking Hoffman to explain Stephanie Fessler’s public reproof by the congregation elders, then turns the witness over one last time to the defense. This time, Watchtower attorney Miller decides to ask Mr. Hoffman a question:

Miller: Mr. Hoffman, just briefly. You said that the legal department was part of the Watchtower. Do you know whether it was part of the Watchtower or the U.S. Branch or some other entity? Do you know?

Hoffman: We just get the information on the letterhead. I am not sure hat department it’s with, what branch it’s with. It’s with the United States Branch.

Miller: Okay. That’s all. Thank you.

By the end of Hoffman’s testimony, he had itted on the witness stand that a member of clergy should report allegations of child sexual abuse, but he denied being a member of the clergy. He further itted that his instructions came directly from the Watchtower, but seemed confused as to the difference between Watchtower and the US Branch. Hoffman acknowledged that he was well aware of a sexual relationship between Fessler and Monheim no later then 2005, but lost all recollection of the 2004 meeting with Fessler, in which she was privately reproved. Finally, Hoffman itted that he failed to any authorities, and did not advise Fessler’s parents to these authorities. He yielded his decision-making power to the Watchtower legal department, testifying that [b]if they had told him to go to the police, he would have[/b]. This never happened.

Trial Day 2: Enter, Eric Hoffman

It is difficult to fathom which is worse – an elder molesting a young child, or an entire group of elders learning of an accusation, but ignoring their responsibility to inform the authorities and get help for a victim. As I sat on the rickety wooden chair at City Hall in Philadelphia, that question entered my mind. My pondering was interrupted at 1:15 PM, when Spring Grove PA elder Eric Hoffman entered the room, and was sworn in by the court officer.

Attorney for Ms. Fessler, Gregg Zeff, wasted no time in questioning Mr. Hoffman, beginning with his position as a Jehovah’s Witness elder. Hoffman has been an elder since 1994.

Zeff: An elder is a member of the clergy?

Hoffman: We are not labeled clergy. We are not paid.

Despite the denial that elders are clergymen, Zeff continues his questioning:

Zeff: Sir, would you agree that clergy must report sexual abuse of children to protect the victim from additional harm?

Hoffman: Yes.

Zeff: Would you agree that clergy may never keep sexual assault of a child a secret to protect the congregation?

Hoffman: Yes

Zeff: You don’t have any training in interviewing children who are victims of sexual abuse, do you?

Hoffman: No.

As our readers may recall from our prior article on this case, Watchtower representative Thomas Jefferson had testified for 2 consecutive days that Jehovah’s Witness elders are not clergymen, with the implication that the laws which apply to of the clergy do not apply to Witness elders. Mr. Hoffman upheld that statement. Zeff began a new line of questions related to elders’ strict requirement to follow the direction of their corporate headquarters, or face consequences:

Zeff: You received the letters from the Watchtower, don’t you?

Hoffman:That’s on their letterhead, correct.

Zeff: And you rely on those letters of instruction from the Watchtower to perform your
duties as an elder, don’t you?

Hoffman: We do.

Zeff: Okay. If you don’t follow the letters of instruction the Watchtower may remove you as an elder; isn’t that true?

Hoffman: They could, yes.

Zeff: And the Watchtower directs the activity of elders, doesn’t it?

Hoffman: We receive direction from them, correct.

Zeff: You don’t receive direction from anyone else, do you?

Hoffman: No.

Establishing that elder Hoffman took his marching orders directly from Watchtower headquarters, Zeff then asked a critical question which revealed that Hoffman was well aware of the allegation of child abuse:

Zeff: In the fall of 2005, you knew that there was suspected child abuse involving Stephanie Fessler, didn’t you?

Hoffman: In the fall of 2005?

Zeff: Yes

Hoffman: Yes.

Zeff: Okay. And you, along with Neal Cluck, who was another elder, learned of this and a committee was formed, wasn’t it?

Hoffman: I believe, yes, it was.

Zeff: Okay. And you don’t really anything specific that Stephanie’s father or mother told you, do you?

Hoffman: That’s correct.

Zeff: Okay. During the first meeting — you had two meetings, didn’t you?

Hoffman: Yes.

Zeff: Okay. So, you don’t really when the first meeting was?

Hoffman: According to my notes, the first meeting was towards the end of September in 2005.

Zeff: Okay. Well, what note are you talking about, Sir?

Hoffman: We had a few notes written down.

Zeff: Let’s look at those notes.

At this point, attorney Zeff called for the notes of Eric Hoffman to be projected on screen for the jury. As stated by the defense in opening arguments, Watchtower had hoped their elders would testify that they had no real knowledge of any physical or sexual relationship between Fessler and Seipp [Monheim] in 2004, and did not learn of the relationship until 2005.

Zeff: And are you aware that Stephanie Fessler and Terry Seipp are anticipated to both testify that they were reproved and disciplined in 2004?

Hoffman: No, I did not.

Zeff: Okay. So, when you say you have two meetings, are you sure that your first meeting took place in 2004 — 2005 rather than 2004?

Hoffman: Correct.

Zeff presses Hoffman harder:

Zeff: Are you aware that Jodee Fessler has testified or will testify in this case that the
first meeting occurred in 2004?

Hoffman: May have, but I have no notes and I have no recollection of any meeting in 2004.

Hoffman begins to weaken, his memory suddenly becomes fuzzy:

Zeff: So, it’s possible that happened, she might be right?

Hoffman: Could be, but I do not anything about it.

Zeff: Okay. And the second meeting, the meeting that took place in 2005, you have notes from that one?

Hoffman: Correct.

Zeff: So, if Stephanie Fessler, Jodee Fessler and Terry Seipp all testified that they were
involved with judicial committees in 2004, you wouldn’t have any reason to doubt them, would you?

Hoffman: Yes, because there’s no notes from a judicial committee in 2004.

Zeff: Well, aren’t you told to destroy any unnecessary notes?

Hoffman: The only notes I have are what’s there.

Hoffman, clearly rattled by the barrage of questions, is unable to recall Watchtower’s policy related to what they can and can’t destroy – so Zeff focuses in on the one the one thing which becomes crystal clear to the jury – Hoffman knew that Stephanie was being abused:

Zeff: So, in 2005, at least, you were told that a 16-year-old girl was making out with a 50-year-old woman?

Hoffman: Correct

Zeff: Okay. You were suspicious, at that point, that this might be child abuse, weren’t you?

Hoffman: We were suspicious that something was going on that shouldn’t be.

While Hoffman attempted to evade the ission that this was a sexual relationship, Zeff put it to him in a slightly different way:

Zeff: It was explained that they were kissing romantically?

Hoffman: Right.

Zeff: Like a boyfriend and girlfriend might, right?

Hoffman: Um-hum.

Zeff: Like a husband and wife might?

Hoffman: Right.

Zeff: And you didn’t find that to be suspicious of child abuse?

Hoffman: Well, that’s why we formed the committee then.

Zeff: Okay. So, you formed the committee because you were suspicious?

Hoffman: Because we were suspicious.

The testimony of Hoffman flowed like a math problem where so many different equations all pointed to the same undisputed answer. But there were more parties involved, and attorney Zeff brought them into the equation:

Zeff: When you formed the committee, did you the Watchtower about it?

Hoffman: We ed the legal department.

Zeff: Okay. Well, that’s after you learned whatever you learned. But in forming the committee, did you seek any guidance from anyone regarding what you should do and how you should ask questions?

Hoffman: No.

Attorney Zeff next questions inconsistencies in Hoffman’s previous testimony when he was deposed prior to trial, but when Hoffman fails to provide a concise recollection of his deposition, Zeff finally tells the court: “I’ll move on, Your Honor.” Instead of quietly accepting this statement, attorney for Spring Grove Congregation, Jud Arron makes the mistake of joking with the court:

Aaron: No objection.

Judge Mary C. Collins: No. Enough! I don’t want any snide, unnecessary irrelevant comments from any lawyers participating in this trial.

Jud Aaron, embarrassed and red-faced, apologizes to the judge and the court.

Zeff gets Hoffman to it that he had consulted the elders letters and the elders manual when handling the Fessler case, then says:

Zeff: In addition to the kissing and making out, Stephanie Fessler told you that there
was some improper hugging, didn’t she?

Hoffman: Yes:

Zeff: And touching of the breasts?

Hoffman: Yes.

Zeff follows these questions by asking Hoffman to read his notes from the 2005 Spring Grove judicial meeting, where among other details, Hoffman wrote:

“It was later learned during the meeting that there was touching of the breasts on
more than one occasion..”

Zeff: Did you have a concern that there was a 50-year-old woman in another congregation that was making out and touching the breasts of a
16-year-old?

Hoffman: We did.

Zeff: Okay. Did you warn anybody about that?

Hoffman: Just talked to Stephanie.

Zeff: Okay. You didn’t tell the other congregation that Stephanie said that her breasts were touched and that she was making out with a 50-year-old woman?

Hoffman: I believe we had conversation with them just to make sure the stories were the same.

Zeff: Did you let the Watchtower know?

Hoffman: Yes. We called the legal department.

Fessler Prevails in Jehovah’s Witness Child Abuse Trial, Elder Says: I Learned Clergy Privilege Watching TV, its Shredding Files
Posted on February 19, 2017


Source: http://jwsurvey.org/child-abuse-2/news-bulletin-fessler-prevails-jehovahs-witness-child-abuse-trial-elder-says-learned-clergy-privilege-watching-tv-its-shredding-files


Spring Grove PA Kingdom Hall


Trial Summary – Part Two

On a blistering summer morning in Reading Pennsylvania. I crossed the railroad tracks, then Penn Street – coffee, briefcase, and boxed lunch in hand.

Just a few steps away from the Sovereign Convention Center, something caught my eye. On the corner of Penn and 7th avenue, a solitary man stood quietly with a large poster which read “A Jehovah’s Witness elder molested me.”

It was 8.30 a.m. Thousands of badge-wearing, convention-bound Jehovah’s Witnesses streamed into the main entrance, sliding past this man as though he were invisible.

His sign quietly proclaimed that he had suffered the ultimate injustice, but no one stopped. No one seemed to care; their minds were intently focused on entering the air-conditioned building, escaping the heat which was building outside.

I don’t what I wore that day. I don’t which restaurant I went to that evening. I don’t recall which hotel I stayed in. But I the man with the sign.

His presence haunted me. Why was he there? Why would no one speak to him? What had he done wrong? Why was he treated as a man with leprosy?

Meanwhile, just a short distance away, a young girl named Stephanie Fessler was being abused by a Jehovah’s Witness woman more than three times her age. When the relationship was discovered, congregation elders in two states were informed. These elders ed their legal department in Patterson New York. The elders privately, then publicly rebuked both Stephanie, and her assailant, Terry Monheim. The police were never notified. Child protective services was never informed. The parents of Fessler were caught between the rock of their religion and doing the right thing. Stephanie’s father, Kevin Fessler, was an elder. Unfortunately, no one did the right thing.

Seven years later, Stephanie Fessler, at the age of 22, summoned the courage to tell her story to the police. As a result, Monheim was arrested, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, and was sentenced to prison and probation. Monheim was placed on Megan’s list.

Unfortunately, the damage was done. The mental anguish, the destruction of a childhood, the lack of protection from her own parents and congregation elders left Stephanie Fessler traumatized and permanently injured. Unless you are a victim of childhood sexual abuse, you may never fully understand what she has been through.

Stephanie did not want to see this happen to anyone else. The elders for Jehovah’s Witnesses along with their managing corporations, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, and the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, were served notice in a civil trial which began February 7th, 2017.

As reported by JW Survey ¹, on February 13th, the Witness corporations, together with the Spring Grove Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, reached a financial agreement with Fessler after just four days of testimony.

Using Watchtower’s own language, Fessler’s attorney Jeffrey Fritz stated “The matter with the Jehovah’s Witnesses has been resolved.”

Footnote:
1. https://nairaland.unblockandhide.com/3636477/jehovahs-witnesses-settle-suit-alleging

DECEPTION IN WATCHTOWER ARTICLE OF RECENT TIMES

When thoughts or words are in written form, it is hard to deny them. Like I read some months ago, from a poster in another popular forum (I can’t exactly where), ‘the real enemy of the watchtower is their publications, not the apostate’.
With the level of trust JWs have on the watchtower organization, it becomes easy for the organization to present information that is either out-rightly false, dishonest or half-false. A typical example is what was discourse, just about 2 weeks ago, in the watchtower of November, 2016.

Funny enough, the watchtower of December, 2016 said in page 8, par. 19 on dishonesty:
“For example, a man tells his boss or those who work with him that he needs to leave work early because he has a medical appointment. But this is not the real reason. He wants to leave early on his vacation. His “medical appointment” is actually just a quick visit to the pharmacy or to the doctor’s office to pay a bill. Is he being honest, or is he deceiving others? The man led others to believe something that was not true. At times, people deceive others to get something they want or to avoid punishment. But we obey Jehovah, who said: “You must not deceive.” We want to do what he says is right and holy. —Romans 6:19.”


However, two weeks before, the watchtower, had presented information that is not true to more than 8 million witnesses. The paragraph 2, on page 28, November 2016 watchtower said:

“Many years before World War I (1914-1918), Charles Taze Russell and other Bible Students realized that Christendom was not teaching the truth from the Bible. So they wanted nothing to do with false religion. Even in 1879, Zion’s Watch Tower said that every church that claims to be a loyal bride to Christ but that actually s the governments is really part of Babylon the Great, which the Bible calls a prostitute. —Read Revelation 17:1, 2.”[/[/i]color]

Reading through the 1879 Zion watchtower, under the article, [i]“Babylon is Fallen”, it becomes clear the publication statement was dishonest, meant to make witnesses think and believe what was not true. The referred part of the article said [color=#0000FF]“Every church claiming to be a chaste virgin espoused to Christ, but in reality, united to and ed by the world (beast) we must condemn as being in the scripture language a harlot church." It also said “We believe that every true church member loyal to the bridegroom, feels with shame and pain that the nominal church is unfaithful to her espousal and is locked in the embrace of the world”

Today, the watchtower believes and preaches that the world is made of 3 part, namely:
 Government (the kings of the earth, of Re 18:9),
 Big business (travelling merchant of Re 18:11 ) and
 Religion (harlot or ‘babylon the great’ of the Re 18:2)

Going through the about 5 page article, it would be clear that:
 As at the time of writing the 1879 Zion watchtower article, “Babylon is fallen”, the watchtower never believed or preach that the world is world is divided into 3 parts, namely Government, Business and Religion
 The article never said the church ed the government, (as the watchtower tries to present today) but the world (beast), which was their interpretation then.
 The article never preaches the message of narrow salvation as preached by the watchtower today. It said “the true church is composed of all who love the Lord Jesus in truth and sincerity whether in or out of these organizations, who wait for the coming bridegroom, he recognizes.”
 As at the time of the said publication “Babylon is Fallen” The watchtower believed that the church as a system (system of papacy), not the individual was Babylon the great, it said “mark me-i do not say that all the of the Catholic Church became abominations to the Lord, but the papacy as a system-church state organization”.

NB: That probably explains why they were simply bible student, with no central organization with control binding on all as can be seen today. When the movement of the bible student started, they came out of religious organisation, preach against religious organisation. There was simply no organisation, (that is a topic for another day) but the bible student were organized and accomplished much. It was during the second presidency of watchtower, J. F. Rutherford, that watchtower became an organization, with central control as is felt seen today.

So, for the watchtower to claim that “Even in 1879, Zion’s Watch Tower said that every church that claims to be a loyal bride to Christ but that actually s the governments is really part of Babylon the Great” is clearly a lie, downrightly dishonest and meant to make about 8 million people think and believe what is not true.

Just two weeks later, the watchtower asked “Is he being honest, or is he deceiving others? The man led others to believe something that was not true. At times, people deceive others to get something they want or to avoid punishment. But we obey Jehovah, who said: “You must not deceive.” We want to do what he says is right and holy. —Romans 6:19.”

Is the watchtower truthful? Are they always honest? If the “apostate” claims watchtower lies, is it that part of the “apostate” driven lies? These and other questions will be left for the readers to answer for themselves after being thoroughly convince of the evidence presented. However, I came to a certain conclusion, never to put my “trust in princes nor in a son of man, who cannot bring salvation.” (Ps 146:3) "When anyone replies to a matter before he hears the facts, it is foolishness and humiliating" (Pro 18:13). Whenever anyone, government or an organization is never proud to say ‘Go and ask about me, you will find out I have been truthful’ or ‘anyone, government or organization that keeps telling me don’t try to listen to what other says about me, they will deceive you, they are my enemies, they want to destroy you or things like that’, then, certainly, trusting such a someone or organization or government is difficult for me.

The 1879 Zion watchtower publication (PDF) can be ed using this link, look for the heading “Babylon is Fallen”

https://archive.org/details/1879ZionsWatchTower

For more on watchtower’s dishonesty, please read the following:-

http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/blog/jw-org-website.php

https://nairaland.unblockandhide.com/3268997/jw.org-asks-person-resign-being

http://www.letusreason.org/JW8.htm

https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/236562/watchtower-dishonesty?page=1

http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/apl/jw/ignatius.txt

http://jwemployees.bravehost.com/NewsReports/2015.html

http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/misquotes-deception-lies.php

WATCHTOWER VS “APOSTATE”, WHO REALLY LIE? LET THE FACTS SPEAKS FOR THEMSELVES

“WHAT results when a lie is let go unchallenged? Does not silence help the lie to as truth, to have freer sway to influence many, perhaps to their serious harm? ... When persons are in great danger from a source that they do not suspect, or are being misled by those they consider their friends, is it an unkindness to warn them? They may prefer not to believe the warning. They may even resent it. But does that free one from the moral responsibility to give that warning?”- Watchtower, January 15, 1974, Pages 35

Jehovah’s witnesses, “the rank and files” are trained to hate “apostate”, view them as instrument of Satan, mentally disease, and dead. They are told anything coming from a former member is necessarily a lie. When I posted this topic “Jehovah’s Witnesses Promote Police Hatred At 2016 Summer Conventions” on July 13, 2016, a certain jworg nairaland member claims that what was posted were “half-truth mixed with outright lies”. The exchange could be found in the comment section in the link above.

He seems nice at first, his response was mannered, then I noticed a pattern. He was avoiding certain questions, emphasing on those aspect he knows are favourable to the organization and easy to answer, emphasizing and reemphasizing on those areas. Needless to say, he did not answer most of the questions I asked him, which could have reveal the “half-truth mixed with outright lies” he claimed "apostate" say.

That was when I suspected he may be working in bethel, or an insider in the organization. Probably, the organization has come to hear of some information about the watchtower in nairaland, a popular site in Nigeria. The organization’s policies has always been that of silence, in situations like this, in order to avoid publicity of those issues. They may have had need to try to minimize the effect of whatever information presented in this forum. When I suspected that, he had made the claim the apostate lies, so, I needed him to point out the “half-truth mixed with outright lies”. There is no need to say, he has not responded since then, you can find the conversation in this link and see for yourself if these where “half-truth mixed with outright lies”.

https://nairaland.unblockandhide.com/3223626/jehovahs-witnesses-promote-police-hatred

What I think is that whoever he is, (whoever sent him, as the case may be), they must have realized that it was a terrible mistake, a terrible mistake to try to defend the watchtower organization in an open, uncontrolled space as the nairaland forum, where information can come from anywhere. Where documents that should otherwise have been controlled, to avoid it falling into the wrong hands can been seen and read by all. This is probably why, the watchtower cannot bring themselves in the open to defend what they claim to be “apostate lies”, aside from the one-direction flow of information in the publications and other materials (from anonymous writers), no forum for questions to be asked, objections, or critical analysis of biblical text, absolutely none - just a one-sided flow of controlled and censored information in a controlled environment.

You see, this is the beauty of the internet, especially in a popular forum, where one can remain anonymous, while expressing himself/herself without fear of what the organization will do. In all honesty, I cannot throw this questions to the elders or the organization without some serious consequences, the worse being shunning leading to lose of family and love ones.

Enter John Miller, for Watchtower

In his first appearance in this trial, Mr. John Miller, attorney for Watchtower New York, and a devout Jehovah’s Witness, stepped up to question Mr Jefferson on behalf of the defense. Miller opens by acknowledging that he and Mr. Jefferson are old friends, for at least 20 years.

One of the more interesting contradictions in testimony came when Mr. Jefferson, under examination from Miller, suddenly acknowledged that both he and Watchtower’s legal department are very familiar with differences in state laws on mandatory child abuse reporting. Note the exchange:

Miller: You testified that the laws of the states vary; is that true?

Jefferson: That’s true.

Miller: And have you worked with lawyers in the branch’s legal department to render advice to elders who call about the laws of their particular state?

Jefferson: I have.

Miller: And is it in your working with those lawyers that you have become familiar with differences of laws of different states?

Jefferson: I have.

Thomas Jefferson had just testified when questioned by the plaintiff’s attorney Gregg Zeff that he was unaware of Watchtower’s knowledge of state laws for reporting abuse. Note his earlier testimony:

Zeff: And would you agree with me that the legal department,
when called, should know the law in every state?

Jefferson: Again, I can’t speak for the legal department, counselor.
I don’t work there.

Incredibly, Jefferson changed his testimony, suddenly becoming aware of state mandatory reporting laws.

Jefferson was lying to the court

Further evidence of defensive backpedaling came when John Miller, for Watchtower, referred to questions posed by Mr. Zeff the day before, when Jefferson was embarrassed by not being able to recall even the name of the President of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York. In an attempt to salvage Jefferson’s reputation, Miller asked:

Miller: You were asked if you could name some of the people in Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Incorporated and you were unable to do so. Are you a member on the executive board of that corporation?

Jefferson: I am not.

Miller: Are you a member or on the executive board of the corporation Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses?

Jefferson: I am.

Miller: Can you name any of the people with that organization?

Jefferson: I can.

Miller: Go ahead. Name some.

Jefferson: The president, Allen Shuster; vice president, Anthony Griffin; secretary/treasurer, William Nonkes.

Miller: What is your role?

Jefferson: Assistant secretary/treasurer, I believe.

He believes? Jefferson seemed very unsure of his position within the CCJW organization – but his testimony continued to disintegrate as Watchtower attorney Miller then asked him to name of the United States Branch Committee.

Miller: Can you name a few of them for us?

Jefferson: Allen Shuster, Anthony Griffin, just to name two.

Miller: Was Leon Weaver a member of that branch committee?

Jefferson: He is.

Miller: So are the names of those persons who serve in the U.S. Branch kept secret anywhere?

Jefferson: Not at all.

Miller: Aren’t they published on the website?

Jefferson: That could very well be.

Miller: Have you seen them published in some of magazines that are sent to the public?

Jefferson: Yes, they are. The president is published every month in the Watchtower and Awake.

Miller: So there’s no secret about who is there?

Jefferson: No.

As a note to our readers, the questioning by Miller and responses of Jefferson reveal that they themselves are not fully aware of who manages and operates Watchtower, CCJW, and the United States Branch Committee. Not only was Jefferson unsure of his own position in CCJW, but his statement “The president is published every month in the Watchtower and Awake” was false, as he was discussing the US Branch Committee, and not the Watchtower Society. A simple check of the inside cover of current Watchtower and Awake magazines reveals that it is the Watchtower president who is listed inside this cover, and not any of the US Branch Committee .

Jefferson Says: No Responsibility to Protect the Community

After testifying once again that elders are not clergymen, the defense yielded to Mr Gregg Zeff for a re-cross examination of Mr. Jefferson. Zeff asked Jefferson whether the elders have a responsibility to protect the community from predators:

Jefferson: Well, the elders have responsibility of protecting children, yes, and all the flock.

Zeff: And the entire community from predators, not just the flock?

Jefferson: What do you mean by entire community?

Zeff: Well, doesn’t an elder have a responsibility if they know there’s a sexual predator in their midst to let the entire community, the State of Pennsylvania, the people of Philadelphia, know that there’s a sexual predator in their midst?

[Watchtower attorney Miller objects to this question. Objection overruled]

Jefferson: NO.

In one of the most insidious and outrageous statements of the trial, Thomas Jefferson itted what so many victims of child abuse already know – that Jehovah’s Witnesses have no regard for the community at large, and their failure to report suspected child abuse places the entire community at risk by failing to report a predator.

While Witnesses are an insular community, the harboring or non-reporting of a sexual predator permits such an individual to roam free, unobstructed and undetected by unsuspecting parents and children. Most “worldly” or non-Jehovah’s Witness persons are unaware that a religious organization resides in their midst, completely insensitive to the protection of their family. Not only have tens of thousands of Jehovah’s Witness children suffered, but evidence shows that scores of sexual assaults have occurred throughout the global community because the offender was not reported to the authorities. This affects everyone, regardless of religious affiliation.

Thomas Jefferson single-handedly embarrassed the entire Watchtower organization, destroying his own credibility and that of the religion he represents. But this was a good thing. This was not a closed-door, behind the scenes, cloaked meeting, but an open, civil trial which will forever be a part of the public record. It is an insight into the inner workings of Jehovah’s Witnesses, who are largely ignorant of the issues related to child abuse, and the tactics employed by their elders, their Governing Body, and the legal team which defends the absurd.

Please stay tuned for further reports on the testimony in this case, including that of two elders, the ab of Stephanie Fessler, and the detective who ended any chance of Watchtower winning this case.

Source: http://jwsurvey.org/child-abuse-2/breaking-news-watchtowers-defense-collapses-jehovahs-witnesses-reproved-for-failure-to-report-child-abuse-settlement-with-fessler-reached

FURTHER READING

Reveal News:

Journalist Trey Bundy with Reveal News ¹ has been following Fessler case for more than a year, and reported in 2016 ² that Watchtower’s legal team had engaged in “abusive tactics” by intentionally moving the trial to York County, instead of Philadelphia, where it was filed. A judge ruled that this was an intentional stall tactic and returned the venue to Philadelphia. Bundy reported the outcome of the Fessler case in his February 17th 2017 article ³.

1. https://www.revealnews.org/
2. https://www.revealnews.org/blog/another-judge-criticizes-jehovahs-witnesses-court-tactics/
3. https://www.revealnews.org/blog/jehovahs-witnesses-settle-lawsuit-alleging-coverup-of-child-sex-abuse/

The Anonymous Men

Concluding his examination of Watchtower representative Jefferson, attorney Zeff probes Jefferson as to the very source of the judicial rules governing Jehovah’s Witness elders:

Zeff: And the rules that are followed by the elders relating to the judicial committee come from whom?

Jefferson: As stated, a group of men, spiritually mature men are appointed to prepare this material under the direction of the governing body. And after it is approved, it is published.

Zeff: And they’re anonymous?

Jefferson: The are.

Zeff: And do you know whether any of these anonymous people have any qualifications of any kind to deal with issues of child abuse?

Jefferson: If they’re anonymous and I don’t know them, then I don’t answer that question

Zeff: I have nothing further, thank you, Your Honor.

Following two days of examination by the plaintiff’s counsel, it was time for the defense to cross-examine Mr. Jefferson.


Jefferson Cross-Examined

First up was Jud Aaron, a non-Jehovah’s Witness attorney representing the Spring Grove Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Mr. Aaron began his questioning by referring to the state mandate for clergy to report suspected child abuse:

Aaron: “Clergy must report sexual abuse of children to protect the victim from additional harm. And yet there was some questions about it.” If I were to substitute the word clergy, remove the word clergy and put Jehovah’s Witnesses elders, let me read it. “Jehovah’s Witnesses elders must report sexual abuse of children to protect the victim from additional harm.” Would you agree with that?

Jefferson: I do in certain areas of municipalities and so forth, yes.

This brief and bizarre exchange echoed the earlier line of questioning in which Jefferson refused to acknowledge that Jehovah’s Witness elders are clergy, which in his mind exempted him entirely from answering these questions. Incredibly, when Aaron substituted “Jehovah’s Witness elders” for “clergy,” Jefferson still suggested that elders only have the obligation to report “in certain municipalities.”

By now, most readers will have thrown a brick through their computer monitor, or discarded their smart phone in the nearest lake when reading the lengths to which the Jehovah’s Witness organization will go to protect their own interests, instead of those of the victims of abuse. Their destructive doctrines are stuck like barnacles on a sinking ship, and Watchtower has no desire to scrape free the decades-old requirements which have ruined the lives of thousands.

As Aaron continued his examination of Jefferson, he restated the policy whereby elders were required to Watchtower’s legal department in cases involving suspected abuse. However this line of reasoning was ineffective, since it was clear that Jefferson was defending an organization which fails to as a practice, unless they would receive sanctions and penalty for not reporting the matter in certain “municipalities.”

Mr. Aaron further attempted to minimize the child abuse issue when he questioned Jefferson on his experience in handling child abuse cases:

Aaron: And in the 35 years that you’ve sat on judicial committees, about seven
congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses, have you sat on one that involved allegations of child sexual abuse?

Jefferson: No.

As an added “strategy”, defense attorney Aaron went so far as to imply that since there were only five lines (dealing with child abuse) out of six pages in the July 1 1989 Letter to elders, the relevance of this letter was minimal, and that it was not intended to protect child abs. Aaron then asked Jefferson to testify about the nature of the multitude of Watchtower and Awake! articles on a variety of subjects, including child abuse.

Aaron: Let me ask you something, Mr. Jefferson, why do these publications, the Jehovah’s Witness publication, Watchtower magazine, Awake magazine, why do they address repeatedly the issue of child abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, that type of
thing you just referred to?

Jefferson: Because in society in general, many, many people are adversely affected by the crime of child abuse and it’s the desire of the organization that I’m a part of to do everything possible to make people aware of this horrible, heinous crime and to do everything possible to help victims first of child abuse and to assist them and assist their parents to shoulder their responsibility to protect their children. And that’s why the articles are published.

As any victim of child abuse in the Jehovah’s Witness organization will tell you, the organization and the elders obstruct justice in every possible way. The failure to to police and other civil authorities is fast becoming one of the most insidious crimes in the past 50 years. It was clear that the jury was not buying into Watchtower’s statement that they “abhor” child abuse. It is a weak and meaningless defense, when the facts show that the very authorities who are qualified to help children are almost never ed.

Day 2 – The Return of Thomas Jefferson

Wednesday morning brought Thomas Jefferson Jr. right back to the witness stand, but not before Spring Grove defense attorney Jud Arron strongly objected to the presence of Detective Lisa Layden, who was scheduled to testify the next day. Aaron cried “Unfair,” claiming that the presence of the detective on day 2 would affect her day 3 testimony. Judge Collins rejected the sequestration order and stated “I’m done with this issue, I’ve ruled on it. It’s a clear issue.”

Trial resumes with Plaintiff’s attorney Gregg Zeff calling attention again to Exhibit 18B, the July 1, 1989 elder’s letter on confidentiality. Watchtower attorney John Miller immediately objects on “First Amendment” grounds, but is overruled by the judge. Zeff looks at Miller, then the judge, and says “First Amendment your honor?” – Judge Collins tells Zeff to move on. Zeff grills Jefferson on the meaning behind the letter, the intended secrecy and confidentiality, the prevention of lawsuits due to “misuse of the tongue.” Zeff makes his point, and Jefferson is left offering no concise explanation.

The subject now changed to the persons in charge of Jehovah’s Witnesses:

Zeff: Do you when I asked you for the names
of the humans?

Jefferson: I do

Zeff: You didn’t give me the name of any, did you, sir?

Jefferson: I did not

Zeff: Is the reason you didn’t give me the names of any humans is because they’re secret?

Jefferson: No. The answer to that question —

Zeff: That’s all I asked you, sir. Is the reason you didn’t give me the
names of any humans is because you wanted to protect them from lawsuits?

Jefferson: No

Zeff then re-introduces Jefferson’s prior testimony on the matter of whether Witness elders are clergymen:

Zeff: Do you earlier in the questioning I asked you about this statement: Clergy must report sexual abuse of children to protect the victim from
additional harm?

Jefferson: I do, counselor.

Zeff: And your answer was you could not agree with that?

Jefferson: That’s correct, counselor.

Zeff: And you said you couldn’t agree with that because elders are not clergy. Is that a fair statement?

Jefferson: That’s a correct statement.

Zeff: Okay. What is your definition of clergy?

Jefferson: Clergy meant, as I understand it, are those who are recognized, if you will, as the leader of a church or an organization and that is something that elders are not.

Zeff follows up by displaying Websters dictionary on screen, then says:

Zeff: Can I show you Webster’s Dictionary’s definition of elder and see if you agree with that? The first definition is a group of ordained to perform pastoral or sacerdotal functions in a Christian church. Is that a reasonable definition of a clergy?

Jefferson: I don’t know the answer to that.

Zeff now proceeds to connect Jehovah’s Witness elders to the clergy using Jefferson’s own words:

Zeff: Can you define for me what an elder is?

Jefferson: Sure. An elder is a man who is appointed by means of the Holy Spirit to care for the interests of the sheep entrusted to him. Those responsibilities are described
in various places in the Bible. For example, first Peter 5, one and two, where elders are urged to care for the interests of the flock entrusted to them.

Zeff: Elders act as shepherds in the local congregations?

Jefferson: They do.

Zeff: And provide spiritual education and assistance from the Bible to congregants?

Jefferson: They do

Zeff: And they oversee the congregational meetings?

Jefferson: They do

Zeff: And they lead?

Jefferson: They take the lead also.

Zeff then brings up confession, and forces Jefferson to it that elders are responsible for listening to confession from of the congregation.

Zeff: And elders then receive confession of sort?

Jefferson: Elders listen to the confessions of those who may have been involved and wronged, yes.

Zeff now calls up on screen the definition of clergy once again:

Zeff: Looking at that the rule one more time, I would just like to know if you have changed your answer at all or if you think elders are clergy?

Jefferson: NO

Zeff digs deeper into the Jehovah’s Witness judicial process, hammering Jefferson with questions about the function of a judicial committee of elders.

Zeff: So wouldn’t your judicial committee, your rules, and by you, I’m not even sure who I’m talking about. Who is it that tells the elders, this is how a judicial committee should operate? Is it a governing body?

Jefferson: A group of spiritually qualified men, who remain anonymous, are selected to prepare material that’s reviewed and approved by the governing body. And then after that, it is published.

Zeff: So these anonymous men have told the elders that when there’s a matter that needs a judicial committee, here is how the committee should be set up, here is who should be on the committee, and here are the types of things you should look for. And
once you’ve done that, here is what you do if wrong has been committed. Is that a fair summary?

Jefferson: Not totally.

Zeff: Okay. Didn’t think so.

Zeff presses the uncooperative Jefferson further, asking him to define what the S-77 form is, to which Jefferson replied:

“S-77 form is a document that’s used to report concisely the events of that judicial hearing.”

It is of interest that his answer was misleading, as the S-77 is the “notice of disfellowshipping or disassociation” – filled out when the outcome of a judicial hearing is disfellowshipping, or if a person formally disassociates themselves. The form itself states:

“It is not necessary to provide a summary of the case. If anything of significance regarding the case needs to be shared with the branch office, please do so in a separate letter.”

Jefferson’s testimony was utterly confusing, filled with misleading and inaccurate data; he was placed on the witness stand by Watchtower’s own legal department, yet was self-destructing with every word. The jury appeared confused by his remarks, his demeanor, and his inability to answer simple questions without offering long-winded verbal detours.

Attorney Zeff now turned his attention back to the July 1989 confidential letter to elders:

Zeff: We talked briefly about section D, which was the child abuse, many states have child abuse reporting laws. When elders receive reports of physical or sexual abuse of a child, they should the society’s legal department immediately. Victims of such abuse need to be protected from further danger. That’s what it says?

Jefferson: That’s correct, counselor.

Zeff: In this document anywhere does it discuss how to protect children?

Jefferson: I’m not aware of any place in the document.

Zeff: But it does tell you to keep as many things secret as possible, doesn’t it?

Jefferson: It does urge confidentiality, counselor, correct.

Thomas Jefferson Beffudles Jury

On the afternoon of February 7th, 2017, plaintiff co-counsel Gregg Zeff called the first witness, Mr. Thomas Jefferson Jr. This was a significant moment in the first day of trial, only the second time in Watchtower’s history that its organization has faced a jury in a child abuse trial.

And it did not go well.

From the moment Thomas Jefferson took the stand on behalf of Watchtower and the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses (CCJW), there was an air of bedlam, confusion, and frustration. The jury of seven women and three men sat facing Jefferson in disbelief, as he struggled to answer questions – and the ones he did answer left the entire courtroom scratching their heads. Jefferson replied to questions from plaintiff’s attorneys with a defensively arrogant stance, speaking in a slow and deliberate manner, repetitively ending his answers with the word “counselor.” Attorney Gregg Zeff pounded Jefferson with question after question in an attempt to clarify the tangled web of corporations and committees which manage the affairs of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Jefferson itted that he was a member of the CCJW, the US Branch Committee, and the Worldwide Order of Special Full-Time Servants of Jehovah’s Witnesses, but denied any involvement in the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York. When asked for the name of the president of Watchtower New York, he told the court “I don’t recall” despite itting he was sent to represent CCJW and Watchtower. Jefferson spoke in circles and riddles when asked about leadership of the JW organization, refusing to answer the simple question “Who is in charge?” The day one exchange with Jefferson was so outrageous, Judge Mary C. Collins was seen restraining both anger and laughter at the same time. Mr. Zeff, in a moment of exasperation raised his voice to Jefferson and asked whether there were “human beings” in charge of this organization.

Jefferson replied:- “Are you serious?”


Gregg Zeff

The questioning intensified when Mr. Zeff pressed Jefferson on the source of all of the letters sent to bodies of elders, asking him again whether any “human beings” actually wrote these letters, and if so-who are these persons. Jefferson once again dodged the question and stated that anonymous persons compose these letters, and that the persons involved may or may not be a part of the Watchtower or CCJW corporations.

Attorney Zeff, visibly irritated by the intentional obfuscation, asked Jefferson whether the CCJW was responsible for ANYTHING; Jefferson responded by asking what he meant by “responsible.” Judge Collins was unable to restrain herself any longer and turned to the witness and demanded that he answer the question. Shaken and nervous, Jefferson told the court that he must take time to pause…and think. Following a lengthy silence, Zeff posed the question once again, to which Jefferson said “I imagine they have to.”

Before changing his line of questioning, Zeff displayed the signature on an elder’s letter which read “Watchtower Bible and Tract Society,” forcing Jefferson to acknowledge the corporation responsible for the policies enforced by Jehovah’s Witnesses prior to the 2001 creation of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Zeff linked multiple Watchtower documents with policies which have restricted Witness elders from reporting child abuse to the proper authorities, making it clear which organization is responsible.

Moments later, Thomas Jefferson unbelievably denied that Watchtower writes anything, stating that they only “publish” and distribute these letters, but have nothing to do with their production. (referring to all letters before 2001)

Zeff questioned Jefferson on whether elders are sanctioned if they disobey the contents of these letters, which was followed by a song and dance from Jefferson and the indecisive and false statement that elders “may or may not” be censured for disobedience. When Jefferson mentioned that a Governing Body appointed Circuit Overseer may be involved in disqualifying an elder, Zeff did not miss the opportunity to ask whether the Jehovah’s Witness Governing Body are associated with Watchtower or the Christian Congregation. Jefferson’s response: NO.

As if to say “I’m not done scrambling your brains just yet, jury” – Jefferson responds to the next seemingly simple question posed by Zeff, which was ‘should clergy report child abuse?’ After an objection from the Watchtower defense team, Jefferson states that he cannot answer the question because Jehovah’s Witness elders are not clergymen. This question set off a debate which lasted for two days. (more on that later)

Attorney Zeff then followed a line of questioning forcing Jefferson to it that elders investigate accusations of child abuse using their own judicial process. Jefferson further had to confess that Witness elders have no professional training in counseling, psychology or other relevant levels of expertise; yet amazingly he insisted that they did receive “training.” Zeff followed up by telling Jefferson that elders are in no way qualified to judge the genuineness or seriousness of an allegation of child abuse.

Jefferson arrogantly replied: “incorrect”

Zeff asked Jefferson whether he had any evidence from Watchtower publications to back that statement up. After a non-answer from junk-testimony Jefferson, Judge Collins stepped in and scolded Jefferson, telling him the question is “perfectly clear”. Zeff pressed the witness hard, asking him for his beliefs on this subject, to which Jefferson replied: “Are my beliefs on trial?”

Again, Judge Collins rebuked Jefferson adamantly and warned him to refrain from making any such comments, advising him to just answer the question. Unbelievably, Jefferson responds by saying that Watchtower is a corporate entity and does not “believe” anything.

Continuing his salvo of questions, Zeff asks Jefferson if he is aware that professionals exist in the field of child abuse detection and counseling, to which Jefferson reluctantly agrees. He then asks Jefferson if he is aware that the state of Pennsylvania wants those professionals involved whenever an accusation of child abuse occurs. Jefferson states that he was not aware of this, aside from when Judge Collins stated this to the jury at the outset of this trial. I thinking that Jefferson testified that he was in court on behalf of the legal department of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and to defend Watchtower and the CCJW – yet somehow after years of preparation for this trial, having been prepped by Watchtower’s extensive legal team, he is suddenly unaware that Pennsylvania has a mandatory law requiring the reporting of accusations of child abuse. Clearly the jury was not buying this.

Attorney Zeff then puts Jefferson on the spot regarding the matter of elders reading all letters from Watchtower; Jefferson stated that reading all letters is not required, but that elders would be expected to read all direction on child abuse from Watchtower prior to beginning an investigation. He was then asked whether elders could be sanctioned or stripped of their positions if they failed to follow Watchtower’s counsel. Reluctantly, Jefferson itted that this is “possible.” Zeff followed by asking “has this ever happened?” Jefferson’s reply: “I don’t know.” As anyone with any experience in the Jehovah’s Witness organization knows very well, if an elder fails to follow direction from headquarters, his position as elder will vanish instantly. Jefferson knows this very well.

Nearing the end of the first day of trial, Zeff calls Jefferson’s attention to one of the most damaging pieces of evidence in this case, the July 1, 1989 letter to elders. This six page letter was stamped CONFIDENTIAL – and Watchtower meant it. This letter was so damaging to the defense, that when it was subpoenaed, Watchtower redacted nearly the entire document, with few exceptions. The plaintiff’s legal team only learned of the full contents of this letter by searching sources outside of Watchtower, and when the contents were revealed, this case was sealed.

Zeff calls Jefferson’s attention to the purpose of this letter, as stated on page 2:

“Hence, a growing number of vindictive or disgruntled ones, as well as opposers, have initiated lawsuits to inflict financial penalties on the individual, the congregation, or the Society. Many of these lawsuits are the result of the misuse of the tongue.”

He rephrased this paragraph by emphatically telling Jefferson that the real meaning is “Keep you mouth shut or you might get sued.” Jefferson disagreed, but the damage was done. The jury begins to understand the cloak of secrecy surrounding Watchtower. Protection of the organization and its assets has increasingly become the motivation behind the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ legal strategy, placing corporations ahead of the welfare of its own children. Day one ends in disaster for Watchtower, with final testimony from Jefferson looming on the horizon.

Watchtower’s Defense Collapses, Jehovah’s Witnesses Reproved For Failure to Report Child Abuse – Settlement with Fessler
Posted on February 19, 2017

Source: http://jwsurvey.org/child-abuse-2/breaking-news-watchtowers-defense-collapses-jehovahs-witnesses-reproved-for-failure-to-report-child-abuse-settlement-with-fessler-reached

“The matter with the Jehovah’s Witnesses has been resolved”-Jeffrey Fritz, attorney for abuse victim Stephanie Fessler.



Trial Summary – Part One

Using language echoing the public announcements which Stephanie Fessler, now 28, was subjected to as a teenager, Fessler and her legal team have effectively turned the tables on Watchtower and issued a “public reproof” to Jehovah’s Witnesses. Witnesses notoriously reprove and disfellowship of their faith, even if that member is a child, and has experienced a sexual encounter. Following four days of intense testimony at City Hall in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, Watchtower’s defense strategies collapsed. Despite spending tens of thousands of dollars and nearly 3 years in preparation for this case, by noon on Monday February 13th, Watchtower yielded to the plaintiff, packed up their briefcases, and agreed to an undisclosed settlement.

A strong message has been sent to the Watchtower organization: You can’t break the law when you learn of an accusation of inappropriate behavior with a minor. It must be reported to the police and child protection authorities.

Jehovah’s Witness leadership dismiss nearly every opportunity to report suspected abuse. Witness clergy mandate that when “wrongdoing” is discovered, they must immediately convene an internal tribunal of several elders, who are briefed on what happened. If the “sin” is serious, they form a Judicial Committee of three elders, then bring the victim before this committee to answer for her involvement. In this case, trial evidence showed that Jehovah’s Witness elders in the Spring Grove PA congregation were aware of a “consensual” relationship between 49-51 year old Terry Seipp, who attended the Freeland Maryland Congregation, and the victim, Stephanie Fessler. For 3 years Seipp played the role of surrogate mother to Fessler, all the while taking sexual advantage of Stephanie, a matter brazenly overlooked by both congregations.

Or did they overlook it? In 2004, elders were informed that there was inappropriate kissing and touching between Seipp and Fessler, yet they failed to report this under the Pennsylvania mandatory reporting laws which apply to all clergy, or elders who learn of suspected abuse. By 2005, elders had significant evidence of extensive sexual encounters between the victim and her ab, yet continued to apply their own internal measures – a decision which forever damaged Stephanie Fessler, preventing her ab from facing justice and ending the relationship.


Detective Lisa Layden


Detective Lisa Layden of the Southwestern Regional Police department in York County PA testified that any physical which might rise to the level of sexual abuse must be reported to the authorities, including Pennsylvania’s Childline, a well-organized resource for victims and potential victims. But that is not how Jehovah’s Witnesses operate. All matters of “sin” are referred to the congregation elders, who then the legal department at Watchtower’s Patterson New York complex if a case of sexual abuse comes to light.

Watchtower claims to inform congregation elders of individual state child abuse reporting laws, but seldom if ever do elders the police and file a report. To say that elders rarely reports such matters is a significant understatement.

Fessler Versus Watchtower: Jehovah’s Witnesses settle suit alleging cover-up of child sex abuse
By Trey Bundy / February 17, 2017

Source: https://www.revealnews.org/blog/jehovahs-witnesses-settle-lawsuit-alleging-coverup-of-child-sex-abuse/



The Jehovah’s Witnesses settled a lawsuit this week brought by a Pennsylvania woman who says the religion’s leaders covered up sexual abuse she suffered as a teenager.

The settlement came five days into a trial in which Stephanie Fessler, a former Jehovah’s Witness, claimed the religion’s parent corporation violated Pennsylvania’s child abuse reporting laws by instructing local leaders – known as elders – not to report her allegations to police.

According to Fessler, a middle-aged Jehovah’s Witness woman, Terry Monheim, began sexually abusing her when she was 14. At 15, Fessler disclosed the abuse to her parents. Her father was an elder in their congregation.

Fessler’s parents informed other congregation elders, who interrogated Fessler and Monheim but failed to report the abuse to police. As a result, Monheim continued to abuse Fessler for another year, according to court documents.

In 2011, Fessler, then 22, reported Monheim to police. Monheim eventually pleaded guilty to indecent assault and corruption of a minor and was sentenced to between three and 23 months in prison and five years’ probation.

Pennsylvania law mandates that anyone, including clergy, who comes into with children during the course of their work must report child abuse to authorities.

Fessler’s attorney, Jeff Fritz, said that “out of an abundance of caution” regarding the settlement, he could not discuss details of the Pennsylvania case.

“A matter with the Jehovah’s Witnesses has been resolved,” he said.

Jehovah’s Witnesses generally are discouraged from interacting with government. But for more than 25 years, the religion’s headquarters – known as the Watchtower – has issued written policies directing congregation leaders not to report child sexual abuse to law enforcement, unless it’s required by state law, Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting previously found.

The Watchtower maintains a database of alleged child abs in congregations across the U.S. going back two decades and has violated court orders in at least three California lawsuits to hand it over to the courts.

It could provide a road map to thousands of accused child molesters living freely in communities across the country.

Related News:
https://nairaland.unblockandhide.com/3609955/jury-selection-complete-fessler-versus

http://www.silentlambs.org/2017JWORGPAYSFORSILENCE.htm

Responses From Some Readers:

Eric Arthur Blair says:
February 12, 2017 at 5:13 pm

Thanks for the update John.

I was interested in the pathetic clergy privilege defence. I can testify that when I was an elder we had a case of adultery come before us. Even though I was not on the judicial committee, every sordid detail of the case was discussed among the body of 10 elders. Some of the Elder’s wives soon knew those details, and there were long standing family grievances and scores to be settled too. I was appalled and objected to the lack of confidentiality and dignity accorded this person (a sister) and was never once allowed on a Judicial Committee the short time I was an elder because I constantly disagreed with just about everything they did and seen as disruptive to the “unity of the body” (something I am now relieved about!) Needless to say that I wasn’t an elder for long and soon faded afterward. The point is though that this experience is the norm – there is no such thing as confidentiality amongst elder bodies. What is disclosed before one or three men is often disclosed to dozens, including the HQ, and sometimes even becomes public knowledge in the local congregation!

I’m also appalled (but not surprised) by the society’s defence in the last part of your article, where they try to distance themselves from the actions of individual elders and effectively hang them out to dry. You could see it in the faces of some Elders who appeared before the ARC – they were stuck between a rock and a very hard place: tow the party line regardless of the personal cost, or pay a higher price if you don’t!

messenger says:
February 12, 2017 at 5:49 pm

Thanks for the detailed report John. I wish I could be there, but hearing from you is the next best thing. I guess we could have expected that the defense attorneys would throw the clients of those other defense attorneys under the bus. It’s everyman or org for itself when the crap hits the fan. But it’s hilarious to see that happen. And it goes against Bible counsel to do”what is fine towards all, but especially towards those related to us in the faith.”

So, the congregation’s attorney argued that Ms. Fessler did not tell them of the abuse, while WT’s attorney claimed that the WT is not required to report any report they obtain from her elders. Well, that implies they heard (received) something. I can’t wait to read what report WT received from the elders.
Thanks again John. You do a great job!!!

Chiafade says:
February 12, 2017 at 7:29 pm

You would expect these attorneys for “god” to bring about a better defense. The clergy client privilege was as weak as it gets. I told a jw this long ago that the attorney client privilege line doesn’t work to protect the org because the elders SHARE all of the supposed “privileged” information.

As a former elder of 12 years I can attest to the fact that the information discussed during a judicial committee is shared with 1) dozens of other elders from different congregations 2) The circuit overseer 3) Sends the info to headquarters to file it away 4) Depending on the noteriety of the “sin” (except child abuse ironically) they may give a local needs to warn the congregation about such conduct.

In one hall I was in a local needs was given about “associating with disfellowshipped relatives” just after a judicial committee with someone for that very reason. Of course EVERYONE knew who it applied to so there goes confidentiality.

I look forward to seeing this play out. One of watchtowers biggest fears is any new legal precedent being set. Also, hearing the attorney say “we have nothing to do with this. This is ALL the layman elders” was priceless.

Art Fern says:
February 12, 2017 at 8:09 pm

I haven’t put all the pieces of the puzzle together but the
“We aren’t inspired” statement from the governing body has to be part of an overall strategy to disavow responsibility in legal matters. Maybe it’s directed to someone’s suit against shunning and the resultant depression or suicide. Or it’s a defense in some cases of child sexual abuse. Otherwise why would they undermine their own authority? Or even hypocritically claim to be gods only channel but also claim to not be inspired. What the hell does Jehovah’s spirit do to get his message thru, use a special cell phone? This is one sick ORG, forcing kids to give all the details of their rape, sitting beside the perpetrator and end up victimized one more time. A member can rape a child and stay, while two consenting adults who have sex once are tossed out. Go figure

messenger says:
February 12, 2017 at 10:42 pm

I liked your comment…some parts funny to me.
But the WT Society doesn’t claim to be inspired. That’s why it’s so disturbing that they will kick you out of their church for not believing their interpretations. They don’t claim they get those ideas from God, but from reasoning on his word.

Seems to me they set themselves up as God when they kick you out for not believing their interpretations. I believe there’s a scripture that says they set themselves in the seat of Moses….is that them? in my opinion.

messenger says:
February 12, 2017 at 10:24 pm

If WT was not legally required to report the abuse after hearing from their elders in Penn., then why are they still in the case? If WT and CCJW could legally get out both those corporations should be out by now. The jury only decides on what’s factual. The judge decides on what’s legal. So, if they could have gotten out their lawyers probably would have filed a demurrer before this case ever reached a jury. A demurrer is a motion to dismiss, claiming there are not grounds for legal action, even if all the alleged facts are accurate. In other words, it’s asking to dismiss the case based upon what defense attorney Miller said in his opening argument, “WT and CCJW shouldn’t even be here.” I believe the WT or CCJW or both will be found liable for influencing their elders in Penn. not to report to officials, as long as the jury finds that Ms. Fessler reported the abuse to her elders, and her abuse continued after that while she was a minor. Of course that’s assuming WT lawyers were told at Bethel. Even if WT was not legally required to make a report itself, as it claims, they could still be in big trouble. Punitive damages will be considered in this case, which if awarded, can be large. I think the judge wants to know which one is guilty WT or CCJW or both.

messenger says:
February 12, 2017 at 11:07 pm

One last comment. For what reason in hell was Miller telling the jury about the corporations WT owns in New York? Doesn’t he know that will give the jury some idea of their riches, or a least cause them to consider WT’s wealth. Don’t anyone hire that guy if you get sued. He might tell your opponent everything you’ve got, and where to find it, and inform your jury too.

Defense Opening

Attorney for the defense of Spring Grove congregation opened with the statement “In life there are consequences for not telling the truth.” Jud Aaron argued that therapist Lori Barton’s notes will prove that there was NOT a sexual relationship occurring at the time elders in Spring Grove first learned of the affair between Fessler and Terry Seipp (Monheim). As a result, Aaron said “You can’t report what you don’t know.”

Aaron further stated that by 2005, the “relationship” between Fessler and Seipp was over. In a moment of great emotion, the plaintiff Stephanie Fessler sat just a few feet away from Jud Aaron as he then stated “Stephanie Fessler did not tell the truth…As a consequence, no report was made.

As if to hammer this point down to the jury, Mr. Aaron replicated his earlier comment in a final statement: One things is crystal clear – Stephanie did not tell the truth, so the elders had nothing to report. The elders could not protect Stephanie Fessler because she did not tell the truth.”

Next up was Mr. John Miller, attorney for the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Miller, a Jehovah’s Witness elder himself and a member of the Patterson New York JW legal department, explained that Jehovah’s Witness are a Christian religion, and that the jury will here that Watchtower “owns some things up there” in New York. After offering his explanation for the various Witness owned corporations, he then echoed the words of his co-counsel Jud Aaron and stated that Terry Monheim will not show up in court to defend herself here. He further stated that the Watchtower and CCJW did not have any duty to report what they had heard from congregation elders.

Miller also reiterated that the key to the defense is contained in the notes of therapist Lori Barton. Miller in his best courtroom dramatics stated emphatically “Records don’t lie.”

Attorney Miller intensified his plea to the jury, closing with the statement: “We (the Watchtower) have nothing to do with this case.” Miller quipped that elders are “just lay persons,” closing his remarks with “Watchtower and CCJW don’t even belong here.”

Attorney for CCJW (Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses) Louis Lombardi made no opening statements to the jury. He sat silently between Aaron and Miller at the defense counsel table, leaving one to wonder if he will ever make an appearance in the defense of the Jehovah’s Witness organization.

Stay tuned for more as we report on the ongoing defense strategy, and the courtroom antics of Watchtower’s first witness, Thomas Jefferson, Jr.

Further Reading: https://nairaland.unblockandhide.com/3609955/jury-selection-complete-fessler-versus

News Bulletin: Fessler versus Watchtower – Opening Statements and Motions in Jehovah’s Witness Child Abuse Trial – Day 1
Posted on February 12, 2017

Source: http://jwsurvey.org/child-abuse-2/news-bulletin-fessler-versus-watchtower-opening-statements-and-motions-in-jehovahs-witness-child-abuse-trial-day-1



On a cold Philadelphia morning the 7th of February, 2017, Stephanie Fessler walked into the Court of Common Pleas of Pennsylvania, First Judicial District, Civil Trial Division. The time was 9.45 a.m. according to the clock which sits atop the historic City Hall courthouse in the center of Philadelphia. But there was another clock running – it was the clock of justice, the timepiece which measures just how long it takes for a person or organization which has damaged another person’s life to be called to for what they have done, or possibly what they have not done.

It has been 13 years since congregation elders in Spring Grove Pennsylvania first learned of the inappropriate relationship and abuse perpetrated by Terry Monheim, aged 49, and her victim, Stephanie Fessler, who was just 14 years of age when the abuse began. Stephanie was dragged before elders in 2004 and 2005 to answer for her relationship with her ab, but with grotesque disregard for the law, elders knowingly failed to report the suspected abuse to the police, to Pennsylvania’s Childline, or to any other authority. Instead, they forwarded what they knew to Watchtower’s legal department, who wantonly disregarded Pennsylvania State law, and also failed to report.

Instead of protection the victim from further harm, local elders in Pennsylvania issued a private reproof in 2004, then another public reproof in 2005. The victim, Stephanie was crucified and devastated, having been denied protection from the authorities who are trained to protect minors, and prevent further injury and mental distress. The local elders and the Watchtower organization victimized Stephanie, and more than once. Her participation in the abuse was viewed as a sin, and not a crime. Stephanie was a sinner, they said.

At 9:52 a.m. 25 Jurors entered the court of Mary C. Collins, and were instructed regarding the nature of this case, and were read the list of witnesses who would likely testify. By 10:25 a.m. all but 10 jurors were dismissed, and the final jury was complete. Eight jurors with two alternates will decide the fate of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, The Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Spring Grove Congregation of JWs – and to a lesser extent, the ab Terry Monheim.

Pre-Trial Motions

Just prior to opening arguments, without the jury present, the attorneys for the plaintiff, Stephanie Fessler, and the defense battled out more than a dozen motions before judge Collins. These motions set the stage for which evidence can be introduced during trial, and that which can’t.

The battle did not take long to become heated when Spring Grove defense attorney Jud Aaron argued vocally against the introduction of a new witness, who was an elder in York County PA. Mr. Arron argued that this was a “bombshell” witness introduced by the plaintiff, whose testimony is irrelevant, and who had not been deposed by defense. Judge Collins agreed with the defense that his evidence would not be permitted during the initial phase of the trial, but will be allowed during the punitive stage of the trial. The stage was already beginning to set for Watchtower’s inevitable defeat, even before the jurors heard a single witness testify.

In another motion, the defense attempted to preclude the testimony of detective Lisa Layden, an expert witness, stating that her testimony is “just an opinion” and should not be permitted. After a concise rebuttal from counsel Jeffrey Fritz, Judge Collins agreed, and the defense motion was denied. Lisa Layden will testify.

It was no surprise that the defense attempted to argue that the statements made to elders by the plaintiff were privileged, and entering them into testimony would violate clergy privilege laws, which protect confessions made to clergymen. This claim erupted in a furious rebuttal by Stephanie’s attorney Jeffrey Fritz, in which he informed the judge that clergy privilege has no application in this case, as there was no expectation of confidentiality when the elders hauled Fessler into an elder’s meeting and questioned her about her relationship with Monheim. When elder Eric Hoffman was deposed over 2 years ago, he never once advised counsel that he would like to invoke clergy privilege, and in fact he violated that anyway by spreading every aspect of Stephanie’s testimony to multiple elders as well as the Watchtower legal department in New York. As the steam settled from Mr. Fritz’ forehead, Judge Collins told counsel that Fritz was “right on point” about this issue, and that clergy privilege could not be invoked. As Watchtower has attempted to claim clergy privilege in the past, this was another defeat for the Jehovah’s Witness organization.

In a somewhat surprising defense strategy, defense attorney Jud Aaron claimed that the plaintiff’s counsel is putting the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses on trial by introducing dozens of Watchtower and Awake articles into evidence. It was a desperate move, but Judge Collins did not fall for it.

The Trial Begins

From the private, backrooms of the courthouse the jury entered the room. Three black men, two white women, and five black women entered and took their assigned seats. Judge Collins congratulated them for their service to the court, then reminded them that during the trial, she decides on all matters of law, and they must obey her decision. However she reminded the jury that they are the sole determiners of the facts of this case. Collins explained the definition of “preponderance of evidence,” then gave the jury an illustration of a scale, with the plaintiff and defense on either side of center. She stated that if the scale tips ever so slightly in favor of the plaintiff, then the plaintiff has met her burden of proof, and defense will be found guilty.

Following a lunch break, the court reconvened at 1.45 p.m., at which point Judge Collins read the statute for mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse to the jury of 10. The plaintiff was now given the floor, and attorney Gregg Zeff made his opening statement to the jury. Mr. Zeff explained that a member of clergy must report suspected abuse of a minor, and that elders should never keep suspected abuse secret to protect the Jehovah’s Witness organization. Zeff introduced a letter to the body of elders, dated July 1, 1989, which reminds elders that due to lawsuits, strictest confidence must be maintained by elders. The letter advised elders against the “improper use of the tongue”

Zeff explains the timeline in which the elders first learned of the suspected abuse of Fessler in 2004, activity which included hugging and kissing. Elders from both the Spring Grove congregation (Stephanie’s congregation) a those from the Freeland Maryland congregation (Terry Seipp-Monheim’s congregation) were aware of the relationship, but failed to the authorities. Instead, they formed their own committee and reproved both the victim and her ab.

Attorney Zeff then played a video deposition taken a few years ago when this case was filed, in which the plaintiff’s mother Jodie Fessler stated that elder Eric Hoffman never once advised her that authorities must be ed.

It was not until 2011 that Stephanie Fessler was finally able to the police, at which point Monheim was arrested and jailed. Testimony from detective Layden will advise the jury that elders should have immediately obeyed the law and ed the police and Childline. Instead, Zeff stated that rules were broken to protect the congregation and keep it out of harm’s way.

Evidence will show that Stephanie, at 14 years of age attended public school, but was otherwise completely insulated from after school activities and association with non-Witness youths. Instead she was left to care for her Jehovah’s Witness mom, who had a history of mental illness. Stephanie looked to Terry Seipp (Monheim) for emotional , but Seipp soon broke that trust by entering into a sexual relationship with Stephanie. Stephanie had no prior relationships. The plaintiff will examine professional therapist Debbie Bauer, who will discuss the damages to Stephanie, not only for the initial abuse, but for the protracted relationship of over two years which caused Stephanie permanent psychological damage. Co-Defendant Terry Monheim was remorseful, having served her time in jail, but the plaintiff will argue that the defendants, Watchtower, the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the Spring Grove congregation are to be held responsible for their failure to report the suspected sexual abuse of a minor.

AyamConfidence:
ogaade no dey quote me again...you hear me?

LOL

Yes sir, but next time, don't go around accusing someone of lying until you have enough and ample proof? OK?

switplum:
the interesting thing is that Doctors are accepting nd love the idea of "bloodless surgery". Doctors agree that blood transfusions hv lots of risks....

pls, do me a favor nd learn more...
just Google bloodless medicine or bloodless surgeries.

information is power.

Yes, bloodless medicine is good. But not in all situations. They comes a situation where blood is needed and in such situations, no substitute can work.
You know some years ago, when all I ever paid attention to and read where publications of the watchtower, there was one argument they used.

It was something like "ask the doctor if he would allow the transfusions to be done on his son?"

I really took those words to heart. But after I started studying outside the publications of watchtower, I cam to realise that blood saves lives and doctors are using them daily for themselves, children, close relatives. Read the book, gifted hands of Ben Carson.

Also, I then ask myself, why does the US president have blood bank in his car?

AyamConfidence:
most of what that guy posts are lies...unfounded lies....have you ever being a witness If not you have no right to make baseless accusations

You know I bet on could have responded this way about 2years ago? I could have... But I am not.

Mynd44:
This is silly. Her church did not stop her from receiving blood, she herself did not allow it becuse of her faith. Her church did not force her to believe in those things, she did it because she felt it was right.

When will we learn to respect the faith of others and not try to pull them down? I guess bigotry is in a lot of us.

In reality, she didn't have a choice. No member does. Her choice was like between the devil and the deep blue see.
I had posted an article here that explains more on this blood issue.

https://nairaland.unblockandhide.com/3447120/coercion-personal-choice-reality-jehovahs

analice107:

No dear, everyone has a choice. If we grow up to adulthood but still allow others choose for us, we stand to answer for that.

There's a reason why God takes back or recalls the souls of the Children who die as kids. They are still being chosen for, but it gets to a point everyone stands for themselves. "ability".

The Bible is there for us to read, but if we allow someone who for that ever reason has decided to see scriptures as he/she chooses to Carry over, well.

The JW misunderstand "not eating blood that the Bible talks about with Transfusing blood".

Does the Jews who this commandment was given don't transfuse blood? They do.


My dear, she had a choice, and when she stands before the Master, Charles Tass Russell won't stand to answer for her. She will stand for herself.

Charles will stand for himself.

Obama says Homosexuality is good. He said its all about love, as long as love is involved, you van love and have sex with your dog. Its your choice to agree or disagree.

Many that think they have a choice becomes blind when religion and faith is involved. She is fed with information that is not true, and she believes it to be true.

The mind, one of the greatest gift we have, our ability to think, reason, ask questions is subdued. The reasoning of others, organisation is allowed, you are required to subdue your reasoning and thinking. My dear, it may appear that easy, but it is not. Believe, I live among high mind control religious group. So, I know.

analice107:
But she had a choice to make nah, and she choose to die rather than take blood. She wasn't a child depending on her parents to choose for her.

In reality, she didn't have a choice. No member does. Her choice was like between the devil and the deep blue see.

This links below explains why they don't have a choice in it.

https://nairaland.unblockandhide.com/3447120/coercion-personal-choice-reality-jehovahs

Breaking News: Jury Selection Complete in Fessler Versus Watchtower Child Abuse Case – Trial Date Set
Posted on February 3, 2017
Source: http://jwsurvey.org/child-abuse-2/breaking-news-jury-selection-complete-in-fessler-versus-watchtower-child-abuse-case-trial-date-set

For the first time since the 2011 landmark case of Candace Conti versus the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, a jury will decide the outcome of a sexual abuse case in which multiple Jehovah’s Witness elders in two states knowingly failed to report the abuse of a 14-year-old girl, even after reporting the matter to Watchtower’s legal department.


Stephane Fessler, approximate age 13


The plaintiff, Stephanie Fessler of Lancaster Pennsylvania, will testify that elders from the Freeland Maryland and Spring Grove Pennsylvania congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses failed to law enforcement officials when they became aware of a sexual relationship between Ms. Fessler, aged 14-16 and the co-defendant, Mrs. Terry Jeanne Monheim, 49-51.

The abuse began in 2003, was discovered by the summer of 2004, and when Stephanie’s parents became aware of the abuse they ed congregation elders. Elder Eric Hoffman initiated an internal Jehovah’s Witness investigation, which included two additional elders, Neal Cluck and John Ness, and did not legal authorities. The elders also did not urge her parents to authorities. Instead of protecting Stephanie, they punished her by privately reproving her.

According to court documents, the Spring Grove elders interrogated the victim, Stephanie Fessler, but did not question the 49-year-old Terry Seipp (Monheim), and made no attempt to the police or child protection authorities. Instead of offering protection, Stephanie was slapped with a private “reproof” from her elders. Under deposition, Witness elder Eric Hoffman itted that he knew of suspected abuse, but failed to the authorities.

Elders from the Freeland Maryland congregation were informed of the sexual abuse accusations against their member, Terry Seipp (Monheim), but as with the Spring Grove elders, they too failed to any legal authorities and rather also issued a private reproof. Elders from the Spring Grove congregation did, however Watchtower’s legal department in Patterson, New York, but court records indicate that despite their inquiry regarding possible police notification, the failure to make a report of suspected abuse violated Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Laws (SL).


As a direct result of the defendants’ collective unwillingness to comply with both Pennsylvania and Maryland law, the plaintiff suffered abuse for yet another year, until the defendant’s husband hired a private investigator, who provided photographic proof of the relationship between Fessler, aged 15, and Monheim, who was now 50 years old. Elders were again notified following this disclosure, but they still refused to police or Childline ¹. They punished Stephanie again by now publicly reproving her; a formal announcement was made to the entire congregation.

Ab Charged, Victims Suffers
It was not until 2011 that Stephanie Fessler, aged 22 was able to report her ab directly to the police, who arrested and charged Terry Seipp (Monheim) with multiple criminal violations. Seipp pled guilty to corrupting the morals of a minor and indecent assault and was sentenced to prison and probation.

Meanwhile, Fessler suffered severe PTSD which presented in extreme anxiety, insomnia, flashbacks, nightmares, and multiple additional symptoms which required professional therapy. It is clear that the Jehovah’s Witness organization not only obstructed justice, but by violating Pennsylvania and Maryland Law, they subsequently deprived Stephanie of the counseling services which would have been available to her at the right time. The added layer of stress caused by her private and public reproof caused additional damage, forcing her to deal with the stigma of being considered “bad association” by all of her Witness friends.

Stephanie was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses at the age of 10, a decision which rendered her permanently able to the Witness organization and its elders. While non-Witness children have the benefit of practical and encouragement if they are abused or taken advantage of, a baptized Witness child will often find themselves seated before a body of all male elders, forced to relive their trauma, then punished with no recourse.

Stephanie stated: “it’s robbed years of my childhood because I was a child at the time. I did not know about sex… to be abused by somebody and then to be blamed for it, the damage that’s caused me and done to me mentally and emotionally, it’s beyond words”

The Lawsuit
The primary defendant in this case is the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, and the CCJW (Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witness). Fessler’s attorney Jeffrey P. Fritz of Soloff ² & Zervanos, P.C. ³ will demonstrate to the jury that Watchtower’s legal department failed to instruct the elders involved in this case to follow the mandatory child abuse reporting laws which govern Maryland and Pennsylvania.

This is in spite of Watchtower’s own written and published documentation which openly acknowledged that child abuse is a crime, and that “no elder will criticize anyone who reports such an allegation to authorities.” (February 15th 2002 Letter to Elders)


February 15, 2002 Letter to Elders

However, in line with Watchtower’s conflicting legal recommendations, elders are not specifically instructed to report matters of child abuse to legal authorities, but to only do so as the last resort in states where mandatory reporting is strictly enforced. Watchtower relies heavily upon the use of clergy privilege, despite exemptions in place which permit a member of the clergy (an elder) to report accusations of abuse to the proper authorities.

As we have reported in past articles ⁴, Watchtower attorneys frequently use the term “absolute right” when describing their desire for victims to handle abuse reports themselves – a practice designed to make them appear to favor victims rights while making no effort to actively involve congregation elders in the reporting process. This strategy results in grossly under-reported cases of abuse. Most victims and their families are so traumatized by the abuse, they usually decline to report. Another reason they fail to report is that elders encourage Jehovah’s Witnesses to do nothing which would “bring reproach upon Jehovah’s name” – a well-known Witness policy designed to protect the organization’s reputation rather than seek the highest level of care for victims.

The jury has been selected, and the trial is set to commence Tuesday February 7th at City Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. JW Survey will provide continual updates following testimony and final verdict.

External Links:
1. http://www.dhs.pa.gov/provider/childwelfareservices/childlineandabegistry/
2. http://www.soloffandzervanos.com/Attorneys/Jeffrey-P-Fritz.shtml
3. http://www.soloffandzervanos.com/
4. http://jwsurvey.org/child-abuse-2/news-bulletin-watchtower-releases-updated-child-abuse-directive-to-elders-lack-of-adequate-policy-change-continues-to-endanger-jehovahs-witness-minors

Media Reports:
1. Woman accused of sexually assaulting teen girl

2. http://avoidjw.org/2017/02/stephanie-fessler-v-watch-tower/

jworg:


My beloved friend I read through your intresting post, you tried alot but I would assure you that those informations are a combination of half truths mixed with lies and outright lies.

It is not easy to give a mannered response to someone who is saying something you are convined is not true about you. But as Jehovah's witnesses, we are trained to give well mannered response. In the public speaking workbook used by Jehovah's witnesses titled Benefit from theocratic ministry school education study 24 page 106 under the heading "choice of words" it says : " What do you need to do?Use words that show respect and give evidence of kindness, that are readily understood, that impart variety to your speech, and that convey appropriate vigor and feeling. Use words in a way that conforms to the rules of grammar" so my response to you was a product of the training i have received in the theocratic ministry school for about 25 years now. But if a witness allow emotions to take over when giving a reply to someone who oppose his or her belief please forgive him he is human, but take note that is not what we are trained to do.

Now I want to answer some of the points you raised but I will give my reply in trenches
1. You said that the watchtower publications lied/hide information about what they used to believe that christ presence started in 1874. Then I quoted the God's Kingdom Rule book chap 5 and you told me that it is because the apostates have brought out the information that is why it was brought out. Ok what about what was written in the book proclaimers of God's Kingdom. Published in 1993 page 631-632 also itted that 1874 used to be seen as the beginning of christ presence and the facts they based their statements on were all recorded.
There are no secreats among Jehovah's witnesses as u claim or try to claim. Even just last sunday at our meetings a new understanding to a bible teaching we have held for years was presented and it made more sense(as to why there are changes in doctrine that is for another day) but what I want you to know is that for every Jehovah's witness who wants to know the information are out there and unbaised.

2. You said that the sufferings of Jehovah's witnesses is caused by watchtower. But let us look at some particular cases. In what was the issue? Was there a trade deal between the witnesses and the Nazis that went sour? No. History has it that each witness has an option to avoid the concentration camps and harsh treatment if they sign a document to renounce their faith. They were required to greet "heil hitler" and the military efforts to become soldiers. Those witnesses who suffered persecution and death never went to court and said that watchtower said.... No but based on their bible trained consience they can not greet hiel hitler meaning salvation belongs to hitler while they know that only God almighty can give salvation. Their bible trained consiece also helped them know that the bible says you must not kill. So they cannot take up arms or carry out activities that war.
In Eritrea 4 young witness men have been in detention since 1993 or thereabout for refusing to the military. In south korea young witness men are sent to Jail continuously for refusing military service. Instead the witnesses applied for alternative civilian service but were refused that. Who caused it on those witnesses ( go to google 1st century christians and military service) early christians in the first century did not partake in the military also check for the facts. Jehovah's witnesses do not swear aligance to an organization but to God's Kingdom.

There are other points i would like to touch but will do that at other time. Expecially the aspect of the declaration of faith that was sent to Hitler. I would give u unbaised information and facts about it.

The reason why the watchtower publications warn Jehovah's witnesses not to visit apostate sites is not because it has any truth to offer, but it tries to present lies and distorted facts as truth, then they make it seem as if The organization is hiding some details from the . That was the same tactis Satan uses on Eve at the garden of eden. He presented God as a lier and one who was hidding something from adam. So when a witness who does not read wide see such information they will be carried away to think it is the truth.
like you rightly itted in the last paragraph of your write up, those information ed by these former witnesses are "emotional outburst of those that lost everything as a result of leaving the watchtower organisation " they would do everything they can to discredit the organization even spining out outright lie (like Rutherford wrote a letter to Hitler and pledges aligence to him prove?) (smiling)
You have challenged me to go and bring out my old worn library of research information.
Let me tell you a little about my self. My parents were Jehovah's witnesses but at a point I questioned if what they teach is the truth. It sent me into research i searched outside the publications of Jehovah's witnesses, in unbaised materials like encyclopedias and bible commentaries as I search I came to see that the teachings are true. Let me give u some examples.
this book the two babylons by Rev alexander hislop. After reading true that book and you are a honest person you would no longer celebrate christmass, new year, or even visit santa claus. There are more things i discovered but time will not allow me now.
Feel free to respond to the reply that i made so we can have a way forward

5. Since the “apostate” present information that is not true and outright lies about watchtower organization and “would do everything they can to discredit the organization even spining out outright lie”. Let me allow you to analyze the information presented in the watchtower November, 2016, page 28, paragraph 2. It was studied on Sunday, I believed you enjoyed, felt proud of the study.

Let’s find out how truthful the information presented in the paragraph is. I will not ask any question on it. I will wait for your response, before asking any question.

This is the paragraph under scrutiny, with the underlined.

“THE FALL OF BABYLON”
Many years before World War I (1914-1918), Charles Taze Russell and other Bible Students realized that Christendom was not teaching the truth from the Bible. So they wanted nothing to do with false religion. Even in 1879, Zion’s Watch Tower said that every church that claims to be a loyal bride to Christ but that actually s the governments is really part of Babylon the Great, which the Bible calls a prostitute.—Read Revelation 17:1, 2.

I had learnt from experience to double check information presented in the watchtower before believing it, especially regarding its history, I google and ed the said publication in searchable PDF. Below is the article the watchtower referred to. For sake of not accusing me of presenting half information, I am pasting the whole article entitled, “Babylon is Fallen”. I have also underlined the section the watchtower referred to (to make it easy for readers).

*******1879, Zion’s Watch Tower**********

Babylon is Fallen.
"Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird." Rev. 18:2.

The word "Babylon" means confusion. It is here used symbolically, since the literal city by that name was at the time of this writing "a mass of ruins." The literal city was doubtless a figure or type of the symbolic city, and much of the threatening of Isa. 21, and Jer. 50, and 51, is unquestionably of two-fold application and fulfillment: first, upon literal Babylon, the type and more fully upon symbolic Babylon, the antitype. Both are called "Babylon the Great." Both rule over the kings of the earth. The literal was built upon the river Euphrates and derived wealth and splendor from this source. "O thou that dwellest upon many waters." Jer. 51:13. The symbolic is said to be "seated upon many waters--peoples, nations &c.," from which it derives its .

The fall of the literal was by the turning aside of the waters, and the drying up of the Euphrates. And the symbolic river Euphrates is said, in connection "with the fall of symbolic Babylon, to be dried up." Rev. 16:12.

Each is compared to a stone cast into the water. "Thus shall Babylon sink and shall not rise." Jer. 51:64. "Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down." Rev. 18:21.

Now let us inquire what is represented by the symbol. As originally planted by Jesus and his apostles the church was a "chaste virgin espoused to one husband, even Christ." For some time she maintained her purity and suffered persecution of the world, but gradually became enamored of the world and the prospects it offered, and finally united with it, constituting the system of Papacy. This system church, living in union with the world constitutes "the abomination"--"the harlot," and the name Babylon, meaning confusion is applicable because the world is called a beast and the church a woman. This then was the union of the woman and the beast which is expressly forbidden in type. (Lev. 18:23. "It is confusion." We feel sure that we have the name Babylon properly applied since in Rev. 17 we see the church seated on the beast--i.e. ed by and controlling the world. "And in her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots and abomination of the earth." Rev. 17:5.

The following verse shows that in her apostate condition she was Anti-- (against) Christ, for she was drunken with the blood of the saints and of the martyrs of Jesus. Mark me--I do not say that all the of the Catholic church became abominations to the Lord, but that the Papacy as a SYSTEM--church-state organization is here pictured. And we must go further and implicate, (not the individual , but the church systems) other churches united to the Empires of earth. Every church claiming to be a chaste virgin espoused to Christ, but in reality united to and ed by the world (beast) we must condemn as being in scripture language a harlot church. To illustrate: The Episcopal is the established church of England--the Greek church, of Russia --the Presbyterian church, of Scotland--the Lutheran, of Norway, &c. The true church composed of all who love the Lord Jesus in truth and sincerity whether in or out of these organizations, who wait for the coming Bridegroom, he recognizes; but she that is ed to another he calls an abomination--a harlot. These are off-shoots from the Papacy. She was a harlot and the mother of harlots and we mean no disrespect to fellow christians when we term their church systems the daughters, and therefore parts of the system of confusion--Babylon.

But you will say--Our churches in this country particularly, are not parts of the Babylon, because they are not church-state organizations. Wait a moment; Let us inquire: Is our church--Baptist, Methodist or which ever, is it a chaste virgin or not? Does she live with the world, or separate from the world? We believe that every true church member loyal to the coming Bridegroom, feels with shame and pain that the nominal church is unfaithful to her espousal and is locked in the embrace of the world.

She still bears the name of Christ and claims to be his. She claims to be desirous of knowing and doing what would please the Lord, but actually studies and does what will please the world. She has a form of Godliness but really is far from God-like-ness. Who studies as carefully, or obeys more implicitly the world's dictates as to propriety of dress and etiquette than professors of Christianity? Everything is done with an eye to the world's approval. The sermon must be such as will please and entertain carnally minded men of the world, for they give tone and character and backing to the organization. These must be trustees and stewards and be made to feel an interest in her and give largely of their wealth. No matter how obtained, wealth she wants and wealth she must have. She has commenced the adaptation of herself to the ideas of the world, and cannot go back. She felt that she must erect a grand church building with the tallest spire, and that every inch she added to the spire and every dollar added to the cost of building would help draw to her bosom some of the world's children with bags of gold. She lives luxuriously with the world, and is ed by the world. Her homage to the world becomes almost a necessity when it is ed that he really built the temple of fashion in which she professes to worship God but really bows to mammon. The world though caressing and flattering, wants the interest on the church mortgage, and if the church cannot think of a way to get it scripturally, he has plans for festivals, grab games and church theatricals. She hesitates for a moment only, to thus disgrace and prostitute herself. The money must be raised. It would be useless to ask the Lord for it since she disregarded his wishes by contracting the debt. Necessity knows no law, and though the pure ones rich in faith, protest and weep for her condition, yet they are the poor of this world, and the poor of the worldly church seldom occupy a church office of any influence, and their protests and entreaties are drowned by the exultant songs and shouts of the gay company who "glory in their shame." Enjoying the world's smile they exclaim: "We are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing, knowing not that they are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked." Rev. 3:17.

"O that thou hadst known even in this thy day, the things which belong to thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes."

Yes we believe the nominal church of to-day to be the Babylon of our text, which falls. It commenced to be a condition of confusion with the mother and it continues to the end of the age. The church, anxious for numbers and money, has offered every inducement to get , particularly those of wealth. Socials are arranged at which the wives and daughters are expected (even though followers of Jesus) to so dress and act as to decoy and captivate worldly and carnally minded men. Soon such a one is called brother and urged to the church. At first he feels shocked at being asked to become a church member. He has heard of people being converted, having a change of heart &c., but soon settles down to the thought that he is as good as others, that morality is the needed thing, and finding it to be a port to the best society and an aid to business he does not long refuse. Now he is a member of church in good and regular standing; perhaps begins to like and feel interested in church affairs; becomes an officer in the Sunday school. Now he is looked upon as one of the principal R45 : page 2 , a bell sheep, a representative of the flower of the flock. Who shall measure the baneful influence of this wolf in sheep's clothing upon the true sheep and lambs, supplanting truths with errors, ignoring true faith and trust and fostering and encouraging pride and worldliness, to say nothing of the effects upon the world when, it may be after having been years with the flock, this influential member is discovered to be a thief, who for years has systematically stolen from his employers, who had the utmost confidence in him because of his church connections? So the whole flock becomes suspected of being hypocrites, until now very few business men consider it any recommendation to an employee, to know that he is a christian. Nor should this be wondered at when we reflect that if any large defalcation or financial irregularity occurs you will find yourself as well as the infidel inquiring--Of what church is he a prominent member?

jworg:


My beloved friend I read through your intresting post, you tried alot but I would assure you that those informations are a combination of half truths mixed with lies and outright lies.

It is not easy to give a mannered response to someone who is saying something you are convined is not true about you. But as Jehovah's witnesses, we are trained to give well mannered response. In the public speaking workbook used by Jehovah's witnesses titled Benefit from theocratic ministry school education study 24 page 106 under the heading "choice of words" it says : " What do you need to do?Use words that show respect and give evidence of kindness, that are readily understood, that impart variety to your speech, and that convey appropriate vigor and feeling. Use words in a way that conforms to the rules of grammar" so my response to you was a product of the training i have received in the theocratic ministry school for about 25 years now. But if a witness allow emotions to take over when giving a reply to someone who oppose his or her belief please forgive him he is human, but take note that is not what we are trained to do.

Now I want to answer some of the points you raised but I will give my reply in trenches
1. You said that the watchtower publications lied/hide information about what they used to believe that christ presence started in 1874. Then I quoted the God's Kingdom Rule book chap 5 and you told me that it is because the apostates have brought out the information that is why it was brought out. Ok what about what was written in the book proclaimers of God's Kingdom. Published in 1993 page 631-632 also itted that 1874 used to be seen as the beginning of christ presence and the facts they based their statements on were all recorded.
There are no secreats among Jehovah's witnesses as u claim or try to claim. Even just last sunday at our meetings a new understanding to a bible teaching we have held for years was presented and it made more sense(as to why there are changes in doctrine that is for another day) but what I want you to know is that for every Jehovah's witness who wants to know the information are out there and unbaised.

2. You said that the sufferings of Jehovah's witnesses is caused by watchtower. But let us look at some particular cases. In what was the issue? Was there a trade deal between the witnesses and the Nazis that went sour? No. History has it that each witness has an option to avoid the concentration camps and harsh treatment if they sign a document to renounce their faith. They were required to greet "heil hitler" and the military efforts to become soldiers. Those witnesses who suffered persecution and death never went to court and said that watchtower said.... No but based on their bible trained consience they can not greet hiel hitler meaning salvation belongs to hitler while they know that only God almighty can give salvation. Their bible trained consiece also helped them know that the bible says you must not kill. So they cannot take up arms or carry out activities that war.
In Eritrea 4 young witness men have been in detention since 1993 or thereabout for refusing to the military. In south korea young witness men are sent to Jail continuously for refusing military service. Instead the witnesses applied for alternative civilian service but were refused that. Who caused it on those witnesses ( go to google 1st century christians and military service) early christians in the first century did not partake in the military also check for the facts. Jehovah's witnesses do not swear aligance to an organization but to God's Kingdom.

There are other points i would like to touch but will do that at other time. Expecially the aspect of the declaration of faith that was sent to Hitler. I would give u unbaised information and facts about it.

The reason why the watchtower publications warn Jehovah's witnesses not to visit apostate sites is not because it has any truth to offer, but it tries to present lies and distorted facts as truth, then they make it seem as if The organization is hiding some details from the . That was the same tactis Satan uses on Eve at the garden of eden. He presented God as a lier and one who was hidding something from adam. So when a witness who does not read wide see such information they will be carried away to think it is the truth.
like you rightly itted in the last paragraph of your write up, those information ed by these former witnesses are "emotional outburst of those that lost everything as a result of leaving the watchtower organisation " they would do everything they can to discredit the organization even spining out outright lie (like Rutherford wrote a letter to Hitler and pledges aligence to him prove?) (smiling)
You have challenged me to go and bring out my old worn library of research information.
Let me tell you a little about my self. My parents were Jehovah's witnesses but at a point I questioned if what they teach is the truth. It sent me into research i searched outside the publications of Jehovah's witnesses, in unbaised materials like encyclopedias and bible commentaries as I search I came to see that the teachings are true. Let me give u some examples.
this book the two babylons by Rev alexander hislop. After reading true that book and you are a honest person you would no longer celebrate christmass, new year, or even visit santa claus. There are more things i discovered but time will not allow me now.
Feel free to respond to the reply that i made so we can have a way forward

Your response reveals a pattern, a pattern of shifting attention, avoiding some questions/points raised, trying to elevate the organization, clearly a diversionary. I raised serious questions you refused to answer, some you ignore.

You said my post is interesting, but a combination half-truth and outright lies.

So, let’s keep it very simple, let’s us try to isolate the half-truth and the outright lies. I am going to ask you some questions and you answer.

1. Concerning 1914, Here is what watchtower present to millions of JWs, take note of the bolded

"By linking the "seven times" of Daniel 4:25 with "the times of the Gentiles", they anticipated that Christ would receive Kingdom power in 1914." Watchtower 1998 Sep 15 p.15

"For over thirty years before that date and for half a century since, Jehovah's witnesses have pointed to the year 1914 as the time for the end of "the appointed times of the nations" and the time in which Christ would begin his Kingdom rule. (Luke 21:24)" Watchtower 1966 Feb 15 p.103

"Jehovah's witnesses pointed to the year 1914, decades in advance, as marking the start of "the conclusion of the system of things." Awake! 1973 Jan 22 p.8

Question 1

a. Is it true the watchtower believed and published that 1914 was the date where Jesus would be enthroned in heaven, 3 decades before and continue to proclaim it for 50 years after? As at the time of publishing the quoted article above?
b. Is it true that before 1914, the watchtower anticipated that Christ would receive kingdom power in 1914?
c. Is it true that decades before 1914, the watchtower believed and taught that 1914 was the date for the start of the conclusion of the system of things as presented above?
d. If the answers to the above question 1a, 1b, 1c are negative, then, are the statement presented in Watchtower 1998 Sep 15 p.15, Watchtower 1966 Feb 15 p.103, Watchtower 1966 Feb 15 p.103 true?
e. If the answer to question 1c is positive, does what is presented in the paragraph distort fact as claimed by “lying apostate”? Who is more true? The lying apostate or the truthful watchtower?
f. Based on the information above, if the so called “apostate” claims watchtower lies or distort fact, is it a lie?

Concerning the book, Jehovah’s Witnesses—Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom,

You said “you told me that it is because the apostates have brought out the information that is why it was brought out. Ok what about what was written in the book proclaimers of God's Kingdom. Published in 1993 page 631-632 also itted that 1874 used to be seen as the beginning of Christ presence and the facts they based their statements on were all recorded.”

However, what you may not want to it (that is if you are familiar with) is that the book was brought to counter the effect of information that the so-called “apostate” had already presented. Same is true of God’s Kingdom Rule. In the words of Late Bro Raymond Frank, former governing body member, on page 66 of Crisis of Conscience, the 1993 history book (Jehovah’s Witnesses—Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom) “seems evident that at various points the book seeks to counter the effect of information that has appeared in published form in recent years, including the original 1983 printing of this book, Crisis of Conscience, the 1991 printing of its sequel, In search of Christian Freedom, and in Carl Olof Jonsson’s book The Gentile Times Reconsidered (which appeared first in 1983.)” He continued: “Certain facts are itted for the first time in this new history book, perhaps with a view to muting the effect if were to become aware of them through other sources.”

The footnote on same page reads “See the “Foreword” to the book Jehovah’s Witnesses-proclaimers of God’s Kingdom. As but one illustration of presenting information already made available by another source, this book, on page 200, presents a picture of the Brooklyn headquarters staff celebrating Christmas in 1926. That photo was published in 19991 in the book In search of Christian Freedom, page 149. Two years later the new history book presented it for the first time in a watch tower publication. Yet that photo had been in their possession for 67 years”

Before the proclaimer’s book came out with the information that has been in possession of the watchtower for years, other sources had already presented them. In particular, the book The Gentile Times Reconsidered, had presented the origin of the time prophecies, where the watchtower got it from, it also showed with proof that Jerusalem fell by 587, against the 607 BCE of the watchtower (watchtower had to shift the date of Jerusalem’s destruction by 20 years in order to arrive at 1914).

You can find a copy of it [url=https://www.google.com.ng/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwj6qMeo3PPRAhWODBoKHT36Bc0QFggYMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.watchtowerlies.com%2Flinked%2Fthe-gentile-times-reconsidered.pdf&usg=AFQjCNE5xtecFkTfdQfkutqPeyzqnWo1Ng&sig2=z8KLl4HJBRh8fw3J4C1u7A&bvm=bv.146094739,d.d2s]here[/url].

Also, the watchtower (I didn’t say JWs, quit try to generalize), has secret, lots of them. There is not organization in this world that does not have secret, even you, you have secret you cannot share, I do. No one, no organization that does not have secret.

2. I said “a greater part of the suffering of JWs eithers in times of war,” not “the sufferings of Jehovah's witnesses is caused by watchtower.” There is a big difference! Please, do not twist what I said. I went into specifics, I mentioned Malawi, Russian, Eritea or Nazi. I said more on Nazi. It is great to see you present more of what “history” says as presented by the watchtower. Let’s focus on just one aspect alone, so we don’t get sidetracked.

You said “apostate site…tries to present lies and distorted facts as truth, then they make it seem as if the organization is hiding some details from the ”. That they “would do everything they can to discredit the organization even spining out outright lie (like Rutherford wrote a letter to Hitler and pledges aligence to him prove?) (smiling)”

I will ask you series of questions and I will be waiting for your response.

Question 2
a. What was the content of the “declaration of fact”?
b. Did Rutherford send a letter to Hitler
c. Was the letter signed by Rutherford (Watchtower claims it was a personal letter from Rutherford, but I contend it was not, the letter was sent under his capacity as watchtower president)
d. and what was the content.

I will wait for your response from the authentic watchtower source on this issues, before presenting the ‘apostate lies and distorted fact’


3. On the issues of watchtower hiding important fact from JWs,
I wrote: “Reading through the legal section of the official website of JWs, it will appear that it is only JWs that are targeted in Russia by the government. That is the impression the watchtower keeps in the minds of JWs as it is published in the watchtower publications. That was the impression I had until few days ago, that I decided to check out for myself.

You can compare it yourself here. https://www.jw.org/en/news/legal/

However, compare it with what is obtained in the news media.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2016/july/russia-ban-evangelism-effect.html

https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/2016/07/4555259/


Question 3:
a. Why did you find it convenient to ignore this points?
b. In the minds of JWs, what impression does watchtower gives them when considering religious persecution in Russia?
c. Do they think that other religious groups are targeted as well?
d. Do they think that other religious group speaks out as well?
e. If the answer to questions 3c and 3d is negative, what cause them to have such perception?
f. And if the so-called “apostate” claims watchtower is not honest with JWs, that they do not always present all the fact, is that part of the “distorted facts and outright lies”?


4. I appreciate if when while you are responding, you do not quote me out of context. I said: “Apart from some few emotional outburst of those that lost everything as a result of leaving the watchtower organisation, from my investigation, the "apostate" appears to be more truthful than the dreaded watchtower.”
As a result of leaving the watchtower organization, they have lost their families, friends, relatives, marriages broken, some parent do not speak with their children anymore and vice versa, grandparent do not have the opportunity to see their grandchildren. I also said “the apostate” appears to be more truthful than the watchtower organization. So please, I will appreciate you do not quote me out of context.

In about a year, I learnt so much about the watchtower organization, doctrinal errors, time prophecies and why they keep failing (watchtower has a 100% failure rate when it comes to prophecies, and the prophecies made today will also fail), how to analysis watchtower information, why current time prophecies are going to fail, watchtower mishandling of child abuse case, series of court cases the watchtower is involved with and millions paid in settlement, court cases they are reluctant to present in the legal section of their website etc from sites like www.jwfacts.com, www.jwsurvey.org, www.silentlambs.org, In search of Christian freedom, Crisis of Conscience.

This sources of information has help many to be objective when receiving information from watchtower. It has also help many to start studying the bible to see what it really says, not the convoluted message presented by the watchtower.

plus7:





@OP:
I have only one question for you: If someone you meet while preaching asks you a question about birthday/christmas celebrations, what response will you give. Your own view or the watchtower's view?

Kindly answer my question.....

P.S. please check the bolded sentences above and think about them.

The Scriptures at 2 Co 3:17 says: – “Now Jehovah is the Spirit, and where the spirit of Jehovah is, there is freedom".

Such freedom doesn't not exist among the organisation of Jehovah's Witnesses. Where such freedom does not exist, dangers lurk and can lead to harm or hurt. I believe you know that is primarily the reason I'm behind the keyboard, in order to protect myself as best as I can.

To your question, what will I do? I believe there is always a need for caution. Jesus was a prime example of one who was cautious when responding to the pharisees. So it depends on a lot of factors, which for sake of caution, I can't say them here.

But I will say this...in a Christian life, what is primarily impotant is to allow God and his word be true, though everyman be found a liar(Ro 3:4). Jehovah examines the heart and he knows each circumstances a Christian is in.

2017 Yearbook - 2016 Watchtower Report Analysis

===============================================
The following is my summary of the most obvious trends in the latest 2016 Service Year Report of Jehovah's Witnesses, as found in the 2017 Yearbook.

CONVERSION RATE (Baptisms as a percentage of Bible Studies)
===================================================
2015 Average: 3.27%
2016 Average: 2.96%

Region with overall largest DECREASE in Conversion Rate: Northern Africa from 4.09%(2015) to 0.66%(2016).

Region with overall largest INCREASE in Conversion Rate: Southern Africa from 2.54%(2015) to 3.87%(2016).

A notable mention is Australia with a respectable Conversion Rate DECREASE of 1.24%.
Only 7 out of the 23 geographic sub-regions had an INCREASE in Conversion Rate:
Central Africa (0.27%);
Southern Africa (1.33%);
Southern Americas (0.13%);
Middle East (0.92%);
Southern Europe (0.04%);
Western Europe (0.35%);
NW Oceania (0.47%).

NUMBER 'LEAVING' (as a percent of Baptisms)
===================================================
Leavers include: Deaths + DF'd/DA'd + Faded (non-reporting JWs).
In 2015 there were only 3 sub-regions that had number of leavers greater than the number of baptisms:
East Asia (113.81%);
Eastern Europe (207.14%);
NW Oceania (116.67%).

In 2016 there are now 7 sub-regions that have number of leavers greater than the number of baptisms:
Northern Africa (131.25%);
Caribbean (108.81%);
East Asia (114.32%);
North Asia/Russia (164.02%);
Eastern Europe (146.69%);
Australia/New Zealand (106.27%);
NW Oceania (155.36%).

Russia was the big winner here with 69.13% net GAIN in 2015 to a staggering 164.02% net LOSS in 2016.
2015 - 69 countries had more leavers than number baptised.
2016 - 88 countries had more leavers than number baptised.

PIONEER SPIRIT & LAZY PUBLISHERS (hours per month)
===================================================
Europe and Australia/New Zealand have the lowest 'pioneer spirit' with Western Europe and Australia/New Zealand having nearly 12 Publishers per Pioneer.
In contrast to this, East Asia and the 31 'Banned' lands have 3 Publishers per Pioneer.
The 'laziest' publishers are in Australia/New Zealand (9.1 hrs), SE Asia (7.2 hrs), Northern Europe (8.3 hrs) and USA (9.2 hrs).

PREACHING 'EFFICIENCY' (hours spent making 1 baptism)
===================================================
Assuming a full 8-hour working day - EVERY day with no breaks or weekends - the hardest preaching grounds in the world for JWs are:
East Asia (29,819 hours = 10.2 man years per baptism);
Northern Africa (15,037 hours = 5.13 man years per baptism);
Southern Europe (11,880 hours = 4.06 man years per baptism);
Central America (11,679 hours = 3.99 man years per baptism);
Northern Asia (11,634 hours = 3.98 man years per baptism);
Northern Europe (11,262 hours = 3.86 man years per baptism);
Northern Americas (10,569 hours = 3.62 man years per baptism).

The easiest preaching grounds for JWs are:
Central Africa (3,689 hours = 1.26 years per baptism);
Southern Africa (3,892 hours = 1.33 years per baptism);
Eastern Africa (4,051 hours = 1.38 years per baptism).

COUNTRY INCREASES & DECREASES
===================================================
Excludes 'other' countries.
Watchtower figures are in brackets. They differ due to rounding.

2015
------
DECREASE - 53(42) countries
ZERO - 10(37) countries
INCREASE - 147(131) countries

2016
------
DECREASE - 73(55) countries
ZERO - 9(39) countries
INCREASE - 127(115) countries
Basically, decreases are up, increases are down.

'BANNED' COUNTRIES
===================================================
Watchtower mentions 31 'Other Countries', one up from 2015. This is Bhutan, which falls off the official list of JW countries this year.

There are actually 37 countries with no 'official' Jehovah's Witness presence. They are as follows:

Afghanistan; Algeria; Bahrain; Bhutan; Brunei; China; Comoros; Djibouti; Egypt; Eritrea; Holy See (Vatican City); Iran; Iraq; Jordan; Kuwait; Laos; Libya; Maldives; Mauritania; Monaco; Morocco; North Korea; Oman; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; Somalia; Syria; Tajikistan; Tokelau; Tunisia; Turkmenistan; United Arab Emirates; Uzbekistan; Vietnam; Western Sahara; Yemen.

It's interesting to note that most of the above countries are either stongly Muslim or strongly Communist.

COUNTRY LIST ACCURACY
===================================================
Watchtower has always fudged with the list of 'Lands' to give a warped impression of their international reach than is actually the case. For example, Alaska (USA) only dropped off as a separate line item on the list in the 2008 Yearbook, and Hawaii (USA) only dropped off the list in the 2012 Yearbook.

JWs claim to be present in 240 'Lands'. I dispute that this is accurate.
If you go strictly to the U.S. Department of State country list, many of the 'lands' that Watchtower uses are not officially recognized and are just areas of dependency of other countries. In some cases, the 'lands' mentioned are just provinces of another country. My list is as follows:

* Norfolk Island is a dependency of AUSTRALIA.
* Taiwan and Hong Kong are now officially part of CHINA.
* Faroe Islands and Greenland are part of DENMARK.
* Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Reunion are overseas provinces of .
* Rodrigues is a province of MAURITIUS.
* Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap form part of the single FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA.
* Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten are known as NETHERLANDS WEST INDIES.
* Azores and Madeira are overseas provinces of PORTUGAL.
* St. Kitts and Nevis are actually separate provinces of a single country called SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS.
* Rota, Saipan, and Tinian are known as the NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS.

If this stricter convention is followed, the number of 'lands' on Watchtower's list drops from 240 lands to 218 lands.

SUMMARY
===================================================
Watchtower has struggled this past year. Many more countries are showing net decreases in publishers. It's becoming harder and harder to make converts in the 'wealthier' developed part of the world (Europe, Asia, Australia, and Americas). The poorest continent Africa has the most increase, with Central Africa alone counting for 14.41% increase and Eastern Africa with 5.03% increase. Most other sub-regions struggled to get 1% increase. Banned countries showed a 12.2% increase. This indicates that Jehovah's Witnesses thrive on poverty and persecution, and where education and access to the internet is restricted or limited.

Conversion Rates are dropping across the board. Leavers are increasing across the board, and percentage increases are slowing across the board in the developed nations. I believe a large part of this struggle that Watchtower is having is due to the anti-JW activism that is happening on social media sites such as Facebook and YouTube, as well as the bad press worldwide regarding the Australian Royal Commission inquiries into Child Sexual Abuse, the U.K. Charity Commission proceedings, and the general bad press worldwide regarding high-profile cases of child sexual abuse within Jehovah's Witnesses.

















Source
•https://web.facebook.com/AwakeFromWatchtower/posts/1324436607631414

Related Sources
• http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/bad-omens-for-watchtower-as-new-yearbook-shows-decreases-for-canada-australia-and-much-of-europe
• http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/statistics.php

2017 Yearbook - 2016 Watchtower Report Analysis of Jehovah's Witnesses

On my post about the 2016 Regional Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses, many Witnesses didn’t find it funny. Many felt caught to the heart, some felt like seeing me in person and probably bringing the full wrath of the organization on me. Some castigated and attacked me (not the post as to its authenticity and credibility), others called me a disgruntled “apostate”, some accused me of some wronging which they claimed led to me being disfellowship from the Jehovah’s witness organization, some pointed said “tell the world what you did”. Of course, I had to defend myself and image, because it was more of a diversionary tactics, instead of focusing on the message (whether the message was true or not, whether the message had credibility or not), the tactics was to focus on the individual, his integrity, his image and if they can successfully smear the individual, his image before the public, then his message becomes discredited. See Footnote

I want to categorically state here again, I have never been disfellowship, neither have I ever faced any judicial committee. If I will face one in the future, it will be for not believing and agreeing with a greater part of watchtower message/interpretations. (Actually, it is a closely guarded secret, Jehovah’s witnesses cannot disagree with the watchtower teachings, never! It is the greatest sin anyone can commit in the Jehovah’s witnesses’ organization)

However, the main point of the article was missed, which is that all is not well with the watchtower organization. I also tried to point out some of the problems plaguing the organization. Which led the governing body to call for more loyally, to reinforce loyalty, to the organization, to preach, hip making and most importantly, loyalty to the leaders, since in reality, the leaders (the governing body is “the organization”). The fact is, things are not well with the organization. This has now led the governing body to make a plea to all of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Regional convention entitled “Don’t Give Up”.

Never in history of the organization has there ever been a “Loyalty call” convention and a plea not to “Give Up”.

Because the organization is trying to stems the decline and stimulate growth, this year, more emphasis on shunning, (shunning has now been extended to include witnesses dating non-witnesses), preaching (mostly bible study), 1919, 1914, credential of the governing body, finally itting that the governing body is not inspire.

QUESTION: How can the governing body be “God’s sole channel” on earth, “God’s spokesman”, “God’s prophet” but not inspire of God? If they claim they are not inspired, then they have no special revelations and are just following the bible, then, what qualifies them as God's sole channel, God's prophet and God's spoken? Since anyone can fellow the bible and the things written in them.

I will be presenting the analysis of the just released 2017-year book of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I hope this analysis will help, as I do not expect the governing body to present a true analysis of situations.

FOOTNOTE
I must say, that is the standard practice of the organization against whom they tagged “apostate”. At some point, they may even shift the blame, saying they are looking for an excuse in order to escape from the door to door ministry. This was the same method Rutherford used against the then board of directors. Russel had left a will of how the watchtower and other publications are to be published, under the control and oversight of the board of directors (10 in number, Rutherford was among the second group of 5). Rutherford took a forceful control, started publications without their input and knowledge, against Russel’s will. When they challenge Rutherford, Rutherford through some legal means (Rutherford being a lawyer), had the board dissolve, wrote all sort of bad things against them, interpreted the parable of the evil slave to fit with them, fulfilling on those board of directors. (Mt 24:48,49; Lu 12:45,46) Watchtower had since discard those interpretations (in the name light getting brighter), but will they ever be honest enough to it why those interpretations where there in the first place?

Continuation.


It was after reading about this, i came to appreciate fully the words of Psalms 146:3 which says. "Do not put your trust in princes
Nor in a son of man, who cannot bring salvation" I came to understood what was meant here by Bishop Benjamin Hoadley. He said.

"Authority is the greatest and most irreconcilable enemy to truth
and argument that this world ever furnished. All the sophistry—all the
color of plausibility—the artifice and cunning of the subtlest disputer in the
world may be laid open and turned to the advantage of that very truth which
they are designed to hide; but against authority there is no defence."

I was moved to tears. Men can do anything just for the sake of authority and control of fellow humans.

Continuation

jworg:


I wish to address some points you raised
1. You said Jehovah's witnesses distort facts to make it seem as if they are the only ones being persecuted. Interestingly you quoted two videos documentaries produced by Jehovah's witnesses. In those documentaries you quoted which I have also watched severally it was obvious that the witnesses spoke against the massacre of Jew's although the documentary was based on the lives of witnesses who stood firm against Nazi assault, it also spoke about thousands of Jew's who where massacred and how the mainstream churches kept mute ( http://tech.mit.edu/V118/N13/bvatican.13w.html) check the link given to read about the Vatican's apology to Jews. But in that very video an excerpt of a talk given by J F Rutherford called Hitler a man of unsound mind and criticized his action against the Jews. Presenting the facts of that video as u did is distorting facts. You may try and rewatch the video again so you can get the facts right.

2. You try to present the Jehovah's witnesses organization as not Presenting the facts to it's . Your example was very fine. It is true that at a point in the history of Jehovah's witnesses believed that Christ’s presence had begun in 1874, that he had begun to rule in heaven in 1878, and that the Kingdom would not be fully set up until October 1914 . The harvest would extend from 1874 to 1914 and would culminate in the gathering of the anointed to heaven. But contrary to what you said above the book God's Kingdom Rule in chapter 5 paragraphs 5-8 made it clear that that was how the bible students understood it then but the understanding has changed. Every Jehovah's witness believe that the truth of God's word is like the light of dawn that gets brighter and brighter gradually until the day is fully accomplished. So our understanding of God's word continues to change as we see more facts from the bible. So if you start quoting harp of God and other out of print books as your reference with regards to Jehovah's witnesses teaching,you would get things wrong.

3. Pertaining to that video at the convention that portrays some people in bunkers hiding away from the authorities was never meant to present the authorities in a hateful light to Jehovah's witnesses. The video was designed to strengthen the faith of all watching the video, preparing their minds on what to do when persecution come. Jesus did that to his followers he prepared their mind not to fight the authorities but to be willing to remain loyal to God almighty. Such persecutions is presently going on like you mentioned in Russia. And more on a global scale will take place.

Feel free to respond to my explanations but please after carefully reading and understanding what I meant so that we will get ahead.

And it is like you used to be one of Jehovah's witnesses when you where younger.
Have a nice day

Again, I most say thank you for your mannered response. You hardly find that among JWs, especially when their worship is question. That include elders and other high ranking .

CLARIFICATION NEEDED

Let me try to clarify one important aspect, and I think I have tried to be consistent in my usage. 2 words, "the watchtower" and "Jehovah's witnesses".

When i refer to "Jehovah's Witnesses", I speak mostly of the ranks and files, those are the receiving end, they have no part in doctrinal, policies or direction formulation. These ones are main the elders, the ministerial servants, the ordinary publishers, even bethel member, CO and even some District (Regional) Overseers. Majority of them falls under the rank and files. They are the loyal followers, believers of everything that comes from the watchtower, loyalty parroting whatever is taught. These are the ones I refer to as Jehovah's Witnesses. They certainly have no choice than to follow.

When I refer to "the watchtower or watchtower", I speak about those directly involved in anything that happens in the organization. Governing Body is the head, the writers, policy makers, source of direction, doctrine makers, bible interpreters, those involved in almost any important issues with the organisation. They are often times referred to as "the organisation".

MY RESPONSE

1. @bolded statement, Jehovah's witnesses, in the context I have categorised them cannot distort fact. They simple parrot or echo what is presented to them in the publication by the watchtower. What I said is "the watchtower" distort facts, and often times lie. I also said, the watchtower does not tell the whole story, they only say what is favorable to them. "The watchtower" not "Jehovah's witnesses" in that context.

Secondly, it is true that the documentary was about Jehovah's witnesses. However, carry out a little survey and inquire a pool of say 50 Jehovah's witnesses how Hitler targeted. Then you respond. But what will be obvious will be that the Zanist Regime target Jehovah's Witnesses. You will hardly hear of the Jews. What I mean is that, the watchtower has created the impression in the minds of JWs that they were the only group that Hitler targeted. Also, the figures speaks for themselves. 6m Jews to 1200 JWs, certainly, the Jews hard a more horrible experiences that 1200 JWs. But the impression created in the minds of JWs is that it is only the JWs that suffered, that was why I was taken by surprised when the my colleague in school responded that way. Certainly, if the watchtower had presented that fact rightly, JWs would have known and appreciated that what 1200 Jws went through under Hitler pale insignificant to what 6m Jews when through.

However, what you may not have known is that watchtower is not really honest with JWs about what really happened in . Just like the suffering of JWs in malawi, what the 1200 JWs went through was caused directly by the watchtower, through its president. I can't go into details at the moment, but you can google it (because watchtower will never present the real reason). However, I also appreciated that the catholic pope apologies for their role or lack of it, that caused the suffering of Jews, something the watchtower is so proud to do, even when they know well that the unjust treatment of JWs by hitler was directly caused by it president, J. F. Rutherford.


NOTE: WHAT THE WATCHTOWER NEVER SAID ABOUT THE ORDEAL OF JWS UNDER HITLER
At first, Rutherford was in of what happened to the Jews, he pledge allegiance to Hitler government. He wrote letters to Hitlers, criticising the Jews, praising Hitler's government, saying that the ideology of the watchtower aligns with the ideology of Nazi . At some point, in a convention, some part of the Nazi anthem was incorporated into the song to be used to open the convention, German flash everywhere in the auditorium. He also accepted that the preaching will stop in Hitler's . All this was meant to appease Hitler so as to open and allow them access to the watchtower property which had been sized.

However, when Hitler's government would not release those properties, upon all the praises, Rutherford started attacking him, calling Hitler a man of unsound mind and criticized his action against the JWs, I can't him criticising the actions against, because at first he was in of those actions. That is the only part watchtower can honestly present. But before that, there was a whole lot of events watchtower does not present and do not want JWs to know. Among them include Rutherford's letter to Hitler, his of his actions, infact the watchtower had to look for pausible deniability, by claiming that Rutherford had sent a "personal letter" to Hitler, but not saying what the content of the letter was and in truth, it was not a personal letter. Rutherford was acting in his capacity as Watchtower president, his letter had watchtower letter head and was was from the watchtower.

Moreso, Just like Russel before him, everything that happened back then needed the express approval of watchtower president. He determine policies, doctrines, interpretations, properties to purchase, just about anything. Just like the governing body today, the watchtower president held absolute power and control, he determined everything that happened in the organization. So, watchtower trying to distance themselve by claiming that the letters was "a personal letter regarding the situation was written by J. F. Rutherford to Adolf Hitler" is nothing short of deceptive portrayal of what Rutherford and his letter really stood for. It is like saying a letter from the governing body signed for by the governing body is a personal letter from the governing body and not represent what the body stand for.

Fact is, a greater part of the suffering of JWs eithers in times of war, Malawi, Russian, Eritea or Nazi was caused exclusively by their leaders, by their actions toward the authorities. However, the Watchtower cannot factually present these things to JWs, because one, it will require an apology from them and most importantly, a lot of JWs will not be following them blindly anymore, questions will be asked and the watchtower cannot afford that.

That is the most reasons they severely caution JWs against "apostate". Because the so called "apostate"came to know this things and couldn't follow them blindly anymore. So they had to be kicked out.

2. I didn't try to. I said the watchtower lies to Jehovah's witnesses. Also, I need to present fact, that was why I quoted the old out of print Publication.

Let me clarify. Anyone can believe anything, that believe can change and he believes something. The watchtower present them to JWs as light getting brighter, new understanding, as rendered today, "cherished understanding". Now, the point is not whether the understanding changes or not. The point is in lying about it. Now, Let me go a little deeper.

Before 1914, this is what the watchtower taught and believed.
• The time of the end commenced 1799
• Jesus presence commenced 1874
• Jesus' heavenly rule in 1878
• 1914 will be the end of the world and will be taken to heaven
After 1914, even till 1930, this doctrines were still taught by the watchtower to JWs and they believe.

So where is the lie?
Let the watchtower tell us.

"By linking the "seven times" of Daniel 4:25 with "the times of the Gentiles", they anticipated that Christ would receive Kingdom power in 1914." Watchtower 1998 Sep 15 p.15

"For over thirty years before that date and for half a century since, Jehovah's witnesses have pointed to the year 1914 as the time for the end of "the appointed times of the nations" and the time in which Christ would begin his Kingdom rule. (Luke 21:24)" Watchtower 1966 Feb 15 p.103

"Jehovah's witnesses pointed to the year 1914, decades in advance, as marking the start of "the conclusion of the system of things." Awake! 1973 Jan 22 p.8

Those statement are clearly not true. They are outright lies. The only changed those dates, christ presence, christ enthronement and the start of the conclusion of things after 1930. Claiming that they had know 30 years in advance is clearly not true, but meant to create the impression in the minds of JWs that they had been accurate in their time prophecy.

But notice again, I am quoting Watchtower 1998, Awake 1973, watctower 1966. This were all publication that where published before the God's Kingdom Rule book of 2014. However, the watchtower had know that many ex-jws had gone on to show and prove that they had not been truthful to JWs about this 1914 teaches and other related teaches, they had to include that part in the History book "God's Kingdom Rule"

The truth is, this history had been there for more than 100 years, why present them now? So while it is true that they later itted this dates, and then use the light getting brighter teaching. It only came as a result of the fact that the "apostate" had gone on to show and show all this dates to the world, so the watchtower had not other choice but to include them in the Kingdom Rule book.

Even at that, even in the landmark article "Birth of the nations" as can be seen in Par 7, Chp 5 of God's Kingdom Rule, it is not still itted that they were still teaching that Christ Presence began in 1874, and as at 1930, they were still teaching them. But most importantly, the kingdom rule book used the strong word "Convincing scriptural evidence" in the landmark article "Birth of the nations", 1925 watchtower to show that Christ began to reigned in 1914.

If the prove was so convincing, scriptural, why discard them today? more than 80 years after? What was so convincing about them that you do not teach them today? The watchwer will say, because light was getting brighter. if it is so, then the evidence does not qualify to be called "Convincing scriptural evidence", unless you intend to give a wrong impression.

NOTE: The book "Birth of the nations", 1925 watchtower can be found online, I just ed a PDF searchable copy.

3. Concerning the video, someone has to talk some sense to the watchtower. They need to know that the world is bad, your message can have a bad effect, especially for people mentality unstable. Secondly, actions like this (castigating authority, painting them as to be used by satan) was what caused JWs to suffer in countries like Russian, and malawi. It is why they are labeled extremist in a country like Russian. You are actually preaching around, telling people of that country that some foreign government will over throw their government. Do not forget that these people have their own religion, and I am not sure that their worship which they regard highly teaches them so. So, they will definitely brand you an extremist, because it is terrorist that goes around brainwashing people, telling them how bad the government of the day is and what they will do to overthrow that government and make life better.

How can overzealous government such videos and certain publicans as extreme (extremist)? How can you show the state apparatus, used to maintain law and order as tools used by satan to harm "God's people". That was the same way to use to preach, accusing churches of all sort of things and when these complain to governmental authority, the watchtwer in turn will accused churches of instigating persecution. This was exactly what Russel did that caused Hitler to go after JWs in .

4. I said the watchtower is not honest with JWs concerning event, even when translating and interpreting the bible. That they distort truth and fact. They have created in the minds of JWs that they were some sort governing body in Jerusalem, where christians of the first century were organised and receive direction from. Recently, they have been some attempt to include Apostle Paul among those they referred to as the governing body, and JWs will believe that. I am not going to say much, but go through the pages of the book below, and ascertain for yourself if such assession is true. The book is crisis of conscience, from former governing body member Raymond Frank, Cousin of former watchtower president Fred Frank, who translated the NWT of 1950 and 1986.


5. Reading through the legal section of the official website of JWs, it will appear that it is only JWs that are targeted in Russia by the government. That is the impression the watchtower keeps in the minds of JWs as it is published in the watchtower publications. That was the impression I had until few days ago, that I decided to check out for myself.

You can compare it yourself here.

https://www.jw.org/en/news/legal/

However, compare it with what is obtained in the news media.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2016/july/russia-ban-evangelism-effect.html

https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/2016/07/4555259/

So, when the so-called apostate says that watchtower distort information and sometimes lie, you may want to confirm if that is so or is one of those "apostate" lies.


Apart from some few emotional outburst of those that lost everything as a result of leaving the watchtower organisation, from my investigation, the "apostate" appears to be more truthful than the dreaded watchtower.

olaolaking:
Can you judge yourself? Just look at your argument. You don't want to be kicked out? So you prefer to play along? I am sure you always do what they prefer and always obey them. You also agree with them in all questionable matters you have raised. Now, how do you think God will feel about you. Give you a thumbs up? When you do according to Jehovah's witnesses doctrine which you see as falsehood but come at the back to discredit same doctrine?

Explain yourself to sincere people who are not Jehovah's witnesses and see how they will feel about you

My brother, that was my last response to you on that subject. If you do not nor like it that way. That's the way it is going to be.