Unification Church faces dissolution in Japan

Excellent..

No objections from me.

Dissolution is great, but prison sentences for the leaders would be even better.

Just read some stuff on "tithes ", the Biblical invocation to give 10% of your income/wealth to the Church.

Mentioned in the Old Testament even before the story of Moses.

Fast forward to today and you have Tele Evangels tearfully seeking people, often Americans in the South, to give generously.....with Church leaders sometimes having multiple residences and even private planes.

Religion....its a racket

L. Ron Hubbard...I'm looking at you

Great, when you're done with these please outlaw the other forms of organised religion.

As much as I dislike the Unification Church I don't agree with this.

Article 20 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. The government doesn't have the right to interfere with that or punish people for it.

Punish illegal activities, yes. But otherwise leave them alone.

Good news.

Keep ALL members of the Moonies in Japan on a watch list as Aum Shinrikyo/Aleph members are.

The problem is that they’ll just rebrand.

@I'veSeenFootage

Dissolution is great, but prison sentences for the leaders would be even better.

That organization really involved with Japanese politics, so they can get great leniency

https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/c12101/

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Unification-Church-and-politics/Unification-Church-How-Japan-politicians-counted-on-members-votes

Article 20 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion.

It doesn't guarantee freedom to brainwash your church members, fleece them for all their money and force them into marriages.

I like the "rebranding " idea mentioned above.

How about..."The New Moonies "

Let’s hope it’s the Soka Gakkai next!

Concerned Citizen

As per your comment above, the government should have never interfered nor punished anyone in Aum cult and they should stop watching the current members every move.

Good news.

Should Be Flat Out OUTLAWED.

Simple as theat.

All organized CORPORATE churchs and religions should by banned.

Religion has no place in modern governments.

Japan has approx. more that 2000 cults according to AI Overview, one of which I live near and it is sickening just looking at the building and how dark it is, it's like something out of dooms day.

Members never say hello, or even show their faces.

Donations should be returned to donors, assets should be sold and the sales $ should be used to pay back the Donors too.

This Cult victims were fooled, tricked, and manipulated stripping them of the pleasure and fun of life so they can make these donations, Evil work at it's best.

""Japan has long been a financial hub for the Unification Church, which tells members they must atone for the wartime occupation of Korea and sells expensive items to grant forgiveness from sins.""

Unbelievable stuff, and people accepted it and donated.

Go after the Mormons while you're at it.

Religious cults destroy lives and families. They brainwash their member and take theirminds and then their money. In some cases their lives.

The world would be a much better place without any religion at all.

ALLLLL organized religions are cults. All of them.. . including the largest ones in the world. Cult. =. Religion. Same same!

It doesn't guarantee freedom to brainwash your church members, fleece them for all their money.....

If you're looking to punish those who are fleecing the people then government and big corporations (insurance companies, banks, etc) are the number 1 culprits.

Plenty of fleecing going on outside of religion.

I can’t think of many that are exempt from paying taxes while fleecing and scamming though.

It is a disgrace that they get away with this.

Tax them. I’m sure their often self-proclaimed moral compass wouldn’t countenance any tax avoidance or evasion.

None of this would have happened without Tetsuya Yamagami shooting ex PM Abe. The Moonie cult would still be cozying up to politicians, they would still be exploiting their cult members. Obviously not condoning murder but important not to forget the reason why this is news today.

Tax exemption for religions should be abolished. Most are run as businesses or pyramid marketing schemes that need to recruit new members to fill the coffers.

Anyway, the Unification Church can get stuffed, just like every other cult that hijacks Jesus's name for profit. They're nothing more than parasitic scams preying on the gullible and desperate. True Christianity isn't about brainwashing followers into blind obedience, arranging mass weddings, or funneling millions into the pockets of self-appointed "messiahs." These FRAUDS exploit faith for cash and turn salvation into a business model - proving that their real god isn't Christ, but cold, hard cash.

"Unification Church" has infiltrated government, why attempt to hide the fact?

The question is how far?  

Such horrors, could well have cost Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe -- Japan's longest-serving leader. his life.

Shinzo Abe's wife Akie Abe has been left bereaved bereft.

Only an independent judge led statutory public inquiry will bring closure.

@Mr Kipling, You are exactly right.

Now a court order is expected to strip the group of legal recognition as early as this month, major Japanese media outlets reported.

Now, how can the media know before the judge announces his decision?

Shocking. So unfair. As soon as there are unfounded rumors regarding a foreign bank or church, there is a witch-hunt here. It is not the Unification Church's fault corrupt politicians get targeted by patriots. This is akin to blaming any elementary school or kindergarten for the future crimes or poor decisions of the kids who went through them. I truly hope the church appeals and continues to offer services for those inclined to practice their religion of choice freely.

Socrates above....my guess is the Judges wife is a former Moony with a lifetime of donations.

Jay,

"Anyway, the Unification Church can get stuffed, just like every other cult that hijacks Jesus's name for profit. They're nothing more than parasitic scams preying on the gullible and desperate. True Christianity isn't about brainwashing followers into blind obedience, arranging mass weddings, or funneling millions into the pockets of self-appointed "messiahs." These FRAUDS exploit faith for cash and turn salvation into a business model - proving that their real god isn't Christ, but cold, hard cash."

Very true!!, just imagine how many hospitals, wineries, fisheries, and bakeries Jesus could have started for profits. But, He gave freely.

Very true!!, just imagine how many hospitals, wineries, fisheries, and bakeries Jesus could have started for profits. But, He gave freely

Yes, he said to give everything you own to the poor and follow him. Everything. Very extreme idea.

A true believer in wealth distribution. Some regard him as a prototypical socialist. A fair argument.

Also a believer in paying taxes.

Marc above "practise their religion freely "

Ahh....I think the problem hangs on the word "freely " when talking about "adherents/devotees/suckers...no too cruel...delete suckers ' of this Church.

Issues of coercion, enforced payments and such like are not features of a religion practiced "freely "

Yes, he said to give everything you own to the poor and follow him. Everything. Very extreme idea. 

A true believer in wealth distribution. Some regard him as a prototypical socialist. A fair argument. 

Also a believer in paying taxes.

Haha, yeah no. Nice try Jim, but Jesus wasn't handing out government welfare checks - He told individuals to give their own wealth to the poor, not to vote for Caesar to do it for them. That's called charity, not socialism.

Haha, yeah no. Nice try Jim, but Jesus wasn't handing out government welfare checks - He told individuals to give their own wealth to the poor, not to vote for Caesar to do it for them

Either way, he believed in huge wealth redistribution, no matter the means.

Give everything. Really extreme stuff.

Still, there are some good messages in amongst the nonsense, barbarism and crackpottery in the Bible.

The stuff about truth and despising liars is quite good. Not original nor revelatory, but good for the ages.

Freeze their bank accounts tomorrow and go from there.

Even if former Prime Minister Abe had not been assassinated, this issue would have been one of the reasons for the LDP being criticized.

This is because former believers have already filed a lawsuit and it is an issue that is socially recognized.

If it is not acceptable for the LDP to ask religious organizations for cooperation in gathering votes during elections, why does no one say anything about the Komeito Party?

If they are going to strictly separate religion and state, then they should definitely ban Komeito organized votes as well.

This is good news. I hope it happens.

Agent_NeoToday  12:27 pm JST

If it is not acceptable for the LDP to ask religious organizations for cooperation in gathering votes during elections, why does no one say anything about the Komeito Party?

Probably because they're coalition partners with the LDP and LDP candidates benefit from Komeito campaigning activities too?

Sayonara

We all look forward to the LDP now pursuing policies which have no hint or trace of UC ideas

I know out of first hand that the heir and youngest son from Rev. Moon together with his older brother wanted to stop the donating police of the movement in Japan. They wanted to liberate the Japanes memberd from this burden. But after the death of Rev. Moon, his wife kicked out the heir by a coup and the donation policy was continuing.

And? It'll be like a political party -- they'll just change names and keep on doing what they do.

Unfortunately, they are still active politically such as "supporting" LDP "Abe faction" politicians or "anti-NHK" party or problematic Hyogo governor through social media.

Its affiliate groups have secured addresses from Donald Trump and Japan's Abe, who was not a member of the church or its sub-groups but made a video speech at a 2021 event.

Abe and LDP members did not need to be members of the church as the church was totally subordinate to the LDP and worked tirelessly for the LDP/made massive donations.

Article 20 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion

It doesn't guarantee the freedom to scam people out of their life savings in a mass organised fashion

This is akin to blaming any elementary school or kindergarten for the future crimes or poor decisions of the kids who went through them. 

No, it's more akin to an elementary school or kindergarten being in operation for the purpose of bilking the life savings of their kids' parents

All the Cults, where you have to pay subscriptions, should be deemed illegal.

Too many weak minded people pouring fortunes into those leechers out of desperation and for moral support....which never comes sadly.