Govt. Panel Calls For Inquiry Into Former Unification Church
A Consumer Affairs Agency expert panel has issued a report calling on Japan's government to conduct an inquiry into alleged shady marketing practices by the former Unification Church.
The eight-member panel has held seven meetings since late August to discuss how to support the victims of dubious marketing practices known as spiritual sales, and how to prevent further harm by them.
The report says the former Unification Church may have been engaged in activities that significantly harmed the public welfare or taken action that notably deviated from the objectives of religious groups.
It also says that the government agency in charge of the group needs to exercise its rights under the Religious Corporations Act, including requesting reports, with an eye on seeking a court order to disband the group.
The report urges the government to take legislative measures to expand the scope of consumers' right to cancel contracts and to extend the period in which contracts can be canceled.
It calls for establishing more comprehensive general rules that ban donations to religious groups to protect people who cannot make reasonable decisions because they are under the undue influence of such groups.
The panel also stresses the need to work with experts to protect the children of religious group followers from abuse and to provide them with counseling.
It says consumer centers across Japan should retain information on inquiries they receive for a longer period of time.
Regarding consumer education, the report says it is important to quickly release information on the harm caused by spiritual sales and to convey information about the dubious sales tactic to a wide range of age groups.
The report also noted that a member of the panel called for a cap on donations to prevent people from losing vital assets.
Another panel member said a system should be set up to allow the families of spiritual sales victims to manage their assets when the victims are under the undue influence of a religious group.
The report urges the Consumer Affairs Agency to quickly implement steps based on the panel's proposals and promptly take legislative measures.
It also says the agency should urge other government offices to take action on issues that are not under its jurisdiction.