The case in question was KHRISTIANSKO SDRUZHENIE "SVIDETELI NA IEHOVA" (CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES) v. Bulgaria (Application No. 28626/95). It concerned the refusal to re-register the applicant association following a 1994 law, and the alleged suppression of its activities and those of its members.

In settlement, the Bulgarian Government agreed to introduce legislation as soon as possible to provide for civilian service for conscientious objectors, as an alternative to military service, and to register the applicant association as a religion. The applicant undertook concerning its stance on blood transfusions to draft a statement for inclusion in its statute providing that members should have free choice in the matter for themselves and their children, without any control or sanction on the part of the association.

If the Watchtower is to keep its promise to the European Commission, it must officially revoke the instructions found in The WT, 15 January 1961, p.64.

"The receiver of a blood transfusion must be cut off from God's people by excommunication or disfellowshiping… if in the future he persists in accepting blood transfusions or in donating blood toward the carrying out of this medical practice upon others, he shows that he has really not repented, but is deliberately opposed to God's requirements. As a rebellious opposer and unfaithful example to fellow members of the Christian congregation he must be cut off therefrom by disfellowshiping."

It will be interesting to see what the results of these challenges will be to Watchtower policy. What is evident is that they are up to their old tricks of denying their members the full information and indeed twisting the truth of a legal ruling.

The quote from the European Commission of Human Rights is clear,

"The applicant undertook concerning its stance on blood transfusions to draft a statement for inclusion in its statute providing that members should have free choice in the matter for themselves and their children, without any control or sanction on the part of the association."

However, the press release put out by the Society says in part,

"The European Commission of Human Rights decided to accept the amicable settlement agreed to by the Government of Bulgaria and the Christian Association of Jehovah's Witnesses… Bulgaria has agreed to grant the Christian Association of Jehovah's Witnesses recognition as a religion. Bulgaria also agreed to create without delay a bill that will allow alternative civilian service for those whose conscience will not allow them to engage in military service. The agreement also includes an acknowledgement that each individual has the freedom to choose the type of medical treatment he receives. With the amicable settlement, the Witnesses agreed to withdraw their complaint against Bulgaria."

What other aspects of medical treatment could there be? How can this be the only organisation that God is using today when they employ such deceptive methods to keep their own people in the dark? It will only be their own members that do not find out the truth because they will accept the Watchtower press release and not check the original. I have had an interesting exchange of emails with one such Jehovah's Witness. The Watchtower press release is right and all other documentation wrong. All we can do is plead with such people that they investigate and discover the truth for themselves.

More details on this issue and all other matters concerning cults, occult and new age spirituality are available at the Reachout Trust website http://www.reachoutturst.org