In an article titled "Jehovah's Witnesses join interfaith efforts in U.S. and Europe" the last issue of Comments from the Friends reported on high-ranking Watch Tower Society representatives scheduled to share with Muslim and Scientology officials on a political panel in Washington, DC, and scheduled to share the speakers platform with other sects* at the CESNUR conference in Torino, Italy.

We had no objection to delegates from the Jehovah's Witness headquarters organization fellowshipping with their counterparts from these other sects. But rank-and-file JWs would object to it as sin against Jehovah.

* CORRECTION and APOLOGY: Apparently the Moonies' chief lawyer was present, but not as a speaker, nor were any Scientology delegates scheduled as speakers as we had mistakenly indicated in our article. Instead of "vampire cults" we should have used the more correct term "Transylvanian Society of Dracula." We apologize for these unintentional mistakes.

The rank and file are taught that

Besides studying new religions CESNUR defends sects against charges of "the brainwashing or mind control model of conversion" since

This aspect of sects getting together in a defense alliance explains why the Moonies, Mormons, and Jehovah's Witnesses were so heavily represented by delegates who were attorneys, and why these attorneys decided to threaten Comments from the Friends.

It also explains why the Watch Tower representatives were afraid to do in the light what they had hoped to accomplish under cover of darkness. When our journalistic spotlight exposed their participation, the Watch Tower Society withdrew its delegates.

Our "CORRECTION and APOLOGY" on page 10 of this issue attempts to correct any mistaken impression our unintentional misuse of terms may have caused. We had no desire to malign CESNUR or the various religious groups that sent delegates to the Torino conference. These academics and sect leaders evidently feel that their association and fellowship is mutually beneficial otherwise, why would they come together?

Our only purpose in writing was to alert Jehovah's Witnesses to the deception on the part of their own leaders who quietly join such a conference while teaching publicly that

Dave Reed,
"Comments From The Friends"