Governing Coalition May Present Ex - Unification Church Relief Proposal This Week
Japan's governing coalition plans to present a proposal for legislation as early as this week to provide relief to people who say they have been financially exploited by the former Unification Church.
The governing Liberal Democratic Party, its junior coalition partner Komeito, and two opposition parties -- the Constitutional Democratic Party and the Nippon Ishin Japan Innovation Party -- are aiming to have such legislation enacted during the current Diet session.
The parties are working to include measures in the legislation that would restrict the religious group from eliciting large donations under the influence of so-called "mind control."
However, the parties are divided over how to handle the issue of mind control in the legislation. The governing parties say it is difficult to establish a legal definition of mind control. But the opposition parties are not satisfied with this explanation.
The LDP is holding discussions with Komeito and the government on how to deal with the issue. The two parties plan to present the proposal, including donation restriction measures, as early as this week.
But it remains to be seen whether the ruling and opposition parties will be able to reach an agreement.
The two sides are also divided on how families of mind-controlled followers should be allowed to recover their donations.
Another point of contention is whether to restrict donation amounts.