THANK YOU Steven Unthank

Hi everyone

ohiocowboy has just posted this information on the two other threads dealing with the sudden collapse of the Unthank cases.

I don't know Steven Unthank, but I just want to thank him from the bottom of my heart for having the courage against overwhelming odds to try and bring the Watch Tower Society to justice over their deplorable neglect when it comes to protecting children from abuse and molestation.

Steven is a man of justice and integrity who I deeply admire. His actions will never be forgotten, and I only hope he can find it within himself to continue his work in whatever avenue may become available in the future.

They have won this battle, but they can never win the war.

Cedars

Link

by Steven Unthank

February 21, 2012

Victoria, AUSTRALIA

I went to court today to defend and protect the children within the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses. All I carried in my hand were two books, the Holy Bible and a copy of the Working with Children Act 2005. These I placed on the bar table as I took my seat before the Magistrate. There was nothing else I could do. The prosecuting of these 5 separate criminal cases and 35 individual charges had been taken off me.

I left court today after having failed to defend and protect the children within the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I carried in my hand only one book.

I apologize to the children for failing to defend them and for failing to protect them. Please forgive me. I tried my best, God knows I tried my best.

Steven Unthank

former Acting Prosecutor

The above pencil drawing is an image of a young child in the Traralgon Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses that was recently raped by a fellow member of the church. Part of her rape included the insertion of Lego blocks into her vagina. This innocent child then went on to be abused yet again by the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Body of Elders within the Traralgon Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses when they refused to comply with mandatory child protection laws for “religious organisations” and for “ministers of religion” as legislated in the Working with Children Act 2005.

Following the rapes and abuse the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses turned it’s back on this child and her family, as well as the other abused children, and then actively hindered, opposed and condemned any execution of justice by aiding and shielding the lawbreakers.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr John Champion SC, after extensive consultation with Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay, declared in court today that the prosecution of those who abused this child, and other children that had also been recently raped or abused within the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses “is not in the best public interest”. Thereupon the Director of Public Prosecutions discontinued the prosecution. The Magistrate declared in Court that he was powerless to prevent it. The police and the State refused to protect these children and to grant them equal protection of the law.

“Only persons have human rights . . . Corporations do not have human rights . . . Every person is equal before the law and is entitled to the equal protection of the law . . . Families are the fundamental group unit of society and are entitled to be protected by society and the State . . . Every child has the right, without discrimination, to such protection as is in his or her best interests and is needed by him or her by reason of being a child.” – Victorian Charter of Human Rights.

“The main purpose of this Act is to assist in protecting children from sexual or physical harm by ensuring that people who work with, or care for, them have their suitability to do so checked by a government body.” – Section 1(1) Working with Children Act 2005, Victoria, Australia.

“It is encouraging to know that child abuse is now acknowledged as a worldwide problem . . . some countries . . . are even setting up a register of known pedophiles, restricting their easy access to children. Then there are those who seek a better life for children by passing legislation to protect them . . . While we all no doubt applaud such efforts to rid society of child abuse, we must be realistic and acknowledge that child abuse has very deep roots in human society. It would be naive to think that a simple solution such as legislation will provide complete protection for our children. Many laws have already been passed, and yet the problem persists. It is really an indictment of the world’s delinquent adults that the natural right to childhood has to be protected by a vast array of laws. Laws are not the ultimate protection for children . . . governments, pushed to the limits by economic constraints, are not doing enough to stop the exploitation of their children . . . Think of the heartbreak of parents who have discovered, too late, that their children have been abused by trusted clergymen, teachers, or even close family members. It would be good for you as a parent to ask yourself, ‘Does my church tolerate or cover up child abuse? Is my religion holding firmly to high moral principles?’ Answers to such questions could help you to make wise choices in protecting your children.” - Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Awake! magazine, April 8, 1999.

Words fail me.  Appalled and completely gutted. 

THANK YOU STEVE.

Paula. x 

Steven... I can't even begin to imagine how you must feel right now... but please know that we are very proud of you and what you've accomplished so far... somehow, I don't think this is the end of this case... In fact, I believe it is now ripe enough to be exposed on the world stage...

Thank you!!!! Hold your head high friend.

bump

May I add my thanks to Steven for his efforts, he did a splendid job, tenaciously sticking to the case and seeing it through as far as he possibly could.

I am sure he has the admiration of thousands around the world for what he has achieved.

It is my hope we can build on his hard work and maybe give this matter more impetus, I await more info before jumping any guns, but I feel we have a short window of time if this really is the end of the road legally, to get the media on board.

Once again, THANK YOU, STEVEN UNTHANK.

Thank you, Steven. Do not give up!

While we may be discouraged by the latest news,

Isn't it also true that the witnesses backed down and had their elders register as people working with children as per the Australian law?

                                   Good job Steven..

    You did everything a person could possibly do for those children..

                How does the WBT$ crush something this big?

          The WBT$ has more power and money than I imagined..

You were crushed at the highest level..Then it was swept under the rug..

     There is more to this than just WBT$ leaders and WBT$ lawyers..

      There is someone or something,much bigger in the back round..

                          We just got a brief glimpse of it..

                                                             ..................;-)...OUTLAW

im just stunned that at the very least the watchtower wasent fined and forced to comply completly with the law. what a horrible precedent this sets, and other corperations now have no reason to comply with the law since its clear they do not enforce it.

james_woods asked,

Isn't it also true that the witnesses backed down and had their elders register as people working with children as per the Australian law?

You are right about that.  As I recall from a previous court update, when the judge asked Watchtower's attorney why they hadn't complied, she replied that "It's all been sorted out now."

Just prior to that court appearance a letter was sent to congregations telling elders to comply with the WWC Act.

In this respect Steven Unthank achieved a great victory, because without his efforts Watchtower would still be in non-compliance.

Thank You Steven for all your efforts 

Yours is the First Silver Bullet under the darkened moon. A new day has risen

For much of the last 24 hours I've been pre-occupied with all things not JW-related (including catching up on some sleep). I've just spent the best part of an hour reading through the 13 pages of the "what do we know" thread, and I have to say it wasn't a pleasant experience. It was pretty much like walking through the unlocked door of a bathroom unaware that a friend of yours is in there taking a turd. It was obscene and wholly unexpected. I feel like I have now seen this forum at its very lowest.

I won't go into all the allegations and criticism in minute detail, because much of it isn't worth repeating. I personally have no reason to doubt that Steven Unthank is a real person, who bravely took on the might of the Watch Tower Society, albeit without the desired outcome. Did he commit some errors of judgment? Yes. Who doesn't?! And he's admitted to that. I also note that he apologised about the way the image of the child was used. I personally found the graphic information that was presented along with the image distasteful, but that doesn't lessen in any way the importance of the work Steven has done and the bravery he has shown. Just because the guy (like many of us) is still in the post-cult healing process, and may not be able to express himself in the way that many of us would prefer, that doesn't in any way diminish the fact that he has conscientiously stood up for the children in the state of Victoria and tried his very best to protect them from an evil cult.

Many of us are still hurting from our experiences in the "Borg", and I fear that sometimes we take our anger out on eachother - myself included. What I find inexcusable is the willingness with which some people on this forum will "kick a man when he's down", moments after a genuine attempt at prosecuting the Society has failed. There is also the tendency for posters to be held as "guilty until proven innocent". I'm sure it goes without saying that certain "personalities" on this forum have been proven to fabricate the truth, yet one in particular refuses to apologise for it. Steven, on the other hand, when it came to light that the picture had been posted in a misleading way (and even in the face of cruel and overwhelming abuse) apologized unreservedly for any offence that was caused. This must have taken great courage, and I commend and applaud him for doing this. I would urge everyone to get off his case at what must be a very difficult time for him. I myself know what it's like to go to a legal court and end up on the losing side, and the feeling of humiliation is indescribable. I can well imagine how dejected Steven must feel given how much he has invested in this case, both financially and emotionally. And yet, all of you expect him to be completely "Spock-like" and void of emotion in delivering the details. If I were in his shoes, likely I would be just as emotional and scathing of my opponents as he is. We are all only human after all.

I don't really have much to add, and I have probably said too much already. I'm bracing myself for the backlash. I just want to re-emphasize my sincere thanks to Mr Unthank for his excellent work and dedication to the cause. I continue to support him whole-heartedly, and I will continue to do whatever I can with my own limited circumstances to hasten the downfall of the organization, although having read the previously-mentioned thread, it is sobering to think that the hindrances to any action taken against the Society may be much closer to home than I would like.

Cedars

That's a really long way of saying the ends justify the means.  I don't accept that and I'm sure there are plenty others that don't either. Take your place on the wall of shame Unthank.

Johnnytwofeet... Can I suggest that you try not to speak for others on this forum... speak for yourself all day long if you like...

I agree with Cedars 100%...

Can I suggest that you look up the proper usage of ellipses?

exactly... speak for yourself... now you're getting the hang of it...

Alfred, read this slowly so that you don't get confused. I spoke for myself when I rejected the apologist pablum being trotted out by supporters of Unthank. I gave my opinion when I said there were others that also rejected these excuses because (here it comes read this slow) others already rejected the excuses in other threads!

You're welcome ( you may resume your normal speed of reading now )

Read this slowly.... get laid.... that's just two words so you should be done by now... but I'll give you a few more minutes if you need it...

LOL. I accept your complete and unreserved retreat.