Japan enacts law to restrict malicious donation solicitations by religious and other groups

Do not tell me the Onion write that bill

This is not enough.

Not even the bare minimum.

"Some experts say the law lacks teeth, including donation limits, protection for children of church members and consideration for those believed to be brainwashed into joining the group and making large donations."

Thousands of Japanese victims. Women and children included.

Many LDP members had connections with this poisonous group called Unification Church.

Former PM was assassinated because of Unification Church abuses on Japanese land.

If all of this is not enough to get change in Japan. Im not sure what will. Korean abuses getting a complete pass.

The new law, approved at this year's closing parliamentary session, allows believers, other donors and their families to seek the return of their money and prohibits religious groups and other organizations from soliciting funds by coercion, threats or linking donations to spiritual salvation.

I am trying to think of any other cases where the grievances of an assassin were addressed by legislation, especially so quickly.

Its a testament to how difficult it is in japan to enact change that benefits the public against entrenched privileged interests.

The real tragedy here is that while the LDP gave free reign for this so called "Church" to fleece Japanese out of money, in exchange for part of the loot....much of the money was sent to North Korea to assist in developing missiles aimed at Japan. LDP=Treason

malicious is pretty loose, who defines what is malicious and what is not? What if a group was thought to be not malicious then later found to be malicious? It's all very grey area.

Why not just ban the Unification Church by name? They had their chance, they abused it, take the licence to operate away, or something.

malicious is pretty loose, who defines what is malicious and what is not? 

As I understand it there is no need to prove maliciousness. The right of family members to request donation refunds seems to apply to all charities across the board, which is fair.

Japan's parliament on Saturday enacted a law to restrict malicious donation solicitations by religious and other groups, which mainly targets the Unification Church, whose fundraising tactics and cozy ties with the governing party caused public outrage.

Well, I for one think this is pretty remarkable. True there may not be clear guidelines for enforcement, and it's an obviously political concession, but in a way, "the people" were heard. Let's give it a chance.

""The new law, approved at this year's closing parliamentary session, allows believers, other donors and their families to seek the return of their money and prohibits religious groups and other organizations from soliciting funds by coercion, threats or linking donations to spiritual salvation.""

Not Enough, it's like asking the master for a refund!! this is wrong.

The weak and the vulnerable whom already brain washed under the control of a Cult will NOT be able to dare asking for a refund or the return of their STOLEN properties.

Tax all religious groups including Soka Gakkai if you need a wider tax base to fund your war toyz.

Q?

How would the victims seek a return or refund?

1- They will need to find a lawyer who would take their case.

2- They will need to $ pay him.

3- The lawyer will have to investigate and gather evidence the file a claim or a lawsuit.

4- A court hearing will be set and the Cult lawyers will fight back.

5- A judge will have to rule.

All this just because the government wont take responsibility and protect it's citizens from a malicious Cult.

The new law, approved at this year's closing parliamentary session, allows believers, other donors and their families to seek the return of their money and prohibits religious groups and other organizations from soliciting funds by coercion, threats or linking donations to spiritual salvation.

Its about time. Consumers have had similar rights against normal businesses who use coercion to get them to sign contracts for years, it was a huge hole in the legal system that these cults weren’t subject to similar requirements.

Q?

How would the victims seek a return or refund?

1- They will need to find a lawyer who would take their case.

2- They will need to $ pay him.

3- The lawyer will have to investigate and gather evidence the file a claim or a lawsuit.

4- A court hearing will be set and the Cult lawyers will fight back.

5- A judge will have to rule.

All this just because the government wont take responsibility and protect it's citizens from a malicious Cult.

I haven’t looked into the details of this new rule yet, but it might not be so difficult. In consumer protection law, which is similar, there is a process by which a consumer who wants a refund due to a violation of their rights can proceed through a consumer organization rather than having to hire a lawyer and sue in the courts themselves, thus avoiding all that cost, time, hassle, etc.

How this is implemented is key though, the law needs to make getting their money back a reasonably accessible option to people. Its not clear from the article whether this will be the case or not.

This is why I dig Shinto, go when you want, give what you want, be as spiritual as you want, believe what you want - 2 bows, 2 claps, 1 bow you’re done. The money goes to keeping the priest housed and in gear, maintenance of the shrine and external investments to keep it running, I never feel I’m pressured to pay for salvation, so I feel fine.

There is no mention of this law in Korean news. Seems like they are ashamed of this church as well.

LDP government prioritized own political self-defense than relieving victims or preventing expansion of suffer.

They continue cooperation with religion cult including Unification Church to win the election.

First the good news. The Japanese government is finally getting at the Unification Church, and, one must be thankful for that. It took the tragic murder of Abe to rouse the government and the people against this crook "church," but better late than never. That's at least one point for Kishida. But then we have this to worry about: "A revised national security strategy, which is expected to be released later this month, would allow Japan to develop a preemptive strike capability and deploy long-range missiles.  "Preemptive" means if you think some might be making moves that might appear to be warlike you (the LDP) have the right to zap them. The only zap-able folks within our vicinity are North Korea and China. Does anyone, even the most hawkish LDP person, really want to launch a preemptive strike? Really? Japan's last preemptive strike on 8 December 1941 did not go so well in the end. And that is mostly true of preemptive strike in general.

What has LDP achieved ? Allow Church to scam money from citizens, they then funnel those money to North Korea, funding its missile program.

J-gov increase taxes to fund defense spending, effective tax rate now higher than Germany and French. They got free education and free health care. What do we got ? another LPD cronies being elected in the coming elections.

Japanese voters brought this onto themselves.

allows believers, other donors and their families to seek the return of their money and prohibits religious groups and other organizations from soliciting funds by coercion, threats or linking donations to spiritual salvation.

From this passage its not too clear how restitution would be awarded or divided if there's one family member who willingly wants to remain in a such sect who's under no act of coercion, yet another family member doesn't want any part of that sect? Who's entitled to a partial / whole refund of a donation of any type that wasn't made under duress? Do we start to pick and choose whose believes / organizations are more socially acceptable than others, based upon a dubious fringe-level rating of the group? I get the intent was to do something to in light of the assassination rather than just kicking the can down the road, but the article makes this read as if this donation law wasn't very well thought out at all, and its going to be challenged in court.

Japan's "press conference" is farce that eliminated tough questions to PM beforehand as ever.

Hiring a lawyer for a civil case can be expensive. Fee plus a percentage if you win.

The LDP needs to change its rules on donations. They are also at fault.

Corruption is rife !!

Disgusting.

lordoflys - The real tragedy here is that while the LDP gave free reign for this so called "Church" to fleece Japanese out of money, in exchange for part of the loot....much of the money was sent to North Korea to assist in developing missiles aimed at Japan.

Why would the staunchly anti-communist Unification Church send money to North Korea?