Jehovah’s Witnesses Finally Join the Australian Redress Scheme

Looks like Jehovah’s Witnesses will join the redress scheme in Australia finally, but don’t think it’s because god somehow inspired them to do the right thing:

The organisation says it will sign up because of new rules introduced by the federal government, which mean it would lose its charity status – and subsequent tax exemptions – for continuing to hold out.

“Now that the law requires charities to join the scheme, Jehovah’s Witnesses will comply,” it said in a statement to AAP on Wednesday.

Ah! Okay! Well at least the organization is being honest about being rotten. It can’t lose its precious tax status! The organization still takes absolutely no responsibility for the abuse that’s happened under its watch, but don’t take my word for it:

“Jehovah’s Witnesses did not voluntarily join because we object to the assertion that the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses assumes responsibility for children,” the group said.

For an organization that micromanages every aspect of life for members, this is certainly an interesting twist. But hey, a win is a win. I’ll take their hand being forced to do the right thing for victims, over nothing, any day.


Posted

in

by

Comments

3 responses to “Jehovah’s Witnesses Finally Join the Australian Redress Scheme”

  1. Ron Avatar

    @smithtimmytim My issue is with you feeling like you want to denigrate them, for whatever reason, but particularly in this case, as regards to tax exempt status. I DID read what you wrote! I read it with my own eyes. I wouldn’t write that in my country, as I said. Of course you are the expert about what you want to write.

  2. smithtimmytim Avatar

    @Ron my issue isn’t with their tax status. My issue is that they have to be threatened with its removal to do right by victims of sexual abuse.

  3. Ron Avatar

    @smithtimmytim I think you’re being very unfair to the group that wants to preserve its exempt status.

    I don’t know anything about the laws there, but I am a 37 yr expert on US tax exempt organizations. Their tax exempt status is a huge benefit that basically makes it possible for them to stay in business and to continue to do extremely good work for good people of all kinds who truly need their help!!! I would never ever speak ill of such people, even for a second. They are dedicated hard-working people who work every day to make our country & its people better.

    At least here, I would be offended to read anyone making light of any group that is able to do their good work in large part because of their tax exempt status. This is a corner of the US tax code that does a HUGE amount of good for people who need all the help they can get.

    I would never ever denigrate their good work for even one second. ⛪