JEHOVAH’S
WITNESSES
More than 10 years revealing secrets because there is no excuse for secrecy in religion – w1997 June 1; Dan 2:47; Matt 10:26; Mark 4:22; Luke 12:2; Acts 4:19, 20.
JEHOVAH’S
WITNESSES
More than 10 years revealing secrets because there is no excuse for secrecy in religion – w1997 June 1; Dan 2:47; Matt 10:26; Mark 4:22; Luke 12:2; Acts 4:19, 20.
The whistleblower who released videos deleted by the Jehovah’s Witnesses in 2023 has reappeared and is taking steps to expose the Organization for dishonesty, including threats to obtain confessions.
In 2023, a Reddit user known as “Warwick PIMO” gained attention in and outside the ExJW community by releasing deleted videos the organization had tried to keep hidden. These videos were uploaded to his YouTube channel, which was twice taken down, and soon after, Warwick PIMO’s identity was hunted down by his local congregation elders. A judicial committee was formed, leading to his disfellowshipping and eviction from his home. After months of silence, Warwick PIMO has re-emerged, taking the elders who interrogated him to court. This article goes into his story, the controversial videos he leaked, and his ongoing efforts to expose the organization’s harmful practices.
The man who went by ‘WarWick PIMO’ is named Mauricio Fernando.
Mauricio was born and raised as a Jehovah’s Witness and has been baptized for 12 years in Mozambique, Africa. He became a Bethalite after much influence from circuit overseers and other Bethelites. There, he was a Citsua language translator assigned to the translation offices. The position is called a BRS-Bethel Remote Servant, where someone works from home or in a house rented by Bethel. “I worked in Mozambique as a translator at an RTO -Remote Translation Office. In addition to translation, I worked with Records management, which aimed to manage documents for the office where I served.”
Mauricio explained that he woke up by seeing the difference in the rules for Bethelites and Jehovah’s Witnesses who are not Bethelites. The reaction of discipline is given by rank. “For example, if someone considered important or had a high rank in the organization made a mistake, the organization didn’t handle it the same way it would with an “ordinary” Bethelite. I won’t mention specific examples, but this happened at my branch several times. Things went well for you – if you had friends. It isn’t right.”
In Bethel, social influence tends to be a key element depending on how much trouble you would get in if you “sinned” in the eyes of a higher authoritative figure as if it encapsulates the essence of good Christian faith.
Very quickly, Mauricio’s curiosity peaked, and he began researching outside of the Organization’s teachings and came across the Child Sexual Abuse cases. He found videos that surprised him, such as now-former Governing Body Member Tony Morris buying large quantities of expensive liquor, Governing Body Member Geoffrey Jacksons’ statements at the Australian Royal Commission on Child Sexual Abuse, and the $250,000 house the organization bought after the ousted of Governing Body member Tony Morris.
This is when Mauricio decided to create the online persona ‘WarWick PIMO’
“I never wished to disclose my real identity. People just ended up running with the thought that I lived in Warwick, I didn’t think twice about using the name I came up with. Who I was and where I came from didn’t matter; I didn’t pay much attention to who they thought I was. Releasing the information to the public was necessary.”
Mauricio’s identity as the source of these leaked videos remained hidden until he released a recording of Mark Sanderson, a member of the Governing Body, conducting an audit meeting. In this video, Sanderson made statements he never anticipated would become public.
“They found me in less than 24 hours after that video was posted. My Bethel account was blocked on August 31st, around 9 PM in my country’s time. On September 2nd, 2023, An elder I know, Adriano Paulo, asked to pick me up because he said he needed help with something. On the way, he said he had to pick up Orlando Magaissa, another elder, to give him a ride. They planned it all, driving me to a kingdom hall in the Serafina area, and there, a Zoom meeting was started with two more elders. The other two elders on the Zoom call were Adilson Silva and Cremildo Madbunda. So instead of 2, as it usually is, there were 4. They interrogated me, and it lasted almost 12 hours without interruption and the right to a meal. On September 6th, they had my judicial committee, and they told me I would be disfellowshipped.”
They seized and searched Mauricio’s cell phone to delete any information that tarnished the organization’s image. They also demanded passwords and went through his other devices.
“During the interrogation, they said I was causing them harm and would continue to do so in the coming days. They asked me about the protest on October 31st, 2023, as well- they knew all about it. They also know all about the ExJW forum on Reddit and asked who I knew personally as apostates on the forum. They said the information I made available to the public was enough for apostates to undermine the organization through this protest and cause legal action. Those words left me stunned!”
Mauricio was disfellowshipped/removed soon after. As it goes, he lost his family and friends, including his devices, housing, and employment. He expressed deep pain for being isolated from his family.
“I was just trying to survive at that point. It was tough for me. I was kicked out of Bethel housing and found a temporary place to live while I looked for a more permanent residence. I was constantly just trying to make ends meet. Things are difficult in Africa, especially because I left without saving much to survive.”
Mauricio wanted to address a vital point: He no longer has a YouTube channel and has not had one for quite some time. Someone who took over his channel still uses the name “Warwick PIMO” to impersonate him. “I want to thank the Ex-JW community for the support they gave me before and after I left. With the funds I received from your help and my new job, I hired one of the best lawyers in the province. I don’t know what this new “Warwick PIMO” does with my name, but please inform everyone never to send money to anyone claiming to be me. I’ve even deleted the email/PayPal address I used. I ceased activity in November 2023.”
Since then, Mauricio has disappeared from the ExJw community to get grounded in his new circumstances and determine his next step.
His next step is here.
Mauricio Fernando is back and intends to help more members awaken and break the silence. He believes many people are currently suffering in silence and that the organization should stop hiding the truth and persecuting and threatening its members.
On June 28th, 2024, in Mozambique, on the Journal Principal news, Mauricio announced that he was taking the elders who started his judicial committee case to trial for the abuse of trust and power. They are accused of crimes of persecution and threats against members of the organization. The accused are Adriano Paulo, Adilson Silva, and Orlando Magaissa.
Mauricio’s goal is to expose the organization for alleged acts of dishonesty and threats to obtain confessions prepared by leaders of the organization. Mauricio is quoted saying that the organization manipulates justice, has spies, prohibits going to college, and hides cases of Child Sexual Abuse. “The organization was trying to manipulate Justice and omit the truth and delete the videos they had made.”
The case was filed at the Massing District Judicial Court against the 3 members of the Organization. We are told that this trial will attract media attention.
You can find the Journal Principal News video about Mauricio, first posted by the advocate Larchwood.
The untranslated video is here:
According to the lawyer assisting in this case, Hilófero da Conceição, the focus of the process is on the criminal aspect rather than the religious confession. He states that the three members of Jehovah’s Witnesses have committed crimes of threat and offense against the principles governing coexistence within the State. A complaint has already been submitted to the court, and its validation will depend on the appropriate instructions provided. The lawyer believes that the evidence collected supports the crime of threat related to the invasion of other people’s electronic devices. It is important to adhere to the institution’s principles while applying the necessary rules and avoiding the use of coercion. The lawyer emphasizes that a religious institution should not be exempt from the laws of the State but should apply its principles within the State. They have already filed a complaint based on the grounds presented and are awaiting the decision of the justice system. A Jehovah’s Witness representative in the Massinga District, Mr. António Mate, declined to provide any information, stating the need for authorization.
On July 1st, 2024, an article, “Religious Leaders Accused of Threats and Persecution,” also explains Mauricio’s conflicts regarding how they handled his removal, the invasion of his privacy, and how the organization views higher education.
A week after Mauricio’s story appeared in the press- as shown in the article above, the organization rented an expensive event hall in Maxixe. This is 70 km from Massinga, where the legal process is ongoing. They invited the journalists who reported the story, but only one print journalist attended after TV stations declined without a rebuttal.
Four Public Information Department (PID) men showed organization videos in the hall, trying to win over the journalist instead of addressing Mauricio’s claims. When the journalist pressed for a response to his allegations, the PID men dismissed the claims as bitterness over his expulsion. Quoted, “We don’t want to say anything about that young man because he is very upset about being expelled. Even when a person is expelled from a company, they tend to speak ill of their former employer.” The journalist replied “How dare you say he’s lying when he even gave me evidence that what he reported in the news is true. Show me something that proves he’s lying.” This led to threats of legal action from the PID men. Despite these threats, the journalist stood firm.
This incident has sparked widespread discussion among JW families in Mozambique. Mauricio says many believe his account because the organization has not refuted his claims. Following his appearance in the press, his father, a COBE, was removed from his elder position, illustrating the organization’s anger over his public statements. “Because I, as his son, spoke the truth on national television, on a channel they used to broadcast meetings during COVID and conventions, they became angry and removed him.”
A preliminary hearing for Mauricio’s case will be held on July 24th, 2024. This article will provide more of Mauricio’s updates as they come.
I wanted to address again what Mauricio warned me about last year: PIMOs (Physically in, mentally out Jehovah’s Witnesses) should be cautious, especially with data that could reveal their location or identity. There are ones in Bethel that collect information posted on apostate forums to create disinformation based on the actual news that we publish about the dark side of the organization. Forums such as the ExJw Reddit are heavily monitored by particular Bethelites, some of whom have personally targeted Mauricio himself. More of this information will be released in the following months.
Links to the 2023 deleted videos leaked by Mauricio:
Shunning your Family member leaked- August of 2023
The 2 part shunning videos were originally planned to be embedded into the Saturday Afternoon session during the speech titled: “Better to Be Patient Than to be Haughty in Spirit: Imitate Abel, Not Adam.” This particular talk focuses on the benefits of enforcing the shunning of close family members who are disfellowshipped, with a special emphasis on parent-child relationships. The speaker chosen for the streaming speech was Corey Wadlington, who was announced as a Wallkill New York Headquarters facility member.
Former Governing Body Tony Morris Gilead Graduation leaked-August 2023
The recording is at a Gilead class in the Educational Center, in Patterson, New York. Tony Morris, a former Governing Body member of Jehovah’s Witnesses, had a talk. The most repugnant part of the recording is when Tony Morris talks about being a guest in someone else’s house along with other witnesses. The misogynistic air in his dichotomous presence by this former anointed Governing Body member can give one chills on how he views authority and a ‘woman’s place.’
Elders removal on Higher Education leaked– August 2023
The scene in this video is set up as a reenactment in an elders’ meeting room, typically located in the back of the Kingdom Hall. Here, elders discuss congregational and organizational matters or talk to a congregation member about personal matters that affect either themselves or someone in the congregation. The elders are “counseling” another elder about the congregation’s apparent disapproval and emotional distress in the congregation due to his daughter going to college.
I would call the tactic used in this depiction ‘Moving the Goalposts,’ as a form of harassment. This means redefining another’s true intent of their goals to ensure that they will never be able to achieve it; this is, in fact, a form of bullying. Since other congregation members can’t, won’t, or haven’t pursued higher education, it would not be fair for his daughter to, and it would be wrong for her even to consider it. The end of this meeting results in calling this elder back in the room and making a unanimous decision of the (deleting, demoting) removal of that elder from his role of helping oversee the congregation, even though there is no real scriptural basis for this decision.
Aiding Transparency to Watchtowers teachings. If you have additional information about this topic or would like to reach the author- Please email MissUsato@proton.me
