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Kishida eyes launching probe into controversial Unification Church

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Headline from the above: "Kishida eyes launching probe into controversial Unification Church."

The Moonies: "Whew !!"

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@blue

Many thanks for your in-depth post and multiple links-appreciated!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The Constitution protects religious freedoms.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

JTC - Politicians Globally need oversight from an impartial set of "Compliance" rules - common regardless to Religion, or Political view.

For example, Politicians should not be allowed to invest in the Stock Market without prior approval from such an oversight committee. Similarly, ties to a Religious Organization should be monitored and regulated.

They are in dire need of that in the US.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Politicians Globally need oversight from an impartial set of "Compliance" rules - common regardless to Religion, or Political view.

For example, Politicians should not be allowed to invest in the Stock Market without prior approval from such an oversight committee. Similarly, ties to a Religious Organization should be monitored and regulated.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

blue

please write in English, the language of JT, or Japanese but don't mix both in the same comment.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Dango bong - why don't you probe Sokagakkai as well? The only cult which is a political party

I suppose one could argue that all religions have some cult-like attributes, in one form or another. (Silly rules on hair, clothes, diet, sexuality, language, behavior, etc. Constant requests, sometimes actual requirements, for financial donations. Always seeking converts. Authoritarian hierarchy. )

But, what exactly makes Soka Gakkai a cult in your mind? That question is for anyone here who has a similar opinion of them.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

blue

I'm sorry but I have no intention of reading your very long post.

If you want to know about the regulations of the Komeito you can read them on their website. If you want to know about the charter of the Soka Gakkai you can read it on their website.

I have my personal experience and also know many Komeito politicians on a local level and also in both houses of the Diet.

Since both Komeito and Soka Gakkai are two separate organizations there is no violation of Article 20 of the constitution.

They both share common interests, and common goals, and probably two-thirds of the SG members vote for Komeito but there are no rules or pressures to do so. They also vote for the LDP politicians.

The Unification Church does not regulate its donations. Does not publish annual audited accounts and we have no idea how much money they receive. But we do know more than 80% of the money goes to South Korea.

The LDP needs to follow Komeito in regulating how it receives donations.

Had it done so there would not have been the problems it had.

The Komeito receives money from three sources.

 The three approved means of funding are:

1) private donations (capped at 1.5 million yen per individual donor per year);

2) subscription income generated from the Komei Shimbun, the party organ newspaper;

3) and a government subsidy allocated to all state-sanctioned political parties.

https://www.komei.or.jp/en/faq/

Lawyers in Japan say Unification Church lying about not extorting donations from followers

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20220713/p2a/00m/0na/008000c

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Of course, I stand corrected slaughtered, standing at an intersection outside a train station in the western city of Nara........

I thank you for that...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

A former Prime Minister is slaughtered in the Tokyo street..........

There was no slaughter on any Tokyo street. Last time I looked, 大和西大寺 was in 奈良県.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Turn the lights on and watch the roaches scatter!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is considering launching an investigation.

A former Prime Minister is slaughtered in the Tokyo street due to a deranged killer convinced this cult is responsible for the bankruptcy of his family.

The Government is infested with this cult, the electorate unable to fathom out exactly what or who they are voting for.

This cults is leveraging through forcible systematic means fund raising to advance a political agenda.

And Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is unable to make up his mind whether to launch a probe or investigation!!!!!?

Heck I going to have a bath and a lie down.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I hope this will be an 'independent' investigation.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Save for arrogating the title of Messiah, and currying favor with US based Christian identitarians, the UC owes far more to anti individualist, dynastic Eastern tradition than it does to Western religion.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

On of my favorite bands is Genesis, and they wrote a great song in the early 90s and you can relate it to this problem today called Jesus he knows me, great song on how western religious figures use the masses to get rich. Perfectly relates to this loony Christian sect.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Minister, a basic rule of government. Never set up an enquiry unless you know in advance what its findings will be.

Sir Humphrey Appleby

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

behind the curtain you never know what you find! the deeper you go the more you can understand! the truth is like a balloon that cannot sink, at the last it always rises to the surface!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Sadly, even if the religious status is removed, doesn't necessary mean any of the damage it does is removed or alleviated. All it means is more tax money. And this isn't even close to happening as the investigation is only / perhaps being considered, there isn't any guarantee the findings will be sufficient. So, means nothing ATM.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Hermann, why should there be Christian values in the decisions of politicians?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

There are much more dangers influencing people ore organisations in the gouverment than the Moonis. I just need to look to Davos. I was seeing politicians in Japan with the symbols of this organization on the suite. The Moonis just want to bring Christians values in the politicians decisions. Also to help that communism is not taking over the government like we see in Europe and the Biden Administration. Moonis just support conservative politic. Sure that the Japanes left take now this chance to destroy a conservative gouverment.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Is there a worse leader, apart from the obvious tyrants of course, in the world, currently?

I feel sorry for the good people in Japan. The ones that keep voting for such people, not so much.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Kishida eyes launching probe into controversial Unification Church:

Only consider to probe?

Don't just consider, avoid hesitating, act now.

The Church's irregular activities & connections are costing his popularity, not just the credibility of his lawmakers.

Did he not know..?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Why probe them? Half of you all are members lol!

The way investigations are done are hilariously inept. Who would buy an LDP report on the current state of The Moonies?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The foxes investigating murders in the hen coop?

The results are already decided.

Expect a record number of misunderstandings, regrettables, clarifications, explanations, needs to improve, cultural uniquenesses, and a couple of resignations of underlings.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Unfortunately, the only way in many instances issues get resolved or brought to the surface is when someone is injured or in this case murdered.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

I support freedom of religion and faith-based politicians.

-10 ( +0 / -10 )

This could go badly for Kishida and ensure that he will be a one-term PM. His first mistake in office was capitulating to Shinzo and installing Shinzo's cronies into key positions at the very beginning. He pretty much told the country he was on Shinzo's team. He could of possibly distance himself from this fallout unless he has also been taking Moonie money!

Kishida has no choice but to address the issue:

1) They are trying to salvage Shinzo's legacy thus the LDP's credibility.

2) He needs a distraction from the economy.

3) He needs to appear like he did something. (However, it will be a long drawn out sham of an investigation, give a deep bow, ask for an apology for the inconvenience, claim no crimes were committed Shinzo, and make someone step down as a scapegoat.)

Tetsuya Yamagami's actions has set off a chain of events that has made him (Testuya) the most influential person in Japan for 2022. This is how revolutions and coups have started in other countries.

These are definitely some interesting times in Japan and abroad. I am wondering what will happen at the end of the year.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

What's he gonna do - flip through his Rolodex?

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Dango bong

why don't you probe Sokagakkai as well? The only cult which is a political party

The Soka Gakkai and the Komeito are two separate organizations. The Komeito receives no money from the Soka Gakkai.

Komeito's regulations limit the amounts people can donate. Funds are from its publications and the money received from the government. No single politician receives donations.

They publish annual audited accounts.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

This has the potential to backfire enormously for Kishida.

Firstly, exposing the exploitative and shady practices of the Moonies will only make the public question even more why so many in the government had connections with such an awful organisation in the first place.

Secondly, an unethical organisation whose modus operandi is extortion and manipulation is unlikely to go down without some sort of retaliation.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

why don't you probe Sokagakkai as well? The only cult which is a political party

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Let’s see why Kishida’s rating is low …

Corporate Welfare !

Anti - science stance on Covid !

Complete Collapse of entire healthcare system!

Lack of security for the most popular and respected former Prime Minister in the history of Japan !

Wasting taxes and breath on the Unification Church ! They are irrelevant!

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

Why does someone has to DIE before the truth and the awful and wrong is exposed!?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

If this order is issued, the church will lose its status as a religious corporation and would not be entitled to tax benefits, but it can still operate as a religious entity.

There is your problem. However tenuous the connection between the Unification Church and Christianity is, they do place faith in the personage of Jesus Christ. What would Jesus do about a corporate entity operating in his name?

As if Keidanren and the influence of corporations on politics were not enough, the public has to deal with religious corporations too. With all the moneyed special interests to satisfy, it is no wonder the needs of the public are never addressed.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is considering launching an investigation into the Unification Church,

Almost guaranteed to be a whitewash and another waste of the taxpayer 10 yen, as if there hadn't been enough.

Cut to the chase: Eliminate "religious corporations" and their shady and unfair tax exempt statuses.

To be fair all of them.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

It's only going to be a superficial investigation and will only focus on the cult itself. The real point is to see how far their rot has permeated not only the LDP but society in general. Kishida is only working to get his poll numbers on a better footing, nothing else.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

Shut them down. Expose all the members names, addresses and workplaces online.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

The important thing is the UC's religious corporation should be confiscated, after done this, all money on how those are contributed and what those are used for in the past and present would be clear.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

I fell off my chair laughing at this one. Nobody knows if Kishida is a member, but I bet the people who will “investigate “ will certainly be members or associates.

-6 ( +6 / -12 )

Be careful for what you look for,you may find something,not of your liking

1 ( +5 / -4 )

He’s gotta do something to try to slow his plummeting popularity numbers.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Kishida eyes launching probe into controversial Unification Church

And the next time there is a crime that looks like its Yak related just ask the Yamaguchi gumi to investigate

-6 ( +11 / -17 )

And all this happening because of the murder of Abe. That man sitting sitting in his cell, I wonder if he feels mission accomplished when his influence has affected even the PM’s policies now.

5 ( +19 / -14 )

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