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00:00:01 Today, over 600 Witnesses worldwide 00:00:04 are imprisoned for remaining neutral in world affairs. 00:00:09 Join us as we visit 00:00:11 the Legal Department at world headquarters. 00:00:14 They work tirelessly 00:00:17 to help our brothers legally and to protect our rights 00:00:20 to publicly witness to others. 00:00:23 Please watch. 00:00:28 In carrying out the responsibility to do God’s will, 00:00:35 Jehovah’s Witnesses have met with legal challenges. 00:00:38 All right, children, let’s stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. 00:00:41 These challenges have been many 00:00:43 and, at times, severe. 00:00:48 There’s no time to lose. 00:00:50 We need to get her into surgery right away, 00:00:52 and we need to prepare for a blood transfusion. 00:00:53 This has led to the establishment of a Legal Department, which is located 00:00:58 at the Watchtower Educational Center in Patterson, New York. 00:01:01 Under the direction of the Governing Body 00:01:04 and the United States Branch Committee, 00:01:07 the Legal Department works to protect our legal rights to worship. 00:01:10 When restrictions are placed 00:01:12 on our activities, we work 00:01:14 to ‘defend and legally establish the good news.’ 00:01:20 Let’s examine a case that was taken all the way 00:01:23 to the United States Supreme Court. 00:01:26 The town of Stratton, Ohio passed an ordinance 00:01:29 requiring that anyone wanting to engage 00:01:32 in door-to-door activity had to obtain a permit from the mayor. 00:01:35 The ordinances that were enacted 00:01:38 were specifically designed 00:01:40 to restrict the activity 00:01:41 of Jehovah’s Witnesses. 00:01:43 The Witnesses tried to work 00:01:45 the matter out with the municipality, 00:01:47 with the village, but the village was insistent 00:01:50 that our brothers and sisters obtain permits 00:01:52 prior to going from door to door. 00:01:54 This permit scheme was upheld in the lower courts in Ohio. 00:01:58 Thus, the case was appealed to the United States Supreme Court. 00:02:05 The Supreme Court ruled in our favor and held 00:02:10 that such ordinances are unconstitutional 00:02:12 as applied to the public ministry of Jehovah’s Witnesses. 00:02:17 Even now, we still have some municipalities that would like to enforce 00:02:20 their permit regulation against our brothers and sisters. 00:02:23 We turn their attention to the Stratton decision, 00:02:25 and the issue is resolved. 00:02:28 Since 1919, 00:02:30 Jehovah’s Witnesses have obtained 50 victories 00:02:34 before the United States Supreme Court. 00:02:38 Just as extraordinary, 00:02:40 we have prevailed in the European Court of Human Rights 00:02:43 over 50 times. 00:02:46 Jehovah’s Witnesses do not seek confrontation. 00:02:49 They prefer to quietly serve God. 00:02:53 But when events unfold 00:02:56 that force them to stand up 00:02:59 and say: ‘I won’t do this’ 00:03:01 or ‘I have to do that 00:03:03 because my faith compels me to do so’ 00:03:07 —it is remarkable to see the steel-like 00:03:11 determination of these individuals 00:03:15 who have looked into the eyes of judges, 00:03:17 magistrates, and police officers 00:03:19 and have simply said: ‘I have to obey God.’ 00:03:23 What part can you play in ‘defending 00:03:26 and legally establishing the good news’? 00:03:29 You can stay informed of legal developments 00:03:31 by means of reports provided 00:03:34 by “the faithful and discreet slave.” 00:03:36 You can ask Jehovah in prayer to give 00:03:39 your brothers and sisters “the power beyond what is normal” 00:03:41 and for his will to be done. 00:03:44 Also, 00:03:46 you can faithfully maintain your integrity 00:03:49 to Jehovah even when facing opposition. 00:03:52 And thank you again for respecting my wishes. 00:03:55 You’re very welcome. 00:03:56 How grateful we are to Jehovah, 00:03:58 who has granted his people the legal victories needed 00:04:01 to freely carry out our worship! 00:04:03 Hi, folks, I know you have your ministry, but when people call . . . 00:04:08 It is the Legal Department’s privilege 00:04:10 to work “shoulder to shoulder” with you 00:04:12 in ‘defending and legally establishing the good news.’
00:00:01 Today, over 600 Witnesses worldwide 00:00:04 are imprisoned for remaining neutral in world affairs. 00:00:09 Join us as we visit 00:00:11 the Legal Department at world headquarters. 00:00:14 They work tirelessly 00:00:17 to help our brothers legally and to protect our rights 00:00:20 to publicly witness to others. 00:00:23 Please watch. 00:00:28 In carrying out the responsibility to do God’s will, 00:00:35 Jehovah’s Witnesses have met with legal challenges. 00:00:38 All right, children, let’s stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. 00:00:41 These challenges have been many 00:00:43 and, at times, severe. 00:00:48 There’s no time to lose. 00:00:50 We need to get her into surgery right away, 00:00:52 and we need to prepare for a blood transfusion. 00:00:53 This has led to the establishment of a Legal Department, which is located 00:00:58 at the Watchtower Educational Center in Patterson, New York. 00:01:01 Under the direction of the Governing Body 00:01:04 and the United States Branch Committee, 00:01:07 the Legal Department works to protect our legal rights to worship. 00:01:10 When restrictions are placed 00:01:12 on our activities, we work 00:01:14 to ‘defend and legally establish the good news.’ 00:01:20 Let’s examine a case that was taken all the way 00:01:23 to the United States Supreme Court. 00:01:26 The town of Stratton, Ohio passed an ordinance 00:01:29 requiring that anyone wanting to engage 00:01:32 in door-to-door activity had to obtain a permit from the mayor. 00:01:35 The ordinances that were enacted 00:01:38 were specifically designed 00:01:40 to restrict the activity 00:01:41 of Jehovah’s Witnesses. 00:01:43 The Witnesses tried to work 00:01:45 the matter out with the municipality, 00:01:47 with the village, but the village was insistent 00:01:50 that our brothers and sisters obtain permits 00:01:52 prior to going from door to door. 00:01:54 This permit scheme was upheld in the lower courts in Ohio. 00:01:58 Thus, the case was appealed to the United States Supreme Court. 00:02:05 The Supreme Court ruled in our favor and held 00:02:10 that such ordinances are unconstitutional 00:02:12 as applied to the public ministry of Jehovah’s Witnesses. 00:02:17 Even now, we still have some municipalities that would like to enforce 00:02:20 their permit regulation against our brothers and sisters. 00:02:23 We turn their attention to the Stratton decision, 00:02:25 and the issue is resolved. 00:02:28 Since 1919, 00:02:30 Jehovah’s Witnesses have obtained 50 victories 00:02:34 before the United States Supreme Court. 00:02:38 Just as extraordinary, 00:02:40 we have prevailed in the European Court of Human Rights 00:02:43 over 50 times. 00:02:46 Jehovah’s Witnesses do not seek confrontation. 00:02:49 They prefer to quietly serve God. 00:02:53 But when events unfold 00:02:56 that force them to stand up 00:02:59 and say: ‘I won’t do this’ 00:03:01 or ‘I have to do that 00:03:03 because my faith compels me to do so’ 00:03:07 —it is remarkable to see the steel-like 00:03:11 determination of these individuals 00:03:15 who have looked into the eyes of judges, 00:03:17 magistrates, and police officers 00:03:19 and have simply said: ‘I have to obey God.’ 00:03:23 What part can you play in ‘defending 00:03:26 and legally establishing the good news’? 00:03:29 You can stay informed of legal developments 00:03:31 by means of reports provided 00:03:34 by “the faithful and discreet slave.” 00:03:36 You can ask Jehovah in prayer to give 00:03:39 your brothers and sisters “the power beyond what is normal” 00:03:41 and for his will to be done. 00:03:44 Also, 00:03:46 you can faithfully maintain your integrity 00:03:49 to Jehovah even when facing opposition. 00:03:52 And thank you again for respecting my wishes. 00:03:55 You’re very welcome. 00:03:56 How grateful we are to Jehovah, 00:03:58 who has granted his people the legal victories needed 00:04:01 to freely carry out our worship! 00:04:03 Hi, folks, I know you have your ministry, but when people call . . . 00:04:08 It is the Legal Department’s privilege 00:04:10 to work “shoulder to shoulder” with you 00:04:12 in ‘defending and legally establishing the good news.’
