[Freedom]

Originally Posted by Terry

I do believe the real issue quarantine is used instead of excommunication is legal. Concerns of being sued for slander.

WL expressed that very concern, and I do believe he had reason to be concerned about being sued, since he made a number of slanderous statements about various brothers.

He was used to people accepting anything he said as fact without having to provide any proof. If WL really felt that his so-called quarantines were legitimate, then there is no reason that he couldn't have called it an excommunication like it really was.

We must see, however, that to make a public announcement of a kind of excommunication involves a person’s name, position, and status in today’s society. This is serious and very risky. This involves families and human relationships. In this matter we have been under the influence of the tradition of Christianity, but in my experiences over the past fifty years I have surely learned that to make a public announcement, especially in a matter concerning immorality, is not so safe and profitable. If we announce a certain person’s being excommunicated in a public meeting, he could appeal to a court of law and say that we are spoiling his name. He would claim that since you said he committed immorality, you must provide the evidence in a court of law. This would cause much trouble. This one may have committed that sin, but according to law you must present the evidence. This sinning one may not have that much growth in the Lord, but he may bold a high position in society. He would vindicate himself by bringing this case to the law court to clear up his name. This shows us the turmoil that such a public announcement could cause…

Witness Lee, Elders’ Training, Book 4, Ch 7