Preserve Unification Church Assets to Compensate Its Victims

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A Tokyo District Court has ordered the dissolution of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification. Formerly known as the Unification Church of Japan, it can no longer claim to be a religious corporation under the Religious Corporations Act.

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology requested that the order dissolve it. Ultimately, the damage caused by the cult's approach to donations from members was so great that the request could not be ignored. The court decision stated in part, "It is difficult to imagine any appropriate and effective measure other than depriving the company of its legal status."

What Comes Next

If the court's order is finalized, the sect will lose its status as a religious corporation. It will then no longer be eligible for preferential tax treatment. Then, the organization's assets will be liquidated by a court-appointed liquidator.

However, the religious group has protested. It argues, among other things, that "hindering religious freedom is a violation of human rights." The group has vowed to appeal the decision to the Tokyo High Court. If the case goes to Japan's Supreme Court, it could take quite a long time to resolve.

However, "freedom of religion," as guaranteed under Japan's Constitution, is limited to the extent that its practice is not contrary to the public welfare. The former Unification Church has repeatedly caused trouble due to demands for huge donations from members. In doing this, it has repeatedly violated the human rights of its followers and their families. We hope the courts will quickly resolve the issue.

*Head of the National Unification Church Victims Defense Lawyers Group, Susumu Murakoshi, and others hold a press conference on March 25, after the court decision. (©Sankei by Takumi Kamoshida)*

Sect's Potential to Frustrate the Court ー and Victims

It has been pointed out that the sect could seek to transfer its assets overseas or to a separate corporation before the order is finalized. However, the group's assets should be used to help its victims. Careful monitoring of all its assets will be necessary to gain knowledge of their extent and prevent diversion. This should be carried out based on a law providing relief to victims of cults enacted in 2023.

Furthermore, the dissolution order only strips the group of its legal status as a religious organization. That means the group can continue to engage in religious activities as a voluntary organization. And that organization can still recruit followers and solicit donations. Moreover, in losing its status as a "legal person," the group's obligation to report to relevant authorities on matters such as asset management will also disappear.

Even after the dissolution order has been finalized, we cannot relax our vigilance regarding the group's antisocial activities.

Rooted in 'Anti-Japan' History

From the mid-1970s to the early 1990s, the spiritual sales scams and mass weddings organized by the former Unification Church became major social issues. Even after it changed its name in 2015, trouble concerning its methods for eliciting donations continued.

The background to how the Unification Church sought to collect donations from Japanese members is said to be a teaching of the founder of the sect, Reverend Sun Myung Moon. He declared that the Japanese must make every effort to atone to Korea by making large donations to the church. His excuse was that Japan colonized Korea for 36 years, until its defeat in World War II. In other words, the sect started as an anti-Japanese organization.

The government also bears responsibility for allowing this dubious group to continue operating up to now. According to the Tokyo District Court, damages caused by the manipulative extraction of donations from Unification Church members in Japan amounted to approximately ¥20.4 billion JPY ($137 million USD) to the detriment of at least 1,500 people.

To ensure that relief for victims is provided smoothly, the government should assume a certain degree of responsibility. In particular, it should ensure that the church's assets are preserved.

Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun

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