Kishida: Dissolution of religious groups can be based on Civil Code violations
17:47 JST, October 19, 2022
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday that illegal acts under the Civil Code can be the basis for a court order to dissolve a religious corporation, a comment that differs from the conventional interpretation of the Religious Corporations Law.
He made the remark at the House of Councillors Budget Committee, responding to a question regarding the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, widely known as the Unification Church.
The Religious Corporations Law states that a court order for the dissolution of a religious corporation can be issued when “the religious corporation commits an act that is clearly found to substantially harm public welfare” in violation of laws and regulations.
According to judicial precedents, one of the requirements for a court order to dissolve a religious corporation is proof that the group violated the Penal Code, among other laws and regulations.
However, the prime minister said, “If the acts were found to be organized, vicious and continuous, among other conditions, and meet the conditions of the Religious Corporations Law, illegal acts under the Civil Code could also be included.”
Kishida said at the House of Representatives Budget Committee on Tuesday that complaints the government received through its hotline regarding the Unification Church included cases that were “possibly in violation of the Penal Code and other various rules.” Kishida indicated they could be grounds for requesting a court order for the dissolution of the religious corporation if a court finds the acts to be illegal.
Kishida also stressed that bills regulating “spiritual sales” and large monetary donations will be submitted as soon as they are ready, and that necessary preparations will start during the current Diet session.
"Politics" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Promotes Revised NISA Investment Program to Young People; Kishida Focusing on Moving Money From Savings to Investment in a Safe Environment
-
Japan, U.S. to Join Forces on AI, Semiconductors; Seek to Counter China’s ‘Military-Civil Fusion’
-
Japan, U.S. to Work Together for Expanding Marine Product Supply Chains; Countering China’s Economic Coercion
-
84% of People Nationwide Say They Feel Japan’s National Security Is Under Threat
-
“High Probability” 2 MSDF Patrol Helicopters Collided near Torishima Island; 1 Dead, 7 Others Onboard Missing (Update 2)
JN ACCESS RANKING
- M6.0 Earthquake Hits Japan’s Tohoku Region; Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi Prefectures Observe 4 on Japanese Scale With No Risk of Tsunami
- China Mutes Memorialization of Reformer Hu Yaobang; Memories Could Spark Critique of Xi Administration
- Shinkansen Services Suspended After Man ‘Searches for Phone’ on Tracks; Disruption Affects About 14,000 Passengers
- U.S. 7th Fleet officer Arrested on Suspicion of Stealing Sushi, Sashimi, Chicken at Kanagawa Shopping Mall; Suspect Caught Mid-Meal
- UNRWA Director Describes Catastrophic Destruction in Gaza; Says Relief Trucks Robbed, ‘People’s Hearts Destroyed’