It has emerged that the ground-breaking Candace Conti case has taken another intriguing twist. As was reported in a previous article, following their courtroom defeat the Watch Tower Society was forced by the Alameda County Court to, in effect, guarantee that it would be in a position to pay the full multi-million dollar award due to Candace Conti in the event of losing their appeal.
Initially, this “guarantee” came in the form of a court-imposed ban on the buying or selling of property until the appeals process was over. However, the Watch Tower Society is heavily dependent on selling its lucrative Brooklyn portfolio to generate much-needed funds, even selling Brooklyn properties at far below the asking price in some instances. Indeed, it is thought that the relocation of the World Headquarters from Brooklyn to upstate New York is motivated primarily by the need to free up funds. The Society therefore chose to circumvent this ban by electing instead to provide a surety bond by way of guaranteeing payment of damages (plus interest) in the event of losing their appeal.
Now the Society appears to be pleading poverty, implying that it cannot afford to produce the required $17.3 million dollars by way of surety without using property instead of cash. Before reading further in this article, I would encourage you to download the motion filed by Watchtower by clicking on this link. By all means, familiarize yourselves with the contents, and please consider anything I write in this article as my own observations and speculation in regard to this development.
Some have pointed out that the Society’s main objection is, not that they cannot afford the bond, but that they are afraid of being unable to recover the $86,386 bond premium from Candace Conti if they win their appeal. I am no legal expert and can only interpret what I read according to my own limited understanding, so I am willing to stand corrected if I unknowingly misinterpret the precise wording used in the court documents.
I believe it is noteworthy that Watchtower has specifically motioned for a reduction in the bond if they are not allowed to offer real estate as surety. There is a difference of some $6 million dollars (presumably allowing for costs and interest) between the amount of damages awarded and the total bond amount.
Though a comparatively small amount, this $6 million dollars might well be the difference between relative prosperity and catastrophe for the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of New York. The precise accounting figures of the Society are highly secretive, so only they will know whether this is the case.
Immediate Harm
In any event, the Society wants this $6 million difference reduced, and I believe it more than likely that the “immediate irreparable harm and hardship” refers, not just to payment of the $86,386 premium and their chances of recovering this amount in the future, but to the financial consequences if the bond needs to be paid in cash without the bond amount being reduced, which Watchtower is motioning for.
Bear in mind that, once the premium is paid, the first bond payments must also be delivered only weeks later. In that respect, payment of the premium is the “road of no return”, which is why the Society is anxious to find an alternative to paying in cash well before the premium payment is due.
I believe this is why Watchtower claims this would cause “immediate” harm. Surely any harm suffered by the Society by paying and subsequently losing the $86,386 premium could never be considered “immediate” since the appeal decision is still a future event. The appeals process has yet to be won or lost! So why use the word “immediate”? Note the wording in the document highlighted below…
Again, if I am wrong, and things are not as serious as I suggest, then I am willing to stand corrected. However, I believe it is important to allow my readers to hear both sides of the argument, and form their own opinions.
The Patterson Gamble
In any case, perhaps more amazingly, the Society is prepared to put their Patterson complex (The Watchtower Educational Center) on the line over this judgment, offering it as surety rather than starting the bond payments. However, in behind-the-scenes discussions this remarkable proposal has been declined by Candace’s legal team, so the matter must now be decided by a Judge. Candace’s team understandably want cash to be used as surety, not shaky property assets during times of economic uncertainty.
The payment of the $86,386 bond premium is due on November 15th, and the first installments of the bond itself follow soon thereafter. As mentioned, the Society has therefore filed a motion asking the Judge to either reduce the cash value of the bond, or allow them to substitute real estate (namely, Patterson) as surety for the judgment.
Many Witnesses will no doubt be shocked at the thought that the organization, said to be enjoying Jehovah’s blessing, is in such a perilous predicament that it is quite possibly only $17.3 million dollars away from meltdown! They will be just as amazed to learn that the Society is seeking to effectively put Patterson on the gambling table, to be given to Candace Conti if Watchtower loses its appeal and cannot pay the damages in full. See the document below…
Many have argued that the Society can easily afford the awarded damages and may well be bluffing in order to maneuver the situation in their favor. Indeed, there is nothing unusual in offering property assets in lieu of cash payments if it is possible to do so. However, it seems strange that, with so much pride at stake and the world looking on, the Society would effectively plead poverty unless their circumstances were indeed dire.
It is even more inconceivable that Watchtower would rather gamble with its prestigious Patterson complex (in which it takes considerable pride), and risk handing this over to Candace Conti if they lose on appeal, than cough up the $17.3 million in hard cash if this is available to them. It therefore seems highly likely that the Society IS indeed in financial turmoil, as their recent unprecedented spate of branch closures would seem to suggest. Their money is mostly tied up in property that they are finding it difficult to sell-on during these economically challenging times, and producing millions in spare cash just isn’t as easy as it once was.
The clock is ticking, and they have less than a month to sort this out. Watchtower’s lawyers have had conversations with Candace’s Conti’s legal team who have refused to yield on the issue. Now it is for the courts to decide on November 8th whether Watchtower can be allowed to put Patterson on the gambling table rather than pay a single dollar in actual money up front. If the Judge refuses to let them take their gamble with Patterson, and insists on the surety being paid in cash, the Society will have no choice but to pay the bond in full or drop their appeal – which is a strong likelihood if their circumstances are indeed as dire as their motion seems to suggest.
Why are they in this mess?
Many will wonder why the Society is in such peril when it outwardly appears to be prosperous. The publications have long given the impression that the organization is enjoying seemingly unlimited global expansion. However, as explained in a previous article, there is a deep underlying problem causing the Watch Tower Society serious financial difficulties.
The problem lies with the fact that growth in wealthier, developed lands is slowing down to a near standstill. It is the brothers in these lands who the Society counts on to contribute the most by way of donations to support the worldwide work. Meanwhile, the growth in poorer third-world countries remains relatively buoyant, but the needs of the brothers in those countries must be sustained by diverting much-needed funds from wealthier countries – funds that are slowly drying up. This causes a huge imbalance that is completely unsustainable for the Society in the long-term.
Forced by this disparity in contributions, the signs are that the Society has already entered a period of downsizing. Last year saw a 16% reduction in branch offices from 116 to only 98, and all indications are that the 2012 report will show a further reduction in this figure. By closing branches and reducing operations in various countries the Society is lowering its operating overheads and freeing up property to be sold in order to generate much-needed funds.
The problem is, the world is going through a period of unrivalled economic downturn, meaning that property cannot be sold at anywhere near the prices the Society would like to realize. In Brooklyn, many properties have been sold well below the initial asking price, because Watchtower is anxious to get its hands on much-needed cash more quickly.
In addition to the branch closures, there has also been a noticeable reduction in printing commitments since 2005. Magazine pages for the Watchtower and Awake! have been halved in that period in a further cost-cutting measure. Few would be able to offer justification for such drastic actions unless these were motivated by financial concerns, with paper and ink an increasingly costly means of distributing information in the age of the internet.
Forced to the brink
Now it appears the Candace Conti case is pushing the Society even deeper into financial instability. Many, myself included, believed it would take damage awards from multiple child abuse cases to seriously threaten the Society’s financial prosperity. However, following this latest startling development, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the Society is fighting their appeal, not just to save face over their doctrinal stance on child abuse, but for their very survival!
Only time will tell whether things are really this desperate, or whether this is just an elaborate and reckless piece of strategizing on the part of the Society. Much will be learned on November 8th when the Judge reaches his decision. If he refuses to allow the Society to pay their surety in property assets, they will have a decision to make. They can either abandon their appeal and hold on to their money, or cough up the money, fight on with their appeal, and leave themselves in a financially precarious position. Win or lose, the Candace Conti case has formed a blueprint for future legal action, and more lawsuits are waiting downstream threatening to further sap the Watchtower’s over-burdened finances.
Failure to comply with the law over their reckless child abuse policy, which hinges on a mistaken application of the “two witness rule”, has long been the Achilles heel of the Watch Tower Society. Now it appears the consequences of this negligence are catching up with them.
Speculation aside, one thing that cannot be denied is that the Society is desperate enough to gamble with Patterson, its greatly esteemed educational facility and home of the Gilead School, and risk losing it to Candace Conti if the appeal fails and they cannot pay the damages. Even if the judge allows them to use this as surety instead of cash, many thinking Witnesses will wonder why their hard-earned contributions, donated for the purposes of furthering the worldwide preaching work, are being used to defend the Society’s out-dated, neglectful and damaging policies regarding their handling of child abuse.
To read a partial translation of this article in Italian, please click here (scroll down).
To read this article in Hungarian, please click here.
Great article, balanced and reasonable! False doctrines are expensive in the long run.
Shenanigans and lizard like Lawyerneuvering that will end up blowing up in their faces since the bulk of Jehovah’s Witnesses are the ones who really are going to respond to all of this…I told the Society last year about the ‘Sheep versus Chimpanzee’ perception and how contemptuously they were viewed…I can see Mario Moreno and John Miller’s fingerprints all over this! “When Elephants fight, It’s the Earth that loses!”
Let’s see where this ends. It would appear that just more more court case against the WT could irreparable damage.
Watchtower society crying poor is more fraud for God subterfuge.
All total the fabulously wealthy WBTS has $200 BILLION in worldwide mostly tax free real estate assets.
They are/were the largest tax free land owner in Brooklyn N.Y.
Remember the Jews are 3 million strong in Brooklyn more Jews in Brooklyn than Israel.I love Jews no anti semitism here,just pointing out that Jews are wealthy and succesful and yet the WBTS tops the Jews in land/money.
Think about that and all of it…..
I believe Candace and her mother said that to expect a floodgate of litigation in the next year and I’m sure the Society wants to appear as empty pocketed as possible right now…Tough! They should have thought of that in the mid 90’s when they were smart mouthing us in Monroe Michigan and tormenting us Mr. Mario “Throw it up in the air and I’ll shoot holes in it” Moreno! People died and went to prison and lives were devastated…
Just not the child molester of course! He’s doing fine and well in the congregation and always has…if anyone is in Monroe Michigan be sure to say Hi, to Larry Mattox but don’t leave him alone with your kids!
Another great article!
I think the ‘Society’ has a lot more cash on hand than they are letting on. They are ‘strapped’, yes, and heading for the excrement heap, but they have this first financial whack on the head covered. They are just using the techniques that Satan has taught this world. But there WILL come a time when they curl up in a ball and cry for their mommy and they WON’T be faking. That time is coming soon enough. This is a good step in that direction.
I have not been keeping up with the Conti’s case…how did it go from $28 million dollar lawsuit to $17.3 million? I love your articles, they are detailed and accurate. I hope you will write an article on what the Watchtower teaches on 1918 and 1919. Don’t they teach that there was a spiritual resurrection of the anointed in 1918. And that Jesus appointed the Watchtower Organization(Faithful Discreet Slave a.k.a Governing Body) in 1919. Hoping you will explain how the Watchtower tries to explain this from scripture. Keep up the good work!
Thanks JMN451 – I do intend to discuss the 1918/1919 doctrine in more detail in another article. The reasoning used to arrive at 1919 is particularly interesting! As to the reduction in damages, they were reduced following the JNOV motion by the Society. I hope this answers that question. Cedars
Thank you! By the way do you have a Facebook page on your blog? I thought that would be a good idea.
No, I’m not on facebook yet I’m afraid. However, if you want to follow me on twitter (@cedarsjwsurvey) you’re more than welcome!
Thank you Bro Ceders for the update .
The way I see it, the WT laid ground work for something like this over twenty years ago.
That’s when they secretly started to move their properties into different entities, so if it came to losing property , they would still be very safe and secure.
Hey ! they are over in England banking and investing probably also in other countries , they are Big business and know what they are doing. They have investments all over the land , plus Stock Market & Bonds, you name it they have it.
For instance
How much are the taxes on the Patterson Farm ? Do they owe back taxes? What in the world would Candace do with it ?
Don’t the brothers living there that helped build it have a say in their selling ?, just where would they go/
Puts me in mind of Spain, when the WT got into a tight position, they deserted the sheep, opened the pen and force the sheep to scatter. So many were up in age.
Rather then pay taxes to France .they fought the government . They closed up their works in France and moved to the UK and later sent the JW’s ( like little puppets ) to protest against the government. The United States and other Lands were LIED TO and told that the JW’s in France were being persecuted.
The self appointed Faithful slave was not being obedient to the higher authorities placed in their relative position as Gods servant for our protection. So how could they be faithful ? Romans 13,
.To sell Paterson, for pay off time is more there then meets the eye.
This is just my opinion., probably because when your raised on lies, there’s always more lies .
The brothers/ sisters living there are no longer needed so will be forced out into pasture to live on their own.
Who in the world would buy that farm, let them try and sell it, see what happens. Or did they already look into that ?
There would have to be a eviction of all the brothers and sisters , because the buyer could not keep them, then who would take care of the ground , can you imagine the money it would take to keep this farm.
Keep in mind the property owned by the WT is all kept up and maintained by the residence. Let them the WT put it up for collateral on the condition that they the WT sell in three months
.Let THEM scatter the sheep inside.
Call their bluff.
Being that it was brothers that built that farm, thinking they built it for Jehovah, legally one would think if the WT can sell it that the builders should aLL HAVE A share OF OWNERSHIP IN IT. AS FAR AS LIVING THERE, AFTER IT WAS BUILT IT WAS MAINTAINED AND KEPT UP BY THE RESIDENCE.
THEY WERE CARE TAKERS OF THAT FARM JUST FOR ROOM AND BOARD
WHY SHOULD THE BROTHERS BE A SHARER IN HER CRIME , TO SUFFER FROM WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE POLICE , BY THE WATCHTOWER.!!!
I would just say that whatever the society say could be blatant lies. They practice theocratic war strategy whenever they need to.
In other words they will not tell the truth to someone or an organisation who they think does not deserve the truth, because they view it as fighting against the organisation and therefore fighting against God.
I truly hope all the above really is hurting them, but I would not trust an organisation, that is quite happy not to speak the truth in certain situations.
Great article! I was wondering though; wouldn’t the sell of the Brooklyn Buildings pay enough for the case?
One thing I also was thinking about, is that 2 years is a long time, and I can imagine that by then the Conti case will have much company – hence, more to shell out.
Could it be that the WTS would crumble because of sex scandals?
Doesn’t say much about their holy status. As for reproach on Jah’s name – well done. ;)
Seems any promise to sell Patterson as a bond would create such a ‘slow down’ in comparison to Brooklyn properties for any payment for the Conti case. The WTS could sell so many more sought after properties in Brooklyn and elsewhere and reaping cash in meantime. It’s the WT ‘ploy’ to slow to a time indefinite to pay back for such a court case.
I don’t know – this seems to be a fairly logical tactic to pursue, regardless of whether you have the cash on hand or not. They still expect to win the case, and even if they won’t, they’ll have enough time to hand over the cash then. So it seems perfectly rational to postpone the actual payment by offering other assets as a collateral.
I wouldn’t read too much into this.
@ Gayle ~ Thank You! The Real Estate value of the Brooklyn properties are worth phenomenal values and are some of the highest valued property in the world to my understanding…I don’t think this will fly in the eyes of the court, the general public or the majority sheep who are allowed to know!
I worked in the accounting for 10 years on the district level. A very conservative estimate of income from donations is 1.5 billion a year from congregation contribution boxes. At the conventions of 35,000 in attendance we were depositing close to a million a day. At conventions of 12,000 in attendance it was still close to half a million per day. There were many personal checks in the amount of 10k, 25k, and 50k at those conventions and we would speculate those publishers probably made that their donation for the year.
If WT made it public on JW(dot)ORG or through a letter to all congregations that they were going to suffer financial hardship from this specific court case, every publisher would toss in 10 extra bucks to the world wide work for the month. Quick extra 70 million in just one week or month.
Im surprised a complete financial write up on the WBTS has not been done. Despite the astute speculation from a number of sources that indicate the WBTS is hurting financially, it is my personal guess that their total worth at the present time is 1 trillion dollars.
Well that answers some of my questions, tylin. Very interesting. I think maybe dubless may have a point. They have the money. It’s probably more a case of reputation.
Also, by doing what Cedars explained, they may be just showing the sheep that they are not as rich as the apostates say! Just a thought…
But with the 70 years countdown in Israel about to be over (70 yrs. from 1948) the thing that matters now is: “Christians should no longer pay tax”
True in Romans 13 1-7 the Christians were commanded to “be in subjection to the governing authorities…for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil” (13:4) But what if the government itself is the one who practice evil?
The government of this world is protector of the system that were making human worthless without money; protector of the system that is destroying our planet for the sake of profit. Paying tax to keep them safe guarding the wicked system is a sin. In Revelation 11:18 it was said that “those who destroy the earth God will destroy” so do not pay tax, do not sustain the governments that are responsible to the demise of this planet lest you be partakers of their sin, lest you be partakers of their plagues.
No question the early Christians pay tax but that is because they’re not yet in power at that time. But today that most countries in the world are now ruled by leaders who claimed to be Christians why do Christians still pays back to Caesar the things of Caesar when they are now supposed to be returning God the things of God –all things belong to God (Psalm 24:1)– and God’s thing includes that His son is tax exempt as Jesus said “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive taxes, from their sons or from the strangers?’ Simon said: ‘from the strangers,’ Jesus said to him: then the sons are tax-free.'” (Mat 17:24-26) Each time you pray “Our Father” you indicate that you are son of God therefore should not pay tax.
DO NOT PAY TAX
The governments of this world is described in the Bible (Daniel 7; Revelation 17) as beast, if you continue paying taxes you are the ones who feed the beast, cease from supplying food to the beast “Anyone conquering will inherit these (all) things, and I shall be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowards and those practicing spiritism and idolaters and all the liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur. This means the second death.” (Revelation 21:7,8)
as much as I know they have more than 20.000 cases of child abuse in Brooklyn. And I guess that some more cases come to the court. So finally they get what they deserve for their former behaviour to cover all crimes, to protect the evildoers and to threaten on the children of the brothers.
I regret that I was elder for many years. But I never supprted their criminal desires and finally i stepped down as my conscience did not llow to support them on. In Europe their travelling overseers even deny that Watchtower is an INcorporation on stocks. They lie whereever and whatever they can and yet teach that they are led by gods holy spirit – those crooks who even wrote in 1933 a letter to Hitler wherein they confirmed that Watchtower has the same high targets as the German empire.
So we see who and what they are: opportunists who show with a finger to other churches to demonstrate their failurs. but they dont recognize that their own failures are much more criminal.
Only one important thing here: in 1968 an organtransplantation was “modern act of cannibalism” and all JWs who needed eg a kidney rejected and died. And 10 years later it was allowed.
They promote crime and polarize families. AT last they will be judged by the almighty for misusing him for their dirty imposing policy
I wish people, someone would recognize the abuse and Human Rights violations/atrocities committed against the Mentally Ill in that organization! It is a travesty and violent abuse that is shockingly unbelievable and the numbers dwarf child abuse but it deals with “non people” who are silent and by nature compliant so it is not dealt with. Also, society’s stigmas might flow along so as to not want to know…The “Mentally Diseased” debacle said it all! Moon Valley Congregation in Phoenix is a classic example…
Good for you ! you are wide awake to see your salvation is not tied up in a organization. Jesus said, to take HIS load because it was light.
Isn’t it great to be free!
Thats what the truth does. Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
2 Corinthians 3:17
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
//The “Mentally Diseased” debacle said it all! Moon Valley Congregation in Phoenix is a classic example…//
KtotheRAD, I’m not familiar with the Moon Valley story, could you please give me a link or a rough explanation? THis perks my interest, as I am in the Phoenix area. Thanks.
There is nothing known about Moon Valley…it’s just a classic example of years of emotional and physical abuse and deprivation of marriage and relationships, control, slander with repeated disfellowshippings and discipline, homelessness and loss of property etc,. due to Mental Illness. Everything is spiritual and a personal failure and shortcoming even if it’s caused by Jehovah’s Witnesses and there are no Excuses! Typical classic scenario…with full knowledge and participation of Overseers and Society.
Cedars,
Just did a brief research on WT chronology. It appears they believe that Jesus appointed king in October 1914. Jesus inspection and cleanses of the spiritual temple in spring 1918 possibly in April. At the same time the anointed were resurrected to heaven in April or spring of 1918. Then Jesus appointed the Faithful Discreet Slave(Now Governing Body) in the summer of 1919. I believe the WT explains the 1919 date from Revelation 11 where John measures the temple and the 3 and half years are mentioned.
That’s more or less it. However, the three and a half year period only gets you as far as 1918 from late 1914 – so where does 1919 come from?! ;-)
The three and a half years is from December 1914 to June 1918. At the end of the three and half years the two witnesses are killed. The killing is spiritual according to the WT, it’s when their preaching work was stopped and they were imprisoned in the spring of 1918. But then resurrection occur after three and a half DAYS which has nothing to do with the previous three and a half YEARS. So somehow they interpret these 3 1/2 days from June 1918 to June 1919. But still not sure how they are doing their calculations…I hope this helps!
Thanks, it was a rhetorical question! I know the answer, but (as you might expect) reason and logic have nothing to do with it. 1919 is essentially a made-up year. It was chosen because it conformed with events in early Witness history – not for any scriptural reason. My future article will explain this.
I can’t wait to read your article on this I’m sure you will clarify many things. I agree with you it is really based on their history more than scripture. But of course they must find something in the Bible to make it appear scriptural. Hoping you will also discuss how they also believed that the anointed were resurrected to heaven in 1918 probably at the same time Jesus began His “inspection and cleansing of the spiritual temple” in April of 1918.
Let’s not forget about violating the Rights of young females either! Controlling who they may marry and even talk to is the Elder’s assignment which we all know is ultimately the Elder’s wives and females in the congregation but moving the young ladies around the country to control and avoid,evade men of unacceptability, especially older men after the “Threat indoctrination” is a long standing atrocity in this organization…Only Black males have the free Ticket to run their “Snow Bunny” game…This is all confirmed and was a serious Legal Matter for them!
how can they be found appropriate in 1919 as in WW 1 the Watchtower joinde the churches of Northamerica to pray for teh defeat of Kaiser wilhelm, Kaiser Karl from Austria and the Turkish Sultan. And the biblestudents were soldiers on both sides.
no neutral christians and the position of the Tower was slightly more against the entente and pro Germany.
That they explained too in their letter to Hitler in 1933 that they were always on Germany side and that they have the same targets like Hitles government.
I cant eat as much as I need to vomit.
Such spiritual imposters are given. Stop them, bind them and silence them!
I really can’t wait for your article Cedars. This is solid truth against a conceited and lying organization.
Thanks for the feedback KtotheRAD. I know of many of these cases… indeed. Orwellian organization.
Tongue in cheek: Maybe they can use the insurance from the $15Mil fire in Jamaica to one of their Kingdom Halls towards the $17Mil…Although I am having a hard time understanding why a KH would ever be worth that much…something is missing from this news story. http://rjrnewsonline.com/local/kingdom-hall-destroyed-by-fire
Cedars, why do you assume that the property in Patterson refers to the Watchtower Educational Center? Might the Watchtower own other property in Patterson?
Hello Graham, that’s an excellent question. I have personally visited Patterson, so I know it’s an expansive estate of buildings, all falling under the umbrella of the “Watchtower Educational Center”. Ironically, a good number of WT lawyers live in private residences in the hillside surrounding the main complex.
It seems obvious to me that Watchtower would be reticent to offer ALL of Patterson as security. However, $17.3 million is a substantial amount of money and would buy a sizeable chunk in a deflated market. Remember that a property is only worth as much as someone is willing to pay, and we are talking about mostly “built for purpose” buildings that would need extensive renovation if they were converted for private use.
“Location, location, location” is the mantra when it comes to buying and selling property, and the remote rural location wouldn’t necessarily be appealing to a good majority of businesses.
I don’t know what the exact cut of the estate pie would be, or whether parcelling it off is even in the minds of the legal department for certain. However, I can see $17.3 million accounting for a considerable portion under the present circumstances. And in the Watchtower’s worse case scenario, I can’t imagine the Watchtower Society and Candace Conti making the perfect neighbours!
Regardless, it’s probably a moot point, because I personally believe the judge will throw out the motion.
Cedars
Excellent blog, by the way.
Don’t forget that during the original Conti trial, the Watchtower presented a financial statement that said they had $30 Million (USD) in cash and over $1Billion (USD) in property. What happened to that $30M? Did they have to pay their utility bills? Did the newly defined FDS/GB need new limousines to match their equal status to Jesus Christ? If they deposited that $30M in an account that just paid the current Prime Rate (3.25%) it would generate $1M a year in interest – enough to pay the monthlies on the Conti bond.
I think that the Watchtower has been shifting funds between the different corporations to deplete the New York entity’s financials. “Let’s move some to Christian Congregation…, Pennsylvania, IBSA, Canada.” Let’s pay some of our contracts in advance, rather than in programmed payments. Let’s have the local congregations hold their Kingdom Hall payments in their local bank accounts until the Conti case blows over. Any other ideas how we can hide money?”
I’m sorry, but I do not trust the Watchtower to do the right thing and pay Ms. Conti what the court has ordered. I am quite confident that they will continue to whine and plead poverty in order to get Ms. Conti to negotiate outside of the court for a much lower amount – maybe just enough to pay her attorneys and get herself a 5-year old Honda Civic to drive around in. I’m telling you – these guys will protect every dollar they can while using this situation to milk as many extra dollars out of the rank and file as they can.
@John Hoyle ~ In Monroe Michigan regarding the Larry Mattox case, many of us repeatedly told the legal department about the collusion between the local Elders and the then Prosecutor’s office and that they clearly were not going to prosecute no matter what we presented. Even though there were not only child victims a plenty but adults who were one time child victims, the court appointed psychologist refuted the credibility of the couple of victims interviewed on the basis that a very intelligent preteen used the word “fondled” and therefore was coached. This in his view was a word beyond his age and scope. The Society used this as an excuse not to proceed and the matter was dropped from their end but The lead parent and most were Disfellowshipped. He was later convicted of the bogus sex crime of showing the Playboy channel to underage girls at his place of business even though he never had pay TV, only a TV antenna. Jeff F. served time and is on the sex offender registry while Larry Mattox is active in the congregation and always was…some children died and many other events took place during that affair…nobody got away without a $75,000 sign-off Gag Order of course!
Whether the government is wrong has nothing to do with it. This has all come about because of disgusting child abuse or child rape caused by a slack religion claiming to be Christian. That is why this will all come to fruition. It is in the hands of the Almighty now and He sets the judgements and the punishments and the humiliations.
another great article cedrars.
I was just wondering which District you worked in for the accounting or Auditing Dept. cos my Dad was always being used at all levels of Conventions across the MidSouth (Memphis, TN) area – I thought maybe you might have known my Dad – He was Aubrey Guy. I think he literally died from a broken heart by the way he was treated by the WTS after so many years of serving them faithfully and nobody really knows what my Dad went thru before he died except our immediate family but my Mom is dead now also. A bone marrow transplant would have saved her life! I consider the WTS to be coldblooded murderers of my parents! They were deceived by the WTS. They nearly got my life also – I was sexually abused for a long time and then blamed for it and then forbidden to tell the police and was even publicly reproved for my own rapes!! I tried to commit suicide so many times, I lost count! I spent at least a year or more in Psych Hospitals trying to be convinced that I was NOT a filthy piece of crap and that it was NOT my fault that I was raped by a brother 36 years OLDER than I was and there is a LOT more to my story but I just cannot get into it all right now – but did you ever know or work with Aubrey Lee Guy ever during a Convention as he was usually the Auditing Overseer? Just wonderin, but I dont even know who YOU are!! :) I am Debbie GUY Moore and I left JWs in 2009 or so because while I was in a NURSING HOME recovering from a fall that broke both arms(humerous bones) and both shoulders (rotator cuffs) AND fractured my neck, rupturing every disc in it and I could not move below the neck and my best friend (I thought) was a sister I considered my spiritual mom called the N.H. I was in and told me I’d better take down my FB page and I had never put one up and I couldnt move so I obviously did not have a way to see what she was talking about and I had moved 1000 miles away from where she was and she kept screaming that I was an Apostate and I had no idea and to this day have no idea what she was talking about cos she kept saying I did know but I couldnt even hold the phone – my nurse held it to my ear while I was berated. Needless to say that overnight I was tried, judged and executed after 46 yrs of being a faithful JW and THAT, my friend, was when I had enough crap and became exactly what they wanted me to be – AGAINST EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE WATCHTOWER SOCIETY!!! I don’t hate people as a rule, but my entire life was a lie, now it seems to me! I will NEVER go back and I have my life’s mission to help bring that ORG DOWN!! I know a lot from being an Elders Daughter! YEARS of SECRETS I knew about! I would LOVE to rake them over the coals like they did to my family! Sorry, my anger is coming out and I did not mean for that to happen. I JUST found your website and I am reading everything I can. I am 51 now and have had to rebuild my entire life from scratch and so far I have. I have poor health though, as do so many JWs and exJWs – why do you think that is?? The CONTROLLING of the minds?? Answer only if you want to. Thanks.
My comment was directed to someone who worked in the Accounting/Auditing part of the Conventions and I was talking to them specifically to see if they knew my Dad/ But my comment seemed to just go to the end of the line without HIS quote in my reply. Sorry if you do not understand my comment.
Debbie, your story is one of so many experiences. IN a nutshell: Those men in the Governing body and all those capos who support them will get their reward unfailingly. Jehovah is love and they misused his word for their own ideas. What they added to the bible they get added in reward. Head up – it comes with big leaps.
Debbie,
I you ever want to tell your story to a wider audience, feel free to contact me directly (editor@ex-jw.com) and I will be happy to help you write and organize it. I’ll be happy to edit and publish it for you on one of my widely-read websites. Sorry you have been through so much and suffered so much pain, but you can share your story to help strengthen the resolve of others who need support.
At this point, I would venture to say that even if the Conti case was a fraud (which it is not), it would still serve the purpose to expose the criminal and destructive position the WTS takes on the matter.
The Conti case is a symbol to all those who have been molested, and seen their molester get away with it because of WTS protocol.
That seems to be the main point, to me.
Cedars ~ It’s very important for you and all to know and understand that “Ryan” is also “Dream-Weaver” (on topix)and “Alice” “Alice.in.Wonderland” elsewhere as well as “diduknowthis” (on Huffpo) and “alice5973” (on YouTube) This is either a very unstable or crafty, chameleon like but certainly foul mouthed individual who’s posts are manifest for all to see with a clear agenda and quite possibly could be acting as a confederate in someone else’s interests…please be advised!
It’s okay, I’ve blacklisted his IP address. I won’t have trolls on this website spreading hatred and defending a damaging cult. Thanks though! Cedars