Japanese Govt. To Present Criteria For Inquiry Into Ex - Unification Church
Japan's education and culture ministry is set to present early next month the direction of the criteria to exercise the right to ask questions of the religious group previously known as the Unification Church.
The ministry on Tuesday convened the first meeting of experts to discuss a probe instructed by Prime Minister Kishida Fumio into the group's shady sales practices and soliciting of huge donations. The roughly 20 participants included university professors and senior members of religious organizations.
Cultural Affairs Agency deputy commissioner Goda Tetsuo asked panel members to debate from various angles the criteria for exercising the right to inquiry. He added he wants to present a certain direction of the criteria at the next meeting on November 8.
Discussions were held behind closed doors. An official in charge said one member called for the criteria to be specific, considering the maliciousness and relentlessness of the group's practices. Another member urged that the criteria be mindful of the freedom of religion, such as banning intervention in religious activities.
The ministry will draft questions based on the criteria approved by the panel. It plans to exercise its right to ask questions of the former Unification Church before the end of the year.
If the ministry finds evidence that warrants an order for disbandment as a religious corporation, which would deny tax benefits to the group, it will consider asking a court to issue such an order.
A woman whose parents are followers of the group said the government's clarification that civil law violations could be a requisite for a disbandment order is a big step for victims like her.
She asked that the right to question be exercised in an effective way, and that the government act quickly because the group may take countermeasures.