From: sornson@illusn.enet.dec.com (Mark Sornson)
Subject: A correction is in order (was JWs Child Custody booklet ...)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date:  8 APR 92 15:45:20    


In article <1992Apr8.132530.1676@cs.joensuu.fi>, asiivo@cs.joensuu.fi (Antti Siivonen) writes...
>Rubbish.
> 
>	Lately I've been discouraged to give one-word answers, so I'll do a 
>	longer answer: 
> 
>		Rubbish, you've invented the whole thing, there hasn't been 
>		such booklet anywhere - if there is, it isn't published by


        As a Witness myself, I believe some correction and clarification is
    in order.

        Despite my opinion that Walter Smith is abusing both the truth
    about and spirit of the material in the booklet in question (whether
    it's a booklet or something else, I don't know), I think it's
    absolutely necessary to make it clear (to Andreas and everyone else,
    just so there's no doubt) that THERE IS such a book published by the
    Watchtower Society (and not by "our enemies"), and that it's NOT
    official Witness policy to deny its existence or make false claims
    about it.  Since it was, in all likelihood, prepared with the US court
    system specfically in mind, it might *not* be available in Finland, but
    it DEFINITELY is available here in the US.

        Now, on the matter of its availability, it is NOT available to the
    general Witness public, let alone to the non-Witness public at large. 
    It was prepared specifically to assist Witnesses who are personally
    involved in divorce/custody procedings, and is thus not something that
    is in general, internal circulation among Witnesses.  My own guess is
    that since the legal world is SO dynamic and subject to change -- and
    as time goes on, new things are learned (like what works and what
    doesn't) in the process -- material like this is NOT made public
    because it needs to be kept current.  Also, material like this is also
    simply not relevant to everyone.  What the Society publishes for
    general circulation IS relevant to everyone.

>		How do you explain that I haven't seen any references to this
>		booklet in our literature ?

        It *may* only be available in the US -- and thus you wouldn't have
    heard about it in Finland.  But if it IS available in Finland (or if a
    version of it that's tailored to the Finnish court system exists), you
    probably haven't heard of it because you either aren't involved in a
    divorce/custody case yourself, or you don't know any one who is -- this
    being in addition to the fact that since its purpose isn't for general
    circulation, it isn't something that the Society would make constant
    reference to (like it does the Watchtower magazine or its many other
    Bible-related publications).

        I believe I heard about it at a Service Meeting, which is public,
    or perhaps it was a 'servants meeting' which is not (i.e., it's only
    for ministerial servants and elders) -- which means that at best I've
    only come across a reference to it once or twice.  You could easily
    have missed it, especially if the purpose of the material isn't an
    immediate concern of yours.

    =-*-=

        As an entirely separate matter, I think it's very unusual for
    Walter Smith to have a copy of this material, since 1) HE is not a
    Witness, and 2) his wife is also presently not a Witness [and thus it
    is also highly unlikely that she would have obtained it through the
    only official channels for its distribution, namely through the
    congregation elders or from the Society directly].  However, how Walter
    came into possession of the material is irrelevant to the truth that
    the material DOES exist, and IS published by the WB&TS.

        If anyone would like to talk more about this whole matter, you are
    welcome to contact me by e-mail (though I should say in advance that
    *I* don't have a copy of the book either, though I *do* have opinions
    on what Walter has already said about it).

        						regards to all,
    							-mark sornson.
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