New articles found relating to JW's

[SteveAus]

1.  Treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Jehovah’s Witness using chemotherapy agents

 

2.  Scotland Publishes Paediatric Blood-Refusal Guidelines
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde released updated clinical guidelines addressing care for paediatric Jehovah’s Witness patients who refuse blood transfusions. These protocols emphasize respecting patient or guardian decisions, signaling healthcare systems' growing commitment to religious autonomy in clinical settings.

*Note the flow chart under subheading 'Algorithm'*

 

3.  Sweden Submission to UN Highlights Religious Discrimination
The European Association of Jehovah’s Witnesses submitted a report to the UN Human Rights Committee (144th session) documenting increased hate speech and vandalism after Sweden's 2025 religious funding law—urging state-level review and stronger protections under Article 18 of the ICCPR. - PDF

Edited June 10 by SteveAus

[SteveAus]

A Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine ethical review addresses conscientious refusal of blood transfusion by Jehovah’s Witnesses - PDF

Edited June 11 by SteveAus

[Mike047]

Always useful to see a positive review. Thanks Steve.

[SteveAus]

Not a review or news as such, but found this page on the Penn Medicine site - "Bloodless medicine and transplantation"

[SteveAus]

Cancer Treatment Centers of America now promoting "Bloodless Medicine & Surgery Program'

Quote

At City of Hope, we also recognize the rights of religious groups, such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, whose beliefs prohibit transfusions.

 

[SteveAus]

Surgeons Perform UPMC’s First Bloodless Heart, Kidney Transplant

 

Quote

 

Clinicians performed a heart and kidney transplant without the use of blood products for the first time at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital. The patient is a Jehovah’s Witness who, for religious reasons, does not accept blood products. This may be the first time a heart-kidney transplant has been performed in a patient who could not accept blood transfusion.

The patient was in heart failure and had been turned down for surgery at other locations due to heart failure as well as renal insufficiency. After careful evaluation at UPMC Presbyterian, the patient was listed for a heart and kidney transplant.

 

 

Source

[SteveAus]

Nice write up - "Thousands of Jehovah’s Witnesses expected to fill Orem arena for convention"

Source

[TonyS]

On 6/10/2025 at 7:44 PM, SteveAus said:

The European Association of Jehovah’s Witnesses submitted a report to the UN Human Rights Committee (144th session) documenting increased hate speech and vandalism after Sweden's 2025 religious funding law—urging state-level review and stronger protections under Article 18 of the ICCPR.

I'm one year into my dedication since I symbolized it in baptism.  So, I hope what I'm asking or about to post doesn't come across negatively or in opposition.

I live in the U.S.  Prior to baptism, I was somewhat political in the sense that I tried to keep up with the general issues and voted in the elections, federally, state, and local level.  Obviously, I grew disillusioned with everything.  This is one reason why I decided to follow Jehovah and Jesus in the hopes of realizing God's Kingdom will solve all of our problems.  To not digress, I believed in the separation of church and state.  Thus, I felt strongly that religions should not be entitled to public funding because they should have the resources to manage their own 'enterprise' if you will.  I didn't support the government providing funds that would take away from public education to give it to private religious schools either.  I also come from a place of deep hatred for religion as a whole because of all the evil done in God's name.  Most of know the awful histories of World's religions on its people.  Nothing I hated more was the exploitation, the ensuing use of slavery to create the world we now live in, complete with its neat explanations of progress at the expense of human lives in the name of God.

 

I know I'm limited in my understanding of the issues relating to Church and State, I'm sure there's a lot of 'gray' in between black and white.  I just hope I'm making sense up to this point.

Anyhow, one of the issues mentioned in document stated Sweden 'inhibited' JWs from receiving State Grants afforded to 'registered religious community' organizations, such as they are since March 2000 (apparently, this new law was enacted by Sweden in 2024). 

 

When I first read this my initial reaction was why should we be entitled to State Grants (in Sweden or anywhere)?  My feelings or opinion being, why are we depending on the State in this way? We should stand on our own.  I'm so naive!

I'm trying to think through this though.  So far, I'm realizing I don't know or understand much about aspects of religious separation, but I have a concern that some who are more aware will view us as contradictory or hypocritical, because, on the one hand a religious organization like ours will participate or support worldly governments, yet we are advocating for equal treatment when it involves receiving a State's grant or public funding.

Please, I realize this may be controversial, and I apologize.  I'm not trying to cause harm or act as an opposer.  Honestly, on anyone's word, I will not post my thoughts again on this platform if I cause one to stumble (nor will I go against my God Jehovah over it; I'm sure he will help me come to understand this matter in due time, and I'll wait).   It's just a serious question with no easy or reasonable answer.  This situation just kind of blind sided me, and like I said, I'm new to The Way, but I'm trying to 'mature up' where I can.  Jehovah willing.  Sincerely.


 

[trottigy]

I know things are different in different countries. I always saw this as similar to - we don't pay taxes in the US. In other countries - maybe it's the reverse. 

 

From the article:

"From certain details in the Official Report “Government support for religious communities in  a multi-religious Sweden” (Statens stöd till trossamfund i ett mångreligiöst Sverige) (the  explanatory report) it appears that the new law, with its imprecise criteria that allow for  effectively unfettered arbitrary interpretation, has been drafted specifically to inhibit Jehovah’s  Witnesses from receiving State grants in future. Annually, more than 40 other religious  communities receive such grants. Ulf Bjereld, who is a professor of political science, chaired  the working group that drafted the explanatory report. He has gone on record as saying that the  legislation was contemplated because politicians want to prevent Jehovah’s Witnesses from  receiving government subsidies. The newspaper Dagen quoted Professor Bjereld: “It was not  about Muslims or LGBTQ issues initially, but the question was whether Jehovah’s Witnesses  would have access to tax money. We will have to see whether this legislation is enough to  prevent them from receiving subsidies.”

 

So, other religions that are registered receive a stipend or grant, but not us. If all other registered religions receive these funds, JWs who are registered should also.

Edited July 29 by trottigy

[LeolaRootStew]

1 hour ago, TonyS said:

I'm one year into my dedication since I symbolized it in baptism.  So, I hope what I'm asking or about to post doesn't come across negatively or in opposition.

I live in the U.S.  Prior to baptism, I was somewhat political in the sense that I tried to keep up with the general issues and voted in the elections, federally, state, and local level.  Obviously, I grew disillusioned with everything.  This is one reason why I decided to follow Jehovah and Jesus in the hopes of realizing God's Kingdom will solve all of our problems.  To not digress, I believed in the separation of church and state.  Thus, I felt strongly that religions should not be entitled to public funding because they should have the resources to manage their own 'enterprise' if you will.  I didn't support the government providing funds that would take away from public education to give it to private religious schools either.  I also come from a place of deep hatred for religion as a whole because of all the evil done in God's name.  Most of know the awful histories of World's religions on its people.  Nothing I hated more was the exploitation, the ensuing use of slavery to create the world we now live in, complete with its neat explanations of progress at the expense of human lives in the name of God.

 

I know I'm limited in my understanding of the issues relating to Church and State, I'm sure there's a lot of 'gray' in between black and white.  I just hope I'm making sense up to this point.

Anyhow, one of the issues mentioned in document stated Sweden 'inhibited' JWs from receiving State Grants afforded to 'registered religious community' organizations, such as they are since March 2000 (apparently, this new law was enacted by Sweden in 2024). 

 

When I first read this my initial reaction was why should we be entitled to State Grants (in Sweden or anywhere)?  My feelings or opinion being, why are we depending on the State in this way? We should stand on our own.  I'm so naive!

I'm trying to think through this though.  So far, I'm realizing I don't know or understand much about aspects of religious separation, but I have a concern that some who are more aware will view us as contradictory or hypocritical, because, on the one hand a religious organization like ours will participate or support worldly governments, yet we are advocating for equal treatment when it involves receiving a State's grant or public funding.

Please, I realize this may be controversial, and I apologize.  I'm not trying to cause harm or act as an opposer.  Honestly, on anyone's word, I will not post my thoughts again on this platform if I cause one to stumble (nor will I go against my God Jehovah over it; I'm sure he will help me come to understand this matter in due time, and I'll wait).   It's just a serious question with no easy or reasonable answer.  This situation just kind of blind sided me, and like I said, I'm new to The Way, but I'm trying to 'mature up' where I can.  Jehovah willing.  Sincerely.


 

 

Separation of church and state is a political position that we neither support nor oppose because of our neutrality, so it has no bearing on how we would handle this particular issue. If a country decides to separate church and state or not, we respect that.

 

For us, political neutrality means we don't appeal to Governments to change their laws - for good or bad. However, we are still subject to the laws of the "superior authorities" with the limit that we "obey God as ruler rather than men". That means we pay taxes, but it also means the government has certain legal obligations toward us, namely the protection of the rights they give us.

 

If a government decides that they want to give funding to religions, that is their right and we would neither support nor oppose that because we are neutral. If they have a law that gives funding to religions, but they illegally prevent us from getting the benefits when we legally qualify to receive them then they are infringing on our rights and we can take it to court like anyone else who has had their rights violated.

 

This is not politics, it's the justice system. If someone robs you and you call the police and go to court, are you "advocating for equal treatment"? No. Are you getting involved in politics? No. Now, if we are being prevented from receiving grants that we are entitled to, then they are in effect stealing from us and we have a right to take them to court over it. That is also not politics, it is the justice system. 

 

Why are we entitled to State Grants? Because the government made that a law.

Why are we "depending on the State in this way"? This does not imply we are "dependent" on the state any more than getting a refund on your taxes makes you dependent on the state. 

 

I recommend looking up "neutrality" on the WOL. This topic has a lot of nuance and will be a very important issue for all of us as this System ends.

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/s/r1/lp-e?q=neutrality&p=par&r=occ&st=a

 

 

[TonyS]

28 minutes ago, LeolaRootStew said:

I recommend looking up "neutrality" on the WOL. This topic has a lot of nuance and will be a very important issue for all of us as this System ends.

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/s/r1/lp-e?q=neutrality&p=par&r=occ&st=a

Thanks, I'll read it.

I know I need to balance my views.  This is helpful.  Thanks for your post.

[Qapla]

In principle, it is much akin to needing a building permit to build a new KH. If all the churches can readily get permits to build but we are told we cannot build because we don't qualify for a permit because we are JW's - there would be nothing wrong with using the legal means to get the same permit that every other church can get. There is nothing political about this ... it is a legal matter.

 

The situation in Sweden is similar to the legal issue - not a political issue.

 

[Dages]

3 hours ago, Qapla said:

In principle, it is much akin to needing a building permit to build a new KH. If all the churches can readily get permits to build but we are told we cannot build because we don't qualify for a permit because we are JW's - there would be nothing wrong with using the legal means to get the same permit that every other church can get. There is nothing political about this ... it is a legal matter.

 

The situation in Sweden is similar to the legal issue - not a political issue.

 

Great example

[Dolce vita]

In democratic countries where the rule of law is respected, we must understand that behind the tax issue and the legal recognition of a religious association, for example, lies the freedom, as far as we are concerned, to worship Jehovah and proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom without hindrance. When a state discriminates against religions or associations at the tax level, this means that it does not recognize certain rights to which others claim. This directly threatens the freedom of worship of said religion, in all its forms. We can then understand why the Jehovah's Organization uses all the legal arsenal at its disposal. Having pure worship legally recognized removes the threat. Jehovah's people can thus worship him in peace and security. The proclamation of the GN is made under legal protection, and if some threaten it, recourse is made possible. It is therefore not hypocritical with regard to the principle of neutrality, of the separation of powers and it is only compromising to act in this way.

[Dolce vita]

6 hours ago, Dolce vita said:

In democratic countries where the rule of law is respected, we must understand that behind the tax issue and the legal recognition of a religious association, for example, lies the freedom, as far as we are concerned, to worship Jehovah and proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom without hindrance. When a state discriminates against religions or associations at the tax level, this means that it does not recognize certain rights to which others claim. This directly threatens the freedom of worship of said religion, in all its forms. We can then understand why the Jehovah's Organization uses all the legal arsenal at its disposal. Having pure worship legally recognized removes the threat. Jehovah's people can thus worship him in peace and security. The proclamation of the GN is made under legal protection, and if some threaten it, recourse is made possible. It is therefore not hypocritical with regard to the principle of neutrality, of the separation of powers and it is only compromising to act in this way.

" it is only compromising to act in this way."

 

Here comes Google again, whose real name is 'occasional liar'. I wrote : it is not compromising to act this way. He said exactly the opposite. Sorry.

[minister159]

15 hours ago, Qapla said:

The situation in Sweden is similar to the legal issue - not a political issue.

I think the fact that this involves the government and its new discriminatory law, egged on by politicians who don't like our neutral stand, it has been turned into a political issue. Our position, however, is strictly a legal matter.

 

"Ulf Bjereld, who is a professor of political science, chaired the working group that drafted the explanatory report. He has gone on record as saying that the legislation was contemplated because politicians want to prevent Jehovah’s Witnesses from receiving government subsidies."

[grain of mustard]

Usually, the organization appeals decisions in higher courts and then the state is forced to hand over everything that is rightfully itss to the organization. This story is already known.  

[Jwanon]

On 7/29/2025 at 4:28 AM, TonyS said:

Thanks, I'll read it.

I know I need to balance my views.  This is helpful.  Thanks for your post.

 

If we take the example of the first century Christians, they were persecuted and ostracized by the government and yet they did not pressure society to change their laws. They endured the persecution and trusted in Jehovah to oversee his Congregation 

 

However, the apostle Paul when unjustly opressed sought an audience with Caesar and appealed to the law of the land. Why? Because unlike most of his fellow Christians he had the advantage of being a Roman citizen, and Roman citizens were not supposed to be treated that way. 

 

So he knew the law and he fought on legal grounds because the authorities were breaking the law they were supposed to uphold. He didn't try to change the law, he wanted the law to be followed.

 

Jehovah's Witnesses in Scandinavia are doing the same as Paul, we have rights that are legally granted to us, so we make it known that we should be benefitting from these rights. 

Edited July 31 by Jwanon