AUSTRALIA
SBS

Source: AAP
28 JUL 2015

The Jehovah’s Witnesses used the biblical term “uncleanness” to describe an elders’ persistent molestation of a young girl and just stood him down from preaching.

A royal commission sitting in Sydney heard on Tuesday how the church uses biblical terms to describe criminal behaviour.

“Uncleaness” is not as serious as “loose conduct”, retired district overseer Doug Jackson said when he was questioned about the Witnesses investigation into abuse committed by Elder Bill Neill in the Narrogin congregation in Western Australia in the late 80s and 1990s.

“Loose conduct” would cover intercourse and is referred to in the bible as “immorality, porneia”, Mr Jackson said.