ARC - Case Study 54 - All Exhibits have been released

[Jack Ryan]

All Exhibits for Case Study 54, Jehovah's Witnesses and Watchtower, have been released by the ARC.

http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/exhibits/10908a67-70c5-4103-94cc-dac096fdb585/case-study-54,-march-2017,-sydney

EXHIBIT LIST

• Joint Statement of O'Brien and Spinks
• Child Protection Guidelines for Branch Office Service Desk
• Child Safeguarding Policy of Jehovah's Witnesses in Australia (draft version as presented to ARC)
• Legal Guidelines on Reporting Obligations (State-by-State)
• Correspondence between Watchtower and Governing Body
• Summons to Produce
• Watchtower body of elders letter
• Watchtower response to ARC

plus more.

From page 3:

Child pornography: Showing pornography to a minor is considered to be child sexual abuse. Although viewing child pornography is not considered to be child sexual abuse, it is still a serious violation of Jehovah’s standards. A person in-volved in viewing child pornography should be strongly counseled. Depending on the frequency and the extent of his viewing, he could be subject to congregation judicial action. In such cases, the Service Department may decide that branch-imposed restrictions are warranted.—See the April 10, 2012, letter to all bodies of elders

I will allude to the April 10th 2012 letter to elders that made a distinction between regular porn and "abhorrent" pornography:

He may continue to serve if his involvement consisted of (1) a few brief viewings, (2) he displays a heartfelt desire to desist from looking at pornography in any form, (3) the elders are convinced that he will refrain from viewing pornography, (4) he continues to retain the respect of others who are aware of what he did, and (5) his conscience allows him to do so.

...

An entrenched practice of viewing, perhaps over a considerable period of time, abhorrent forms of pornography that is sexually degrading. Such pornography may include homosexuality (sex between those of the same gender), group sex, bestiality, sadistic torture, bondage, gang rape, the brutalizing of women, or child pornography. Brazen conduct would be involved if the offender was promoting such material, such as by inviting others to view it, thus giving evidence of a brazen attitude. — w12 3/15 pp. 30-31; w06 7/15 p. 31.

...

Thererefore, viewing pornography escalates to gross uncleanness if the type of pornography viewed was abhorrent or sexually degrading in nature, as described in the second example above. An additional factor to be considered would be if it were a practice for "many years." As a general principle, when these elements are present, a judicial committee would need to handle the matter. At Ephesians 4:19 Paul stated: "Having come to be past all moral sense, they gave themselves over to loose conduct to work uncleanness of every sort with greediness." (Gal. 5: 19; w83 3/15 p. 31 par. 3) When an individual has 'given himself over' to this unclean practice as evidenced by his repeatedly viewing abhorrent pornography, the matter has escalated to gross uncleanness and needs to be handled judicially. — w06 711 5 pp. 29-3 1.

[Evacuated]

7 hours ago, Jay Witness said:

Although viewing child pornography is not considered to be child sexual abuse

By who?