Japan's lower house chief says he will explain links to Unification Church

Just kick the church out of Japan. What is the point in using the (already known ) links to score points for DPJ?

If DPJ actually has a plan for Japan's economic recovery, that would be worth listening to.

Japan's lower house chief says he will explain links to Unification Church

Only him, all house member should explain their links!

Took him long enough to come up with a plausible story. I'll bet the cult was in on it too.

After months, it's as if they're using the time to cook a story that will twist the truth.

obladiToday  07:06 am JST

Just kick the church out of Japan. What is the point in using the (already known ) links to score points for DPJ?

The CDPJ is the main opposition party. Drawing attention to misconduct in public office by members of the ruling party is part of the job description.

If DPJ actually has a plan for Japan's economic recovery, that would be worth listening to

That's not the issue. There's a time for talking about growing the economy but this is not it.

Japan's lower house chief Hiroyuki Hosoda expressed readiness Thursday to clarify his dubious links with the controversial Unification Church after opposition parties called for an explanation in the Diet.

Hosoda: I am ready to clarify why I accepted the money and influence from a wealthy South Korean cult.

Please stand by for my clarification. I am ready. It is coming.

I think the Japanese public is rather waiting for some politician to step up and announce the stripping of the Unification Church tax exempt status and the nationalization of their ill-gained assets, at least in Japan.

Just kick the church out of Japan.

So much for freedom of religion. Nobody is forcing you to worship as a Mooney and by the same token you have no right to deny anyone else the right to worship as they please. This is about as fundamental a human right as exists, no less important than the right to free speech. There are a lot of religions I personally consider cultish and kooky, but I no right to demand those religion be banned. None. Period. Full stop. Nor do you.

There are ways to remove the certification of the church.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs, which holds jurisdiction over religious institutions, is not considering issuing a dissolution order to the Unification Church.

“There are no cases in which Unification Church executives have been punished for violations of the criminal law and other laws,” the official said at a hearing organized by opposition parties on Sept. 12.

The Religious Institutions Law stipulates that a court can order the dissolution of a religious institution upon the request of the education ministry, the upper organization of the cultural agency, or other concerned parties if it violates laws or ordinances and commits acts that substantially harm public welfare.

Two groups were dissolved. Aum Shinrikyo and Meikakuji temple group whose leader and executives were accused of defrauding followers through exorbitant fees paid for memorial services for departed souls.

Somehow, labeling religion as not subject to the same logical rigor as other assertions and rights is vulgarity and offensive in this conversation.

Curious.

Last week, Hosoda admitted to attending events hosted by the religious organization and its affiliated groups between 2018 and 2019.

He also said he was once interviewed for a publication linked to the organization, now formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.

It is alleged that Hosoda as head of his faction group (now named the Abe faction after the late PM) has decided which LDP candidates are to run office by maneuvering the "Unification Church votes". The Korean cult is alleged to have infiltrated deeply into key election campaigns for its favored candidates both at local and nationwide levels. If proven, that's a different, highly critical level of involvement.

There is also something in common between the right-wing (side of) LDP members and the UC over political orientation as well as specific policy lines, such as anti-LGBT and misogynist attitudes.

While they're at it they should probably also explain their links to Nippon Kaigi as well.

That money fell into my pocket, officer. Let me explain...

Besides being a cult (not illegal) and asking for money (not illegal) and being toxic to it's members (unforcantly also legal) what has this "evil" church done? Are they bribing officials? I'm not sure I'm understanding the issue here, why are they going after officials that have visited or have a relationship with it rather than the "church" itself?

The money was just resting in my account...and the hundreds of accounts of my LDP colleagues....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9wCMSSjTKk

@gogogo

How about brainwashing people and cutting them off from their family and friends?

Do some research on cult tactics and you will see that the Moonies fit the bill

＠Tortoise

France is not CCP

All Colt connected members of the LDP and other parties should have come out in public and let the people know their positions, and NOT wait for the great hard working media to Hunt them down.

Seems like this "church" is being used as a pond to restructure Japan's political power, and so far, it's working brilliantly. The media gets huge ratings and the loyal watcher instinctively fuels the flames to create a bigger charade.

Fuuny, that no one mention, there is no law against attending any religious events.

Aum Shinrikyo and Meikakuji temple group whose leader and executives were accused of defrauding followers through exorbitant fees paid for memorial services for departed souls.

Sounds no different from the Unification Church or other organizations.

And why is it that if someone impersonates a relative or co-worker to defraud usually the elderly of large sums of money the police deploy numerous posters, commercials and police manhunts to find the culprits.

But impersonate a spiritual entity that is supposed to rule all existence to do the same and politicians will protect your right to do so and attend your meetings and actively seek your influence?

Aum Shinrikyo and Meikakuji temple group whose leader and executives were accused of defrauding followers through exorbitant fees paid for memorial services for departed souls.

Sounds no different from the Unification Church or other organizations.

They're not

And why is it that if someone impersonates a relative or co-worker to defraud usually the elderly of large sums of money the police deploy numerous posters, commercials and police manhunts to find the culprits.

But impersonate a spiritual entity that is supposed to rule all existence to do the same and politicians will protect your right to do so and attend your meetings and actively seek your influence?

excellent point. the moonies are just a religious version of ORE ORE

If I knew LDP's links to Unification Church, I would not have voted to LDP.

Hosoda needs to be disendorsed by the LNP. He is corrupt.

Go after everyone with connections to this cult.

All Colt connected members of the LDP and other parties should have come out in public and let the people know their positions, and NOT wait for the great hard working media to Hunt them down.

Why? It is none of anyone's business what somebody's religion is. Nobody is obliged to say and no-one has a right to know.

Kick him out -simple.

Japan's lower house chief says he will explain links to Unification Church

Yes, we are crackpots.

So much for freedom of religion. Nobody is forcing you to worship as a Mooney and by the same token you have no right to deny anyone else the right to worship as they please. This is about as fundamental a human right as exists, no less important than the right to free speech. There are a lot of religions I personally consider cultish and kooky, but I no right to demand those religion be banned. None. Period. Full stop. Nor do you.

The Moonie church is no more a religion than any other corporate fraud that appears periodically. Like Enron for example. A cursory examination of its origins and management over the years of this fake church clearly show that it is basically a criminal organization that uses its members at ATMs to fund worldwide rightwing political activities. All religions are at heart fraudulent but in some cases, as with the Moonies, they are criminal as well.

Many countries have banned the Moonies as they have learned what this fake church is really about. Singapore is one example.

The above comments are naive.

Japan's lower house chief says he will explain links to Unification Church

"I er, um, eto.....ne, ore, ore, muzukashii na, ano, (sucks in teeth) okashii na, ore wa, dou shiyo.............."

it is also very important to highlight that this group has ideologies that are downright dangerous to Japan's national security.

Moon's theology teaches that his homeland Korea is the "Adam country", home of the master race destined to rule the world. Japan is the "fallen Eve country". The dogma teaches Eve had sexual relations with Satan and then seduced Adam, which caused mankind to fall from grace (original sin), while Moon was appointed to bring mankind to salvation. Japan must be subservient to Korea.[40][41] This was used to indoctrinate their Japanese followers into offering every single material belonging to Korea via the church.[42]

Assassination of Shinzo Abe - Wikipedia

This is a church whose very doctrine is the subjugation of Japan to Korea. This is VERY dangerous to the national security of the nation.

"Everyone else had links. What's the big deal?"

That will be his explanation.

That money fell into my pocket, officer. Let me explain...

The question is, is the Church trying to bribe politicians like Hosoda or do the politicians willfully give their money to the Church, as well as find ways to funnel other "donations" to the Church and do other favors free of charge.

The backlash against the church, although in a way warranted, has served to put the focus off the killer almost completely. He must be thrilled. My concern is that the general public reaction and hatred this tragic event delivered will serve to start making other unhinged individuals start dreaming up their own plots of revenge. Murdering those THEY themselves deem responsible. Judge, jury and prosecution. It may serve as a dangerous precedent for copycat killings. Tread carefully Japan, your reactions too have consequences. Don’t glorify a killers legacy. Be stoic.

A "cult" is the religion down the road whose church you do not attend.

All religions are cults. Either keep them all out of public life. If you personally want to take part in them... fine. But no public employee should have anything to do with any religious group as part of his or her duties.

Today  01:15 pm JST

A "cult" is the religion down the road whose church you do not attend.

All religions are cults. Either keep them all out of public life. If you personally want to take part in them... fine. But no public employee should have anything to do with any religious group as part of his or her duties.

hallelujah

gintonicToday  01:16 pm JST

Japan's lower house chief says he will explain links to Unification Church

Be ready for any (or all) of the "classics":"I was drunk.", "I don't remember." "I entered what I thought was a Girls' bar and I was shocked to see it was a hall full of Moonies."

LOL, good one. Also the - "I was quiet on all of this until now in order to avoid confusion to the people - I should be commended for that not vilified"

Let's not forget, "my secretary arranged it all, I know nothing about it."

So what ties has been broken? Whose job has even changed or lost? .... I'll believe it when I see it.

Gin and Simon-

Fantastic posts guys!

What is a cult and not a cult? It's in the end a matter of money. Anyone who runs a spiritual sales depot and terrifies people with dead unhappy ancestors, thus making millions of yen, or dollars or won should be suspect. But the Unification Church did more than that. It financially ruined people and broke up families. It's a cult.

Japanese ultranationalists are hypocrites. They speak foul against Koreans on daily basis but they receive paychecks from anti-Japanese Korean cultists.