Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Case Study 29, “Submissions on behalf of Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia & Others (SUBM.1029.001.0001)”
“Jehovah's Witnesses consider that the requirement for two witnesses is not a matter for debate as it is based on Scriptural requirements found in the Mosaic Law and reiterated by Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul. Even when the requisite Scriptural evidence is lacking, elders nevertheless take precautionary measures.”
Par. 5.18. Par. 9.16: 'when an allegation is made by an adult survivor of child sexual abuse, it is not the right of an organisation to make a report on that adult's behalf unless the adult requests that it be done.' Par. 9.211 compares the two-witness rule to the criminal standard of proof and the hearsay rule. Pars. 9.358-9.359 quote the 1 October 2012 letter to bodies of elders (pars. 11-13) on remaining 'vigilant' and warning parents.
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Provenance and verification note for Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Case Study 29, Submissions on behalf of Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia & Others (SUBM.1029.001.0001)
Confidence note. Downloaded and text-extracted the 141-page PDF; quotations verbatim. This is the organisation's formal written response to Counsel Assisting's proposed findings.
Scan provenance. New Zealand Abuse in Care Royal Commission evidence library copy of the Australian Royal Commission submission (RC doc ID SUBM.1029.001.0001; NZ ID MSC0500435).
Corroborated by. src-arc-2016-1000-cs29-report
Notes. The Case Study 29 report (pp. 8-9, 59, 76) summarises and responds to these submissions.
Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-wt-subs-2015-1109-royal-commission