Parties Divided Over How To Help Relatives Of Unification Church Members
Political parties in Japan are divided over how to provide relief for financial damage resulting from extremely large donations to the former Unification Church made under the influence of so-called mind control.
The Liberal Democratic Party, its coalition partner Komeito, and two opposition parties -- the Constitutional Democratic Party and Japan Innovation Party -- held their third working meeting on the matter on Thursday.
The government aims to pass during the current Diet session legislation to provide relief for people who say they or members of their families suffered financial damage caused by the former Unification Church.
In the meeting, the parties discussed measures against maliciously elicited large donations to the group, including those involving "mind control."
The opposition parties argued that they must start by properly defining "mind control," while the ruling parties said it would be difficult to establish a legal definition.
The opposition also argued that families should be allowed to take back donations made by family members by exercising the right to cancel contracts on their behalf.
The LDP objected, saying it would be difficult to do so without obtaining consent from those who donated the money.
The party instead proposed creating a system to allow families to seek damages from the religious group.
The four parties agreed to meet again next week.